text:
I wake up in the morning. I get up, get ready for work. Boots, pants, belt, shirt, mask. I step outside. Immediately, I can’t breathe. I adjust my mask. I can breathe now.
       The bus ride always seems longer than it is. I always get stares. Not hidden stares like most other people get. Bold, challenging stares. The people don’t know who I am. They have never met me. But they hate me, somehow. I ignore them and try to relax.
       I step off the bus, walk quickly to my building. I can’t wait to start. Working always calms me, in a strange way. As I walk through the crowds, I again attract the gaze of several people. I’m thankful of my mask. They can’t see my eyes. They will never know how much I hate them back.
       Finally, I’m here. There’s no offices, no cubicles, no desks, not even other people. Just a cavernous room, entirely white. When I step in, I am alone. Breathe in, breathe out. And repeat. Left foot, right foot. And repeat. I must concentrate. I can’t work if I don’t recognize patterns. My heart beats 173 times in one minute. I blink 17 times. I feel an itch behind my left eye. White becomes black. My heart stops beating. My eyes a permanently open. I no longer need to breathe. Time to start.

       I love my job. I was born to do it. Literally bred through many generations, to create the perfect worker. I was isolated from birth to my 18th birthday, when I started working. I was trained by automated systems for eighteen years, just to make me as perfect as possible. Just to make me detached as possible. Just to make me ready. I think I have lived up to expectations. Probably exceeded them. I
love my job. And I am amazing at it.
       First assignment. It’s nearby. A simple one, stationary and weak. I get there somehow. Not physically, my body remains in a white chamber.
I don’t know what I am right now. I just can’t be seen, except by my clients. I arrive. She sees me. She screams. She gets up, runs. It’s not much of a chase. I immediately catch her. She is still screaming. My mask dissolves. She can’t scream anymore. I am done here.

       It is an easy work day. Mostly old, sickly, or newborn. I love my job, but it’s more fun when they can fight. When they can run. When I can play with them. I like a challenge. Though it rarely is challenging.
       I return home. Bathe. Eat. Read. Sleep. The next day will be more of the same, I think. I want the same. I live off of patterns.

       Wake up. Boots, pants, belt, shirt, mask, bus, white, black. First assignment. Second. Third. All within seconds of each other. I must
work fast to finish all my duties. Noon. Night. Home, bathe, eat, read, sleep. And repeat.

       I have been working for years. I have stopped aging. I don’t know how old I am. I remain in perfect condition for years, until I need to be
Replaced. I await that day. I love my job. But I long freedom.

       Today, I feel… odd. I take the usual steps to work. It’s my fortieth client for today. I am distracted. She is a fighter. Young. Almost as perfect as me. She distracts me. She does not run, as most do. She stands her ground. Looks me in the eyes. Or where my eyes would be, if she could see them. She speaks to me. She speaks words I have heard of, but I do not understand her. I am filled with my usual rage, but something else is creeping in to me. She continues talking. Two words. She starts to repeat two words. “Thank you.” I do not understand. I have been cursed at, told to die, pleaded with, even. Never thanked. I hesitate. That small feeling grows. No. I must complete this task. She grabs my hand. Wraps herself around me. “Thank you.” I can’t. I hate my job.

       I forget all my other assignments. She must be mine. No. I must behers. No. We must be. Yes. We must be.

       I lift her. She starts crying. I feel tears against my chest. I lift her, hold her close. I am back in the white. She is with me. We must be. We must escape. They will be after me. I don’t care about me. She must be safe. I know where to hide.
       Finally, we are here. We are safe. For now. She has stopped crying. I set her down. She is tired. She lays down, closes her eyes. Smiles, and falls asleep. I look around. I have not been here since I started working. My childhood home. My development center. My training grounds. It is the perfect hiding place. Undetectable, and impenetrable by those I do not want in. They won’t be able to get in. I hope.
       Two days have passed. I have not slept. She has done nothing but. I spend my time staring at her. Exploring her past. She has had a hard life. She is my opposite. She knows of nothing but life. I continue to stare.
       She awakes. Immediately, she leaps up and clutches me tightly. That growing feeling has almost overwhelmed me. I feel she is hungry. I am lucky. All the machinery still works. A meal is made. Another for me. I don’t know where it comes from. I now it is an infinite supply. We will survive.
       Weeks have passed. We are still alive. I still fear our capture. I still wear my mask. I cannot take it off. We do not talk. We do not have to. That feeling has grown to take over everything else. I feel different. I love her.
       I awake. It is dark. She is asleep. I sense something. No. We have been found. No. Not by them. They have sent someone. I have been stupid. I forgot he could get in the same way we did. My Replacement is here. I will miss her.
       I get up. Walk to another room. This one is a mirror of my workspace. White and huge. I lock the door. I sit in the center. I take off my mask. I wait. I will miss her.
       Hours pass. Or minutes. Or years. I cannot tell. I sense him drawing nearer. He is cautious. He thinks I will fight. I will not. I will miss her.
       Finally, he is here. I open my eyes. I see me. No. I see someone who looks like me. I stare at the figure, clothed in all black, with his mask still on. I nod. He nods back. I will miss her.
       He steps up. Puts a hand on my shoulder. His mask dissolves.
       Freedom.
       I will miss her.

title: I Love My Job (1st, open to criticism)

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

How does the narrator's attitude towards his beloved job change through the story?

answer: Initially he says he is "born to do it" and was "isolated from birth to 18 years," which implies many genetic modifications, probably artificial intelligence-based. He is detached, having never felt emotion. He has a singular purpose of executing his kills efficiently and with the utmost precision. After meeting the girl, he feels enraged. He is filled with rage. A fear of being discovered for his real mission-surfaces. He becomes distracted. Ultimately, he is disenchanted and completely disinterested in his job. He hates his job, which makes him unlike any of the other models in the story. He falls in love. He wishes to escape.

answer: Initially he says he is "born to do it" and was "isolated from birth to 18 years," which implies many genetic modifications, probably artificial intelligence-based. He has a singular purpose of executing his kills efficiently and with the utmost precision. After meeting the girl, he feels enraged. He is filled with rage. A fear of being discovered for his real mission-surfaces. He becomes distracted. Ultimately, he is disenchanted and completely disinterested in his job. He hates his job, which makes him unlike any of the other models in the story. He falls in love. He wishes to escape.

answer: Initially, he is content at his line of work. He's born for it which he's bred for over several generations. He enjoys each day of work not just because he does a satisfying job, but also because he gets a good amount of challenges. Towards the end of the story, everything changes as he dotes on the woman who was his current task. After years of them cooping together, he looked forward to staying in the same place they occupied so they both could be safe from the owner of the narrator's job. However, the narrator never defected from his current job because he's the only one left to make sure the woman is safe and content. He's special to the company, so it instructs the new employee to bring his replacement there instead of him. So even though he volunteers to go back to his original workplace, he is made to stay for more than a probable death sentence.

answer: Initially, he is grateful for the job that saved his life. He feels freed by it and enjoys dominating people. However, his perfect world crumbles when he falls in love with his fortieth person, a woman that he doesn't initially know how to deal with because he always "works" and doesn't have time for love. He falls in love and realizes lack of freedom bothers him. He wants to escape with her because he can't bear the thought of never being touched by her again. When he realizes he will be replaced, he considers it liberation for himself but loss for his love. When the kill finally arrives and he says he will miss her, this feeling seems almost all-consuming and insurmountable.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What does the story say about the qualities that make the perfect worker?

answer: The narrator was bred from birth to become the perfect worker. They are trained from birth by automated systems for eighteen years. Training was focused on producing a detached and obedient, almost immortal, service machine.

answer: The narrator calls his job perfect, explaining that it had been scheduled years in advance. He was born and raised to do it. He stares at patterns the whole day and has no emotions. They work without food, sleep or water but appear to survive indefinitely. It appears they are always ready to kill and are also able to take resurrects after they died. They also have enough technology to detect how old they're looking but don't get sick or age.

answer: The perfect worker is born isolated and raised in a training facility where they are taught msytems of everything they may run in to, and how to complete tasks without any emotional attachment. As the perfect worker ages, they continue to focus on and complete tasks perfectly, without ever feeling the need to stop and rest.

answer: No answer

text: Doesn't describe the perfect worker for the job.

refinement: The perfect worker is born isolated and raised in a training facility where they are taught systems of everything they may run in to, and how to complete tasks without any emotional attachment. As the perfect worker ages, they continue to focus on and complete tasks perfectly, without ever feeling the need to stop and rest.

answer: No answer

text: Doesn't describe the perfect worker for the job.

refinement: The perfect worker is born isolated and raised in a training facility where they are taught msytems of everything they may run in to, and how to complete tasks without any emotional attachment. As the perfect worker ages, they continue to focus on and complete tasks perfectly, without ever feeling the need to stop and rest.

answer: The narrator calls his job perfect, explaining that his ancestors have been genetically planning for it for years. He was born and raised to do it. He stares at patterns the whole day and has no emotions. They work without food, sleep or water but appear to survive indefinitely. It appears they are always ready to kill and are also able to take resurrects after they died. They also have enough technology to detect how old they're looking but don't get sick or age.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What does the story say about the nature of the narrator's job?

answer: The narrator does not know who he is. He does not sleep, stay thin, or age. He has lived in a white room from his birth to his 18th birthday, when he started working. He works on a stationery and weak stationary. He doesn't get to meet with people. He can't breathe therefore he relies on a mask to breathe. That they they were born to do, was being a perfect worker. They were bred so that they became detached, depersonalised, and removed.

text: Doesn't fully capture the nature of the job.

refinement: The narrator does not know who he is. He does not sleep, stay thin, or age. He has lived in a white room from his birth to his 18th birthday, when he started working. He doesn't get to meet with people. He can't breathe therefore he relies on a mask to breathe. That they they were born to do, was being a perfect worker. They were bred so that they became detached, depersonalised, and removed. He was isolated from his birth to his 18th birthday, trained by automated systems to make him as perfect as possible. At his work, there are no offices, no cubicles or desks, no other people. Just a cavernous room entirely white, he is alone. It's implied that his job is to kill people. One assignment gives him a target that sees him, screams, and runs. He chases her and "ceases" her screaming. Sometimes his job is an easy work day, mostly old, sickly, or newborn. He prefers when they can fight and run, he prefers the challenge and likes playing with them. It's rarely challenging.

answer: The narrator is a form of biological life that is used to neutralize such problems as viruses. In relation to viruses, the narrator likens himself to that of an immune system in the human body. Additionally, problems such as cancer and genetic disorders were eliminated because the narrator is the ideal being. The narrator also has the instinct to know a person's emotions despite the scientific difficulties it may pose in preserving the ideal look of frightening people.

text: Doesn't capture the essence of the job.

refinement: The narrator is a form of biological life that is used to neutralize such problems as viruses. In relation to viruses, the narrator likens himself to that of an immune system in the human body. Additionally, problems such as cancer and genetic disorders were eliminated because the narrator is the ideal being. The narrator also has the instinct to know a person's emotions despite the scientific difficulties it may pose in preserving the ideal look of frightening people. At his work there are no offices, no cubicles, no desks, no other people. Just a cavernous room, entirely white. He is alone. He has been bred for many generations to create the perfect worker. He was isolated from birth to age 18 when he started working. He was trained by automated systems to make him as perfect as possible, as detached as possible. It's implied that his job is to kill people. His first assignment involves a target that screams and runs from him. He prefers when they run or fight back, it's more of a challenge. Often, his work is easy - mostly old, sickly, or newborn targets.

answer: The narrator seems to have been bred as a worker. Somebody or something went through generations of breeding to create the perfect worker. He is isolated from birth to his 18th birthday and was taught to be very detached. The work he does is so important that his heart does not beat at all and he does not need to breathe. The narrator does not remember when their life started and marks the beginning of their life at 18 years old. When he eats or bathes, he is still doing his job because it is all in his routine. The narrator cannot stop to free will and must work tirelessly until he is replaced.

text: Does not encapsulate the essence of the job fully.

refinement: The narrator seems to have been bred for generations to make the perfect worker.  He is isolated from birth to his 18th birthday and was taught to be very detached, taught exclusively by automated systems. The work he does is so important that his heart does not beat at all and he does not need to breathe. The narrator does not remember when their life started and marks the beginning of their life at 18 years old. When he eats or bathes, he is still doing his job because it is all in his routine. The narrator cannot stop to free will and must work tirelessly until he is replaced. His workplace has no offices, no cubicles, no desks, no other people. Just a cavernous room, entirely white. He is alone. It is implied that his job is to kill people. His first assignment involves a target that screams when she sees him, and runs. He prefers when they run or fight back, he likes to play with them, it's more of a challenge. It is rarely challenging, often consisting of targets that are old, sickly, or newborn.

answer: The narrator works as a serial killer of people. He travels quickly and quietly, moving his victims in and out of locations, sometimes with little to no signs that they were taken to another location. He probably feels secure in his trained rhythm. There are recurring patterns in his schedule and routine. He does not know who he is. The feeling about something unusual was really an affection for a client who wasn't breathing when he died. He is expected to be replaced. His replacement is from the same organization.

text: Doesn't fully encapsulate the essence of the job.

refinement: The narrator works as a serial killer of people. He travels quickly and quietly, moving his victims in and out of locations, sometimes with little to no signs that they were taken to another location. He probably feels secure in his trained rhythm. There are recurring patterns in his schedule and routine. He does not know who he is. The feeling about something unusual was really an affection for a client who wasn't breathing when he died. He is expected to be replaced. His replacement is from the same organization. At his workplace there are no offices, no cubicles, no desks, no other people. Just a cavernous room, entirely white, he is alone. He loves his job, he was selectively bred for generations to be the perfect worker. He was isolated from birth until his 18th birthday when he began to work. He was trained by automated systems to make him as perfect as possible, as detached as possible. His first assignment involves a target that sees him and screams, starting to run. He prefers when they run or fight back because he likes a challenge. His job is rarely challenging, often involving targets that are old, sickly, or newborn.

answer: They work for their ultimate goal which is to free their clients. It is never explicitly stated what kind of services the room on the white service provides. In a way the narrator seems very young in how his eyes are described as being "always open, but never seeing".

text: Doesn't capture the essence of the job.

refinement: In his workplace there are no offices, no cubicles, no desks, no other people. Just a cavernous room, entirely white. He is alone. He loves his job, he was literally bred through many generations to be the perfect worker. He was isolated from birth to his 18th birthday when he started working. Trained by automated systems to make him as perfect as possible, as detached as possible. It is implied that his job is to kill people. His first assignment involves a target that screams and runs when she sees him. He prefers when they run or put up a fight as it's more challenging and more fun. He likes to play with his targets. The job is often not challenging, mostly old, sickly, or newborn targets.

answer: The narrator is a form of biological life that is used to neutralize clients that the narrator calls 'real'. She is emotionless and is sent out to eliminate people.

text: Doesn't capture the essence of the job.

refinement: In his workplace there are no offices, no cubicles, no desks, no other people. Just a cavernous room, entirely white. He is alone. He loves his job, he was literally bred through many generations to be the perfect worker. He was isolated from birth to his 18th birthday when he started working. Trained by automated systems to make him as perfect as possible, as detached as possible. It is implied that his job is to kill people. His first assignment involves a target that screams and runs when she sees him. He prefers when they run or put up a fight as it's more challenging and more fun. He likes to play with his targets. The job is often not challenging, mostly old, sickly, or newborn targets.


split: train

text:
Edit Story

|Nov 21, 2008,01:22pm EST

This article is more than 10 years old.

In the days after the election, I was reading with my students the conclusion of Machiavelli's _Prince_ (1513). The last chapter is an appeal to the "redeemer" of a country riddled with problems and plagued with conflicts to energetically pursue a much-needed unity. We were struck by how uncannily relevant many passages were to the present political situation.

Machiavelli's reflections can be applied to recent presidential history: Bill Clinton has many of the prerequisites of the self-made prince "by virtue," whereas George W. Bush can be called prince "by fortune" (although he is the son of a former president rather than of a Renaissance pope). The prince who inherits the rule must also learn to "put down roots" in his state. As Ron Suskind reported in the _New York Times Magazine_, Barack Obama did just that in February 2008, galvanizing his then-disheartened supporters at a key rally in Iowa by saying that he wanted "a real grassroots campaign, one that grew from the bottom up, from the dirt, and that it takes time for those roots to take hold."

Machiavelli has long been considered a master of ruthlessness, a "teacher of evil" and of amoral politicking. However, there are many ways of apprehending Machiavelli's essentially ambivalent and pragmatic teachings. For him, the proper use of wits is necessary to hold on to power. Machiavelli would say that, in the past years, the U.S. has abused force and lacked shrewdness, "because the lion cannot defend himself against snares and the fox cannot defend himself against wolves. Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion to terrify the wolves. Those who rely simply on the lion do not understand what they are about."

Getting troops out of the Iraq trap will require an enormous dose of military and diplomatic skills. But no naive solution to the problem is feasible: "for a man who wishes to act entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him among so much that is evil."

Machiavelli also knew that the first task for a new leader is the "election of ministers," since "the first opinion which one forms of a prince, and of his understanding, is by observing the men he has around him." Obama seems fully aware of this and undoubtedly is aiming to surround himself with first class "intellects," as Machiavelli would put it, by selecting Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff and (possibly) Hillary Clinton as secretary of state.

We shall all be watching the newly elected Prince while he prepares to take on one of the greatest challenges a political leader has ever faced: "But to exercise the intellect the prince should read histories, and study there the actions of illustrious men, to see how they have borne themselves in war, to examine the causes of their victories and defeat, so as to avoid the latter and imitate the former." One might well recommend Obama keep Machiavelli's book by his bedside, if he is not doing so already.

_Marcello Simonetta, the author of_ The Montefeltro Conspiracy. A Renaissance Mystery Decoded, _teaches Italian history at Wesleyan University._

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question: When was this article written?

text: There's a publication date for the article.

refinement: It must've been published on Nov 21, 2008, 01:22 pm EST.

answer: This article was written in November 2008.

text: The given date in the article is more specific, and it's useful to include at least the day when it's available.

refinement: This article was written on 21st November 2008.

text: "Nov 21, 2008,01:22pm EST"

answer: At the beginning of president Obama's tenure.

text: While the given contextual date is appropriate, the actual publication date is listed in the article. It should be included in the answer.

refinement: On November 21, 2008. At the beginning of president Obama's tenure.

text: President should be written with a capital P.

refinement: On November 21, 2008. At the beginning of President Obama's tenure.

text: "We shall all be watching the newly elected Prince ... One might well recommend Obama"

answer: 2008

text: The given date in the article is more specific, and it's useful to include at least the day when it's available.

text: "Nov 21, 2008,01:22pm EST"

question: In American politics, who was the prince "by fortune?"

answer: George W. Bush

text: "George W. Bush can be called prince 'by fortune'"

answer: George W. Bush.

text: "George W. Bush can be called prince 'by fortune'"

answer: President George W. Bush.

text: "George W. Bush can be called prince 'by fortune'"

answer: According to the passage, George W. Bush was the prince "by fortune."

text: "George W. Bush can be called prince 'by fortune'"

question: What is meant by the fox/lion allegory?

answer: According to the passage, Machiavelli believes that in order to be successful, a leader must be both cunning and strong. The fox/lion allegory refers to the idea that a leader must be cunning enough to outwit his opponents, but also strong enough to intimidate them.

text: "the proper use of wits is necessary to hold on to power. Machiavelli would say that, in the past years, the U.S. has abused force and lacked shrewdness, 'because the lion cannot defend himself against snares and the fox cannot defend himself against wolves. Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion to terrify the wolves. Those who rely simply on the lion do not understand what they are about.'"

answer: That the US must be versatile in it's methods of dealing with challenges, not just rely on force.

text: The answer can mention the versatile methods.

refinement: That the US must be versatile in it's methods of dealing with challenges, not just rely on force. Outwitting opponents is a valuable strategy.

text: "Its" is misspelled.

refinement: That the US must be versatile in its methods of dealing with challenges, not just rely on force. Outwitting opponents is a valuable strategy.

text: "the proper use of wits is necessary to hold on to power. Machiavelli would say that, in the past years, the U.S. has abused force and lacked shrewdness, 'because the lion cannot defend himself against snares and the fox cannot defend himself against wolves. Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion to terrify the wolves. Those who rely simply on the lion do not understand what they are about.'"

answer: The fox/lion allegory is a metaphor for the need to be both cunning and strong in order to survive.

text: The reason for being both cunning and strong isn't to survive, but to hold onto power.

refinement: The fox/lion allegory is a metaphor for the need to be both cunning and strong in order to hold onto power.

text: "the proper use of wits is necessary to hold on to power. Machiavelli would say that, in the past years, the U.S. has abused force and lacked shrewdness, 'because the lion cannot defend himself against snares and the fox cannot defend himself against wolves. Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion to terrify the wolves. Those who rely simply on the lion do not understand what they are about.'"

answer: The fox is cunning and the lion is strong. The fox can discover snares and the lion can terrify wolves.

text: The main conclusion of the allegory isn't mentioned.

refinement: The fox is cunning and the lion is strong. The fox can discover snares and the lion can terrify wolves. A leader needs to do both to hold onto power.

text: "the proper use of wits is necessary to hold on to power. Machiavelli would say that, in the past years, the U.S. has abused force and lacked shrewdness, 'because the lion cannot defend himself against snares and the fox cannot defend himself against wolves. Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion to terrify the wolves. Those who rely simply on the lion do not understand what they are about.'"

question: Why is Machiavelli relevant reading in the 21st century?

answer: He found timeless truths about politics that transcend period.

text: "We were struck by how uncannily relevant many passages were to the present political situation."

answer: He has many passages that are uncannily relevant to the present political situation.

text: "We were struck by how uncannily relevant many passages were to the present political situation."

answer: Machiavelli's writings are relevant in the 21st century because they offer insight into the ways in which leaders can maintain power in difficult times. His teachings can be applied to the current political situation in the U.S., where the new president will need to be shrewd and cunning in order to overcome the challenges ahead.

text: "We were struck by how uncannily relevant many passages were to the present political situation."

answer: Machiavelli's writings are relevant to the 21st century because they offer a pragmatic approach to politics.

text: Machiavelli's writings are relevant because they can be applied to the current political situations.

refinement: Machiavelli's writings are relevant to the 21st century because they can be applied to current politics.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: Machiavelli's "Prince" (!513) holds truths about political power that are uncannily relevant to the present political situation. His reflections can be applied to recent presidential history: Clinton as the prince "by virtue," Bush as the prince "by fortune." He asserted that the proper use of wits is necessary to hold power, and that leaders must be versatile in their methods for addressing challenges. He also stressed the importance of "election of ministers," a process new president Obama is currently undergoing. The author hopes Obama has read Machiavelli.

text: The date for the "Prince" is mistyped.

refinement: Machiavelli's "Prince" (1513) holds truths about political power that are uncannily relevant to the present political situation. His reflections can be applied to recent presidential history: Clinton as the prince "by virtue," Bush as the prince "by fortune." He asserted that the proper use of wits is necessary to hold power, and that leaders must be versatile in their methods for addressing challenges. He also stressed the importance of "election of ministers," a process new president Obama is currently undergoing. The author hopes Obama has read Machiavelli.

text: The author hopes that Obama utilizes Machiavelli's teachings, not that he read it in the past.

refinement: Machiavelli's "Prince" (1513) holds truths about political power that are uncannily relevant to the present political situation. His reflections can be applied to recent presidential history: Clinton as the prince "by virtue," Bush as the prince "by fortune." He asserted that the proper use of wits is necessary to hold power, and that leaders must be versatile in their methods for addressing challenges. He also stressed the importance of "election of ministers," a process new president Obama is currently undergoing. The author hopes Obama reads Machiavelli.

text: Machiavelli's relevance: "In the days after the election, I was reading with my students the conclusion of Machiavelli's _Prince_ ... We were struck by how uncannily relevant many passages were to the present political situation."

text: Recent presidential history: "Machiavelli's reflections can be applied to recent presidential history: Bill Clinton has many of the prerequisites of the self-made prince 'by virtue,' whereas George W. Bush can be called prince 'by fortune'"

text: The necessity of wits: "For him, the proper use of wits is necessary to hold on to power."

text: Election of ministers: "Machiavelli also knew that the first task for a new leader is the 'election of ministers, ...'"

text: Obama undergoing minister selection: "Obama seems fully aware of this and undoubtedly is aiming to surround himself with first class 'intellects,' as Machiavelli would put it"

answer: The author suggests that Machiavelli's teachings can be applied to recent U.S. presidential history, and that Barack Obama should take note of Machiavelli's advice on how to be a successful leader. Specifically, Obama should read history and learn from the actions of "illustrious men" in order to avoid mistakes and achieve victory.

text: The answer can have 3 more sentences to include more information. The point about versatility and the challenge of Iraq seem important enough to include.

refinement: The author suggests that Machiavelli's teachings can be applied to recent U.S. presidential history, and that Barack Obama should take note of Machiavelli's advice on how to be a successful leader. Specifically, Obama should read history and learn from the actions of "illustrious men" in order to avoid mistakes and achieve victory. The author also points out Machiavelli's advice on being both cunning and strong. That point is applied to the difficulty of navigating the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. The author hopes Obama has Machiavelli's book by his bedside.

text: Machiavelli's relevance: "In the days after the election, I was reading with my students the conclusion of Machiavelli's _Prince_ ... We were struck by how uncannily relevant many passages were to the present political situation."

text: The author recommends Machiavelli to Obama: "One might well recommend Obama keep Machiavelli's book by his bedside, if he is not doing so already."

text: Obama should read history: "We shall all be watching the newly elected Prince while he prepares to take on one of the greatest challenges a political leader has ever faced: 'But to exercise the intellect the prince should read histories, and study there the actions of illustrious men...'"

answer: This article is about how Machiavelli's teachings can be applied to recent presidential history. It discusses how Machiavelli's teachings can be applied to recent presidential history, and how Machiavelli's teachings can be applied to recent presidential history.

text: The entire summary repeats the same vague point. It should be rewritten.

refinement: Machiavelli's "Prince" (1513) holds truths about political power that are uncannily relevant to the present political situation. His reflections can be applied to recent presidential history: Clinton as the prince "by virtue," Bush as the prince "by fortune." He asserted that the proper use of wits is necessary to hold power, and that leaders must be versatile in their methods for addressing challenges. He also stressed the importance of "election of ministers," a process new president Obama is currently undergoing. The author hopes Obama reads Machiavelli.

answer: The author is teaching Machiavelli's Prince to his students. He is struck by how relevant many passages are to the present political situation. He believes that the U.S. has abused force and lacked shrewdness. He believes that the first task for a new leader is the election of ministers. He believes that Obama is aiming to surround himself with first class intellects.

text: The flow of the summary is stilted due to many sentences beginning with "he believes".

refinement: The author is teaching Machiavelli's Prince to his students. He is struck by how relevant many passages are to the present political situation. He believes that the U.S. has abused force and lacked shrewdness. The author points out that the first task for a new leader is the election of ministers. He thinks that Obama is aiming to surround himself with first class intellects.

text: Machiavelli's relevance: "In the days after the election, I was reading with my students the conclusion of Machiavelli's _Prince_ ... We were struck by how uncannily relevant many passages were to the present political situation."

text: Abuse of force and lack of wits: "Machiavelli would say that, in the past years, the U.S. has abused force and lacked shrewdness..."

text: First task: "Machiavelli also knew that the first task for a new leader is the 'election of ministers...'"

text: Obama surrounds himself: "Obama seems fully aware of this and undoubtedly is aiming to surround himself with first class 'intellects...'"


text:
LYUDMYLA LEONTIIVNA DENISOVA[1] (; ) (born July 6, 1960 in Arkhangelsk, Russian SFSR) is a Ukrainian politician and former Minister of Labor and Social Policy who on 15 March 2018 was elected Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine.[2][3]

Biography

Raised by her mother Nina Ivanovna Ankudinova (born 1934) in Arkhangelsk Denisova graduated from the Arkhangelsk Pedagogical School (1978), the Leningrad State University (1989) and the Tavria Institute of Enterprise and Law (1995).[4]

Professional career

Denisova was a teacher at a preschool in the Russian city of Arkhangelsk (school №78, 1979–80).[5] For the next nine years Denisova held different posts in the Arkhangelsk provincial law court.[6] In 1989, she moved to Ukraine and became the legal adviser of the Crimean Provincial Committee of Ukraine (1990–91).[7] From 1991 she worked in the Republic of Crimea's Administration of the pension fund until 1998.[8]

Political career

In 1998 Denisova became the Minister of Economy and Finances in the Crimean government.[9] In Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea, she served as Minister of Economy, Minister of Finance and head of the Treasury Department. Denisova was named Politician of the Year in 2001. In 2000 Denisova was detained for 24 hours and charged with power abuse.[10] Denisova has stated she was persecuted for refusing to sign a budget document.[11] This criminal case was soon closed.[12]

Denisova is a member of Batkivshchina (Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc) since 2005.[13] During the 2006 and 2007 parliamentary elections, she was elected as a deputy to the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament).

Minister

On December 18, 2007, Yulia Tymoshenko, with a margin of two votes, was elected Prime Minister.[14] and the second Tymoshenko Government was formed between the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc in which Denisova was elected Minister of Labour and Social Policy.

In October 2009 Denisova was ranked 15th in a top 100 of “most influential women in Ukraine” compiled by experts for the Ukrainian magazine Focus (six places lower than non-minister and fellow Batkivshchina member Natalia Korolevska).[15]

2010 Crimean parliamentary election

Denisova headed the electoral list of Batkivshchina during the 2010 Crimean parliamentary election.[16] Batkivshchina did not win seats in the Supreme Council of Crimea.[17]

2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election

Denisova was placed at number 38 on the electoral list of Batkivshchina during the 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election.[18] She was re-elected into parliament.[19]

2nd minister post

On 27 February 2014 Denisova became Minister of Labor and Social Policy in the Yatsenyuk Government.[20]

In September 2014 Denisova became a founding member of her new party People's Front.[21]

2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election

In the 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election Denisova was re-elected into parliament placed 15th on the electoral list of People's Front.[22][23][24]

On 15 March 2018 the Ukrainian parliament elected Denisova Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine.[25]

[1]  Short bio, LIGA

[2] https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2018/03/15/7174734/

[3] Maidan nominates Yatseniuk for prime minister, Interfax-Ukraine (26 February 2014)
Ukrainian parliament endorses new cabinet, Interfax-Ukraine (27 February 2014)

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9] Новый состав Кабмина принят единогласно , news.mediaport.ua

[10] Is She Next?, Kyiv Post (September 3, 2010)

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]  Рейтинг Фокуса: 100 самых влиятельных женщин и 100 деталей о них , Focus

[16] Liudmyla Denisova heads electoral list of Crimean branch of Batkivschyna Party, Kyiv Post (September 30, 2010)

[17]  Results of the elections, preliminary data, on interactive maps by Ukrayinska Pravda (November 8, 2010)

[18] They Call Themselves the Opposition, The Ukrainian Week (31 August 2012)

[19]  Список депутатів нової Верховної Ради, Ukrayinska Pravda (11 November 2012)

[20]

[21] Yatseniuk elected head of political council of People's Front Party , Demotix (9 September 2014)

[22] Poroshenko Bloc to have greatest number of seats in parliament , Ukrinform (8 November 2014)
People's Front 0.33% ahead of Poroshenko Bloc with all ballots counted in Ukraine elections - CEC , Interfax-Ukraine (8 November 2014)
Poroshenko Bloc to get 132 seats in parliament - CEC, Interfax-Ukraine (8 November 2014)

[23]  Full electoral list of “Fatherland” , TVi (15 September 2014)

[24]  Electoral list of People's Front, Ukrayinska Pravda (20 September 2014)

[25]

title: Lyudmyla Denisova

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What does the text say about Denisova's education?

answer: Denisova graduated from the Arkhangelsk Pedagogical School, the Leningrad State University, and the Tavria Institute of Enterprise and Law.

text: Doesn't mention the years graduated.

refinement: Denisova graduated from the Arkhangelsk Pedagogical School (1978), the Leningrad State University (1989), and the Tavria Institute of Enterprise and Law (1995).

answer: Denisova graduated from the Arkhangelsk Pedagogical School in 1978, then the Leningrad State University in 1989, and finally the Tavria Institute of Enterprise and Law in 1995.

answer: Denisova graduated from the Arkhangelsk Pedagogical School. She completed her state certification at the Leningrad State University. She later completed her license at the Tavria Institute of Enterprise and Law.

answer: Denisova graduated from the Arkhangelsk Pedagogical School and the Leningrad State University.

text: Doesn't mention the Tavria Institute of Enterprise and Law

refinement: Denisova graduated from the Arkhangelsk Pedagogical School, the Leningrad State University, and the Tavria Institute of Enterprise and Law.

text: Doesn't mention the years graduated.

refinement: Denisova graduated from the Arkhangelsk Pedagogical School (1978), the Leningrad State University (1989), and the Tavria Institute of Enterprise and Law (1995).

answer: Denisova graduated from the Arkhangelsk Pedagogical School (1978), the Leningrad State University (1989) and the Tavria Institute of Enterprise and Law (1995).

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What does the text say about Denisova's political career?

answer: Denisova has had a long political career, beginning as a teacher and moving on to various post within the Crimean provincial law courts and the Crimean government. In 2009 she was elected Minister of Labour and Social Policy under Yulia Tymoshenko's second government and in 2014 she was re-elected to parliament for the second time. In 2018, she was elected Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine.

text: Doesn't mention her involvement with new People's Front party.

refinement: Denisova has had a long political career, beginning as a teacher and moving on to various post within the Crimean provincial law courts and the Crimean government. In 2009 she was elected Minister of Labour and Social Policy under Yulia Tymoshenko's second government and in 2014 she was re-elected to parliament for the second time as a founding member of the new party People's Front. In 2018, she was elected Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine.

answer: Denisova has had a political career primarily in Crimea, serving as Minister of Economy, Minister of Finance, and head of Treasury Department before becoming Minister of Labor and Social Policy in the Yatsenyuk Government in 2014. She was elected into parliament in both the 2006 and 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary elections, placed 15th on the electoral list of People's Front in the 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election, and was recently elected Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine.

answer: Denisova was the Minister of Labor and Social Policy as a member of the Yatsenyuk Government in February 2014. She re-elected into parliament in the 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election. She was elected as Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine on March 15, 2018.

text: Doesn't mention her political involvement before 2014.

refinement: In 1998 Denisova became the Minister of Economy and Finances in the Crimean government. She served as Minister of Economy, Minister of Finance, and head of the Treasury Department. She is a member of Batkivschina since 2005 and was elected as deputy to the Ukrainian parliament in 2006 and 2007. She was elected Minister of Labour and Social Policy in 2007. Denisova was the Minister of Labor and Social Policy as a member of the Yatsenyuk Government in February 2014. She re-elected into parliament in the 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election. She was elected as Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine on March 15, 2018.

text: Doesn't mention her involvement with the People's Front party.

refinement: In 1998 Denisova became the Minister of Economy and Finances in the Crimean government. She served as Minister of Economy, Minister of Finance, and head of the Treasury Department. She is a member of Batkivschina since 2005 and was elected as deputy to the Ukrainian parliament in 2006 and 2007. She was elected Minister of Labour and Social Policy in 2007. Denisova was the Minister of Labor and Social Policy as a member of the Yatsenyuk Government in February 2014. She was a founding member of the People's Front party. She re-elected into parliament in the 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election. She was elected as Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine on March 15, 2018.

answer:
As Minister of Finance she held different posts in the Arkhangelsk provincial law court between 1979 and 1990. Following that, Denisova became the legal adviser of the Crimean Provincial Committee of Ukraine from 1990 to 1991.

In 1998 Denisova became Minister of Economy, Minister of Finance and head of the Treasury Department in the Crimean government. She served in Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea from 1998 to 2007.

In 2000 Denisova was detained for 24hrs on charges of power abuse. She stated that she was persecuted for refusing to sign a budget document. This case was shut down.

Denisova is a member of Batkivshchina since 2005. She headed the electoral list of Batkivshchina for the 2010 Crimean parliamentary election, but Batkivshchina did not win seats in Supreme Council of Crimea.

text: Doesn't mention the People's Front party of election as commissioner for human rights.

refinement:
As Minister of Finance she held different posts in the Arkhangelsk provincial law court between 1979 and 1990. Following that, Denisova became the legal adviser of the Crimean Provincial Committee of Ukraine from 1990 to 1991.

In 1998 Denisova became Minister of Economy, Minister of Finance and head of the Treasury Department in the Crimean government. She served in Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea from 1998 to 2007.

In 2000 Denisova was detained for 24hrs on charges of power abuse. She stated that she was persecuted for refusing to sign a budget document. This case was shut down.

Denisova is a member of Batkivshchina since 2005. She headed the electoral list of Batkivshchina for the 2010 Crimean parliamentary election, but Batkivshchina did not win seats in Supreme Council of Crimea.

In 2014 Denisova became a founding member of the new People's Front party. She won reelection to the Ukrainian parliament. In 2018 she was elected Commissioner of Human Rights in Ukraine.

answer: In 1998, Denisova became the Minister of Economy and Finances in the Crimean government. She was named Politician of the Year in 2001. She has been a member of Batkivshchina since 2005, and during the 2006 and 2007 parliamentary elections, she was elected as a deputy to the Verkhovna Rada. In 2009, she was ranked the 15th most influential woman in Ukraine. She was re-elected to parliament in 2012. In 2014, she became Minister of Labor and Social Policy in the Yatsenyuk Government and became a founding member of her new party People's Front. In the same year, she was re-elected to the Ukrainian parliament. In 2018, she was elected Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine.


text:
One beer down and two to go, a can tossed from the window. A foot on the pedal and his mouth to metal he chokes on his barley and rye as the light is such sights for his sore eyes. With a flick of his wrist the lights dimmed to darkness of the mist. Gripping the wheel with force, speed became the moment of his source.

“Fuck her”. Jeremy cried. With his fist balled he punched the dash only to find that he changed the station. Life couldn't get any worse. Just today he lost his job and while coming home he found another man in bed with his wife. And now,a good song, lost in frequencies of his own stupidity. Thumbing for the tune, his eyes drifted from the road. “ Don't leave me too”. Jeremy whimpered as his fingers slipped pass the dial. Reaching for the head lights his eyes jerked forward. A dark silhouette in the middle of the windshield raced towards his car. With a twist of his fingers, an array of white shinned in the face of his wife. “Emma!”. Jeremy shouted.

The car thumped and rocked from side to side. With two feet on the brake, his heels dug into the floorboard as red flashed into his eyes from the shine of the rear view mirror. He kicked open the door and flung himself out into the road. “It cant be you. I killed you and your mutt.” Jeremy screamed. Walking slowly around his car he noticed he didn't have any damages and neither a body of any type to be found.

Jeremy walked back to his car. His seat warm and wet, he nestles back into position slamming the door behind him. While adjusting the mirror the radio broke into an emergency broadcast. “ THIS JUST IN. ESCAPED MENTAL PATIENT ON THE LOOSE. TWO DEAD. FUGITIVE WEARING A WOMANS BLOUSE AND THE SKIN OF HIS VICTIM. DO NOT APPROACH. HE IS ARMED AND DANGEROUS. I REPEAT. ARMED AND DANGEROUS". Glancing to his left and right, Jeremy changed the station. “ Ha! What idiots. I'm going to get away with this scot free. Some retard is gonna get the book thrown at him for what I've done”. Revving the engine Jeremy thrust the gears into drive while smoke boiled beneath the tires.

A few miles down the road and one twenty on the speedometer, a cop appears from behind. Blue lights and sirens wailed for him to pull over. “Shit”, Jeremy thought. “Keep calm. It will all be over soon. Let him give me a ticket and ill be on my way”. A flash light tapped the car window. “ Could you roll down your window please, sir”.

“What seems to be the problem officer”? With a pen in hand, paper followed. The officer began to write. “license and registration”. Jeremy reached for his glove compartment and saw his gun on the floorboard. Not to bring any attention to it, he quickly opened the glove box and grabbed his registration. “Mr. Barns do you know how fast you were going”? Jeremy tried to remember but the thought of getting caught clouded his mind. “No officer I don't But I bet your gonna tell me”. The officer turned on his flash light and looked inside the car window. “Have you been drinking tonight”? The officer asked. His hands cupped his face to get a better look in the back seat. “No officer, I haven't ”, Jeremy said with a smile of confidence to follow.

The officer turned towards Jeremy and stared right into his eyes. “ What about her”? Asked the officer. With a scorn look of fear Jeremy sat still. twisting towards the back seat, a knife ran against his throat. Looking in the face of his wife he noticed her eyes weren't the same color as before. With her skin welted and withered, blood dripped from the cracks of her lips. A smile emerged from the floppy flesh when a deep voice of a man said, “What wrong honey. You don't love me any more!”.

title: Criminally Insane

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

Why is Jeremy feeling so down?

answer: Jeremy is feeling down because he lost his job and found his wife cheating on him. In addition, while driving he almost hit a shadowy figure and was pulled over by a police officer. While dealing with the officer, Jeremy noticed his wife in the backseat, and she was now a mutilated corpse. This realization significantly increased his despair.

text: Last sentence is odd

refinement: Jeremy is feeling down because he lost his job and found his wife cheating on him. In addition, while driving he almost hit a shadowy figure and was pulled over by a police officer. While dealing with the officer, Jeremy noticed his wife in the backseat, and she was now a mutilated corpse.

answer: He was fired from his job that morning and came home to find another man with his wife in bed.

answer: Jeremy is depressed because he has lost his job. On returning home he found his wife in bed with another man. To top it all he has just lost a good song when he punched the dash.

answer: Jeremy is feeling down because he lost his job, he found another man in bed with his wife, and then he sees an escaped mental patient on the run while driving. He is feeling down because he knows currently he's in trouble and with an escaped mental patient on the loose, his situation is only getting worse.

answer: He has lost his job and his good song has been overridden by his own stupidity.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What does Jeremy think he's got away with?

answer: Jeremy believes he has gotten away with killing his wife and some unknown assailant.

answer: Unclear, but given the discussion with the cop a few miles down the road, it's probably that he's managed to escape the cops after he murdered his wife.

answer: Jeremy has killed his wife. Now he hears on the radio that the police are looking for an escaped mental patient who is armed and dangerous. The mental patient is suspected of killing two women.

text: Last sentence irrelevant

answer: Jeremy believes he is going to get away with running a red light, endangering innocent lives, speeding, and possessing a weapon.

text: Inaccurate

refinement: Jeremy believes he is going to get away with running a red light, having killed his wife, speeding, and possessing a weapon.

answer: The police are issuing information about an escaped mental patient who killed two people, who appears to have a false skin.

text: This does not answer the question stated

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

Who is in the back of the car and how did he get there?

answer: Jeremy's wife is in the back of the car and she was placed there by a mentally unstable escaped patient wearing a woman's blouse.

text: This is not fully accurate

refinement: The escaped mental patient is in the back. He is dressed in the skin of Jeremy's dead wife. The mental patient must have hopped in the back when Jeremy got out of the car to check the damage after he had seen his wife on the road ahead of him.

answer: In the back of the car is the escaped mental patient. He got there by sneaking into the car while Jeremy was distracted and stabbing him with a knife.

text: Incomplete information

refinement: In the back of the car is the escaped mental patient. He got there by sneaking into the car while Jeremy was distracted. He is wearing the skin of Jeremy's dead wife.

answer: The escaped mental patient is in the back. He is dressed in the skin of Jeremy's dead wife. The mental patient must have hopped in the back when Jeremy got out of the car to check the damage after he had seen his wife on the road ahead of him.

answer: There is a dead woman in the back and police officer thinks Jeremy has a drunk woman in the backseat. In fact, it's the shade of his wife, Emma, and a voice emanates from her saying he doesn't love her anymore and then appears to kiss him.

text: It is the mental patient back there

refinement: The escaped mental patient is in the back. He is dressed in the skin of Jeremy's dead wife. The mental patient must have hopped in the back when Jeremy got out of the car to check the damage after he had seen his wife on the road ahead of him.

answer: Jeremy's wife Emma has been chopped up and stuffed in the trunk. Her eyes aren't the same color and Emma has a deep voice.

text: The mental patient is back there

refinement: The escaped mental patient is in the back. He is dressed in the skin of Jeremy's dead wife. The mental patient must have hopped in the back when Jeremy got out of the car to check the damage after he had seen his wife on the road ahead of him.


text:
_FAST TIMES AT BARRINGTON HIGH_ is the third and final studio album by American rock band The Academy Is..., released in August 2008.[1][2]

Background

It was produced by S*A*M and Sluggo. The title refers to the high school to which William Beckett and Adam Siska went,[3] and a play on the title of the 1982 film _Fast Times at Ridgemont High_. The album cover photo was taken by William Beckett's sister, Courtney Beckett, and shows William sitting on a couch with Naomi, a friend of the band.

Pete Wentz posted a blog entry saying that he heard the demos for the new album and called them, “Mind blowing. Miles away from where they were.”[4] Collaborations include Andrew McMahon from Jack's Mannequin; Gabe Saporta, Ryland Blackinton and Alex Suarez from Cobra Starship; and Mason Musso and Blake Healy from Metro Station.

Release

On June 26, _Fast Times at Barrington High_ was announced for release in August.[5] Between June and August, the band performed on the 2008 edition of Warped Tour.[6] In between dates on this tour, the band performed a handful of shows with artists on Decaydance Records.[7] The band performed “About a Girl” and “Summer Hair = Forever Young” on Warped Tour and their Australian tour with Panic! at the Disco and Cobra Starship. Hot Topic released two new The Academy Is... T-shirts, one of which comes with a code for the free download of an acoustic version of “His Girl Friday”.

The first single off the album is “About a Girl”, which was released on July 15, 2008. On July 23, “Summer Hair = Forever Young” was posted on the group's Myspace profile.[8] “About a Girl” impacted radio on August 12.[9] _Fast Times at Barrington High_ was released through Fueled by Ramen and Decaydance Records on August 19.[10] The Academy Is... held a contest for releasing new tracks, email addresses were entered on a page off the main website page and 8 winners were selected at random to receive a song off the album and also a call from the band and a free signed copy of _Fast Times at Barrington High_. In October and November, the band went on a headlining US tour, titled Bill & Trav's Bogus Journey Tour. They were supported by We the Kings, Carolina Liar and Hey Monday.[11] In late April 2009, the group performed at Give it a Name festival in the UK.[12] In August, the band went on a tour of Australia with Anberlin.[13]

Reception

The album sold 35,000 copies in its first week, debuting at number 17 on the _Billboard_ 200.[14] It was named the 46th best album of 2008 by _Rolling Stone_.[15] By October 2009, the album's sales stood at 85,000.[16]

Track listing

All lyrics written by William Beckett; all music composed by The Academy Is... with Sam Hollander and Dave Katz on tracks 1–6 and 11.

1.  “About a Girl” – 3:30
2.  “Summer Hair = Forever Young” – 3:39
3.  “His Girl Friday” – 3:41
4.  “The Test” – 3:29
5.  “Rumored Nights” – 3:45
6.  “Automatic Eyes” – 3:26
7.  “Crowded Room” – 3:07
8.  “Coppertone” – 3:18
9.  “After the Last Midtown Show” – 5:13
10. “Beware! Cougar!” – 3:38
11. “Paper Chase” – 3:30
12. “One More Weekend” – 3:43[17]

iTunes bonus tracks:

1.  “Every Burden Has a Version” – 4:08
2.  “Sodium” – 3:46
3.  “About a Girl” (Acoustic version) – 3:22

Hot Topic bonus track:

1.  “His Girl Friday” (Acoustic version) – 3:42

7" vinyl bonus track:

1.  “Tokyo Bay” – 2:59

Release history

  Country          Release date
  ---------------- -----------------
  New Zealand      August 18, 2008
  United Kingdom
  United States    August 19, 2008
  Australia        August 23, 2008

Chart positions

  Chart                Position
  -------------------- ----------
  _Billboard_ 200      17
  Rock Albums          5
  Digital Albums       17
  Alternative Albums   5

Personnel

-   William Beckett – lead vocals, guitar, piano
-   Mike Carden – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
-   Adam T. Siska – bass guitar, backing vocals
-   Andy “The Butcher” Mrotek – drums, percussion, backing vocals
-   Michael Guy Chislett – lead guitar, backing vocals

Contributions

-   Gabe Saporta (Cobra Starship & Midtown) – additional vocals on “Crowded Room”.
-   Mason Musso (Metro Station) – additional vocals on “Crowded Room”.
-   Andrew McMahon (Jack's Mannequin & Something Corporate) – piano on “After the Last Midtown Show”.
-   Ryland Blackinton (Cobra Starship) – additional vocals on “About a Girl”.
-   Alex Suarez (Cobra Starship) – additional vocals on “His Girl Friday”.
-   Blake Healy (Metro Station) – piano on “His Girl Friday” and “Summer Hair = Forever Young”.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16] Bell; Harding 2009, p. 57

[17]

title: Fast Times at Barrington High

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What does the article say about the reception to the album?

answer: The album sold 35,000 copies in its first week and debuted at 17 on the Billboard 200. Billboards charts lists the album at number 17 on the rock albums chart and at number 5 on the digital album charts. The album won 46th place in Rolling Stone's year's best albums, which was published in 2009. In the same year the sales stood at 85,000 copies

text: The album is number 5 (17) on the rock albums chart and 17 on the digital albums chart.

refinement: The album sold 35,000 copies in its first week and debuted at 17 on the Billboard 200. Billboards charts list the album at number 5 on the rock albums chart and at number 17 on the digital album charts. The album won 46th place in Rolling Stone's year's best albums, which was published in 2009. In the same year the sales stood at 85,000 copies

answer: The album received positive critical reviews, debuting at number 17 on the Billboard 200 and was named the 46th best album of 2008 by Rolling Stone.

text: More information about critics and public reception would have made the response much better.

refinement: The album received positive critical reviews, debuting at number 17 on the Billboard 200 and was named the 46th best album of 2008 by Rolling Stone. It also debuts at 5 on the rock albums chart and 17 on the digital albums chart.

answer: The album received positive reviews from critics, debuting at number 17 on the Billboard 200.

answer: It was named the 46th best album of 2008 by Rolling Stone. The album sold 35,000 copies in its first week, debuting at number 17 on the Billboard 200. It was not a charting experience, but the sales increased to 85,000 by October 2009.

answer: Pete Wents thought the demos sounded better than anything the band did before. The album had two singles released from it, one of which was played on radios. They went on a US tour and performed at the "Give it a Name" festival in the UK. They also went on a tour in Australia with Anberlin. The album was released at number 17 on the Billboard 200 and was the 46th best album of 2008 according to Rolling Stone. The album sold 85,000 copies in about a year.


text:
Our eyes lock from across the bar. It’s tattered, run-down, out of sorts; a plethora of synonyms running rampant throughout a bar that's memories are a rollercoaster of emotion...she lights a cigarette, and the soft glow from her lighter sets aflame her red lipstick. She shuts it with a faint clap and the smoke lingers around her, tiredly, softly. The bartender approaches her, his drink-soaked rag painting spirals of soft mahogany and liquor. He asks with gentle kindness if she’d like a refill, and, without skipping a beat, her fingers tap the glass in acknowledgement. I watch the slow, steady pour of gold flow from the bottle as he tips it into her glass. It tidal waves momentarily and crashes amongst itself and she whispers a thank you, her gaze never leaving mine.

Fighting the urge to get up and approach this situation we’ve gotten ourselves into, I disengage our stare momentarily to take in my surroundings. New-comers and men whom are infinitely secured to barstools alike are strewn across this tavern. The hum of conversation floats around as, every once in a short while, the door opens and let’s a barely audible inhalation of air and the dispersed patter of rain flicking pavement outside coat our world of lost hopes, dreams and love.
And then I get up.

I walk towards her, calm and cool, as my heart inside plays a mixed melody of heavy drumming and de-escalating jazz. Time slows as I get my first full glimpse of the ravishing woman I’ve been ever falling for in the last hour. Her slender legs crawl upwards toward an almost too short skirt of deafeningly black silk. This silk ripples upward and explodes into hips, stomach and chest that would give the word immaculate a respectable run for its money.

My greeting comes out in silence; it’s as if I’m watching everything fold out from above, an audience member cheering on his favourite fighter. I lead with a heavy blow to the heart as I lean in; close enough for her to smell the wet and whiskey emanating from a long night of wandering from bar to bar in the drizzle that hasn’t seemed to let up in recent memory.

I watch myself ask her name, and the sound is turned up just long enough for me to hear her whisper back: Maxine. And a faint smile spreads across her lips as if she had been waiting to tell me that her entire life. As if the rain had lead my feet from a tiresome day at work, lifting me on invisible strings like a marionette throughout the night to this very bar, to that very seat, and shuffled them in dim-light and soft music across the floor to stand in front of her, to lean into her, to whisper to her, all for me to know the name of Maxine. A woman of explosive subtleness, impeccable taste in single-malt scotch, and, as I lock eyes with hers for the second time tonight, the soul of an angel.
She takes another long drag of smoke as we circle around the ring of attraction. She takes a swing back and feels the lapel of my trench coat. She comments on how very wet I seem to be. The hairs on my neck pulsate. She finishes her drink, the ice cut in half from having slightly watered down several drinks. I quickly raise two fingers in the air, not knowing if the bartender would see or not; truth be told, in that very moment I could not have been positive if gravity was even still anchoring us to earth. She catches me by surprise, my heartbeat tumbling, and pushes down my wrist, negating the drinks I had or had not ordered.

And she grabs my hand.
And she stands.
And she leads me towards the back of the bar.
And I could hear my veins digesting whiskey, my heart digesting emotions, and, once in that very short trip to the back, the doors of the bar swung open, the room inhaled, and I could hear the now heavy sheets of rain washing away the streetlight outside.

title: Sheets

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What does the text say about the setting?

answer: No answer

text: The setting is defined any factors about the environment of the narrative; this includes the location, the surroundings and furnishings, the ambiance, the time of day.

refinement: The location is a tattered, run-down, dimly lit bar with soft music. There is a bartender and the patrons are sitting on barstools. The hum of conversation fills the air. Outside of the door is pavement. It is night past the after-work hours and it is currently raining.

answer: The text talks about a bar that is run-down and has memories of "a rollercoaster of emotion". It rambles on many synonyms that describe how old and rundown it is. It says that it is new-comers and men already seated on bar stools strewn across the tavern.

text: Include the time of day, the weather, and the other environmental elements such as sounds and sights.

refinement: The text talks about a bar that is run-down, dimly-lit, has soft music, and has memories of "a rollercoaster of emotion". It rambles on many synonyms that describe how old and rundown it is. It says that it is new-comers and men already seated on bar stools strewn across the tavern. The hum of conversation fills the air. Outside of the door is pavement. It is night past the after-work hours and it is currently raining.

answer: The narrator watches a woman at the bar. The narrator and the woman lock eyes across the bar. The narrator gets up and approaches the woman, and they make eye contact again. The narrator then goes to talk to the woman, who is named Maxine. The narrator and Maxine leave the bar and go to her place. The narrator is also a bit drunk.

text: The setting refers to where and when of the scene: place, time, weather, sounds, sights, etc. It is not the actions of the characters.

refinement: The location is a tattered, run-down, dimly lit bar with soft music. There is a bartender and the patrons are sitting on barstools. The hum of conversation fills the air. Outside of the door is pavement. It is night past the after-work hours and it is currently raining.

answer: The narrator watches a woman at the bar. The narrator and the woman lock eyes across the bar. The narrator gets up and approaches the woman, and they make eye contact again. The narrator then goes to talk to the woman, who is named Maxine. The narrator and Maxine leave the bar and go to her place.

text: The setting refers to where and when of the scene: place, time, weather, sounds, sights, etc. It is not the actions of the characters.

refinement: The location is a tattered, run-down, dimly lit bar with soft music. There is a bartender and the patrons are sitting on barstools. The hum of conversation fills the air. Outside of the door is pavement. It is night past the after-work hours and it is currently raining.

answer: The story takes place in a bar. The bar is run-down and out of sorts. The bar has a plethora of emotions and memories. The narrator and Maxine lock eyes from across the bar. The narrator goes to Maxine and tells her his name. They talk for a while. Then, Maxine tells the narrator she's going to the back of the bar. The narrator follows her, and the bar's door swings open. The narrator hears the rain outside.

text: The setting refers to where and when of the scene: place, time, weather, sounds, sights, etc. It is not the actions of the characters.

refinement: The location is a tattered, run-down, dimly lit bar with soft music. There is a bartender and the patrons are sitting on barstools. The hum of conversation fills the air. Outside of the door is pavement. It is night past the after-work hours and it is currently raining.

answer: The story takes place in a bar. The bar is run-down and out of sorts. The bar has a plethora of emotions and memories. The narrator and Maxine lock eyes from across the bar. The narrator goes to Maxine and tells her his name. They talk for a while. Then, Maxine tells the narrator she's going to the back of the bar. The narrator follows her, and the bar's door swings open.

text: The setting refers to where and when of the scene: place, time, weather, sounds, sights, etc. It is not the actions of the characters.

refinement: The location is a tattered, run-down, dimly lit bar with soft music. There is a bartender and the patrons are sitting on barstools. The hum of conversation fills the air. Outside of the door is pavement. It is night past the after-work hours and it is currently raining.

answer: The setting is an unnamed bar in a city during a downpour. It is tattered and run-down, and it's been a while since the two (presumably) patrons had seen the rain. Newcomers and regulars sit together.

text: Not all the given details about the setting are included. It is night time, the lighting is dim, there is soft music and the hum of conversation.

refinement: The setting is an unnamed bar in a city during a rain at night. It is tattered, run-down, dimly lit, and has soft music. Newcomers and regulars sit in bar stools and the hum of their conversations fills the air.

answer: The setting is an unnamed bar in a city during a downpour. It is tattered and run-down, and it's been a while since the two (presumably) patrons had seen the rain. Newcomers and regulars sit together at the bar.

text: Not all the given details about the setting are included. It is night time, the lighting is dim, there is soft music and the hum of conversation.

refinement: The setting is an unnamed bar in a city during a rain at night. It is tattered, run-down, dimly lit, and has soft music. Newcomers and regulars sit in bar stools and the hum of their conversations fills the air.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What does the text say about the woman?

answer: The woman has darker skin, likely more olive than tan. She has a slender body, is wearing a black silk skirt, is smoking and drinking, and has a bright red lipstick on. The narrator is drawn to her due to her effect on him, indicated when he orients to her gaze.

text: Her body is not described as slender, but her hips, stomach, and chest are called immaculate. It is her legs that are slender. This does not directly imply if she has a slim or curvaceous form. Her skin color is not given. Her name and other details are missing such as additional descriptors on her looks and her behavior.

refinement: Maxine, the woman, has slender legs and is wearing a black silk skirt while smoking and drinking. She has a bright red lipstick on. The narrator is drawn to her due to her explosive subtleness, ravishing looks, her immaculate hips, stomach, and chest, how she seems to have the soul of an angel, and that her smile is, to simplify the narrator's words, enchanting. Maxine is shown to also be decisive in her actions.

answer: The woman is named Maxine. She has a slender body, and is wearing a black silk dress. She has red lipstick, and her hair is black. She is drinking single malt scotch. She is smoking a cigarette. She catches the narrator's attention and asks for his name. She leads him to the back of the bar.

text: Her legs are slender, not her body. Her hips, stomach, and chest are described as immaculate. There are other descriptors for her looks based on what the narrator sees. Her hair color is not given. She does not ask for the narrator's name.

refinement: The woman is named Maxine. She has slender legs and is wearing a short black silk dress. She has red lipstick. She is drinking single malt scotch. She is smoking a cigarette. She catches the narrator's attention with her ravishing looks and explosive sutbleness. He thinks she looks like she has the soul of an angel. She decisively leads him to the back of the bar.

answer: The narrator is sitting at a bar when his eyes lock with a beautiful woman across the bar. She appears to be with someone else, but the narrator can't help smiling at her. The woman later joins him, sits at the table, and tells her name (Maxine). A short while later, they kiss in the back seat of the bar and leave together.

text:
Maxine does not kiss the narrator nor joins him at the table (the narrator is the one who comes closer to her). They do not just leave together, it is Maxine who leads the narrator to the back of the bar. Maxine is does not appear to be with anyone else. It is not clear if the narrator is smiling at Maxine the whole time, but he cannot help but keep looking at her.

Maxine is not described as beautiful, instead the narrator says that she looks ravishing and has explosive subtleness. There are also other visual and behavioral descriptors for Maxine in the narrative that are not present in the response.

refinement: Maxine, the woman, has slender legs and is wearing a black silk skirt while smoking and drinking. She has a bright red lipstick on. The narrator is drawn to her due to her explosive subtleness, ravishing looks, her immaculate hips, stomach, and chest, how she seems to have the soul of an angel, and that her smile is, to simplify the narrator's words, enchanting. Maxine is shown to also be decisive in her actions.

answer: The woman is in a bar, and the narrator watches her from across the bar. She is described as being slender and having a beautiful figure. She has red lipstick and a cigarette. The narrator is attracted to her and approaches her. The woman is named Maxine.

text: It would be better to use as much of the adjectives used by the narrator to describe the woman in order to properly reflect the emphasis of the narrative on her features.

refinement: The woman is in a bar, and the narrator watches her from across the bar as she smokes and drinks. She is described as being a ravishing woman with slender legs and immaculate hips, stomach, and chest. She has red lipstick. The narrator is attracted to her and approaches her. The woman is named Maxine. The narrator further describes her as having the soul of an angel, has explosive subtleness. She is decisive in the way she leads the narrator to the back of the bar.

answer: She is the bartender who has gained the narrator's attention. The bartender is Maxine, a woman of unpredictable, direct and swift actions. They are better off friends. She has been teasing the narrator by playing with him and the drinks he orders when she serves him. She has a look in her eyes like she has set him up. When they walk to the back, they are alone in the hallway and she grabs his hand and takes him to her room.

text: A lot of the context is inaccurate.

refinement: The woman is in a bar, and the narrator watches her from across the bar as she smokes and drinks. She is described as being a ravishing woman with slender legs and immaculate hips, stomach, and chest. She has red lipstick. The narrator is attracted to her and approaches her. The woman is named Maxine. The narrator further describes her as having the soul of an angel, has explosive subtleness. She is decisive in the way she leads the narrator to the back of the bar.

answer: The woman is named Maxine. She has a slender body, and is wearing a black silk dress. She has red lipstick, and her hair is black. She is drinking single malt scotch. She is smoking a cigarette. She catches the narrator's attention and asks for his name. She leads him to the back of the bar.

text: Her legs are slender, not her body. Her hips, stomach, and chest are described as immaculate. There are other descriptors for her looks based on what the narrator sees. Her hair color is not given. She does not ask for the narrator's name.

refinement: The woman is named Maxine. She has slender legs and is wearing a short black silk dress. She has red lipstick. She is drinking single malt scotch. She is smoking a cigarette. She catches the narrator's attention with her ravishing looks and explosive sutbleness. He thinks she looks like she has the soul of an angel. She decisively leads him to the back of the bar.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

Summarize the narrator's night before coming to the bar.

answer: He starts thinking about making an advance on the woman.

text: The response should focus on what the narrator did prior to coming to the bar.

refinement: After a tiresome day at work, the narrator spent the long rainy night getting wet as he wandered from bar to bar getting drunk until he reached the bar with Maxine.

answer: No answer

text: The narrative has an answer for this instruction.

refinement: After a tiresome day at work, the narrator spent the long rainy night getting wet as he wandered from bar to bar getting drunk until he reached the bar with Maxine.

answer: His night started off in the bar that he walked into to meet a beautiful woman, who he was attracted to. He ended up at a bar and his flirting continued until he felt as if he couldn't control himself from falling for the woman across from him. She leads him to the back of the bar and they leave together in a taxi, presumably to her home.

text: The response should be about what he did before coming to the bar.

refinement: After a tiresome day at work, the narrator spent the long rainy night getting wet as he wandered from bar to bar getting drunk until he reached the bar with Maxine.

answer: His night started off by slowly leaving his apartment, being mesmerized by the rainy evening, and having a sense of purpose driving him. He ended up at a bar and his flirting continued until he felt as if he couldn't control himself from falling for the woman across from him. She leads him to the back of the bar and they leave together in a taxi, presumably to her home.

text: The information in the response is not accurate.

refinement: After a tiresome day at work, the narrator spent the long rainy night getting wet as he wandered from bar to bar getting drunk until he reached the bar with Maxine.

answer: The narrator has been wandering from bar to bar in the rain.

answer: No answer

text: The narrative has an answer for this instruction.

refinement: After a tiresome day at work, the narrator spent the long rainy night getting wet as he wandered from bar to bar getting drunk until he reached the bar with Maxine.

answer: No answer

text: The narrative has an answer for this instruction.

refinement: After a tiresome day at work, the narrator spent the long rainy night getting wet as he wandered from bar to bar getting drunk until he reached the bar with Maxine.


text:
Corralling a profitable niche

“Hey, get this: On Friday, I drove to FedEx at the L.A. airport and picked up a horse,” Steve told me.

What the heck?

[]

© Mark Brandes
PHOTOGRAPHER MARK BRANDES HAS CULTIVATED A HORSE-LOVING CLIENTELLE.

I was having breakfast with a friend who’d recently gone through a divorce. In the settlement, he ended up with a Dodge pickup truck and a horse trailer. So logically, he started a horse transportation business.

“Dude, who ships a horse by FedEx?” I asked.

“People with a boatload of money. This horse cost $1.2 million, and on Saturday, I delivered it to a 16-year-old-girl in San Jose.” Steve said with a chuckle.

“What’s she going to do with a horse that makes it worth that kind of money?” I asked.

“She’s a competitive jumper, and I think she’s shooting for the Olympics.”

The coffee hadn’t even hit me yet, and already an idea was bubbling up in my little marketing brain. There’s a girl out there with a $1.2 million dollar horse, and she could sure use a portrait of the two of them together. Maybe there are more horse owners out there like her.

And so it began. A casual breakfast five years ago launched me into a great niche market that has, as they say, legs. The result has been the creation of more than 400 equestrian portraits over the past five years. That’s in addition to my regular family portrait clientele. The equestrian market has proven to be quite profitable, with an average sale of more than $1,500 per sitting.

Don’t turn up your nose and stop reading because the horse market doesn’t appeal you. The concept can be applied to other niches where there’s a substantial pocket of discretionary income. Think boats, planes and exotic cars, which could be approached with the same kind of strategy.

[]

© Mark Brandes

HORSE SENSE

There are over 2.7 million show horses in the United States. Not many of them are valued at a million dollars or more, but trust me, owning any kind of horse is expensive and requires disposable income. Obviously, the same is true of enthusiast boats and cars. Are you following me here? There are a bunch of untapped markets out there.

For a number of years, our studio has partnered with many charities in our community. We’ve found it to be advantageous for the charities as well as for the goodwill of our studio. Our work gets displayed in front of our target market, and we’ve built a reputation for helping local charities in their fundraising. Little did I know that my new concept would be the largest fundraising opportunity we’ve ever undertaken.

One of the charities we supported locally was Ride On, a therapeutic horsemanship center near my studio in Southern California. The center uses horseback riding as a tool to help children who have a variety of disabilities. Riding improves their strength, balance, and cognitive processes. I’ve heard stories of children speaking for the first time after completing a riding session at the barn.

The same day I had breakfast with Steve, I made an appointment with Sara, the development director at Ride On, to brainstorm some ideas I had to market to the equestrians and to give the center a financial donation as well. It didn’t take long for us to come up with the concept of creating a coffee table book. We agreed that our studio would donate a portion of the portrait sales to the charity to help in their therapeutic riding program. Eventually, Ride On received more than $15,000, and I imagine that bought more than just a bit of alfalfa for those hardworking horses.

[]

© Mark Brandes

I had never seen myself as a publisher of books, but in today’s marketplace with on-demand digital printing, it made sense. Why not use the draw of a coffee table book that displays my clients’ portraits and also benefits a great cause at the same time? The concept would appeal to the pride of horse owners and competitors and would have the advantage of being a representative collection of my portraiture. With each book carrying a hundred or more portraits of riders, the income to the studio can be substantial.

All the portraits we publish in the coffee table books are painting sketches my studio creates of each rider. Although some people (including my wife, April), suggest that we include both paintings and photographic portraits, I’ve held out for paintings only. Here’s why I think this is important: These riders are always at horse shows, and show photographers typically offer 8x10-inch photographic prints for about $35. Needless to say, my portraits will cost a whole lot more than that. By featuring painted portraits, I’m taking a significant step away from work that could be considered competitive to mine. Instead, I’ve positioned myself and my work as something unique and much more special. And there’s this: Not only are the painted portraits beautiful, but they’re the most high-profit product I offer.

Getting horse trainers on board with the initial concept was a hurdle because they couldn’t visualize the end product. Now that I have three books completed, it’s easier to get buy-in from new trainers because they can see a finished book. Since the portraits in the book aren’t photographic, the books themselves stand out as valuable.

[]

© Mark Brandes

THE PAINTED PORTRAIT

You may not want to get into doing painted portraits, and if that’s the case, I’d like to challenge your thinking. If you could do a pre-painting sketch for a client that could return an additional $200 to $1,000 in your sale, would you be willing to reconsider? Is your time worth so much that you’re willing to turn your back on that potential?

Of course, our studio sells photographic portraits in addition to painted portraits. We also sell triptychs—three watercolor prints matted and framed together—which are a great way to show several images in one art piece. Albums have also become very popular in this marketplace because many riders want to capture every nuance of their horse’s expressions.

This is a marketing concept that really does have merit, and it can be applied to a number of different niche markets.

_MARK BRANDES owns Brandes Portraiture Inc., in Costa Mesa, California._

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What niche market does the author find themselves in?

answer: The author finds themselves in the competitive horse market, specifically geared towards riders and their horses.

text: It misses to specify that the market the author is in is equestrian portraits.

refinement: The author finds themselves in the equestrian portraits market, specifically geared towards riders and their horses.

answer: A niche market offering horse portraits.

text: "great niche market that has, as they say, legs. The result has been the creation of more than 400 equestrian portraits" is evidence that the author is in the equestrian portraits market.

answer: The author opens a horse transportation business.

text: It is actually the author's friend who starts a horse transportation business. The author is in the equestrian portraits market.

refinement: The author gets launched into great niche market of equestrian portraits.

answer: The author, photographer Mark Brandes, specializes in equestrian portraits.

text: "great niche market that has, as they say, legs. The result has been the creation of more than 400 equestrian portraits" is evidence that the author is in the equestrian portraits market.

answer: The author is primarily marketing portraits of horse owners and competitors.

text: "great niche market that has, as they say, legs. The result has been the creation of more than 400 equestrian portraits" is evidence that the author is in the equestrian portraits market.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

How many horse shows are there in the United States?

answer: There are over 2.7 million show horses in the United States. Therefore, there are likely many horse shows taking place in the country.

answer: There are over 2.7 million show horses in the United States.

text: The question asks how many horse shows there are which is unanswered in the text.

refinement: There are over 2.7 million show horses in the United States but the number of horse shows is not found in the text.

answer: There are over 2.7 million horse shoes in the U.S.

text: The question asks how many horse shows there are which is unanswered in the text.

refinement: The question asks how many horse shows there are which is unanswered in the text.

answer: More than 2.7 million.

text: The question asks how many horse shows there are which is unanswered in the text.

refinement: The question asks how many horse shows there are which is unanswered in the text.

answer: 2.7 million

text: The question asks how many horse shows there are which is unanswered in the text.

refinement: The question asks how many horse shows there are which is unanswered in the text.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What is a charity that the author has worked with in the past?

answer: Ride On, a therapeutic horsemanship center near the author's studio in Southern California.

text: "One of the charities we supported locally was Ride On" is evidence that the author works with the Ride On charity.

answer: A charity that Mark Brandes has worked with in the past is Ride One, a therapeutic horsemanship center in Southern California.

text: "One of the charities we supported locally was Ride On" is evidence that the author works with the Ride On charity.

answer: Ride On

text: "One of the charities we supported locally was Ride On" is evidence that the author works with the Ride On charity.

answer: Ride On, a therapeutic horsemanship center

text: "One of the charities we supported locally was Ride On" is evidence that the author works with the Ride On charity.

answer: The author worked with Ride On, a therapeutic horsemanship center, to create a coffee table book to fundraise for the center.

text: "One of the charities we supported locally was Ride On" is evidence that the author works with the Ride On charity.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

Why are the portraits only paintings and not photos?

answer: Riders often can get 8x10 prints of themselves for cheap. However, a painted portrait is a much different and more elevated product entirely.

text: It misses to mention that the portrait paintings only are for the coffee table books.

refinement: Riders often can get 8x10 prints of themselves for cheap. However, a painted portraits only in coffee table books is a much different and more elevated product entirely.

answer: He says it is taking a step away from potentially competing services.

text: It misses to mention that the portrait paintings only are for the coffee table books.

refinement: He says with portrait paintings only for coffee books takes a step away from potentially competing services.

answer: The studio wishes to distinguish itself in the equestrian market with unique and higher-priced work. Painting sketches provide this distinction, and eliminate the competition of other portrait photographers. By featuring painted portraits, the studio's works stand out as unique and of higher quality.

text: It misses to mention that the portrait paintings only are for the coffee table books.

refinement: The studio wishes to distinguish itself in the equestrian market with unique and higher-priced work. Painting sketches for coffee table books provide this distinction, and eliminate the competition of other portrait photographers. By featuring painted portraits, the studio's works stand out as unique and of higher quality.

answer: The company believes the paintings work well because riders are always at shows and photographers with 8x10 prints. The paintings stack nicely in albums and feature horse every expression.

text: It misses to mention that the portrait paintings only are for the coffee table books.

refinement: The company believes the portrait paintings only work well in the coffee table books because riders are always at shows and photographers with 8x10 prints. The paintings stack nicely in albums and feature horse every expression.

text: It misses to specify that the 8x10 prints go for $35 while painting can go for a lot more.

refinement: The company believes the portrait paintings only work well in the coffee table books because riders are always at shows and photographers sell 8x10 prints for $35 while paintings sell for much more. The paintings stack nicely in albums and feature horse every expression.

answer: The portraits are only paintings because these riders are often seen in photographs at riding events, and these portraits offer something uncommon and unique. The painted portraits offer higher profits for the studio and also benefit a charitable cause. By featuring only painted portraits and not photographic portraits, the studio has a competitive advantage.

text: It misses to mention that the portrait paintings only are for the coffee table books.

refinement: The portraits are only paintings in the author's coffee books because these riders are often seen in photographs at riding events, and these portraits offer something uncommon and unique. The painted portraits offer higher profits for the studio and also benefit a charitable cause. By featuring only painted portraits and not photographic portraits, the studio has a competitive advantage.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: Mark has identified a profitable niche in the equestrian market by capturing portraits of high-end horses and donating profits to a therapeutic horsemanship center. This unique market appeals to the pride of horse owners and has produced a substantial boost in sales for the studio.

text: It misses to specify that only a portion of the profit go to the charity.

refinement: Mark has identified a profitable niche in the equestrian market by capturing portraits of high-end horses and donating a portion of the profits to a therapeutic horsemanship center.

answer: Mark Brandes writes about the importance of creating special port of every client, no matter their background economically or physically.

text: It misses mentioning that Brandes has found a niche market creating equestrian portraits.

refinement: Mark Brandes has found a profitable niche in creating portraits of horse enthusiasts.

answer: Mark Brandes has found a profitable niche in creating portraits of horse enthusiasts. The portraits are marketed in coffee table books which also raise money for a local charity. These paintings are appealing for their uniqueness and higher-than-typical price point.

text: Extra details elongate the summary length.

refinement: Mark Brandes has found a profitable niche in creating portraits of horse enthusiasts. The portraits are marketed in coffee table books which also raise money for a local charity.

answer: This article details the business and photography studio run by Mark Brandes, who specializes in equestrian portraiture.

answer: The narrator is discussing their troubles when photographing children.

text: It misses to accurately summarize Mark Brandes niche market.

refinement: Mark Brandes has found a profitable niche in creating portraits of horse enthusiasts.