text:
It is easy to forget that until he started criticising the Americans for bombing too many Afghan civilians and comparing them to “occupiers”, Hamid Karzai was Washington’s grateful servant. After all, US officials picked him to be Afghanistan’s first post-Taliban president, armed and financed him to launch an uprising against the mullahs after 9/11, helicoptered him away from imminent capture after one clumsy foray inside Afghanistan in mid-October, reinserted him a few weeks later to march on Kandahar successfully, and finally foisted him on the rest of the Afghan political class at the United Nations-sponsored conference in Bonn in December 2001 as the leader they could not afford to reject.

Robert Grenier’s fascinating book shows just how close the Karzai-US relationship was at that stage. As the Central Intelligence Agency’s station chief in Islamabad, Grenier played a key part in what he calls (in a nod to the three Anglo-Afghan wars) the first American-Afghan war. It lasted 88 days, from 9/11 until the capture of the Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar’s compound in Kandahar. Much of Grenier’s time was spent trying to persuade tribal chieftains, often with cash, to rise up against the Taliban, or even – in the other hallowed CIA tradition – plotting with a senior Taliban commander to mount a palace coup against Omar. No other US official has yet chronicled this period so intimately, including detailed records of meetings and phone calls.

The story of Karzai’s floundering military campaign against the Taliban is particularly graphic. Grenier discloses how the future president was almost killed by US “friendly fire”, a fate later to befall dozens of American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. On 5 December 2001, a US Special Forces ground controller, working with Karzai’s small contingent of armed men on the northern outskirts of Kandahar, made a mistake and called in a 2,000lb “smart bomb” on his own location. No Americans died but around 40 of Karzai’s Afghans were killed or wounded. Karzai was in a nearby building and escaped with minor cuts.

Thanks to details such as this Grenier adds considerable value to the historical record, even though his book is often marred by a know-all and self-justifying tone. Colleagues and several senior officials, including the then secretary of defence, Donald Rumsfeld, are pilloried. Grenier admits to some errors of judgment; for example, he preferred Gul Agha Sherzai, who later re-emerged as Kandahar’s controversial governor, over Karzai as the best man to topple the Taliban. But overall he has little doubt that he always made the right calls in the arguments between various sectors of Washington’s bureaucratic machine.

He takes particular pride in the fact that, unlike most foreign-based CIA station chiefs who stick to spycraft and narrowly focused operations, he was trusted to make strategic policy recommendations. Twelve days after 9/11, George Tenet, the CIA director, asked him to produce a comprehensive plan for the “war on terror” that George Bush had just announced. Grenier calls the eight-page cable that he produced “the best three hours of work I ever did”. We know from Bob Woodward’s _Bush at War_ that the president and the military top brass adapted their plans in line with the memo, so Grenier’s self-congratulation is no idle boast. His cable warned the Americans not to be too closely identified with or rely on the Tajik-led Northern Alliance who were fighting the Taliban near Kabul. This risked encuraging the Pashtuns, Afghanistan’s majority ethnicity, in the southern and eastern provinces to coalesce behind the Taliban leadership against foreign invaders. It would be better to find and arm dissident Pashtuns, if possible within the Taliban. The US should play on Pashtun suspicions of the Arab jihadis, keep its footprint small and eschew permanent bases.

Grenier avoids the crucial question of whether it was necessary to attack the Taliban at all, given that Bush’s demand that they hand Osama bin Laden over was futile. The al-Qaida leader and his closest associates had taken refuge in the mountains well out of Taliban reach, so that the US charge that the Taliban were harbouring terrorists had become void. Grenier brushes this aside as “irrelevant”, since Bush wanted regime change and was determined to take war to the Taliban as well as al-Qaida. This was the first major US blunder.

The second blunder – and Grenier acknowledges this one – was that no American effort was made, after Kandahar fell, to bring any senior Taliban figures into the Karzai-led government. Convinced that many Taliban leaders were willing to accept Karzai, Grenier criticises the US detention of the former foreign minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil and Abdul Salam Zaeef, the ambassador in Islamabad. Damningly, he reveals a complete vacuum in thinking. “I neither sought nor received any sort of policy guidance regarding senior Taliban figures,” he writes. Separately, we know that Washington told the UN diplomats who were in charge at the Bonn conference not to make overtures to the Taliban. Had they split the Taliban by bringing some into a coalition government, the movement might never have revived in 2003/04 to spark the insurgency that still continues after a decade of US and UK offensives against it.

Grenier is scathing about the “over-ambitious” second American-Afghan war, when Washington launched its counterinsurgency in Helmand, Kandahar and the rest of southern and eastern Afghanistan and embarked on an attempt at nation-building. “It overwhelmed a primitive country … triggered massive corruption through our profligacy, and convinced a substantial number of Afghans that we were in fact occupiers,” he writes. It also “radicalised Pakistan and undermined the political and social underpinnings of a nuclear-armed state”.

Many readers will agree with that assessment, though far fewer will support Grenier’s bland treatment of torture practices. After the Taliban’s collapse, Grenier took charge of CIA activities in the Iraq war and later headed the agency’s Counterterrorism Center before going into private business. It was no surprise that when the Senate Intelligence Committee produced a blistering report a few months ago on CIA torture, Grenier led the counter-attack. In this book he sets the same tone, criticising senators for changing their tune from the allegedly uncomplaining days when they were briefed on the programmes in secret sessions. He acknowledges that what he calls the CIA’s enhanced interrogation techniques (EITs) were designed to ensure that detainees “were frightened, humiliated and psychologically worn down, especially through sleep deprivation”, and calls it “a grim business, at best”. But he claims the EITs were efficient and effective – a view that the Senate report rejects, saying that they produced no ticking time-bomb-style information that prevented any attacks but rather led detainees to produce “fabricated” tales.

Grenier is still too much of an old agency man to turn against his former employers on the torture issue. But we can be grateful that he has lifted the lid on the shambles of US policy in and around the Afghan wars.

• Jonathan Steele is the author of _Ghosts of Afghanistan: The Haunted Battleground_ (Portobello). To order _88 Days to Kandahar_ go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over £10, online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of £1.99.

question: What is the article about?

answer: The foreword to Robert Grenier's book 88 Days to Kandahar: A CIA Agent inside Afghanistan.

text: The book is advertised in the article but it is not about the book

refinement: Politics in Afghanistan after the US led war following 9/11, a review of a book called 88 days to Kandahar.

answer: The article seems to be a review of Robert Greinier's book. Greinier was the CIA's station chief in Islamabad, and he played an important role in the first American-Afghan war against Mullah Mohammed Omar.

answer: The article looks at Robert Greinier's book, 88 Days to Kandahar, and the bizarre US-Afghan military campaigns.

question: What is highlighted in the article?

answer: The article highlights the CIA's involvement in Afghanistan in the early 2000s, particularly as related to Hamid Karzai's reign. It also discusses various shortcomings of US involvement in Afghanistan, particularly related to the second American-Afghan war.

answer: The author highlights the disastrous consequences resulting from the United States' invasion of Afghanistan following 9/11. Particularly, the author cites the lack of planning that went into the second American-Afghan war, including over-ambitious tactics and major blunders.

answer: Greinier's book, and his value to the historical record.

question: Is the article fact or opinion?

answer: The article is largely fact based, although some opinions from the author are included throughout.

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

answer: The article is presented as factual recounting of events surrounding the American-Afghan relationship and the actions of various officials involved, so the passage is clearly factual.

text: The passage contains subjective content.

refinement: The article is presented as factual recounting of events surrounding the American-Afghan relationship and the actions of various officials involved, but the personal views of the author are represented as well.

question: When was the article written?

answer: After 2008

text: It is not clear if it was after 208

answer: It isn't indicated, but after September 2001.

answer: Sometime after 2011 - since the article is talking about the 2011 Senate report on CIA torture.

text: It is not clear that it was after 2011

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Robert Grenier speaks of his time as CIA station chief in Pakistan, and what actions he took to overthrow the Taliban after September 11th. The author speaks of the many policy blunders the Obama administration has made, specifically the use of their enhanced interrogation skills and their decision to not enlist Taliban members as Kabul's president.

answer: The author spends the majority of the excerpt discussing the first American-Afghan war and the role Robert Grenier played in the intelligence effort on that war. This selection is focused largely on Grenier's action before 9/11 and the CIA's approach to the Taliban groups.

answer: Robert Grenier's book provides a detailed look of how Afghanistan was under US occupation after 9/11 through a personal account of his own rather than analysis.

answer: When Hamid Karzai was a newcomer to Afghan Politcs, he quickly rose to prominance. However, he quickly began to disagree with the US on how to handle ethnic conflict as it arose. The CIA's Robert Grenier spent much time with Karzai plotting his fight and prometed to bring Karzai to power. However, when the fighting began, Karzai's troops soon found themselves surrounded by US guards.

answer: The article seems to be a review of Robert Greinier's book. Greinier was the CIA's station chief in Islamabad, and he played an important role in the first American-Afghan war against Mullah Mohammed Omar. The author of the article praises Greinier and the book.

answer: Despite revealing many how Robert Grenier’s time in the CIA was flawed, 88 Days to Kandahar is incredibly drawn out and lacks focus on salient problems with the United States involvement in Afghanistan.


split: train

text:
Everything started with her. She invited me to one of the biggest nights of the year, for a nerd anyway. It was N7, a convention where all of the biggest game developers came together to announce their upcoming games. There were giveaways and demos and specials, and it was especially difficult to get passes. Somehow, it doesn’t matter now; she got the passes for us to go. I was to go to her house, pick her up, and drive us there and have a good time.

When I got to her house, I immediately noticed the shape it was in. broken down, gloomy, and just plain creepy. I decided to not mention it. She came outside, and I was stunned. She only wore her normal, everyday clothes, so did I, but she still looked beautiful.

We went there, and I immediately saw a theater room for one of my favorite developers. I rushed inside, dragging her along beside me. The lights dimmed, and I saw a familiar face. It was the main protagonist of my favorite game as a kid. The name doesn’t really matter now, but I was excited. They were going to make another game! Throughout the rest of the night, I marveled at the new gaming systems and games that were coming out, but my mind still went back to that one game.

I then took her home, and that is when it all started. I insisted on bringing her to the door, and saw her in. What’s important is what I saw. I decided to step in, maybe meet her parents. One step and I was knee-deep in water. I was paralyzed. I felt weaker and weaker at the moment, as if my life force was being drained away. Then, I felt tendrils of seaweed brushing against my legs. You know the feeling of touching seaweed in the water? It was like that, but I couldn’t move. I fell into the water, sinking as the last bit of my life was draining away. Then, one powerful tendril of seaweed shot up and knocked me out of the water and onto the front porch. I sat up, and saw her. But it wasn’t her; it was her, covered in seaweed, with a strange green aura around her. She was almost floating in the air. I sat there for quite a while, and she hovered there for quite a while, and then, for the first time all night, I built up the courage to speak to her.

“So,” I said, “You’re seaweed.”

She nodded, and came over to sit by me. She explained it all to me, and I understood.

She fell in here as a little girl, and drowned. The magical properties of the swamp gave her life again, but as seaweed. The other human-seaweed hybrids took care of her, nurtured her, and protected her from predators. She was their child, in a way. Eventually she learned to morph between human and seaweed forms, but she had to be careful. The magic of the swamp was strong, and would pull her back to her seaweed form if she was gone too long. It was never explained to her why the swamp was in the house, or how the magic came to be, so don’t come asking for that.

“It’s alright,” I said, still not sure what was real anymore, but I decided to just go with it, “I understand.”

She pushed herself away from me and sobbed, “No, you don’t understand! I could die any day! I could get eaten by some fish or just of old age! I won’t know what life will be like! I won’t know love!”

And she was right. I didn’t understand a bit. But I decided to try to make it better. I pulled her in my arms and just held her there, stayed throughout the night. I did not say a word. Neither did she. When day came, she whispered “thank you” before letting herself drop into the swamp. I went home, told no one about it.

The next morning, I saw everything differently. There were fairies in the trees and music in the air. It was either my mind was opened to how the world really was, or the swamp water gave me hallucinations.

Either way, I kept seeing them, and I talked to them now and then.

Every day afterward, I went to the house. I looked in, relieved to find the swamp still there. I sat down, dipped my feet in. I felt my life draining instantly, but kept them there until I felt too weak. I looked down into the swamp, among the seaweed, and found one. I was certain it was her. I could always tell. After I was too weak, there was always a gentle nudge, pushing me back on to the porch.

After my many other adventures, when I was old and grey and saw everything the world had to offer, I went back to the house. It was gone. Demolished. In front of me stood a large plain house. I knocked, and a man and his wife came to the door. I explained that an old friend used to live there and asked if I could come in. They accepted. The house was obviously new, and as I walked down the hall I saw a room. I peeked in, the owners of the house looked cautious, but they decided what could an old man like me do?

There, in a crib, was a little baby girl, I looked at her, and saw her face. Her face. I told them she was beautiful, and then walked out without a word.

title: [FN] Seaweed

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

Summarize the positive emotions the narrator feels.

answer: The narrator feels overwhelmingly positive emotions when in the company of the seaweed-covered girl. He feels admiration, warmth, fascination, and compassion for the girl's struggles. Most importantly, the narrator feels hope, knowing that he can make a difference for her.

text: The listed emotions aren't entirely off-base, but the admiration and fascination seem to be more interpretation than explanation.

refinement: The narrator feels overwhelmingly positive emotions when in the company of the seaweed-covered girl. He feels warmth and compassion for the girl's struggles. Most importantly, the narrator feels hope, knowing that he can make a difference for her.

text: The answer omits the visit of N7 and the narrator's excitement of being there.

refinement: The visit to the N7 with the seaweed girl is very exciting for the narrator, especially the upcoming game of the narrator's favorite protagonist as a kid. The narrator feels overwhelmingly positive emotions when in the company of the seaweed-covered girl. He feels warmth and compassion for the girl's struggles. Most importantly, the narrator feels hope, knowing that he can make a difference for her.

answer: The narrator is excited when he sees the announcement of a sequel to his favorite game as a kid. When he visited the seaweed girl's house in the days that followed, he felt relieved each time her got to the house and found that the swamp was still there.

text: "each time he got to" has a typo in it

refinement: The narrator is excited when he sees the announcement of a sequel to his favorite game as a kid. When he visited the seaweed girl's house in the days that followed, he felt relieved each time he got to the house and found that the swamp was still there.

answer: The narrator seems excited throughout the night and feels love when the seaweed being is resting in his arms and thanking him. The narrator feels relief to have solved the mystery of the swamp. He feels amazed when looking around the swamp with strange fairies in the trees and music in the air. The narrator feels peace with the swamp and feels enchanted by it.

text: Peace with the swamp is made up.

refinement: The narrator seems excited throughout the night and feels love when the seaweed being is resting in his arms and thanking him. The narrator feels relief to have solved the mystery of the swamp. He feels amazed when looking around the swamp with strange fairies in the trees and music in the air.

text: The answer omits the visit to N7.

refinement: The visit to the N7 with the seaweed girl is very exciting for the narrator, especially the upcoming game of the narrator's favorite protagonist as a kid. The narrator seems excited throughout the night and feels love when the seaweed being is resting in his arms and thanking him. The narrator feels relief to have solved the mystery of the swamp. He feels amazed when looking around the swamp with strange fairies in the trees and music in the air.

answer: At first, the narrator is drawn to the house because of a business convention, but upon seeing that the house is riddled with seaweed he is paralyzed with fear. However, the protagonist then meets the girl who turns out to be a seaweed hybrid and compassion develops between the two. The narrator feels caring and understanding towards her, despite the inherent emotional challenge of understanding this rare and unusual situation. He also feels a fascination and awe of the magical world that allows her existence.

text: The convention isn't for business, it's a game convention. Also, the narrator isn't paralyzed at seeing the seaweed house. Since these are negative emotions, they are irrelevant to the question.

refinement: The protagonist meets the girl who turns out to be a seaweed hybrid and compassion develops between the two. The narrator feels caring and understanding towards her, despite the inherent emotional challenge of understanding this rare and unusual situation. He also feels a fascination and awe of the magical world that allows her existence.

text: The answer omits the visit to N7.

refinement: The visit to the N7 with the seaweed girl is very exciting for the narrator, especially the upcoming game of the narrator's favorite protagonist as a kid. The protagonist meets the girl who turns out to be a seaweed hybrid and compassion develops between the two. The narrator feels caring and understanding towards her, despite the inherent emotional challenge of understanding this rare and unusual situation. He also feels a fascination and awe of the magical world that allows her existence.

text: The narrator and the girl already know each other and go to the convention together. He learns that she's seaweed after the convention.

refinement: The visit to the N7 with the seaweed girl is very exciting for the narrator, especially the upcoming game of the narrator's favorite protagonist as a kid. The protagonist learns that the girl is a seaweed hybrid and compassion develops between the two. The narrator feels caring and understanding towards her, despite the inherent emotional challenge of understanding this rare and unusual situation. He also feels a fascination and awe of the magical world that allows her existence.

answer: The narrator feels terrified the first time he is overcome by the swamp water. He also seems excited about a night of video games. However, the narrator also has a pleasant feeling of relief when he hears the story of the girl turned swamp.

text: The terrifying swamp is not relevant.

refinement: He seems excited about a night of video games. However, the narrator also has a pleasant feeling of relief when he hears the story of the girl turned swamp.

text: The narrator and the girl go to a videogame convention, not to a night of video games.

refinement: He's excited about the videogame convention he and the girl goes. However, the narrator also has a pleasant feeling of relief when he hears the story of the girl turned swamp.

text: The girl didn't "turn swamp". He doesn't feel relief after learning her story but compassion.

refinement: He's excited about the videogame convention he and the girl goes. The narrator feels compassion towards the girl after learning her story of how she turned into seaweed.

text: The answer omits the relief of the narrator that the swamp remains where it is after he learns about the seaweed girl.

refinement: He's excited about the videogame convention he and the girl goes. The narrator feels compassion towards the girl after learning her story of how she turned into seaweed. Afterward, the narrator visits her every day and feels relief that the swamp remains there.

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

Summarize everything relating to magic.

answer: The swamp is somehow contained within the girl's house. The girl drowned in the swamp, but its magical properties gave her new life as a human-seaweed hybrid. She is able to morph between human and seaweed forms. The seaweed also drains the life force out of the narrator. The morning after discovering the girl's identity, the narrator sees fairies in the trees and hears music in the air. At the end of the story, a baby girl is born and has the seaweed girl's face.

answer: The swamp, in the house, has magical powers. This magic has given the main character's friend (who is now a seaweed creature) life again. The magic is powerful and can cause a person who stays in the swamp too long to turn into seaweed themselves. It is unclear why the magic has taken place in the house, but it is not always a reliable source of life, as it could cause someone to die at any moment.

text: There's no mention of the swamp being a source of life in a reliable fashion. It saps the narrator's life when he's in contact with the water.

refinement: The swamp, in the house, has magical powers. This magic has given the main character's friend (who is now a seaweed creature) life again. The magic is powerful and can cause a person who stays in the swamp too long to turn into seaweed themselves. It is unclear why the magic has taken place in the house, but it saps the narrator's life when he's in contact with the swamp's water.

text: The answer omits the narrator's ability to see faeries after learning about the seaweed girl.

refinement: The swamp, in the house, has magical powers. This magic has given the main character's friend (who is now a seaweed creature) life again. The magic is powerful and can cause a person who stays in the swamp too long to turn into seaweed themselves. It is unclear why the magic has taken place in the house, but it saps the narrator's life when he's in contact with the swamp's water. After learning about the girl, the narrator starts being able to see faeries and sometimes talks to them.

answer: The girl falls into a swamp and is reborn as seaweed, developing the ability to shift between human and seaweed forms. This magical quality stems from this particular swamp, which the girl did not understand. After morphing back into her human form, she finds that the swamp magically heals and protects her.

text: There's nothing that says the swamp heals and protects the girl.

refinement: The girl falls into a swamp and is reborn as seaweed, developing the ability to shift between human and seaweed forms. This magical quality stems from this particular swamp, which the girl did not understand.

text: The answer omits the narrator being able to see faeries after learning about the girl.

refinement: The girl falls into a swamp and is reborn as seaweed, developing the ability to shift between human and seaweed forms. This magical quality stems from this particular swamp, which the girl did not understand. After learning her story, the narrator starts seeing faeries and can talk to them.

answer: The woman's body was transformed into a living seaweed form after she was accidentally killed in her childhood home. Her transformation is due to the magic of the swamp which resides in her family's former home. Seaweed-form creatures are in danger of being attacked by predators or dying prematurely due to age. The magic of the swamp is unpredictable and can potentially cause hallucinations in humans. It remains unclear why the magic exists or how it came to be.

text: The answer is almost entirely made up.

text: The answer is empty.

refinement: The swamp is somehow contained within the girl's house. The girl drowned in the swamp, but its magical properties gave her new life as a human-seaweed hybrid. She is able to morph between human and seaweed forms. The seaweed also drains the life force out of the narrator. The morning after discovering the girl's identity, the narrator sees fairies in the trees and hears music in the air.

answer: The protagonist doesn't believe in magic until he crosses paths with the seaweed.

text: The answer doesn't address the question.

text: The answer is empty.

refinement: The swamp is somehow contained within the girl's house. The girl drowned in the swamp, but its magical properties gave her new life as a human-seaweed hybrid. She is able to morph between human and seaweed forms. The seaweed also drains the life force out of the narrator. The morning after discovering the girl's identity, the narrator sees fairies in the trees and hears music in the air.

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

What does the story say about rebirth?

answer: The story implies that there is potential for rebirth after death. The main protagonist, who was once a human, was reborn as a sea creature. The creature was loved in her new life, though she was limited in her capabilities. Despite this, she was content and glad to have new life. The story ends with the protagonist seeing a human baby who reminds him of his previous incarnation. This implies that rebirth is possible and that change is constant.

text: The quality of new life is irrelevant.

refinement: The story implies that there is potential for rebirth after death. The main protagonist, who was once a human, was reborn as a sea creature. The story ends with the protagonist seeing a human baby who reminds him of his previous incarnation. This implies that rebirth is possible and that change is constant.

text: The girl turned to seaweed after dying in the swamp, not the protagonist.

refinement: The story implies that there is potential for rebirth after death. The girl dies in the swamp and is reborn as seaweed. The story ends with the protagonist seeing a human baby who reminds him of his previous incarnation. This implies that rebirth is possible and that change is constant.

text: The baby reminds the narrator of the girl because the baby has her face.

refinement: The story implies that there is potential for rebirth after death. The girl dies in the swamp and is reborn as seaweed. The story ends with the protagonist seeing a human baby who has the seaweed girl's face. This implies that rebirth is possible and that change is constant.

text: The implication of rebirth is stated twice.

refinement: The story implies that there is potential for rebirth after death. The girl dies in the swamp and is reborn as seaweed. The story ends with the protagonist seeing a human baby who has the seaweed girl's face.

answer: The story suggests that rebirth is both beautiful and terrifying. The protagonist discovered a unique individual, transformed into a creature unlike any other. This reborn creature was feared by humans and vulnerable without protection. Yet in spite of her fears, the protagonist was courageous enough to accept her and even empathize with her. It is through this understanding that the protagonist began to see the world as more full of potential than ever before. It is this revelation that allows him to see the beauty in rebirth and the richness in the journey of each individual.

text: The answer makes up irrelevant interpretations and claims.

text: The answer is empty.

refinement: The girl died in the swamp and was reborn as seaweed. The narrator sees a baby in the end who has the seaweed girl's face. These imply rebirth is something that happens in this world.

answer: When the girl drowns in the swamp, the magical properties of the swamp give her life again, but as seaweed. At the end of the story, she seems to be reborn as a baby girl.

answer: No answer

text: The question can be answered.

refinement: The girl died in the swamp and was reborn as seaweed. The narrator sees a baby in the end who has the seaweed girl's face. These imply rebirth is something that happens in this world.

answer: In this occasion, the narrator met a girl named Seaweed who fell into the water in her childhood and drowned. The magic of the swamp gave her life again, but she became a form of seaweed. The other human-seaweed hybrids took care of her and nurtured her so she could speak to and live with humans. However, she could revert back to seaweed form if she was gone too long. The narrator was like her father, teaching her about the world and asked to not come to their house since he suspected there was seaweed lurking under the house. There were occasions when she dropped by for a few seconds but had to hurry back to the swamp since she would return to seaweed form soon.

text: The seaweed girl's life is irrelevant.

refinement: In this occasion, the narrator met a girl named Seaweed who fell into the water in her childhood and drowned. The magic of the swamp gave her life again, but she became a form of seaweed.

text: The seaweed girl's name isn't Seaweed, she's seaweed.

refinement: In this occasion, the narrator met a girl who fell into the water in her childhood and drowned. The magic of the swamp gave her life again, but she became a form of seaweed.

text: The girl fell into the swamp.

refinement: In this occasion, the narrator met a girl who fell into the swamp in her childhood and drowned. The magic of the swamp gave her life again, but she became a form of seaweed.

text: "In this occasion" is unnecessary.

refinement: The narrator met a girl who fell into the swamp in her childhood and drowned. The magic of the swamp gave her life again, but she became a form of seaweed.

text: The answer omits the baby in the end who has the girl's face.

refinement: The narrator met a girl who fell into the swamp in her childhood and drowned. The magic of the swamp gave her life again, but she became a form of seaweed. In the end, the narrator sees a baby who has the seaweed girl's face.


text:
Phys Ed

[]

Credit...Kirsten Luce for The New York Times

-   May 3, 2017

If all of the children who currently are sedentary started exercising every day, societies could save enormous amounts of money in the coming decades and have healthier citizens as a whole, according to a remarkable new study. In the United States alone, we could expect to save more than $120 billion every year in health care and associated expenses.

The study is the first to use sophisticated computer simulations to arrive at a literal and sobering societal price tag for allowing our children to be sedentary.

Inactivity is, of course, widespread among young people today. Recent research shows that in the United States and Europe, physical activity tends to peak at about age 7 for both boys and girls and tail off continually throughout adolescence. More than two-thirds of children in the United States rarely exercise at all.

The immediate health consequences for inactive children and their families are worrisome. Childhood obesity, which is linked to lack of exercise, is common, as is the incidence of Type 2 diabetes and other health problems related to being overweight among children as young as 6.

But the long-term financial costs of inactivity in the young, both for them and society as a whole, have never been quantified.

So for the new study, which was published this week in Health Affairs, researchers with the Global Obesity Prevention Center at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and other institutions decided to create a bogglingly complex computer model of what the future could look like if we do or do not get more of our children moving.

The researchers began by gathering as much public data as is currently available about the health, weight and physical activity patterns of all 31.7 million American children now aged 8 to 11, using large-scale databases from the Census Bureau, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other groups.

The researchers fed this information into a computerized modeling program that created an electronic avatar for every American child today. In line with reality, two-thirds of these children were programmed to rarely exercise and many were overweight or obese.

The scientists then had the simulated children grow up. Using estimations about how calorie intake and activity patterns affect body weight, the program changed each virtual child’s body day-by-day and year-by-year into adulthood. Most became increasingly overweight.

As the simulated children became adults, the scientists then modeled each one’s health, based on obesity-associated risks for heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer, and also the probable financial price of dealing with those diseases (adjusted for future inflation), both in terms of direct expenses for hospitalizations, drugs and so on, and lost productivity because of someone’s being ill.

The results were staggering. According to the computer model, the costs of today’s 8- to 11-year-olds being inactive and consequently overweight would be almost $3 trillion in medical expenses and lost productivity every year once the children reached adulthood and for decades until their deaths.

But when the researchers tweaked children’s activity levels within their model, the numbers began to look quite different. If they presumed that, in an imaginary America, half of all children exercised vigorously for about 25 minutes three times a week, such as during active recess or sports or, more ambitiously, ran around and moved for at least an hour every day, which is the amount of youth exercise recommended by the C.D.C., their virtual lives were transformed.

Most obviously, the incidence of childhood obesity fell by more than 4 percent, a change that resonated throughout the simulated children’s lives and society. There were about half a million fewer cases of adult-onset heart disease, diabetes, cancer and strokes in this simulation, and the society-wide costs associated with these illnesses dropped by about $32 billion every year if the children romped about for 25 minutes three times per week and by almost $37 billion if they moved for an hour every day.

The impacts were even more substantial when the researchers assumed that 100 percent of the children who are now sedentary got regular exercise.

In this scenario, the annual total costs during adulthood from obesity-associated medical expenses and lost productivity plummeted by about $62 billion when children were active three times a week and by more than $120 billion every year when all of the virtual children played and moved for at least an hour each day.

The implication of these numbers is that all of us, including people who are not parents, have selfish reasons to be concerned about childhood inactivity, says Bruce Lee, the director of the Global Obesity Prevention Program at Johns Hopkins and lead author of the study.

“We all will share the costs” of future medical treatments and lost work time among children who move too little now, he says.

Of course, this was a computer model and not a time machine, he says. It can provide predictions but not certainties. The simulations also relied on broad generalizations about how physical activity affects body weight and health, with the presumption being that more movement leads to less weight, which might not be true for all young people.

Still, this peek into our possible future strongly suggests that we should find ways now to encourage more children to move, Dr. Lee says. Show this study to school administrators who are mulling curtailing recess and physical education classes, he suggests. Talk to local planning authorities about more playing fields and parks. And if you are a parent, take your child for a bike ride, swim or jog.

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

Describe the selfish reasons why American adults should find ways to encourage activity in children.

answer: It will save money on health care expenses and society can afford more and better facilities, helping everyone's quality of life.

answer: It will improve the kids' health.

text: This does not tell us why we should be concerned

refinement: It will save money on health care expenses and society can afford more and better facilities, helping everyone's quality of life.

answer: American adults should find ways to encourage activity in children for selfish reasons, because if the children are inactive, then future medical treatments and lost work due to their health will instead be responsible for American adults. Adults can help by taking the children out for activities like bike riding, swimming, or going on walks.

text: This sentence is irrelevant.

refinement: American adults should find ways to encourage activity in children for selfish reasons, because if the children are inactive, then future medical treatments and lost work due to their health will instead be responsible for American adults.

text: The American adults will be responsible, not the other way around

refinement: American adults should find ways to encourage activity in children for selfish reasons, because if the children are inactive, then future medical treatment costs will be the responsibility of everyone.

answer: American adults should find ways to encourage activity in children for selfish reasons because the more children exercise, the better off the nation will be financially - it will save money, which will help get out of debt.

text: Close, but not quite. Everyone will be responsible for health care costs in the future

refinement: American adults should find ways to encourage activity in children for selfish reasons because the more children exercise, the better off the nation will be financially - everyone will be responsible for health care costs in the future.

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

Can the research be relied upon as absolutely accurate?

answer: No, it is a computer model and not a time machine.

text: Go into more about what this means in context

refinement: No, it can't. It's a computer model and not a time machine. The model relies on generalizations about how physical activity affects body weight and health, which might not be true for all young people.

answer: No, it can't. It's a computer model and not a time machine.

text: Go into more detail about what this means

refinement: No, it can't. It's a computer model and not a time machine. The model relies on generalizations about how physical activity affects body weight and health, which might not be true for all young people.

answer: No, it can't. It's a computer model and not a time machine. The model relies on generalizations about how physical activity affects body weight and health, which might not be true for all young people.

answer: No, it is a computer model and not a time machine.

text: More expansion on what this means is necessary

refinement: No, it can't. It's a computer model and not a time machine. The model relies on generalizations about how physical activity affects body weight and health, which might not be true for all young people.

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

Why should parents encourage their children to take a regular bike ride?

answer: According to the study, if all children who are currently sedentary started exercising every day, societies could save enormous amounts of money in the coming decades and have healthier citizens as a whole.

answer: The article does not answer this question.

text: Technically speaking the entire article answers this question

refinement: According to the study, if all children who are currently sedentary started exercising every day, societies could save enormous amounts of money in the coming decades and have healthier citizens as a whole.

answer: Because a regular bike ride will help them avoid becoming obese and reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

text: Add in implications of what this means for society.

refinement: Because a regular bike ride will help them avoid becoming obese and reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Society could save enormous amounts of money on healthcare costs in the future.

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

Why have children become sedentary?

answer: The causes are n't fully clear. Some reports have indicated that many have migrated from rural areas to cities causing parents to drive children to school. Lack of bikes and public transport may be a factor as well.

text: This is horrible grammar

refinement: The causes are not fully clear. Some reports have indicated that many have migrated from rural areas to cities causing parents to drive children to school. Lack of bikes and public transport may be a factor as well.

text: The article actually does not state any reasons

refinement: The causes are not fully clear from the article.

answer: The causes are n't fully clear. Some reports have indicated that many have migrated from rural areas to cities causing parents to drive children to school. Lack of bikes and public transport may be a factor as well. In addition, children are more sedentary due to the urbanization caused by the online culture.

text: This is horrible grammar

refinement: The causes are not fully clear. Some reports have indicated that many have migrated from rural areas to cities causing parents to drive children to school. Lack of bikes and public transport may be a factor as well. In addition, children are more sedentary due to the urbanization caused by the online culture.

text: The article does not mention any of this

refinement: The causes are not fully clear from the article.

answer: Probably diet, lack of access to sports teams, and increasingly urbanized life.

text: The causes are not stated in the article.

refinement: The causes are not stated in the article.

answer: Childhood obesity, which is linked to lack of exercise, is common, as is the incidence of Type 2 diabetes and other health problems related to being overweight among children as young as 6. The study states that over two-thirds of children in the United States rarely exercise.

text: None of this states why

refinement: The causes are not fully clear from the article.


text:
Thirty thousand feet up in the air, why decide that this row was the right one to move him to. Certainly, there’s more legroom, but there’s also the sensation. Looking to the left, ideas begin to form.

The little voice says, “Do it. Do it and let yourself go.”

But he can’t.

Thinking about the plunge. The sensation of falling. Stomach dropping, G-forces rippling his face, tearing at his eyes, his clothes. Attempting to rip him apart before he inevitably strikes the ground at hundreds of miles per hour.

And after the impact, darkness. The end.

Yet that can’t happen.

As the stewardess hands him his peanuts, he returns his attention to page twenty-three of the financial report he owes his boss when he lands.

He pours himself a drink. A four and a half hour flight with two-hour delay, three hours to his office because of traffic, twenty minutes of listening to his boss yell at him because he’s such a failure and another hour home.

Drinking his scotch, his mind returns to the row. The sensation that almost overwhelmed him. That almost forced him to leap from thirty thousand feet. That almost ended him.

Here it was again.

Dragging himself to the balcony he looks over the edge. The people seem so small and insignificant from his vantage point, as if they were ants, following their daily routines. He gazes up at the iconic statue, stationed in the harbor, which once welcomed his great-grandparents to the home of the brave.

He climbs up onto the railing; still undecided.

A flag whips about in the gust of wind.

And a woman screams.

title: This is a short story I wrote that I'm just looking for feedback on. It's called 'Exit Row'.

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

Who is the narrator referring to?

answer: The narrator is referring to himself.

answer: He describes all the different ways he is pondering about killing himself

answer: Information can't be found.

text: It is incorrectly stated that the information can't be found.

answer: The narrator refers to himself in this story.

answer: The narrator is referring to the person that has almost ripped the parachute off and who decides to move him to the exit row.

text: It is incorrect that the narrator is referring to the person who decided to move him to the exit row.

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

Where is the story set?

answer: The story is set 30,000 feet in the air on an airplane.

answer: In an airplane.

answer: On an airplane

answer: The story is set on an airplane.

answer: 30,000 feet up in the air

text: It is overlooked that the story is set in an airplane.

refinement: 30,000 feet up in the air, in an airplane.

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

Is he suicidal?

answer: Yes.

answer: It seems so, because he wants to jump off his balcony.

answer: Yes, the character appears to be contemplating suicide.

answer: It's implied that he is.

answer: The passage implies that the protagonist is wrestling with the desire to jump off of the plane to end his life. Therefore, he is probably suicidal.

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

Why did the woman scream?

answer: The man climbed up onto the railing of the plane's balcony and she screamed because she thought he was going to jump.

answer: The man climbed on top of the second level of the balcony railing.

answer: The man is getting ready to jump.

answer: The story implies he had attempted suicide.

answer: The man was on the railing of the airplane, contemplating jumping. The scream came from a woman who saw him balanced precariously on the railing.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: This story is about an individual contemplating jumping off of an airplane. Although he wants to leap, he ultimately decides against it. The voice in his head tries to convince him to go through with the suicide, but he ultimately denies it.

text: It is omitted that the man tries to jump off his balcony.

refinement: This story is about an individual contemplating jumping off of an airplane. Although he wants to leap, he ultimately decides against it. While he stands on his balcony, the voice in his head tries to convince him to go through with the suicide, but he ultimately denies it.

text: There is no evidence of whether he ultimately jumps or not but it seems like he does.

refinement: This story is about an individual contemplating jumping off of an airplane. Although he wants to leap, he ultimately decides against it. While he stands on his balcony, the voice in his head tries to convince him to go through with the suicide, it seems like he does jump.

answer: A man thinks about jumping out of a plane but decides against it. He climbs up onto the railing of a balcony after they arrive and a woman screams at the sight of him attempting to jump off.

answer: This story is about a man contemplating jumping from a plane's exit row and wondering if it would be worth the sensation of falling to the ground, or if the pain and guilt is worth it. Ultimately, he decides not to jump, but the idea haunts him throughout the rest of the flight.

text: It is omitted that the suicidal thoughts haunt him again while he stands on his balcony.

refinement: This story is about a man contemplating jumping from a plane's exit row and wondering if it would be worth the sensation of falling to the ground, or if the pain and guilt is worth it. Ultimately, he decides not to jump, but the idea haunts him again while he stands on his balcony.

answer: A man is on an airplane at 30 000 feet. He thinks about jumping off the edge or not, at the whim of his inner self.

text: It is omitted that he attempts suicide again from his balcony.

refinement: A man is on an airplane at 30 000 feet, he thinks about jumping off the edge but does not. His suicidal thoughts haunt him again as he stands on his balcony.

answer: A man is sitting on a plane during a long trip, contemplating jumping out of it, but he stays on the plane and then stands on the balcony of his apartment and thinks about killing himself, prompting a woman to scream for help.


text:
ALLEN ROGER SNYDER (born January 26, 1946) is an American lawyer and a former nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Education and legal training

Snyder earned a bachelor's degree with distinction from George Washington University in 1967 and a J.D. degree _magna cum laude_ from Harvard Law School in 1971. He clerked for Supreme Court justices John Marshall Harlan II in 1971 and William Rehnquist in 1972.

Professional career

Snyder joined the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson in 1972 as an associate and later became a partner. During Bill Clinton's presidency, Snyder represented Deputy White House Counsel Bruce Lindsey during the Whitewater controversy. In addition, Snyder represented actress Elizabeth Taylor, successfully blocking an ABC-TV docudrama about her life, according to a September 2004 article about Hogan & Hartson in the Washingtonian magazine. And Snyder represented Netscape as its chief corporate attorney during its antitrust fight against Microsoft.[1]

Nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

On September 22, 1999, President Clinton nominated Snyder to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to replace the seat held by the retiring Patricia Wald. Although he is a Democrat, Snyder's nomination initially was thought to be fairly uncontroversial, particularly given his long history as a Washington insider and his support from conservatives like Rehnquist, Sen. John Warner, and former appeals court judge Robert Bork. His nomination even received a hearing from the Senate Judiciary Committee in May 2000. However, with Republicans in control of the U.S. Senate and a presidential election looming, Snyder's nomination languished. Ultimately, the Senate chose not to vote on the D.C. Circuit nominations of both Snyder and Elena Kagan. Republican senators claimed that there was some question over whether those D.C. Circuit seats were even necessary, while Democratic senators charged that the Republican leadership in the Senate was trying to keep those two seats open until after the presidential election so that they could be filled with Republican appointees.

In 2001, President George W. Bush nominated Miguel Estrada to the seat to which Snyder had been nominated. Estrada's nomination ran into opposition from Democratic senators, and he withdrew his name from further consideration in early September 2003. Bush subsequently nominated Thomas B. Griffith to that D.C. Circuit seat in 2004, and he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2005.

Later

After Snyder's nomination died, he resigned his partnership at Hogan & Hartson and took early retirement, according to a _New York Times_ article on August 11, 2002. “Senator Specter congratulated me on how well things had gone and told me he was confident I would be confirmed and told me I would be a great judge,” Snyder told the Times. “And then the committee never took a vote.” Snyder, who is known to be close friends with Chief Justice John G. Roberts, is a longtime resident of Bethesda, Maryland.[2]

Personal life

On August 10, 1969, Snyder married Jean Port. He and his wife served as emergency foster parents for several years and eventually adopted another daughter from the foster care system.[3] In 2011, Snyder was approached by Children's Law Center, the largest legal services organization in the District of Columbia,[4] which works to achieve permanency and stability for children. Snyder joined Children's Law Center to work on appellate cases and strategy. He encourages other lawyers near- or post-retirement to consider similar positions. “There is a great unmet need in the community for pro bono service,” Snyder told _The National Law Journal_. “For a retiring lawyer, it is an opportunity to carve out a niche of the law that you care about.”[5]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

title: Allen Snyder (lawyer)

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

What does the text say about the academic process of becoming a lawyer?

answer: Snyder earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

text: The answer should disclaim that the article doesn't talk about the general academic process of becoming a lawyer. It only notes Snyder's path.

refinement: The article doesn't talk about the general path of becoming a lawyer. However, Snyder earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School as an example.

answer: Snyder earned a degree from George Washington University. He attended Harvard Law School and became a J.D. degree from there in 1971. He then went on to work with Hogan and Hartson just two years after school.

text: The answer should disclaim that the article doesn't talk about the general academic process of becoming a lawyer. It only notes Snyder's path.

refinement: The article doesn't mention a general path; it just notes Snyder's education. Snyder earned a degree from George Washington University. He attended Harvard Law School and became a J.D. degree from there in 1971. He then went on to work with Hogan and Hartson just two years after school.

text: "Became a J.D. degree" should be "obtained a J.D. degree"

refinement: The article doesn't mention a general path; it just notes Snyder's education. Snyder earned a degree from George Washington University. He attended Harvard Law School and obtained a J.D. degree from there in 1971. He then went on to work with Hogan and Hartson just two years after school.

answer: No answer

answer: Snyder graduated with "magna cum laude" from Harvard Law School. Snyder earned a bachelor's degree from George Washington University in 1967.

answer: No answer

answer: No answer

answer: Snyder earned a bachelor's degree with distinction from George Washington University in 1967 and a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1971.

answer: No answer

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

What does the text say about the highlights of Allen Snyder's professional career?

answer: Snyder's highlights include being a partner of the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson and representing a number of other notable clients including Elizabeth Taylor, Bruce Lindsey and the Republican Party.

text: There's nothing in the article claiming that Snyder represented the Republican Party.

refinement: Snyder's highlights include being a partner of the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson and representing a number of other notable clients including Elizabeth Taylor, Bruce Lindsey.

text: The answer omits Snyder representing Netscape.

refinement: Snyder's highlights include being a partner of the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson and representing a number of other notable clients including Elizabeth Taylor, Bruce Lindsey, and Netscape.

text: The answer should mention which situations Snyder represented his notable clients.

refinement: Snyder's highlights include being a partner of the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson and representing a number of notable clients. He represented actress Elizabeth Taylor against ABC-TV to block a docudrama about her life, represented While House Counsel Bruce Lindsey during the Whitewater controversy and was the chief corporate attorney of Netscape during their antitrust battle with Microsoft.

text: The answer omits Snyder's nomination to the Court of Appeals

refinement: Snyder's highlights include being a partner of the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson and representing a number of notable clients. He represented actress Elizabeth Taylor against ABC-TV to block a docudrama about her life, represented While House Counsel Bruce Lindsey during the Whitewater controversy and was the chief corporate attorney of Netscape during their antitrust battle with Microsoft. In 1999, Snyder was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, but his nomination wasn't put to vote. He retired after his nomination failed.

answer: Snyder joined the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson in 1972 as an associate and later became a partner. He represented Deputy White House Counsel Bruce Lindsey during the Whitewater controversy. Snyder also represented actress Elizabeth Taylor, successfully blocking an ABC-TV docudrama about her life, according to a September 2004 article about Hogan & Hartson in the Washingtonian magazine. Snyder represented Netscape as its chief corporate attorney during its antitrust fight against Microsoft. Snyder was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1999 to replace the seat held by the retiring Patricia Wald. He was nominated to the same position in 2001 by George W. Bush, but his nomination was never put to a vote. He retired from the firm and took early retirement after his nomination failed.

text: Bush did not nominate Snyder.

refinement: Snyder joined the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson in 1972 as an associate and later became a partner. He represented Deputy White House Counsel Bruce Lindsey during the Whitewater controversy. Snyder also represented actress Elizabeth Taylor, successfully blocking an ABC-TV docudrama about her life, according to a September 2004 article about Hogan & Hartson in the Washingtonian magazine. Snyder represented Netscape as its chief corporate attorney during its antitrust fight against Microsoft. Snyder was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1999 to replace the seat held by the retiring Patricia Wald, but his nomination was never put to a vote. He retired from the firm and took early retirement after his nomination failed.

answer: Snyder was an associate and partner at Hogan & Hartson before he was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He represented Deputy White House Counsel Bruce Lindsey during the Whitewater controversy during Bill Clinton's presidency. He also represented Elizabeth Taylor and successfully blocked an ABC-TV docudrama about her life. He represented Netscape as its chief corporate attorney during its antitrust fight against Microsoft, represented by putting Deputy White House Counsel Bruce Lindsey. When Snyder was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to replace a seat left vacant by the retiring Patricia Wald, he was considered an appropriate choice given his long history as a Washington insider, and his support from conservatives like Rehnquist, Sen. John Warner, and former appeals court judge Robert Bork. However, his nomination was forgotten when control of the U.S. Senate was acquired by Republicans.

text: "He represented Netscape as its chief corporate attorney during its antitrust fight against Microsoft, represented by putting Deputy White House Counsel Bruce Lindsey." The part after the comma is confusing and unnecessary.

refinement: Snyder was an associate and partner at Hogan & Hartson before he was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He represented Deputy White House Counsel Bruce Lindsey during the Whitewater controversy during Bill Clinton's presidency. He also represented Elizabeth Taylor and successfully blocked an ABC-TV docudrama about her life. He represented Netscape as its chief corporate attorney during its antitrust fight against Microsoft. When Snyder was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to replace a seat left vacant by the retiring Patricia Wald, he was considered an appropriate choice given his long history as a Washington insider, and his support from conservatives like Rehnquist, Sen. John Warner, and former appeals court judge Robert Bork. However, his nomination was forgotten when control of the U.S. Senate was acquired by Republicans.

text: Snyder's District nomination wasn't forgotten. The senate chose not to vote on it.

refinement: Snyder was an associate and partner at Hogan & Hartson before he was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He represented Deputy White House Counsel Bruce Lindsey during the Whitewater controversy during Bill Clinton's presidency. He also represented Elizabeth Taylor and successfully blocked an ABC-TV docudrama about her life. He represented Netscape as its chief corporate attorney during its antitrust fight against Microsoft. When Snyder was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to replace a seat left vacant by the retiring Patricia Wald, he was considered an appropriate choice given his long history as a Washington insider, and his support from conservatives like Rehnquist, Sen. John Warner, and former appeals court judge Robert Bork. However, his nomination wasn't voted on by the senate.

answer: Snyder's highlights include being a partner of the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson and representing a number of other notable clients from Elizabeth Taylor to Bruce Lindsey, Deputy White House Counsel and Specter, Senator Arlen, Specter. more. His unexpected popularity as a U.S. Circuit Judge nominee helped advance his career but it never materialized due to unclear political motives.

text: The answer boggles Bruce Lindsey's case.

refinement: Snyder's highlights include being a partner of the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson and representing a number of other notable clients from Elizabeth Taylor to Bruce Lindsey, Deputy White House Counsel, during the Whitewater controversy. His unexpected popularity as a U.S. Circuit Judge nominee helped advance his career but it never materialized due to unclear political motives.

text: The answer misrepresents the events about Snyder's nomination to the District Court

refinement: Snyder's highlights include being a partner of the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson and representing a number of other notable clients from Elizabeth Taylor to Bruce Lindsey, Deputy White House Counsel, during the Whitewater controversy. He was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, but the senate refused to vote on his case and it failed eventually.

answer: Snyder joined the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson in 1972 as an associate and later became a partner. He represented Deputy White House Counsel Bruce Lindsey during the Whitewater controversy. Snyder also represented actress Elizabeth Taylor, successfully blocking an ABC-TV docudrama about her life, according to a September 2004 article about Hogan & Hartson in the Washingtonian magazine. Snyder represented Netscape as its chief corporate attorney during its antitrust fight against Microsoft. Snyder was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1999 to replace the seat held by the retiring Patricia Wald. He was nominated to the same position in 2001 by George W. Bush, but his nomination was never put to a vote.

answer: Snyder was an associate and partner at Hogan & Hartson before he was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He represented Deputy White House Counsel Bruce Lindsey during the Whitewater controversy during Bill Clinton's presidency. He also represented Elizabeth Taylor and successfully blocked an ABC-TV docudrama about her life. After Snyder's nomination died, he retired from Hogan & Hartson and took early retirement. When Snyder was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to replace a seat left vacant by the retiring Patricia Wald, he was considered an appropriate choice given his long history as a Washington insider, and his support from conservatives like Rehnquist, Sen. John Warner, and former appeals court judge Robert Bork. However, his nomination was forgotten when control of the U.S. Senate was acquired by Republicans.

answer: Snyder joined the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson as an associate and later became a partner. During Bill Clinton's presidency, Snyder represented Deputy White House Counsel Bruce Lindsey during the Whitewater controversy. In addition, Snyder represented actress Elizabeth Taylor, successfully blocking an ABC-TV docudrama about her life. Snyder represented Netscape as its chief corporate attorney during its antitrust fight against Microsoft.

text: The answer omits Snyder's District Court nomination.

refinement: Snyder joined the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson as an associate and later became a partner. During Bill Clinton's presidency, Snyder represented Deputy White House Counsel Bruce Lindsey during the Whitewater controversy. In addition, Snyder represented actress Elizabeth Taylor, successfully blocking an ABC-TV docudrama about her life. Snyder represented Netscape as its chief corporate attorney during its antitrust fight against Microsoft. Snyder was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by Bill Clinton. However, the Senate refused to vote on his nomination, and it eventually failed.

answer: Snyder joined the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson as an associate and later became a partner. During Bill Clinton's presidency, Snyder represented Deputy White House Counsel Bruce Lindsey during the Whitewater controversy. In addition, Snyder represented actress Elizabeth Taylor, successfully blocking an ABC-TV docudrama about her life. Snyder represented Netscape as its chief corporate attorney during its antitrust fight against Microsoft. He also represented the Deputy White House Counsel during the Whitewater controversy.

text: Bruce Lindsey's case is repeated twice.

refinement: Snyder joined the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson as an associate and later became a partner. During Bill Clinton's presidency, Snyder represented Deputy White House Counsel Bruce Lindsey during the Whitewater controversy. In addition, Snyder represented actress Elizabeth Taylor, successfully blocking an ABC-TV docudrama about her life. Snyder represented Netscape as its chief corporate attorney during its antitrust fight against Microsoft.

text: The answer omits Snyder's District Court nomination.

refinement: Snyder joined the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson as an associate and later became a partner. During Bill Clinton's presidency, Snyder represented Deputy White House Counsel Bruce Lindsey during the Whitewater controversy. In addition, Snyder represented actress Elizabeth Taylor, successfully blocking an ABC-TV docudrama about her life. Snyder represented Netscape as its chief corporate attorney during its antitrust fight against Microsoft. Snyder was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by Bill Clinton. However, the Senate refused to vote on his nomination, and it eventually failed.

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

What does the text say about the effects Republican control of the U.S. Senate had with regards to Snyder's appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals?

answer: The U.S. Senate was in Republican control at the time of Snyder's nomination and as such, many Republicans did not believe that these seats for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit were important. Republican senators blocked the nominations of both Snyder and Elena Kagan. Believing that the GOP was expending too much effort to obstruct appointments as a way to avoid appointments when the GOP actually controlled the Senate, it was decided not to vote until afterwards. Consequently, during his second year of candidacy, Snyder resigned because it was seen that his appointment would never pass after the vote failed.

text: There was no resignation during Snyder's second year, and his candidacy wasn't voted on.

refinement: The U.S. Senate was in Republican control at the time of Snyder's nomination and as such, many Republicans did not believe that these seats for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit were important. Republican senators blocked the nominations of both Snyder and Elena Kagan. Believing that the GOP was expending too much effort to obstruct appointments as a way to avoid appointments when the GOP actually controlled the Senate, it was decided not to vote.

text: The necessity of the seats was an argument to prolong the voting window, not necessarily what the Republicans believed.

refinement: The U.S. Senate was in Republican control at the time of Snyder's nomination and as such, many Republicans argued that these seats for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit weren't even necessary. Republican senators blocked the nominations of both Snyder and Elena Kagan. Believing that the GOP was expending too much effort to obstruct appointments as a way to avoid appointments when the GOP actually controlled the Senate, it was decided not to vote.

text: The Senate's refusal to vote is expressed very confusingly.

refinement: The U.S. Senate was in Republican control at the time of Snyder's nomination and as such, many Republicans argued that these seats for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit weren't even necessary. Republican senators blocked the nominations of both Snyder and Elena Kagan. The Senate ended up deciding not to vote.

answer: The U.S. Senate was in Republican control at the time of Snyder's nomination and as such, many Republicans did not believe that these seats for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit were important. Republican senators blocked the nominations of both Snyder and Elena Kagan and the seats were unused for over a year.

text: The necessity of the seats was an argument to prolong the voting window, not necessarily what the Republicans believed.

refinement: The U.S. Senate was in Republican control at the time of Snyder's nomination and as such, many Republicans argued that these seats for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit weren't necessary. Republican senators blocked the nominations of both Snyder and Elena Kagan and the seats were unused for over a year.

text: The results of the nominations failing are misrepresented.

refinement: The U.S. Senate was in Republican control at the time of Snyder's nomination and as such, many Republicans argued that these seats for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit weren't necessary. Republican senators blocked the nominations of both Snyder and Elena Kagan.

answer: Snyder's nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit languished with Republicans in control of the U.S. Senate and a presidential election looming. Republican senators claimed that there was some question over whether those D.C. Circuit seats were even necessary, while Democratic senators charged that the Republican leadership in the Senate was trying to keep those two seats open until after the presidential election so that they could be filled with Republican appointees.

answer: Snyder's nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit was initially thought to be uncontroversial, particularly given his long history as a Washington insider and his support from conservatives like Rehnquist, Sen. John Warner, and former appeals court judge Robert Bork. However, with Republicans in control of the U.S. Senate and a presidential election looming, Snyder's nomination languished. Ultimately, the Senate chose not to vote on the D.C. Circuit nominations of both Snyder and Elena Kagan. Republican senators claimed that there was some question over whether those D.C. Circuit seats were even necessary, while Democratic senators charged that the Republican leadership in the Senate was trying to keep those two seats open until after the presidential election so that they could be filled with Republican appointees.

answer: Before his appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District, the Republicans were in control and they held off on the vote, creating a hold on the nominations.

text: The answer should mention that Snyder's nomination eventually fell through completely.

refinement: Before his appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District, the Republicans were in control and they held off on the vote, creating a hold on the nominations. With Bush's nomination of Miguel Estrada for the position, Snyder's nomination fell through completely.

answer: Before his appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District, the Republicans were in control and they held off on the vote, creating a hold on the nominations. Many say it was to prevent the chance of a Democratic nominee to the court.

answer: Snyder's nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit was initially thought to be uncontroversial, particularly given his long history as a Washington insider and his support from conservatives like Rehnquist, Sen. John Warner, and former appeals court judge Robert Bork. However, with Republicans in control of the U.S. Senate and a presidential election looming, Snyder's nomination languished. Ultimately, the Senate chose not to vote on the D.C. Circuit nominations of both Snyder and Elena Kagan. Republican senators claimed that there was some question over whether those D.C. Circuit seats were even necessary, while Democratic senators charged that the Republican leadership in the Senate was trying to keep those two seats open until after the presidential election so that they could be filled with Republican appointees.

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

What does the text say about Snyder's personal life, education, and legal training?

answer: Snyder earned a bachelor's degree with distinction from George Washington University in 1967 and a J.D. degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1971. He clerked for Supreme Court justices John Marshall Harlan II in 1971 and William Rehnquist in 1972. Snyder joined the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson in 1972 as an associate and later became a partner. In 1969, Snyder married Jean Port, and they served as emergency foster parents for several years and eventually adopted another daughter from the foster care system.

answer: Snyder earned a bachelor's degree with distinction from George Washington University in 1967 and a J.D. degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1971. He clerked for Supreme Court justices John Marshall Harlan II in 1971 and William Rehnquist in 1972. Snyder joined the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson in 1972 as an associate and later became a partner. In 1969, Snyder married Jean Port, and they served as emergency foster parents for several years and eventually adopted another daughter from the foster care system. He was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1999 but his nomination was never voted on.

text: Snyder's nomination is irrelevant.

refinement: Snyder earned a bachelor's degree with distinction from George Washington University in 1967 and a J.D. degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1971. He clerked for Supreme Court justices John Marshall Harlan II in 1971 and William Rehnquist in 1972. Snyder joined the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson in 1972 as an associate and later became a partner. In 1969, Snyder married Jean Port, and they served as emergency foster parents for several years and eventually adopted another daughter from the foster care system.

answer: Snyder has a bachelor's degree with distinction from George Washington University in 1967 and a J.D. degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1971. He clerked for Supreme Court justices John Marshall Harlan II in 1971 and William Rehnquist in 1972.

text: The answer omits Snyder's personal life.

refinement: Snyder has a bachelor's degree with distinction from George Washington University in 1967 and a J.D. degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1971. He clerked for Supreme Court justices John Marshall Harlan II in 1971 and William Rehnquist in 1972. Snyder married Jean Port in 1969, and the couple served as emergency foster parents for many years. They eventually adopted a daughter from the foster care system.

answer: Snyder earned a bachelor's degree with distinction from George Washington University in 1967 and a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1971. He clerked for Supreme Court justices John Marshall Harlan II in 1971 and William Rehnquist in 1972. He married Jean Port in 1969, and they adopted a daughter from the foster care system.

text: The answer omits that Snyder and Port acted as emergency foster parents for years.

refinement: Snyder earned a bachelor's degree with distinction from George Washington University in 1967 and a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1971. He clerked for Supreme Court justices John Marshall Harlan II in 1971 and William Rehnquist in 1972. He married Jean Port in 1969, and they adopted a daughter from the foster care system. Additionally, the couple served as emergency foster parents for many years.

answer: Snyder got his bachelor's degree with distinction from George Washington University in 1967, and his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1971. He clerked for Supreme Court justices John Marshall Harlan II in 1971 and William Rehnquist in 1972. He joined the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson in 1972. Snyder married Jean Port in 1969.

text: The answer omits Snyder and Port's foster parentages.

refinement: Snyder got his bachelor's degree with distinction from George Washington University in 1967, and his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1971. He clerked for Supreme Court justices John Marshall Harlan II in 1971 and William Rehnquist in 1972. He joined the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson in 1972. Snyder married Jean Port in 1969. The couple served as emergency foster parents for years before adopting a daughter from the system.

text: The career details of Snyder are irrelevant.

refinement: Snyder got his bachelor's degree with distinction from George Washington University in 1967, and his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1971. Snyder married Jean Port in 1969. The couple served as emergency foster parents for years before adopting a daughter from the system.

answer: Snyder earned a bachelor's degree with distinction from George Washington University in 1967 and a J.D. degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1971. He clerked for Supreme Court justices John Marshall Harlan II in 1971 and William Rehnquist in 1972.

answer: Snyder got his bachelor's degree with distinction from George Washington University in 1967 and his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1971. He clerked for Supreme Court justices John Marshall Harlan II in 1971 and William Rehnquist in 1972. He joined the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan & Hartson in 1972. Snyder married Jean Port in 1969.

answer: Snyder earned a bachelor's degree with distinction from George Washington University in 1967 and a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1971. He clerked for Supreme Court justices John Marshall Harlan II in 1971 and William Rehnquist in 1972.


text:
About

[]

Inspired by the old masters, Theology, conspiracy theories, and Philosophy, the dark and mysterious have always intrigued Los Angeles based artist Steven Daily. “I’ve always been attracted to the things people don’t want to talk about or acknowledge,” Steven explains. “I guess I paint it as a sort of an art therapy.” Beautiful and moody, Steven’s incredible paintings reveal his talent for perfect blends and inspiring technical skill. Not limited to acrylic or oil paint on canvas, Steven brings large scale murals to life with spray paint.

Steven Daily has lived all over the United States but was born in Riverside, California. Art was a always a part of Steven’s life from an early age, when he began drawing at just 5 years old. Furthering his influence, his mother was an oil painter and painted primarily landscapes. Another bit of guidance came from his crew, Bashers. “Bashers started out of a group of like minded friends, who painted graffiti. My second family,” Steven recounts.

Steven has since gone on to work with some big companies like Disney, Lucas Arts, Sony, Dark Horse Comics, Slave Labor Graphics, and HBO. He is married to a fellow artist which he finds inspiring and helpful. “She’s my worst critic, which pushes the pieces I make that much further.” Also a new Dad, Steven used to think he never wanted to have children but now finds immense joy in it. “It’s life changing. As artists, we tend to be selfish individuals. The unconditional love I have experienced with this little man is unprecedented. The self seems to fall away, and you find yourself living for your child not your career or you. I’ve definitely learned the preciousness of time management, and patience.”

Steven Daily’s giant spray painted jellyfish can be seen stretching along the exterior wall of SILO at 15th and F Street in Makers Quarter. Stay tuned for Steven’s solo show for 2016 “Burn The Boats” at Marcas Gallery in Santa Ana, CA. Steven’s words of advice for emerging talent? “Practice your craft and work hard. Enjoy the journey, don’t concentrate on the destination. You never know where the work will take you!”

Photos and article by Carly Ealey

Art independently curated by Chris Konecki. For more information on art in Makers Quarter™ contact: art@ryanb40.sg-host.com

question: What is the inspiration os Steven Daily's murals?

answer: The old masters, conspiracy theories, and philosophy.

answer: Steven is a large scale muralist who uses spray paint as a method of "art therapy". He believes his greatest inspiration and his biggest draw as a creative are the parts of life people don't want to talk about or acknowledge.

answer: The inspiration for Steven Daily's murals is the dark and mysterious.

answer: Steven Daily's murals are inspired by dark and mysterious themes, such as conspiracy theories and philosophy.

question: How did Steven get his start as an artist?

answer: Steven got his start as an artist when he began drawing at the age of 5.

answer: He began to draw at the young age of 5 and initially had guidance and influence from his mother who was an oil painter primarily focused on landscapes. Soon he would go on to join a group of graffiti artists called the "Bashers". The "Bashers" were described by Steven as a second family.

answer: Steven Daily got his start as an artist by drawing from a young age, and later working with graffiti crews.

answer: He began drawing at the age of 5.

question: How has Steven maintained his inspiration as an artist as he aged?

answer: Despite working for many big names over the years like Disney, George Lucas, Sony, HBO, and more, Steven maintains that his biggest inspiration is his wife, a fellow artist, and also his son. He believes having his biggest critic in his wife and his biggest challenge as an artist in his son has helped him to grow and develop.

answer: He married a fellow artist and became a father.

answer: Steven Daily has maintained his inspiration as an artist by staying interested in the things that intrigue him, such as conspiracy theories and philosophy. Additionally, he finds inspiration in his wife and son, who give him unconditional love.

answer: Steven has maintained his inspiration as an artist by painting things that people don't want to talk about or acknowledge.

text: It doesn't add the fact that he married a fellow painter whom he found inspiring and helpful.

refinement: Steven has maintained his inspiration as an artist by painting things that people don't want to talk about or acknowledge and marrying a fellow artist who is his biggest critic.

question: What is Steven up to now?

answer: Steven is currently working on a solo show for 2016 "Burn The Boats" at Marcas Gallery in Santa Ana, CA.

answer: At the time of this article he had an upcoming solo show in 2016 called "Burn The Boats" in Santa Ana, CA, and wanted to remind potential future artists to focus on their craft, enjoy the journey, and let the work guide them in their future.

answer: Steven is working on a solo show for 2016.

text: Missing information. It doesn't say what show he's working on.

refinement: Steven is working on a 2016 solo show called "Burn the Boats" at Marcus Gallery, Santa Ana.

answer: Steven is currently working on a solo show at Marcas Gallery in Santa Ana, CA. He is also working on various commissioned pieces for companies and working on large scale murals with spray paint.

text: "He is also working on various commissioned pieces for companies and working on large scale murals with spray paint" is not stated in the article.

refinement: Steven is currently working on a solo show at Marcas Gallery in Santa Ana, CA.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: Steven Daily is an artist who has lived all over the United States but was born in Riverside, California. Art was a part of Steven's life from an early age, when he began drawing at just 5 years old. Furthering his influence, his mother was an oil painter and painted primarily landscapes. Another bit of guidance came from his crew, Bashers. "Bashers started out of a group of like minded friends, who painted graffiti. My second family," Steven recounts. Steven has since gone on to work with some big companies like Disney, Lucas Arts, Sony, Dark Horse Comics, Slave Labor Graphics, and HBO. He is married to a fellow artist which he finds inspiring and helpful. "She's my worst critic, which pushes the pieces I make that much further." Also a new Dad, Steven used to think he never wanted to have children but now finds immense joy in it. "It's life changing. As artists, we tend to be selfish individuals. The unconditional love I have experienced with this little man is unprecedented. The self seems to fall away, and you find yourself living for your child not your career or you. I've definitely learned the preciousness of time management, and patience." Steven Daily's giant spray painted jellyfish can be seen stretching along the exterior wall of SILO at 15th and F Street in Makers Quarter. Stay tuned for Steven's solo show for 2016 "Burn The Boats" at Marcas Gallery in Santa Ana, CA. Steven's words of advice for emerging talent? "Practice your craft and work hard. Enjoy the journey, don't concentrate on the destination. You never know where the work will take you!"

text: The summary lifts quotes from the article which can be omitted in the summary such as here, " "Bashers started out of a group of like minded friends, who painted graffiti. My second family," and here, "She's my worst critic, which pushes the pieces I make that much further." Also a new Dad, Steven used to think he never wanted to have children but now finds immense joy in it. "It's life changing. As artists, we tend to be selfish individuals. The unconditional love I have experienced with this little man is unprecedented. The self seems to fall away, and you find yourself living for your child not your career or you. I've definitely learned the preciousness of time management, and patience."

refinement: Steven Daily is an artist who was born in Riverside, California whose murals are an inspiration of dark and mysterious themes such as; conspiracy theories, philosophy and theology. Growing up, art was a part of his life and he began drawing at the age of 5 and subsequently, he met with a group of like-minded friends whom he considered a second family, and from there carved the crew, Bashers. Furthering his influence, his mother was an oil painter and painted primarily landscapes. As he progressed in his art career, he worked for big companies such as HBO, Disney, Lucas Arts, etc. Furthermore, he considers his family as his biggest inspiration and ongoing motivation as an artist.

answer: Steven Daily is an artist from Los Angeles who is inspired by dark and mysterious themes. His work is often moody and beautiful, and he is known for his large scale murals and intricate paintings. His work has been featured in various companies and galleries, and he is currently preparing for a solo show in 2016.

text:
The article doesn't say he is from Los Angeles.
The summary is less than five sentences.

refinement: Steven Daily is an artist inspired by dark and mysterious themes such as conspiracy theories, philosophy, and theology. His work is often moody and beautiful, and he is also known for his large scale murals and intricate paintings. He has also worked for big companies such as Disney, HBO, Lucas Arts, etc. Additionally, he married a fellow artist who is his biggest critic, and together they have a son. At the time of the article, he was preparing for a solo show in 2016 called "Burn the Boats."

answer: Steven Daily is a large scale muralist who primarily works with spray paint, his edge as an artist coming from his fascination with the things in life people don't like to talk about or acknowledge. He started drawing at age 5 and was influenced early on by his mother, a landscape oil painter, and his graffiti group and "second family", the Bashers. As he aged, he found that despite working for many big names like Disney, George Lucas, HBO, and many more, his biggest inspiration and ongoing motivation are his wife, another artist, and his son. Despite originally not wanting children, and admitting that his wife is his biggest critic, he feels having these challenges so close to him have helped him grow and develop as an artist. Along these lines, he advises potential artists to focus on their craft, enjoy the journey, and most importantly let the work guide their journies.

answer: Steven Daily is an artist who was born in Riverside, California. He has lived all over the United States but has always been attracted to the dark and mysterious. He paints as a sort of art therapy. He is married to a fellow artist and is a new dad. He has worked with big companies like Disney, Lucas Arts, Sony, Dark Horse Comics, Slave Labor Graphics, and HBO.


text:
Thieves who used relay boxes to trick a keyless entry Mercedes into opening its doors have been caught in the act on camera.

Watch these thieves steal a late model Mercedes in less than a minute. The technology savvy thieves exploit the car's keyless technology to gain access to the car and drive it away all while the owner is sleeping inside the house. Dubbed a ‘relay crime’ by police, the theft works by using relay boxes to pick up and carry signals. In this case, each thief had a box; one was pressed up against the exterior wall of the house and the signal from the keyless car fob was detected, it was then relayed to the second box that was making contact with the car. The fob opened the car and allowed the ignition to start. The clever and swift robbery was captured by the car's owner's CCTV and published this week by the West Midlands Police Department in an attempt to educate owners of the risks of keyless technology.

The thieves pictured in the image are still at large and police warn owners must take precautions to avoid being victims of similar crimes. Police recommend either using a tracking device on your car or equipping it with additional manual safety precautions like steering or wheel locks. Mark Silvester, from the West Midlands Police crime reduction team, said: "To protect against this type of theft, owners can use an additional tested and Thatcham-approved steering lock to cover the entire steering wheel". The footage is believed to be the first time that such a relay theft has been captured on video.

Via: _West Midlands Police_

_[Tech-Savy Thieves Steal Mercedes in Under a Minute Using Relay Box]_

question: What is relay crime?

answer: It's auto theft using relay boxes. One box picks up the signal from the keyless fob, the box flush against the owner's house wall, and other thieves relay the signal to the car with their boxes. This allows them entry to the car and starts the ignition.

answer: Relay crime is when thieves use relay boxes to pick up and carry signals in order to gain access to a car. This allows them to steal the car without needing to know the car's keyless entry code.

answer: It is a crime that uses relay boxes to pick up and carry signals.

text: Tell what is stolen

refinement: It is a crime that uses relay boxes to pick up and carry signals, in this case in order to steal a keyless car.

answer: A crime that is committed by using relay boxes to pick up and carry signals.

text: Tell what was stolen

refinement: A crime that is committed by using relay boxes to pick up and carry signals, in this case in order to steal a keyless car.

question: What do the police recommend?

answer: The police recommend using a tracking device on your car or equipping it with additional manual safety precautions like steering or wheel locks.

answer: They recommend extra safety precautions like steering or wheel locks.

answer: The police recommend either using a tracking device on your car or equipping it with additional manual safety precautions like steering or wheel locks.

answer: The police recommend using a tracking device or equipping the car with a steering lock to protect against relay thefts.

question: What happened to the stolen Mercedes?

answer: The thieves drove the stolen Mercedes away.

answer: The thieves drove away in the stolen Mercedes.

answer: It's still missing.

answer: It is not stated.

question: Were the thieves caught?

answer: They were caught on camera but not by the police.

answer: No, the thieves in the video were not caught. However, police warn car owners to take precautions to avoid being victims of similar crimes.

answer: No, the thieves were not caught.

answer: No, they are still at large.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: Watch tech-savvy thieves steal a late model keyless Mercedes. The thieves caught on camera by the owner's CCTV are shown to the police for education. The thieves carry a box each; one of them is pressed against the exterior of the house to pick up the keyless fob's signal. This is relayed by the boxes of other thieves, opening the car's door and starting the ignition. The police recommend to "use tested and Thatcham-approved steering lock to cover the entire steering wheel".

answer: In this video, thieves use relay boxes to steal a late-model Mercedes in under a minute. The thieves are still at large, but police recommend using a tracking device or steering lock to protect against similar crimes.

answer: Thieves who used relay boxes to trick a keyless entry Mercedes into opening its doors have been caught in the act on camera. The technology savvy thieves exploit the car's keyless technology to gain access to the car and drive it away all while the owner is sleeping inside the house. Dubbed a ‘relay crime’ by police, the theft works by using relay boxes to pick up and carry signals. In this case, each thief had a box; one was pressed up against the exterior wall of the house and the signal from the keyless car fob was detected, it was then relayed to the second box that was making contact with the car. The fob opened the car and allowed the ignition to start. The clever and swift robbery was captured by the car's owner's CCTV and published this week by the West Midlands Police Department in an attempt to educate owners of the risks of keyless technology.

answer: The West Midlands Police Department released a video of thieves stealing a Mercedes in under a minute. The thieves used relay boxes to trick the keyless entry Mercedes into opening its doors. The thieves are still at large and police warn owners to take precautions to avoid being victims of similar crimes. Police recommend either using a tracking device on your car or equipping it with additional manual safety precautions like steering or wheel locks.