text:
My father (Walter) married Darcy in 1992 after six months of acquaintance, at the terrifying prospect of dying alone. In 2007 Walter O’Driscoll bought a dog and formed a stronger companionship with it than that of the one with his wife. The dog had anxiety problems and would incessantly vomit regardless of location or time. It was this trait coupled with the purchase of a new entryway rug that drove Mrs. O’Driscoll to get rid of the dog, and it was this that drove Walter to burn down the house with her inside. This story is true.

Walter was 61 years old come September. He worked at a company that sold cleaning products which, yes, is as boring as it sounds. But Walter didn’t mind boring. You see, a belief he’d held onto since he was a teen was that doing boring things is like meditating. And so he did so for nine hours a day. And then he would continue being bored well after he got home until he went to bed (in a separate room from his wife’s), and he would read a boring book, and then dream boring dreams (sometimes of reading boring books), and then wake up and eat (boring) breakfast.

Life was predictable for Walter. One day while reading the paper, he realized he had been living his life in the future; when he was driving to work, he imagined himself already at work, packaging cleaning product, and when he got to work it was exactly what he expected. While he was packaging cleaning product, he was thinking about watching television with his dog. In fact, for an old man with so little future ahead of him, he spent an unusually large amount of time thinking about it.

The only time that Walter wasn’t hyper-aware of his boredom and thinking about the future was when he was sitting in his chair watching TV, his dog in his lap. After a couple episodes of whatever was on television, it ran off to some other part of the house. Walter wasn’t alone in his chair for long when Darcy’s shrill, French voice preceded her entry into the living room.

“That damn dog puked on the cahpet!” she said, each angry word bleeding into the next. She said more things but he turned on the subtitles for the TV and feigned deafness until she stomped off ranting about the poor little dog.

A week later he arrived home from work to Darcy walking briskly out of the house yelling. Her attempts to make herself heard were futile as Walter had the windows up so that all that penetrated the glass were muffled bass notes. He stepped out of the car.

“- Rug again. Get rid of that dog! Get rid of it-” he tuned her out again.

That night he sat in his chair with his dog in his lap, watching whatever on TV. Dinner was boring, just as he expected. In bed, he dreamed of working in the factory.

The next day, he went to work, just as previously described, and worked all day, just as he’d imagined the night before. When he got home, things began to veer off from their normal path. Darcy didn’t come out to meet him in the driveway to complain today. In fact, the house was eerily quiet, although he couldn’t quite place what it was that was so different. When he got to the door, he realized what it was- the dog wasn’t barking. He stepped inside. Darcy was standing in the kitchen with her hands on her hips.

“You were taking too long to get rid of the dog so I did.”

He didn’t listen anymore, rather walked to his chair and watched TV.

She complained about other things, but the complaints fell on falsely deaf ears.

That night, instead of going to bed, he stayed up awhile. The orange glow from the lamps throughout the house reflected off the windows making it impossible to see outside. The TV had been off for some time. When Darcy’s cruel snoring came through the walls, he made his way downstairs and dug through little odds and ends until he found a can of mogas. He took it upstairs with him and poured it all through the house, making extra sure to douse the entryway rug, and the area outside her Darcy’s bedroom door, then lit a match and dropped it on the trail.

As he made his way back to his room he reflected on all of his life spent in boredom. He did not regret it, but he was tired now. He could hear the crackling of the flames growing louder and louder, and eventually, the shrill calls of the woman to whom he was married. He entered his bedroom, which was, again, not shared with his wife. Walter pulled his slippers off his feet and lay down in his small bed. The house was getting hotter, and with every second he lay there he became more tired, then he fell asleep.

title: Untitled

question: Summarize the main conflict of the story.

answer: Walter's wife, Darcy, gets rid of the dog, and then Walter burns down the house with her inside.

critique: The answer should mention that Walter's wife gets rid of the dog because it vomits on the rug.

critique: It's omitted that the dog had anxiety problems and would vomit.

critique: Does not mention that the dog had anxiety problems.

critique: Does not mention why they get rid of the dog and why Walter retaliates by burning down their home.

critique: "gets rid of the dog," - this is incorrect. It was never implied that she got rid of the dog. She simply took it away from him.

critique: The answer should mention that Walter is angry about the dog.

critique: It is omitted that the dog had anxiety problems and would incessantly vomit.

question: What does the story say about Walter's wife?

answer: Walter's wife is named Darcy. She married Walter in 1992 after six months of acquaintance. She is French and has a shrill voice. She is angry at Walter for buying a dog and forming a stronger companionship with it than that of the one with her. She gets rid of the dog, which drives Walter to burn down the house with her inside.

critique: The answer should mention Walter's opinion of his wife.

critique: "Darcy" - is incorrect. Her name is not mentioned anywhere in the story.

critique: The answer should mention that Darcy is angry at Walter for the dog's behavior.

critique: "She is French and has a shrill voice. She is angry at Walter for buying a dog and forming a stronger companionship with it than that of the one with her. She gets rid of the dog, which drives Walter to burn down the house with her inside." - redundant, add that Walter and his dog have a stronger companionship than with his wife, and that Walter allegedly thinks the dog looked out for him.

critique: The answer should mention that she is cruel.

critique: The answer should mention that Walter's wife is cruel.

critique: The answer should include that the dog has anxiety issues.

text: The text should mention that Darcy seems to complain a lot.

question: What does the story say about how to achieve a happy marriage?

answer: No answer

critique: It is omitted that the story does not answer the question.


split: train

text:
Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu flew kites, led a roadshow and spoke effusively about their friendship during a day-long visit to Gujarat in a public show of top-level backing for the fast growing ties between India and Israel.

Netanyahu said his country seeks to cooperate with India "in every field" and praised Modi for "revolutionising" his country. In turn, the Indian leader said he waited for "my friend" to visit India so they could together inaugurate an entrepreneur incubation centre for start-ups.

The bonding between the two leaders notwithstanding India voting in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution rejecting the US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was on full display at the very start of Netanyahu's visit to Modi's home state.

Modi received Netanyahu, who was accompanied by his wife Sara, at the airport with a bearhug, and then the three set off on an 8-km roadshow to the 'Sabarmati Ashram', the abode of Mahatma Gandhi for many years.

The road to Sabarmati Ashram was lined with people on both sides, with some carrying Indian and Israeli flags, as folk artists from several states sang and danced on stages erected at vantage points.

However, unlike last year's roadshow that Modi held with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe where they travelled in an open jeep, clicking pictures and waving at cheering crowds, today's event was a heavily guarded affair, with the leaders seated in SUVs, apparently due to security reasons.

Once at the Ashram, the prime minister was in the role of a guide, showing the visiting couple around the place where they tried their hands Gandhi's spinning wheel, wearing garlands of handspun cotton yarn. The wheel had become emblematic of Gandhi's non-violent resistance to the colonial rule and underpinned his vision of self-reliance.

Later, the two leaders addressed young entrepreneurs at Deo Dholera after dedicating International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (iCreate), a public-private partnership (PPP) venture set up to nurture entrepreneurs by providing them funds, space, mentors and other facilities.

"Prime Minister Modi is changing India, by the force in vision of his leadership. He is revolutionising India. He is catapulting it into the future, and as one of the world's great powers. And he is doing it through the power of innovation," Netanyahu said.

"I want young Israelis to come to India, not just with the backpack, but with a laptop. This is essentially a boundless potential and that's why I have come here, to encourage young innovators from our two countries to work together," he said, adding Israel seeks cooperation with India in every field.

Friendship was the constant theme as the two leaders acknowledged the immense potential for further cementing the bonds between the two nations.

"I thank Modi for his vision and for his friendship, and for recognising the immense potential of our partnership" the Israeli leader said.

Underscoring the vast scope of pertnership between the two countries, Netanyahu said he wanted cooperation in areas as diverse as water conservation and agriculture to cyberspace, and life sciences.

"Today, I have a simple message. I want young Indians to know that Israel wants to form partnership with you in technology, in water, in agriculture, in cyber, in drones, in health, in life sciences, in every field. We are your partner," he said.

Modi voiced happiness over the inauguration of iCreate in the presence of Netanyahu.

"When I went to Israel last year, I made up my mind that this foundation should have stronger relations with Israel. Since then, I was waiting for my friend Benjamin Netanyahu to come to India. He is here and now we are inaugurating this foundation," Modi said.

The work for setting up 'iCreate' was launched in 2011 by Modi when he was the chief minister of Gujarat.

"We are working towards making entire system in our country innovation-friendly. Curiousity produces intent, whose power leads to innovation that will make new India," he added.

Innovation, he said, plays a major role in bringing together the people of India and Israel.

"People of Israel have proved that it is not the size and shape of a country but the determination of its citizens which takes it ahead," he said.

Impressed by some of the innovations put on display at iCreate, Netanyahu said, "The world knows about iPods, they know about iPads, but there is one more 'i' the the world needs to know about - iCreate."

As cordiality punctuated the engagement of the two leaders, the entire house burst into guffaw when Netanyau called both himself and Modi young.

"As you all know, I am sure you have noticed, Prime Minister Modi and I are both very young and very optimistic.

We are young in our thinking and we are optimistic about the future," he said, as Modi was seen breaking into a hearty laugh.

The Israeli leader wrapped up his speech with chant of 'Jai Hind, Jai Bharat, Jai Israel' (victory be to India and Israel).

Netanyahu also gifted a Gal-Mobile water desalination and purification jeep to Modi that the latter dedicated to people of Suigam village in Banaskantha district.

The two also visited the Centre of Excellence for Vegetables at Vadrad village of Sabarkantha district set up in 2015 with Israeli collaboration.

-   Gujarat
-   Israel
-   India
-   Benjamin Netanyahu
-   Prime Minister
-   AHMEDABAD
-   UN General Assembly
-   Indo-Israel

question: What does the text say about India-U.S. relations?

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention that India voted in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution rejecting the US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

question: What does the text say about the relationship between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu?

answer: The two leaders are close friends, and they showed that they are close by flying kites, leading a roadshow, and speaking effusively about their friendship during a day-long visit to Gujarat. They are both young and optimistic about the future, and they seem to have a lot of respect for each other.

critique: The answer should mention the UN resolution.

critique: The answer should mention that the two leaders are visiting India and Israel respectively.

critique: The answer should mention that India voted in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution rejecting the US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

critique: The response includes extraneous information not useful for the task.

critique: The answer does not mention Netanyahu's visit to India in 2018.

question: What does the text say about the purpose of Netanyahu's visit to India?

answer: Netanyahu visited India to inaugurate an entrepreneur incubation center for startups. He also wanted to form a partnership with India in technology, water, agriculture, cyber, drones, health, and life sciences.

critique: The first sentence correlates with the second. They both are related and should be combined.

critique: The answer should mention the importance of the visit in terms of the fast growing ties between the two countries.

critique: The answer should mention the purpose of the visit in the context of the article.

question: What does the text say about iCreate?

answer: The International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (iCreate) is a public-private partnership (PPP) venture set up to nurture entrepreneurs by providing them funds, space, mentors, and other facilities. Modi used his own money for the establishment of the centre.

critique: The answer should mention that the centre was inaugurated by Modi and Netanyahu.

critique: The first sentence is inaccurate. The text doesn't say Modi used his own money.

text: It is incorrectly stated that Modi used his own money to establish iCreate.

category: accuracy


text:
Us four sat ensuring my stay.
In conversation, Rick was indirectly called a liar by Rob and Megan
because of me.
The price of being a father.
Any words spoken to him sounded like "Liar".
Any words spoken to me were in question.
As if I was being interrogated.
I had nothing to say unless asked.
The house was a mansion.
My cousin played the role of Keith Cozart.
I looked forward to good times as the house was left mostly
unattended.
As we spoke my mind wandered into flashbacks and daydreams.
Rob was showing me the room where I was going to stay.
There were many rooms and hallways.
Some rooms were connected by doors and weren't connected to hallways.
I opened a door to a bathroom and there was someone in the bathtub.
At first I laughed and looked away but Rob quicly put his arm around me and
led me away, and as he did I caught another quick glimpse of the bathtub and
noticed that it was a body. I was shocked and Rob started to remind me that I
didn't see anything that there was no one there. I instantly protested to
staying in the adjacent room which was where we were headed. I threatened to say
what I saw if forced to stay there. I was led away. The confusion and
unknowingness turned into fear and Plan. We returned downstairs and played it
off, acting as if that didn't happen. Later I spoke with Rob's sister about
what I had seen and she told me that it was not infact a body but pieces of
bodies that were created from insecurities. That she herself had created some
of the pieces that were in the bathtub. We walked and talked. I thought about
what I heard. Generations of insecurities brought about what was in the
bathtub. They all knew. Did Rick know? Did Megan know? I didn't know.
Who was it? Was it one of their own. We ended up back at the bathroom and I
looked in again and what I saw shocked me to the point that I couldn't clearly
make out what it was. Was it a body or was it pieces? It was entirely
underneath the water. I faked emotion and accepted the pieces of insecurities
and agreed to stay in the adjacent room. It was the only way to survive.
I spent most of the first week alone in the room.
I heard them speaking about me. About how I spent time alone.
I was genuinely afraid. The first chance I would take it.
It was a Saturday. I had stolen a few grams of Rob's cocaine and
over the course of 2 days had made it injectable with no one knowing.
The owner of the mansion, the famous Dr. Bob, had syringes in the
downstairs bathroom. Everyone left late in the night.
The only ones left were Rob and Megan. Who were passed out. I stabbed Rob with
the needle and injected it. As he woke and saw me he knew what my
intentions were but could not prevent them as the high almost instantly kicked
in and he fell into a euphoric state. Megan didn't even wake up.
The thought crossed my mind. Did she know about the bathtub? Had she noticed the
change in my behavior? I weighed the risk of foiling my Plan in my mind before
deciding to leave her behind as I escaped into the night. I stole a car from
the mansions garage and left leaving no trace of where I was going.
The insecurity of being insecure. Being insecure was my only security, the
only thing that led me to escape the fate that awaited me. Where all others had
failed and gave in to become part of the fate themselves I had broken free.

title: the fate that awaited

question: Summarize Megan's descent into madness.

answer: No answer

critique: Megan is not described as descending into madness.

text: The answer should state that the story does not say anything about Megan descending into madness.

category: coverage


text:
_CENTURION_ is a historical fiction novel () written by Simon Scarrow, published by Headline Book Publishing in 2007. It is book 8 in the _Eagles of the Empire_ series, continuing Macro and Cato's adventures in the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire that began in _The Eagle in the Sand_.

Summary

During the 1st century AD, a force of the Parthian Empire destroys a vexillation of a Roman auxiliary cohort sent to construct a fort on the banks of the Euphrates in the Kingdom of Palmyra. The garrison is slaughtered. Meanwhile, with tensions rising between Rome and Parthia, the Legio X Fretensis, Legio III Gallica and the Legio VI Ferrata are drilling for war in Syria. Prefect Macro and Centurion Cato are drilling the Second Illyrian, an auxiliary cohort, attached to the Legio X Fretensis for the looming war.

Cato and Macro were sent to Syria by Narcissus to gather proof that the governor of Syria, Longinus was planning to use the Syrian legions to usurp the Emperor Claudius. During their time in Antioch, Crisups, a Roman legionary, murders an auxiliary leading to Crispus' execution, much to the chagrin of the legionaries. A Parthian convoy arrives, delivering the head of Centurion Castor, the soldier who commanded the Euphrates fort, and warns of Parthian intervention, should Rome continue to be seen to be annexing Palmyra. Shortly thereafter, a Roman soldier arrives at the behest of Lucius Sempronius, a Roman ambassador to Palmyra, informing Longinus that Palmyra has descended into civil war.

Artaxes, the son of Palmyran king Vabathus, has raised an army and laid siege to the Palmyran loyalists in the Royal Citadel. Fearing the Parthians will arrive before the Romans can, Longinus sends the Second Illyrian and a cohort of the Legio X Fretensis to reinforce the loyalists. Along the way, the Roman force is aided by Prince Balthus, who covets the Palmyran throne, despite not being Vabathus' first born. The Romans and Balthus' men fight their way through to the city and manage to reinforce the loyalist troops, mainly composed of Greek mercenaries. Following a banquet to celebrate the successful defence of a rebel assault, Amethus, one of Vabathus' sons is found murdered, with Balthus being the prime suspect. Meanwhile, Cato meets Sempronius' daughter, Julia, and the two fall in love after an uneasy start.

After a rebel bombardment, the loyalist food stores are all but destroyed. Cato attempts to bluff Artaxes into standing down, however before Artaxes can respond, Longinus arrives with two legions and several auxiliary units. Longinus privately reveals to Cato and Macro that they were never meant to reach Palmyra, and were meant to die in the desert, removing Narcissus' spies that had frustrated his plans. Against the advice of Cato, Longinus leads the legions into the desert, determined to destroy Artaxes and his Parthian allies. During a night attack, Longinus panics, orders a retreat and leaves the army at the mercy of the Parthian horsemen. On the suggestions of Cato, the army manages to trap the Parthians, destroying their army. Balthus orders his brother, Artaxes, killed, leaving him the sole heir to Vabathus' throne.

Back in Palmyra, it is revealed Balthus had ordered his slave, Carpex, to murder Amethus. Balthus is arrested to be put to death. With no heir to succeed the king, Sempronius reveals that the empire will annex Palmyra and absorb it into the province of Syria. Macro and Cato are released from Narcissus' employment, ending their posting in the East. Sempronius later gives Cato his consent to marry his daughter, Julia.

Main characters

Romans

-   Centurion Quintus Lucinius Cato - Temporarily promoted to Acting Prefect of the Second Illyrian Cohort, Macro's adjutant
-   Prefect Lucinius Cornelius Macro - Prefect of the Second Illyrian Cohort
-   Legate Gallus Amatius - Commanding officer of the Tenth legion
-   Centurion Parmenion - Centurion of the Second Illyrian, serves as Cato's adjutant
-   Centurion Castor - Centurion of the Tenth legion, killed in action when the Parthians destroy his fort
-   Centurion Horatius - Centurion of the Tenth legion
-   Centurion Braccus - Centurion of the Tenth legion
-   Centurion Septimus - Centurion of the Tenth legion
-   Centurion Porcius Cimber - Centurion of the Tenth legion
-   Optio Marcus Metellus Crispus - Optio of the Tenth legion, he is put to death for murdering an auxiliary
-   Centurion Metellus - Centurion of the Second Illyrian
-   Centurion Aquila - Centurion of the Second Illyrian, commander of the cohort's cavalry contingent
-   Caius Menathus - Cavalryman of the Second Illyrian
-   Gaius Cassius Longinus - Governor of Syria
-   Lucius Sempronius - Roman ambassador, sent to Palmyra to conclude a treaty
-   Julia Sempronia - Sempronius' daughter-turned-surgeon, who falls in love with Cato

Palmyrans

-   King Vabathus - Sovereign of Palmyra
-   Prince Amethus - First son of Vabathus. He is assassinated by Carpex, under orders from Balthus
-   Prince Balthus - Second son of Vabathus, ruthlessly coveting his father's throne. He is later put to death by Vabathus for treason
-   Prince Artaxes - Third son of Vabathus, and his favourite son. He leads the rebels against his father, and is later killed on Balthus' orders in battle
-   Thermon - The King's Chamberlain and younger brother. He was castrated under orders from the King to prevent any competition in the Royal lineage
-   Krathos - A Palmyran minister who uses the easily persuaded Amethus to further his own agendas
-   Demetrius - Commander of the Royal Guard
-   Archaelaus - Tetrach of the Second Syntagma of the Royal Guard
-   Carpex - A slave of Balthus who assassinates Amethus on his orders. Carpex is later murdered by Balthus once he exposes the prince
-   Jesmiah - A Palmyran civilian, who cares for her baby brother, Ayshel

Parthians

-   Metaxes - Prince and heir to the throne of Parthia, sent to warn Longinus of Parthian intervention

Novel Website

-   Scarrow Brothers

Notes

After _Eagle in the Sand_, Headline Book Publishing reportedly decided not to use titles with the word Eagle anymore to attract new fans.

Reviews

-   Review in the Coventry Telegraph, April 21 2008. Reviewed by Ted Jury
-   Review at Yorkshire Evening Post, 22 March 2008. Reviewed by RC
-   Review by Jill Murphy at The Bookbag
-   Review at FantasticFiction.co.uk

Best-seller listing

-   The Sunday Times (London) list of fiction hardback bestsellers

Category:2007 British novels Category:Eagles of the Empire Category:Novels set in the 1st century

title: Centurion (novel)

question: Summarize everything in the novel's plot summary relating to characters being killed.

answer: In Antioch, Crispus, a Roman legionary, murders an auxiliary, leading to Crispus' execution. A Parthian convoy arrives, delivering the head of Centurion Castor, the soldier who commanded the Euphrates fort. A Roman soldier arrives at the behest of Lucius Sempronius, a Roman ambassador to Palmyra, informing Longinus that Palmyra has descended into civil war. Amethus, one of Vabathus' sons, is found murdered, with Balthus being the prime suspect. Balthus orders his brother, Artaxes, killed, leaving him the sole heir to Vabathus' throne.

critique: The response includes extraneous information not useful for the task.

critique: The answer should mention the death of the Parthian prince.

critique: Doesn't mention that Artaxes is killed by his brother Balthus.

critique: The response should include the death of Carpex.

critique: The response misses to mention that the Parthian Empire destroys a vexillation of a Roman auxiliary cohort sent to construct a fort on the banks of the Euphrates in the Kingdom of Palmyra. The garrison is slaughtered.

text: "A Roman soldier arrives at the behest of Lucius Sempronius, a Roman ambassador to Palmyra, informing Longinus that Palmyra has descended into civil war," does not have any information related to a character being killed.

question: Summarize the story's romance subplot.

answer: Cato meets Sempronius' daughter, Julia, and the two fall in love after an uneasy start. Sempronius gives Cato his consent to marry his daughter.

critique: The answer omits the romance between Julia and Cato.

critique: The answer should mention that the two fall in love after an uneasy start.

critique: The answer omits the romance between Macro and Sempronius' daughter.

critique: The answer should mention the couple's engagement.

critique: Sempronius says this at the end of the novel, but it would be more accurate to report that there is a pending marriage.

critique: The answer should mention that Julia is Sempronius' daughter.

critique: The answer omits the romance between Macro and Sempronia.

critique: The answer should mention that Julia is Sempronius's daughter.

question: What does the article say about the development of the novel?

answer: No answer

critique: The article does mention the development of the novel.

critique: The article does talk about the development of the novel.


text:
BILLY GILES (3 September 1957, Belfast – 25 September 1998, Belfast) was an Ulster Volunteer Force volunteer who later became active in politics following his release from the Maze Prison in 1997 after serving 14 years of a life sentence for murder.

Family life

Billy Giles was born William Alexander Ellis Giles in Belfast, Northern Ireland on 3 September 1957, and grew up in Island Street, in loyalist east Belfast. His father Sam, worked as a plater in the nearby Harland and Wolff shipyard, and his mother, Lily was a housewife. Giles was the eldest of six children. The Giles family was very religious, the Protestant church having been the centre of their lives. Giles often attended the rallies of Ian Paisley, and was strongly influenced by his sermons.[1] His father, a former soldier in the British Army, was a member of the Orange Order, The Royal Black Preceptory, and The Apprentice Boys of Derry. His brothers also served in the army.[2]

The Troubles

At the age of 14, he witnessed first-hand the events of Bloody Friday on 21 July 1972 when the Provisional IRA exploded 26 bombs across Belfast, killing nine people, and injuring 103. As the years passed, he found himself attending many funerals of friends he had lost and people he had known.[3] In 1975, he joined the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and was trained in the use of weapons and explosives by former military personnel; he had just turned 18 years old.[4] At the outbreak of the republican hunger strike in 1981, Giles had gradually become disassociated from the UVF. Following the deaths of the ten republican prisoners, however, Giles believed that, in the wake of the hunger strike, “there was going to be an uprising and they [Protestants] were all going to be slaughtered” by the IRA.[5] Giles mentally prepared himself to go to war against the IRA and therefore returned as an active member of the UVF.[6]

Killing

On 19 November 1982 in Newtownards, Billy Giles abducted a Roman Catholic married man, Michael Fay, and shot him in the back of the head, killing him instantly. He then stuffed the body in the car's boot. Fay had been Giles' friend and workmate. The killing was in retaliation for the fatal shooting of Karen McKeown, a young Protestant Sunday school teacher by the Irish National Liberation Army two months previously. Giles was arrested by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and brought to the Castlereagh interrogation centre, where he confessed to the killing. He was found guilty of the murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Maze Prison.[7]

Life in the Maze

Giles was housed in the prison's H-Blocks. He spent his time studying and took several GCSEs; he eventually obtained an Open University degree in Social Sciences. He also wrote a play about his childhood in Island Street called _Boy Girl_. It was later performed before a Belfast audience; his parents were present at the performance. Few people present at the performance were aware that it was the work of a UVF prisoner.[8]

It took Giles seven years before he adjusted to life inside The Maze. He gave many interviews to British journalist, Peter Taylor, to whom he confessed his deep remorse at the killing of Michael Fay, saying that he had “never felt like a whole person again” since the fatal shooting.[9]

On two separate occasions, Giles claimed he had saved the lives of prison officers inside the Maze: the first time when he stopped an inmate from cutting an officer's throat and the second time during a prison riot in March 1995 when he persuaded his inmates to stop the wrecking and to allow free passage to the block staff.[10]

Progressive Unionist Party

He was released on 4 July 1997 after serving 14 years of his life sentence. He immediately commenced work with the Progressive Unionist Party also known as PUP, and concentrated on helping released Loyalist prisoners to resettle into the community. At the signing of the Good Friday Agreement on 10 April 1998 at Stormont, Giles was part of PUP's negotiating team. He told Peter Taylor that he felt optimistic about the future of Northern Ireland and his own.[11]

Death

Despite his degree, he was unable to obtain a proper job that paid a decent salary. On the night of 24–25 September after composing a four-page letter of explanation and naming himself a “victim of the Troubles”, Billy Giles hanged himself in his living room.[12] He was 41 years old. Peter Taylor visited Giles' family in east Belfast on the eve of the funeral. He described Giles as lying in the coffin wearing his best suit, and his UVF badge with the inscribed words “For God and Ulster” was pinned to his lapel.[13] One of his last lines in his letter read, “Please let the next generation live normal lives”.[14] This line was quoted during a speech given by Colm Cavanagh, Vice-President of The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland on 3 March 2006 to The Department of Education. His friend and former UVF colleague Billy Mitchell, who was strongly critical of trauma counselling and a psychological approach to former paramilitaries, suggested that Giles' suicide had been prompted by a “trauma workshop” Giles had attended in South Africa. This was in contrast to Taylor, who believed that Giles took his own life because of the remorse he felt about his involvement in UVF violence.[15]

Giles is commemorated, along with other prominent Loyalist paramilitaries, in the controversial UVF song _Battalion of the Dead_.

[1] Taylor, pp.1–2

[2] Taylor, Peter (1999). _Loyalists_. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. pp.1–2

[3] Taylor, p.2

[4] Taylor, pp.2–3

[5] Taylor, p.3

[6] Taylor, p.3

[7] Taylor, pp.4–6

[8] Taylor, p.7

[9] Taylor, pp. 7–8

[10] Taylor, p. 10

[11] Taylor, p.8

[12] Taylor, pp.9–11

[13] Taylor, p.11

[14] Taylor, p.11

[15]

title: Billy Giles

question: What does the text say about the murder Billy Giles committed?

answer: Billy Giles was a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) who was arrested by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) for the murder of Michael Fay. Fay was a Roman Catholic married man and was Giles's friend and workmate. The killing was in retaliation for the fatal shooting of Karen McKeown, a young Protestant Sunday school teacher by the Irish National Liberation Army. Giles was sentenced to life imprisonment.

critique: The answer should mention that Giles was released from prison.

critique: Doesn't mention the reason for the killing.

critique: The answer omits that Giles was released after serving 14 years.

critique: The answer should mention that Giles killed Fay in retaliation for the killing of Karen McKeown.

critique: The answer should mention the reason for the killing.

critique: The answer omits the details of the murder.

critique: The answer should mention that Giles abducted and shot Fay.

critique: It is omitted that Giles shot Michael Fay in the back of the head, killing him instantly.

question: What does the text say about the Maze Prison?

answer: The Maze Prison is a maximum security prison in Belfast, Northern Ireland. When Billy Giles was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1982, he was housed in the prison's H-Blocks. It took him seven years to adjust to life in the Maze. He gave many interviews to British journalist Peter Taylor to whom he confessed his deep remorse at the killing of Michael Fay. On two separate occasions, Giles claimed he had saved the lives of prison officers inside the Maze.

critique: The Maze is irrelevant to the question and should be omitted.

critique: The response includes extraneous information not useful for the task.

critique: The answer should mention that Giles was released from the Maze in 1997.

critique: The answer should mention that Giles committed suicide in the Maze.

critique: It's omitted Giles served 14 years in the prison, and he was released in 1997.


text:
                      He Tried Not to Think

He wandered aimlessly. He didn’t think. Thinking took too much effort. He walked. Just walked, because that was all he could do. His phone was in his pocket and he endured the cold while he waited for it to ring. The breeze ran down the street and bit and tore until it worked its way into his skin. He was not walking to anywhere in particular or for any other reason than to stall. The streets were deserted and the park by the lake contained nothing but the geese lagging behind on their journey south.

His mind trailed off. Where could she be? What could she be doing? When was the last time I saw her? Does she even want to see me? Am I simply just wasting my time? No, no, no he thought; don’t let your mind wonder off. Thinking hurts too much. She cannot just be gone without a goodbye or a mere fare thee well.

Nine p.m. she said. We will go to the movies, and then have dinner. It would be wonderful but reality is never like your expectations.

He approached the pond and walked down the hill till he was on the middle of it. He sat down and looked out across. It was calm except for the ripples caused by the wind. The silence was the best part. Silence was a commodity he longed for. He didn’t need everyone telling him that it would be alright, you need to get out some, she isn’t coming, but what did they know?

Snow began falling. He and she were heading down the road one night. The winter storms had rolled in and the snow blinded their way as he drove. The tree lined road was interspersed with the occasional home or driveway leading deeper into the woods. The snow was so bad that it was near impossible to see more than twenty feet ahead, but the road he drove on, he had been on a thousand times and it was practically a straight line. Yet then he saw a blur dash in the road. Then he felt the wheels leave the ground and the crashing of glass and the crumple of steel and the cold air rushing in. The car pushed in around them forcing them closer together as it continued to tumble down the road until they came to a rest with his body pressed against hers with nowhere to move. The next moment he was in the snow with eyes looking over him as the cold embedded itself in his bones.

 He felt his phone in his pocket and looked at the time: ten-thirty. No missed messages, no missed calls, not anything. He put it away and stared at the light on the other side of the lake. He wrapped his hands around himself and stuck them under his arms to stay warm and waited for a call. Ten-forty-five. At ten-forty-five it finally arrives. The phone rings and he answers. Contempt, hate, rage, and longing coursed through him. He didn’t speak immediately. Control was important, nothing good comes from impulse. “Hello my dear. Is it as I fear? Will I still see you here?”

“No my love, I am coming now. I’m sorry, I am sorry I took so long. The people I was with just kept rambling on and on, like loons, but don’t be mad; I will be beside you soon.”

A consolation time, being second, what else should one expect?  Don’t expect anything, no ever expected anything from him, so he was never disappointed. He said. “Okay then. It was your time, and never mine but yours to spend. I just thought it was on you that I could depend.”

He let the cold slip in further. His ears went numb, then his cheeks, and then his toes. Finally he stood up and proceeded home. He opened the door and the warmth hurried out. The couch welcomed him, and hugged around him when he sat down. Eleven o’clock his phone said now. Better late than never he thought. Then twelve came around. Then one, and then finally his eyes fell shut and he gave up.

As the days wore on after the crash he slowly pieced together what happened while in a hospital bed until his memory finally returned and he was able to make sense of everything. Countless faces with sad, pitying smiles expressing halfhearted condolences and apologies paced through the room ceaselessly for days and days. He was constantly in the presence of the one or two who actually cared but they were of no help to him. He asked almost hourly how she was doing but in return he only received saddened faces and pitying looks that he so longed would just go away. Maybe deep down he knew what actually happened. Maybe one day he would be able to actually face it. His mind wouldn’t accept it though. Even when he was cleared to leave he would ask his friends if he could see her.

It went on until people stopped being nice about it. They started shouting, they started to bluntly say what hurt him the most, and they no longer felt the need to give a reassuring lie because it was time to face what happened. It was of course for no use though. The shelter of his mind kept him warm and blanketed from the harsh unforgiving world around him. Then one day people just gave up. He was left to himself. People would show up occasionally but only to drop off food and other groceries. He was slowly being forgotten and left to be a part of the past.

One day though he received a phone call, “Hello my love, it’s been far too long. Will you be busy around nine so that we can dine and once again be fine? How about a movie or we can just be joyous and sing songs until morning’s dawn? I will be there then my dear, don’t fear.” The call ended just after and he was left bewildered but so happy to have heard her. He waited. He waited until nine had become ten and he could take it no more and he had to leave for a walk.

He woke up with hands running through his hair. Cold hands. He looked up and saw her. The smile crept across their faces as they stared. “Hello my love,” he said looking above, “why have you taken so long?”

“Because here my dear, is not where I belong. You have known this for far too long. Yet it appeared I must come along, to remind you that I am always here. I am always there. To be a reminder to you that things only get colder and harder, but never darker”

“But my love you must explain. Why am I in so much pain? Why must you be so delayed?  I have love for you that cannot be swayed, but I would rather just end this masquerade. I would rather you just have always stayed.”

“And one day soon. That will happen for you. Though it may hurt, I promise you will just simply awake. With my hand in your hair and a smile in which we both partake, and I won’t be cold, I will be something you can actually hold. And be far more than Lenore or some forgotten lore. I will be yours.”

And then she was gone. He felt his head. It was still cold. He
checked his phone and saw no calls. No messages. There was nothing at all. There was nothing at all to ease his mind. So he lay there, just trying not to think.

For days after he stared at his phone in the hopes that she would call again. The phone though stayed blank with no calls, messages, or anything of the sort that would light up the screen. He couldn’t take it. He was just there with her. Once again he had her next to him for her to only disappear as before but this time he really was alone. He really didn’t have anyone. He was already become a part of the past. He belonged to a particular moment in time that he could not escape. There was nothing left for him here, so he went to join her.

title: He Tried Not to Think (revised)

question: How do the narrator's friends and family treat him as the story progresses?

answer: They are initially sympathetic, but as time passes they become more and more frustrated with his refusal to accept the truth.

critique: The answer should mention that they eventually give up on him.

question: What does the story say about necromancy?

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention that the story doesn't mention necromancy.

critique: There is no mention of necromancy in the text.


text:
As a child, I was always a tiny ball of never-ending energy. Concentration? Non-existent. I was the type of child that was most at ease when I was doing something with my hands, although I was very particular about just what that activity would be.
I had always been extremely sensitive. Not in an emotional way; on that front I had always been shut-down and rock solid. No, I was sensitive to the touch, and I would cry at any loud or sudden noise. As a result, I wore my clothing inside-out and isolated myself from most other children.
Bullying was prominent in my elementary school. Even as a first-grader, children would pick on me for my strange outfits and social ineptitude. As a teenage, I'm still fairly socially awkward, but it's nothing compared to how bad it was then.
The day I met my best friend was snowy. Elementary school was just as rough as it'd always been, and I was sitting near the swing sets alone. A girl- I think her name was Natalie- came up to me and began the usual routine of taunting me. I took in my characteristic stoic silence, sitting with a blank expression on my face.
Just as the girl turned away from me to go back to her friends, a voice sounded from behind her.
"Don't make fun of her! She only wears her clothes like that 'cause she doesn't like the seams."
When said aloud, it sounded perfectly logical. Of course I didn't like the seams; I failed to understand how anyone tolerated them. This girl understood the world.
Her name was Sophie, and she quickly became my best friend. Still is, in fact. I love her dearly, and miss her dreadfully.
_________________________________________________________
The day that I met him was incidentally the same day that I realised just how underused and unappreciated the word 'wonderful' is. The four of us were on the floor, and his best friend accidentally rolled headfirst into a wall. His laughter filled the room as best friend sat up, rubbing the back of his head with an irritated expression.
"That was wonderful!" he exclaimed in the way that I would soon learn was extremely characteristic of him, and what would become one of his most prominent defining features in my eyes.
Wonderful, as it seemed, was his go-to word for anything that happened that he found amusing or even just worth positively acknowledging. Whether it was something that made his ribs hurt from mad laughter, or something that awed him, it was always the same three words.
"That was wonderful."
__________________________________________________________
I twitched my nose in mild aggravation. It itched terribly, but I knew that should I relieve that itch, my finger would come away blackened with marker. I crossed my eyes, attempting to peer more closely the cat whiskers that my friend had hastily etched upon my face. I looked over at her, and smiled slightly at her own whisker-marred face. At least we were ridiculous together.
Of course, I was perfectly aware of how 'normal' we actually appeared in our pursuit of abnormality. This was all so typical, but I remained enthusiastic nonetheless.
"Ellie, why're there whiskers drawn on your face?" Asked the girl sitting across from me on the crowded bus. She pushed her curly brown hair away from her face, looking at me expectantly.
I answered her quickly, giving some brief explanation about youtubers. Our conversation quickly moved on to the upcoming season of our mutually-favourite television show: Doctor Who.
Our conversation-turned-debate was quickly growing heated when a voice sounded, just to her left. It was clear and soft, low and husky, but easily heard over the noise of the bus.
 	"The Angels could take the Silence any day."
I looked over at the owner of the dulcet tones, determined to find out why I hadn't been acquainted with him before. I stopped short, however, as I saw him.
He was sitting casually beside my debate companion, one arm draped over a metal pole and ankles crossed. He wore a dull blue-purple button-down and blue jeans. His dark hair was neatly coiffed, and he was smiling crookedly.
I stared intently at him for a brief moment before opening my mouth and proclaiming, much to my present and ongoing embarrassment, "You're going to be my best friend."
He smirked, giving me a small two-fingered salute. "Alex."
___________________________________________________________
My sock-clad feet dangled off of the splintering wooden porch. It was a blisteringly hot July afternoon, and the palm of my right hand rested against my jaw. I blinked slowly, the summer heat rendering my brain sluggish and nearly useless. Across from me, my best friend and constant companion of almost six years had struck a similar pose. I gazed aimlessly at her for a while, my eyes tracing the gentle slope of her jaw and the soft waves of her chin-length blonde hair.
	I was pulled from my warmth-induced reverie by the sound of her voice. “Ellie,” she began, her tone rough with discomfort, “I’m hot. Can we do something else? Preferably cooling.”
	I blinked rapidly a few times, trying to jumpstart my uncooperative brain. “Yeah,  sure,” I told her. “Any suggestions?”
	“No...” she said thoughtfully, getting up and beginning to walk around the back of my house. Thinking that she had simply grown weary of laying on my porch, I let her go.
	Just as my eyes had begun to sag closed once again, I felt a startlingly cold splash of water against the hot flesh of my back and arms. I uttered a small shriek and jumped up from my position, turning to see my friend holding my garden hose with a maniacal look upon her face. She sprayed me again, all the while laughing like a hyena.
	“I’m cooling you down!” came her excited voice. I grinned then. I did feel better, and the heat was nearly as unbearable now. But still, there were principles that must be upheld.
	“I’ll get you back for that!” I yelled, racing across my lawn in pursuit of my attacker.
___________________________________________________________
	I inhaled deeply, my face pressed against the warm, delicious-smelling flesh of his neck. I loosened my grip around his neck, leaning against the back of the front seat so as to get a better look at his face. We were curled around each other in the backseat of a friend’s car; my arms around his neck and his around my waist as was characteristic of us. The slight bumpiness of the ride didn’t faze us anymore, as we had long since gotten accustomed to the severity of the driver’s turns.
	After a few moments of smiling wanly at him, I lowered my head down to his shoulder. Squeezing him tightly, I tilted my head slightly and place my lips against the shell of his ear. “Love, love, love,” I murmured gently.
	He pushed me away slightly, his eyes locked on my face for a brief moment before he shook his head. “You really do love me.”
	To me, it sounded like a realisation. His eyes were bright, and I’m sure that mine were shining with emotion. He hugged me to him once again, and I kissed his neck serenely.
	“I really do.”
_______________________________________________________________________________________
EDIT: I don't know what's up with the formatting. Sorry.

title: A series of stories

question: How is the narrator in the first story different from the norm?

answer: A child not given to wearing their clothing the right way or being sociable to others of their age.

critique: The answer could be phrased as a complete sentence.

critique: The answer is missing a small but important detail: the narrator wears their clothes inside out.

critique: The answer should mention that the narrator is sensitive to touch.

critique: The answer should mention the narrator's sensitivity to loud noises.

question: Describe what was odd about the narrator and her friend in the third story.

answer: The narrator and her friend are dressed up like cat's. They do this because it makes them feel ridiculous. They act as if it is perfectly normal, as do their peers.

critique: The answer is incorrect. The narrator and her friend are not dressed up like cats.

critique: The response is missing a few details about the narrator and her friend.

critique: It is omitted that the narrator and her friend are wearing cat whiskers.

critique: The answer says the girls are dressed up like cats, but the story says "whisker-marred faces."

critique: It's omitted that they paint whiskers on their faces.

text:
-"Cat's" should not have an apostrophe.
-"They do this because it makes them feel ridiculous." This sounds like they always draw whiskers or "dress up" as cats, which is not according to the story.

category: other

refinement: The narrator and her friend are dressed up like cat's. They do this because it makes them feel ridiculous. They act as if it is perfectly normal, as do their peers.

category_text: Coherence and accuracy.

question: What is the name of the boy in the second story?

answer: Alex

critique: The answer could be phrased as a complete sentence.

critique: The full name of the boy is not the boy in question therefore incorrect answer.

text: The boy in the second story is not named. So, this answer is incorrect.

refinement: Alex

question: What is Ellie's friend's response to the heat?

answer: spray her with the garden hose

critique: The answer should be a complete sentence.

critique: Ellie's friend isn't really Ellie's friend at this point, she's "the other girl."

critique: Ellie is the one who is sprayed with the hose.

text: The sentence should not begin with a small letter. This should be corrected.

category: coherence

refinement: spray her with the garden hose


text:
Deliver, scan 06:05. Deliver, scan 08:17. Deliver, scan 09:10. Deliver, scan 09:54. Deliver, scan 13:12. Deliver, scan 18:34.

18:52

Six newborns today to six sets of parents; a clean day, no twins would need to be separated. The last child, a boy, was delivered at 18:34 today, just making the final cut of the day before the clock struck 19:00. These six infants will wake up tomorrow out of the hospital and in new homes to their new parents. Some will be reunited with their biological parents; others will end up in completely new homes. That decision will fall on the lottery now. Once the baby is delivered, it is out of our hands, it is out of the parents’ hands; fate guides all.

It has worked this way since the machines were introduced in 2025. The baby is delivered and immediately taken from the parents into an isolation room. The newborn is scanned, receives two options, and is put to be fed, cleaned, and laid down with all the other newborns of that day until the lottery begins.

The newborn will always receive two options. There is ‘option A’ the good news, the option we all hope will become the truth. And of course, there is ‘option B’ the bad news, the ultimate worst. At first they were called ‘positive’ and ‘negative’, but too many parents were leaving their children in the care of the hospital, placing too heavy a connotation on the ‘negative’ aspect. We have found that providing parents ‘options’ allows them the illusion of choice.

In the last thirty-nine years not a single child has procured himself an adulthood that has not proved one of the options true. The machines are foolproof in the sense that one of two will be fulfilled. However, with every machine comes a unique disparity.

Our machine predicts ‘option A’ correctly 82% of the time. Not as good as other area hospitals with 90% success rates, but better than the others that can only guarantee a 64% chance. It is those lucky ones that hit ‘option A’ who run the world as we know it today. If an infant is unfortunate enough to hit their ‘option B’, well… we’re lucky enough to be operating at 82%

“Doctor” the nurse called from the hallway as she walked towards the shut office door, “It is after 19:00, the parents need to be informed and the lottery must begin.”

Getting up out of this chair and walking those fifty feet to where the parents await could feel as if you were walking for days. This walk that feels like days is one that takes place every day in hospitals around the world. We are always walking, always.

19:09

“Parents, thank you for your patience. You are all well aware of how we are going to be managing this system.” The speech is always the same, learned as a code, an oath, by every Doctor whom this task is given to.

“A lottery has already taken place, and you know whether you are number one, number six, or any number in between. You know that we cannot inform you how the lottery system works, or which child is your offspring.” The words fall off my tongue flawlessly as my mind drifts to what is on the dinner menu tonight.

“We can only inform you of what their options entail, and it is up to you make your decision. Remember, this hospital runs at an 82% success rate, so please keep that in mind. You have the choice of selecting a child, or passing, and we will not leave this room until all the parents have taken their choice. If a child is left in the care of the hospital by the end, the parents will have a chance to claim this child along with the one they have already chosen.”

“Let us begin.”

21:20

The lottery always takes longer than it should. Two future professional athletes, a future diplomat, a police chief, and a successful entrepreneur were all given new homes.

 ‘option B’ scenarios tend to blur together as the days go by. Murders, war criminals, even those who will suffer from psychosis. We encourage the families not to hang their heads on these 18%, yet most days we end up with a child who will not have a home, and parents who will have to wait another year to try.

Today was no different. Five adopted children, and one that will remain in the care of the hospital.

‘option A’ Olympian. ‘option B’ child molester, 18%.

This newborn, the one who was delivered at 08:17 is now in the care of the hospital, and his options will not pan out. Those who are left in the care of the hospital are trained to become a Doctor.

There is no glamour in this job as there is no pain. The ultimate neutral, the middle ground between ‘option A’ and ‘option B.’ Going through life knowing you were left there by all potential parents, the unwanted. Growing up knowing your ‘option B’ was so bad it turned everyone away.

Pain.

One bright side to this life of a neutral comes on your 25th birthday when you finish your training, and are introduced to the system, how the lottery works, and why the machines were brought in. The Doctors are the only ones who know, the only ones who will ever know.

In twenty-five years the baby delivered at 08:17 this morning will know. He will know how the system works, and he will learn what his options were to get a feel of what potential parents choose not to select. He will have to live from age twenty-five on knowing what his life could have been, and what it became instead.

We are given no names, only the title of ‘Doctor’ and enough knowledge to keep the system moving.

My title is Doctor. I know how the system works. I was born with two options, as was everyone else who was born on this planet since 2025, in a hospital that guaranteed an 86% ‘option A’ success rate. All eight parents that day passed on me, and I was left in the care of the hospital. My fates were unique in the sense that they were identical.

Had I not been left at the hospital, today I would be the leader of the world.

My title is Doctor.

title: I've Never Really Tried Creative Writing, but an Idea Struck me Today, and I went with It (1,072 words)

question: Identify a contextual error in the story.

answer: The story is set in the future, but the year is not mentioned.

critique: The story is set in the present and not in the future.

critique: The story is set in the present, not the future.

critique: The future is irrelevant here, the story is set in the same era of the informant

critique: The story does not take place in the future, but in the present.

critique: The story is set in the future, but the year is not mentioned.


text:
BENJAMIN JAMES PEREZ ABLAO JR. (born ) is an independent (indie film) filmmaker and actor from the United States. He is the founder of B.P.A. Productions Group, Inc., a registered corporation with the State of Delaware. Not limited to any one particular genre, he has produced award-winning films ranging from comedy [1] to drama[2] to artistic[3] to horror.[4]

Biography

Early life and education

Benjamin P. Ablao Jr. was born in Wilmington, Delaware to Benjamin P. Ablao Sr. and Angelita P. Ablao. He is the oldest of two children, with a sister named Betsy. His parents were both of Filipino heritage, with his father being from the Philippine capital, Manila, and mother from the Philippine “summer capital”, Baguio.

His parents were experienced professionals in their careers. His father was a civil engineer for a private firm until his retirement in 2007, and his mother was a Medical Technologist for the State of Delaware until her retirement in 2006. His parents were active members with a local Filipino organization, the Pilipino American Association of Delaware (“PAAD”)1, which was very active in the performance arts and heritage celebration. His experiences growing up in the small town of Claymont, a northern suburb of Wilmington, and his early exposure to performing in school/organization talent shows would eventually resurface again in his later life.

As a young boy, Ablao sang in school talent shows and performed in PAAD-sponsored Holiday / Talent events. His sister also performed for similar events and many times they sang duets together. He and his sister also took piano lessons at the urging of their mother.

After high school, he enrolled at the University of Delaware as an International Relations major and continued his education there until he transferred to Widener University in 1997. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree and Certificate in Paralegal Studies in 2003.

He is currently working to obtain his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix-Philadelphia (PA) campus.

Journalism

Ablao attended Wilmington's Salesianum School and took many courses in public policy, government and business. He was a member of several student organizations including Model United Nations, Stage Crew and The Review, the high school's newspaper.

He also served during his junior and senior years as Acting Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Art Director, and journalist for The Eye Magazine, a statewide student-run monthly magazine published by the Resource Center of the YMCA of Delaware2 until 1992. Because of his dedication and commitment to the magazine, the YMCA of Delaware named him a “1991 Youth Volunteer of the Year” recipient and was asked to and served on the Board of Directors for the Resource Center of the YMCA of Delaware3 from 1992 through 1993.

Upon graduation from high school, he attended the University of Delaware where he served as the Propraetor (Alumni Secretary) for the Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity4 (AB Chapter) in 1994,and was responsible for the organization and publication of the fraternity newsletter. From 2000 through 2002, Ablao served as President of the Kappa Delta Rho Alumni Corporation 5 (AB Chapter) and Editor-in-Chief of the bi-annual Alumni Newsletter.

Film Beginnings & Awards

While working in a financial services company in 2001, Ablao met director Anthony Spadaccini. In what started out initially as providing input for several film clips has grown and developed into a strong business relationship and personal friendship.[5] Eventually Spadaccini, under the Fleet Street Films label, combined with the support from Ablao, under the B.P.A. Productions label. Fleet Street Films is a subsidiary and the independent film productions studio of B.P.A. Productions Group.

Ablao has produced several short and feature films including: “Emo Pill” (2006)6, “Aftermath” (2005)7 and “Hatred” (2006)8.

The short film “Monday Morning” (2005) 9 (a tribute to the Chaplin/Keaton silent comedies) has played at numerous film festivals in the U.S. & Canada since 2005, and won 2nd place for Best Experimental Short at the 2006 Indie Gathering Film Festival.[6] “The First Date” (2006) 10, the follow-up to “Monday Morning”, won Best Experimental Short at the 2007 Indie Gathering Film Festival.[7] Similarly the critically acclaimed experimental short “Emo Pill”, distinguished for its beautiful & haunting imagery, has played at several festivals in the U.S. & Canada, debuting at the 2006 Newark Film Festival and winning 3rd Place for Best Experimental Short at the 2007 Indie Gathering Film Festival.[8]

Exemplary Filmmaking awards were issued for both “Emo Pill” and “Monday Morning” at the 2006 Delaware Valley Film Festival.

Including “Emo Pill,” “Aftermath,” “Hatred,” and “Monday Morning,” Ablao has served as executive producer for a multitude of other productions: “Unstable” (2005)11, “The Troubled Interviewee” (2002)12, “Glenville: Hell’s Homecoming” (2005)13, “Head Case" (2007)14 and “Amateur Porn Star Killer 2” (2008)15.

Ablao's acting credits include the horror short “En Passant”, all by award-winning filmmaker Johnny K. Wu, and Spadaccini's “Hatred”, “The First Date”, and “Head Case.”

The latest feature film, “Head Case” (a horror pseudo-documentary), premiered at the 3rd annual Newark Film Festival, which drew in the largest crowd for a local independent film for the second straight year.

Ablao has made special appearances on the local & regional media circuit such as WVUD, the University of Delaware student radio [9] and was a guest speaker for independent film production at Wilmington College in 2006.

Ablao is currently working on promoting “Head Case”, as well as producing three feature films simultaneously. In addition, he is producing a music video for Chris Watson (a contestant on the 7th season of American Idol).

[1] Benjamin P. Ablao Jr

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5] Bothum, Peter. Indie Filmmakers Banking On A Bright Future. (Wilmington, Delaware), The News Journal, 2 April 2006, Pg. 2,

[6] 2006 Winners

[7] New Page 1

[8]

[9] YouTube - HEAD CASE - World Premiere on 'The Midnight Ride' (3 of 3)

title: Benjamin P. Ablao Jr.

question: What argument could be offered that Benjamin P Ablao Jr may have planned a future away from the performing arts when leaving school?

answer: He attended Wilmington's Salesianum School and took many courses in public policy, government and business. He was a member of several student organizations including Model United Nations, Stage Crew and The Review, the high school's newspaper. He also served during his junior and senior years as Acting Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Art Director, and journalist for The Eye Magazine, a statewide student-run monthly magazine published by the Resource Center of the YMCA of Delaware.

critique: This doesn't mention ceasing to participate in performing arts.

critique: This is not evidence that he planned a future away from the performing arts.

critique: The answer does not answer the question.

critique: The answer is irrelevant to the question.

critique: The answer doesn't address the question.

critique: The answer is not relevant to the question.

question: How did Ablao eventually get into movies?

answer: He met a director while working in a financial services company.

critique: Does not mention that he provided input for several film clips.

critique: The answer should mention his role in the company.

critique: This response is incorrect and needs to be re-written.

critique: Doesn't mention that he provided input for several film clips.

critique: The answer should mention that Ablao's input for film clips eventually grew into a strong business relationship.

critique: The answer should mention that Ablao's input for film clips eventually grew into a strong business relationship and personal friendship.

critique: The answer should mention that Ablao eventually became a film producer.

question: How did Ablao meet his wife?

answer: He met her at a party.

critique: "He met her at a party." - there is no evidence that he met her at a party. Replace with another answer.

critique: The response is incorrect. There is not enough information to answer the question.


text:
	Kurt was taking his time walking down the street, his feet moving him ever forward as small droplets of water fell down from the sky, splashing all across the city. Everyone around him was rushing, with umbrellas, hoods, newspapers covering their heads. Kurt's sweatshirt had a hood, but he didn't think of placing it over his head. The cold orbs of water felt nice running down his shaggy brown hair, dropping off of curls in front of his face, onto his nose and then down to the ground with a “plop.” The water had just started to fall from the sky, but, unlike most times it rains, it did not start off slowly. There was no build up toward the release. One moment, no rain, the next, it felt like the massage setting on a shower head. Kurt forgot where it was he was going, but continued walking anyway, to get his feet wet. As people ran by, they looked at him oddly, as if he was insane to act as he did.
	After about thirty seconds, Kurt's clothes were soaked through. His hair was dripping completely, it looked as if head been in a shower for a few minutes. His sweatshirt clung to his body, dark gray from the moisture. In the pockets of his jeans his cell phone had short-circuited, the water had soaked into the electronics and caused too much energy to be placed on the motherboard, killing it forever. Kurt didn't care. He didn't notice that fact until a day later, when he went to clean up, and the phone fell from his pocket to the floor. His feet kept leading him down the street, which was growing increasingly familiar to Kurt, as he looked around him. He still did not know where he was going, but let his feet lead him.
	After five minutes of walking in the rain, his feet brought him in front of the door to an apartment building. The building he recalled knowing, but he did not know where from. Water still dripped down his brow to his nose, and off to make a “plop” in the puddle created under his feet. It was still raining, but a canopy provided relief. Kurt's right hand made its way to his pocket, where it found cold metal, damp from the cloth around it. The metal fit into the door in front of him, and his feet pulled him into the stair well, and up the stairs in front of him. He left a trail of water as his feet trotted up the steps, one by one.
	Everything around him he knew well, but Kurt could not figure out why. His feet had brought him in front of a door now. On the door were the numbers four, zero, and seven. His right hand lifted up, and knocked twice. The sound of flesh on wood was thick and loud, echoing down the hall. The water dripping off of Kurt soaked a floor mat that read “Welcome!” Kurt heard some shuffling inside, and the door opened. Standing there, staring at Kurt was a woman. Kurt remembered her. She stood in the doorway, wearing gray sweat pants and a t-shirt much too big for her. Her auburn hair was tied above her head in a ponytail that reached down past her shoulders. Her eyes were puffed and red. Inside the room, Kurt could see tissues and an open bottle of wine on the coffee table. He looked at her and said quietly,
	 “Angela... You're beautiful. Marry me.”
	“Fuck off.”
	Water went “plop” on the now-soaked floor mat.
	The door slammed shut, followed by the sound of metal clinking with metal.  Kurt turned, and started walking back down the stairs. As he got to the bottom, he realized that it looked brighter outside. When he walked out of the apartment, he looked up into the clouds. They were thinner. Water dripped from his nose and went “plop.” His eyes were red and puffy.

title: This is the first story I have written in the longest time. I give you: Plop

question: What does the story say about how Kurt feels?

answer: The story mentions that he's a sketchy guy, who doesn't know his surrounding well. He was also rain-soaked from head to toe when everything around him felt familiar. It was also raining heavily with no sign of letting up, which Kurt felt didn't suit the mountain dungeon-like streets that he was on.

critique: The story doesn't mention that Kurt is a sketchy guy.

critique: This response is a complete misinterpretation of the story and the details of this response should be re-written.

critique: The story does not mention that Kurt is a sketchy guy.

critique: The story does not mention that he's a sketchy guy.

critique: The last line is not relevant to the question.

critique: The last sentence is not relevant to the question.

text: The answer needs to focus more on what Kurt does and how he interacts with the other character in the story in order to show Kurt's emotional state.

question: What does the story say about the girl's character?

answer: The girl is named Angela and she is Kurt's ex-girlfriend with whom he had broken up with in the past. She clearly still has feeling towards him (enough to make her cry) but it is unclear if she wants him back. Angela has snot on her upper lip. Kurt still thinks Angela is beautiful. He wants to marry her, but when she refuses, he walks away from the apartment, ultimately realizing the building appeared brighter outside.

critique: The girl's name is not mentioned in the story.

critique: There is no evidence that the girl has snot on her upper lip.

critique: The girl's name is never mentioned in the story.

text: Kurt noticed that the world outside was brighter, not the building.


text:
_BLANQUERNA_ () is a novel written around 1283 by Ramon Llull. It chronicles the life of its eponymous hero. It is the first major work of literature written in Catalan.

Structure

[Raymond Llull] The novel is divided into five parts.[1] Llull's _LLIBRE D'AMIC E D'AMAT_ (_Book of the Friend and Beloved_) is often included as a semiautonomous section within _Blanquerna_.[2]

Plot summary

The central character of the novel named after him, Blanquerna, was born to Evast and Aloma. Before marrying, Evast, a nobleman, had wanted to follow a religious life but at the same time wished to experience matrimony. He became a merchant after his marriage to Aloma, and he gives his son an education based on religious and philosophical pursuits.

In the second part of the novel, Blanquerna confronts the same choice his father did: between a celibate life and a married one. Blanquerna decides to become a hermit, which saddens his mother; she tries to have her son marry the beautiful Cana. But Blanquerna persuades Cana to become a nun, and she later becomes an abbess.[3] Blanquerna also faces sexual temptation in the form of a maiden named Natana. This second part includes a description of the seven sins.

In parts three through five of the novel, Blanquerna, having chosen a religious life, becomes a monk (though he desires to become a hermit instead), and quickly becomes an abbot. In time, he is elected pope.

The road to the papacy is not easy; Blanquerna is constantly faced with troublesome decisions and temptations, and he is not perfect. Indeed, Blanquerna “is made credible precisely because he is prone to make mistakes and to experience temptation, and in the end this gives him an authority which other authorities are obliged to recognize.”[4] Blanquerna's life takes him through widely varying places and social strata, from uninhabited forests and wildernesses to the dense Roman urban landscape of thieves and prostitutes, from interactions with young maidens to interactions with popes and emperors.[5]

As he matures, Blanquerna listens to the advice of a jongleur, a “wise fool” named Ramon. Blanquerna reforms the Church completely as pope, with Ramon’s help, and finally becomes the hermit he had always desired to be. As a hermit, he composes a book of meditations to help his fellow hermits defeat temptation: this is the _Llibre d'Amic e d'Amat_, which consists of 365 love poems.[6] This text “purports to offer the protagonist’s mystical confessions, based on personal experience and examples of 'Sufi preachers,' as a guide to contemplation within the apostolic utopia of a reform of contemporary Christendom.”[7]

Selected verses

_27 The bird was singing in the garden of the Beloved. The Lover came and said to the bird: - If we don’t understand each other through language, let’s communicate through love, because your song represents my Beloved to my eyes._

_295 The Lover was in danger in the great sea of love; and he trusted his Beloved, who came to rescue him with tribulations, thoughts, tears and cries, sighs and sorrows, since the sea was one of love and also made to honour his principles._

[1] Robert M. Place, _Buddha Tarot_ (Llewellyn Worldwide: 2004), 56.

[2] Josiah Blackmore; Gregory S. Hutcheson, _Queer Iberia: Sexualities, Cultures, and Crossings from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance_ (Duke University Press: 1999), 170.

[3] Ramon Lull; E. Allison Peers (translator), _Book of the Lover and the Beloved_ (Kessinger, 2003), 16.

[4] Arthur Terry, _A Companion to Catalan Literature_ (Boydell & Brewer, 2003), 14.

[5]

[6]

[7]

title: Blanquerna

question: What does the article say about the plot summary of the novel Blanquerna by Ramon Llull?

answer: The novel is divided into five parts. Llull's LLIBRE D'AMIC E D'AMAT is often included as a semiautonomous section within Blanquerna. The central character of the novel named after him, Blanquerna, was born to Evast and Aloma. Before marrying, Evast, a nobleman, had wanted to follow a religious life but at the same time wished to experience matrimony. He became a merchant after his marriage to Aloma, and he gives his son an education based on religious and philosophical pursuits. In the second part of the novel, Blanquerna confronts the same choice his father did: between a celibate life and a married one. Blanquerna decides to become a hermit, which saddens his mother; she tries to have her son marry the beautiful Cana. But Blanquerna persuades Cana to become a nun, and she later becomes an abbess. Blanquerna also faces sexual temptation in the form of a maiden named Natana. This second part includes a description of the seven sins. In parts three through five of the novel, Blanquerna, having chosen a religious life, becomes a monk (though he desires to become a hermit instead), and quickly becomes an abbot. In time, he is elected pope. The road to the papacy is not easy; Blanquerna is constantly faced with troublesome decisions and temptations, and he is not perfect. Indeed, Blanquerna “is made credible precisely because he is prone to make mistakes and to experience temptation, and in the end this gives him an authority which other authorities are obliged to recognize.” Blanquerna's life takes him through widely varying places and social strata, from uninhabited forests and wildernesses to the dense Roman urban landscape of thieves and prostitutes, from interactions with young maidens to interactions with popes and emperors. As he matures, Blanquerna listens to the advice of a jongleur, a “wise fool” named Ramon. Blanquerna reforms the Church completely as pope, with Ramon’s help, and finally becomes the hermit he had always desired to be. As a hermit, he composes a book of meditations to help his fellow hermits defeat temptation: this is the Llibre d'Amic e d'Amat, which consists of 365 love poems. This text “purports to offer the protagonist’s mystical confessions, based on personal experience and examples of 'Sufi preachers,' as a guide to contemplation within the apostolic utopia of a reform of contemporary Christendom.”

critique: The response is too long and should be condensed to reflect the important plot points.

critique: The answer is a summary of the plot, not a plot summary.

critique: The answer is not a summary of the plot. It is a summary of the novel's content.

question: What does the story say about what happened to Cana after she become a nun?

answer: No answer

critique: The input tells us that Cana later becomes an abbess.


text:
CONSTELLATION PLACE is a 35-story, skyscraper in the Los Angeles, California community of Century City.[1] It houses the headquarters of Houlihan Lokey, ICM Partners, and International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC).

It once housed the corporate headquarters of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), but MGM moved to Beverly Hills, California after August 19, 2011.

History

Constellation Place was constructed from 2001 to 2003. It is 26th-tallest building in Los Angeles, and the 5th-tallest in Century City. It was the first high-rise to be completed in the 21st century in Los Angeles. The building was designed by Johnson Fain Partners, and has of Class A office space.

Before August 19, 2011 ,[2] the headquarters were in the MGM Tower in Century City, Los Angeles.[3] Halfway through the design building process of what would become the MGM Tower, MGM agreed to be the lead tenant. In 2000 MGM announced that it was moving its headquarters to a newly constructed building in Century City. The building opened in 2003.[4]

In 2010, as MGM emerged from bankruptcy protection, it announced that it planned to move the headquarters to Beverly Hills, California so the company could remove around $5 billion in debt. The lease in Century City was scheduled to expire in 2018. Vincent and Eller said that MGM's per square foot monthly rent would be far lower in the Beverly Hills building than in the MGM Tower. Larry Kozmont, a real estate consultant not involved in the move, said “It's a prudent move for them. Downsizing and relocating to a space that is still prominent but not overly ostentatious and burdened by expenses is fundamental for their survival.”[5]

Facilities

ICM Partners has its headquarters on the five recently renovated top floors of the building.

Alex Yemenidjian, a former chairperson and chief executive of MGM, devised the headquarters space. Roger Vincent and Claudia Eller of the _Los Angeles Times_ said that “Yemenidjian spared no expense in building out the studio's space with such Las Vegas-style flourishes as towering marble pillars and a grand spiral staircase lined with a wall of awards.”[6]

Scott Johnson, the architect, designed the bottom third of the tower to have extra-large floors so MGM executives could have outdoor decks. The marble used in the MGM spaces was imported from Italy. MGM received a dedicated private garage, a dedicated security checkpoint, and a dedicated elevator bank. That way, celebrities who visited the complex could enter and exit the building without entering public spaces. Three screening rooms were placed in the tower. One of them was a 100-seat theater on the ground floor. As of December 2010 ICM Partners controls the theater. The 14th floor lobby housed the executive suites and a wall of Oscar statuettes for Academy Award-winning films. The street that leads to the building's garage was renamed MGM Drive. A large MGM logo was placed at the top of the building. In December 2010 MGM rented of space in the MGM Tower, and it paid nearly $5 per square foot per month in rent.[7]

As of 2012 it was noted as the first high-rise in Los Angeles to use electricity-generating fuel cells, called Bloom Energy Servers, as a source of power. The cells, which rely on hydrocarbons such as natural gas to generate power, may produce up to 400 kilowatts of power, which would supply one third of the electricity used to power the building.[8]

Tenants

-   Houlihan Lokey headquarters – 4th, 5th, 6th Floors[9][10][11]
-   ICM Partners corporate headquarters[12][13][14]
-   International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) corporate headquarters - Suite 3400[15][16][17]
-   Fortress Investment Group – 16th floor
-   Macquarie Group – Suite 2250

[1]

[2]

[3] “Corporate Information .” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Retrieved on September 6, 2011. “Our location, the sleek, beautifully appointed corporate headquarters at MGM Tower in Century City,[...]”

[4] Vincent, Roger and Claudia Eller. “MGM to move from luxurious Century City offices.” _Los Angeles Times_. December 30, 2010. Retrieved on February 6, 2012.

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10] Steinberg, Julie. “Bucking the Trend, Houlihan Lokey Still Hiring.” _Finance_ (_The Wall Street Journal_). January 24, 2012. Retrieved on February 5, 2012. “Houlihan Lokey, the Los Angeles-based investment bank,[...]”

[11] “Los Angeles .” Houlihan Lokey. Retrieved on February 5, 2012. “Los Angeles Los Angeles 10250 Constellation Blvd. 5th Fl. Los Angeles, CA 90067”

[12]

[13] “Contact Us .” International Creative Management. Retrieved on February 6, 2012. “LOS ANGELES 10250 Constellation Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90067”

[14] Nash, James. “Lights, camera, Katrina: rebuilding of Louisiana will affect production in L.A.” _Los Angeles Business Journal_ at AllBusiness. Retrieved on February 5, 2012. “[...]International Creative Management Inc., the Los Angeles-based talent and literary agency.”

[15]

[16]

[17] “Contact Us .” International Lease Finance Corporation. Retrieved May 6, 2011. “10250 Constellation Blvd. Suite 3400 Los Angeles, CA 90067 USA”

title: Constellation Place

question: How was the skyscraper affected by the departure of MGM?

answer: Houlihan Lokey and ICM Partners continue to be the tenants. The name MGM tower was not reused, MGM withdrew as a tenant as well.

critique: It incorrectly mentions that the name of the building was reused in the answer.

critique: It's probably more accurate to say their name was removed

critique: The answer omits that MGM moved to Beverly Hills.

critique: The response did not answer the question, nor did it accurately state the departure of MGM.

critique: The name on the building was not changed.

critique: The answer is not related to the question.

critique: The answer misses to mention that the building still houses the headquarters of Houlihan Lokey, ICM Partners, and International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC).

critique: The new name of the MGM tower is Constellation Place.

critique: The name of the building was not changed.

critique: The answer should mention that the building is no longer the headquarters of MGM.

critique: The answer could be clearer in its language.

critique: The answer is not relevant to the question.


text:
FREE SHOWERS & WIFI

Free Showers and WIFI at one of the most talked about campgrounds in Cape Breton!

Read More

CHOWDER HUT RESTAURANT

Drop in for a bowl of seafood chowder, mussels, lobster roll enjoyed on our fully licensed deck!

Read More

THINGS TO DO

Check out the many hiking trails nearby, swim at the popular beach, strike up an evening bonfire, or go kayaking and whale watching anytime during the camping season!

[meat cove campground walking trails]

[kayaking]

[meat cove campground beach]

Welcome To Meat Cove Campground!

MEAT COVE CAMPGROUND IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CAMPING EXPERIENCES IN ATLANTIC CANADA!

If you are looking for a bit of rugged outdoor camping at the Northern tip of Cape Breton, then come to Meat Cove Campground, located about a half hour or so just north from Ingonish, Cape Breton.

Each campsite comes supplied with a fire pit with firewood available on site. Each cabin comes with table and chairs and a 6 foot deck on the outside. Free Showers, free WIFI, and  access to flush toilets and fresh drinking water right in the campground.

Prices – Cabins & Campsites

CAMPSITES: $40+ tax/Night (First come first serve)
CABINS: $80+ tax/Night (Reservations available June 1st)

NOW OPEN TO FULL CAPACITY (30 tent sites) !!

The campsites are first come / first serve. If you would like to call ahead before hand, please call 902-383-2379 to make sure we have a campsite available for you.

We start taking bookings for cabins May 1st and the campground doesn’t officially open until June 1st each camping season. Please call 902-383-2379 if you have any questions.

CHOWDER HUT RESTAURANT

Drop in for a bowl of seafood chowder, mussels, lobster, or one of the many other tasty dishes served up hot at our very own Meat Cove “Chowder Hut” Restaurant. Then wash is down with a cold craft beer on our licensed deck!

The Chowder Hut Restaurant keeps campers fed each day during the camping season serving up burgers and fries, mussels, lobster sandwiches and mouth watering clams.

THINGS TO DO

Check out the many hiking trails nearby, swim at the popular Meat Cove Beach, strike up an evening bonfire, or go ocean kayaking or  whale watching anytime during the camping season!

FREE SHOWERS & WIFI

Take advantage of the free showers and WiFi when you bring your friends and family to the Meat Cove Campground, Cape Breton’s most enjoyable rough ocean-side campground experience in Atlantic Canada!

CAMPGROUND AMENITIES

If you are looking for the rough outdoors rugged camping experience in Cape Breton, set your coordinates for Meat Cove! There are over 30 un-serviced campsites and a few new wilderness cabins that you can stay in overlooking the ocean.

_✓ CAMP CABINS – TABLE & CHAIRS INSIDE
_

_✓ SHOWER HOUSE – HOT RUNNING WATER_

_✓ FLUSH TOILETS_

_✓ FULL MENU_

_✓ LICENSED DECK_

_✓ SIT IN/OUT WHILE EATING_

_✓ FIRE WOOD_

_✓ FREE WI-FI_

_✓ KAYAK RENTALS_

_✓ SWIMMING_

_✓ WALKING TRAILS NEARBY_

Nova Scotia Web Cams

question: Describe some interesting components of Cape Breton.

answer: Some interesting components of Cape Breton are the hiking trails, beach, bonfire, and kayaking.

critique: The answer should mention the availability of free showers and wifi.

critique: "Some interesting components of Cape Breton are the hiking trails, beach, bonfire, and kayaking." - Cape Breton is a province in Canada, not a city.

critique: It is omitted that cabins and firewood are available.

critique: The answer is too vague to be considered a response.

critique: The answer should mention the campground.

question: What is the Chowder Hut Restaurant rated?

answer: No information is given on the ratings of the restaurant. The chowder hut serves all types of food, starting with burgers, fries, and mussels at lunch time, to lobster and clams at dinner time.

critique: It is stated that the restaurant serves burgers and fries and not just burgers.

critique: The article does not mention the restaurant's rating.

critique: The rating of the restaurant is not relevant to the question.

text: "The chowder hut serves all types of food, starting with burgers, fries, and mussels at lunch time, to lobster and clams at dinner time." - this part is irrelevant and should be removed.


text:
[The church housing Our Lady of Ludźmierz] The SANCTUARY OF OUR LADY OF LUDŹMIERZ in Ludźmierz, Poland is home to Our Lady of Ludźmierz, known as the Shepherdess of Podhale or in Polish _Gaździna Podhala_. The cult of Our Lady of Ludźmierz is strongly identified with the Góral people who live in the surrounding Tatra Mountains.

History

[The interior of the church] Ludźmierz is the oldest Catholic parish in Podhale. Its history stretches back to the 13th century. In 1234 Teodor Gryfita began raising a simple wooden church with a shingled roof and three altars in Ludźmierz, after obtaining permission from the bishop of Kraków. To encourage settlement in the uninhabited area, Gryfita brought in Cistercian Monks from France, Italy and nearby Jędrzejów.

A simple wooden monastery was erected soon after, along with a number of other buildings used in agriculture. These buildings which burnt down in 1796, had been practically abandoned since 1245 due to the high frequency of raids by bands of Tatars and thieves and the monks moved to nearby Szczyrzyc. However the Cistercians ministered to the parish in Ludźmierz until 1824, when it came under the care of Diocesan priests.

In 1869-77 the old wooden church was dismantled, and in its place the current Neo-Gothic edifice was raised, and the Rococo altar with the figurine of Our Lady of Ludźmierz was moved into the new church. Pope John Paul II visited the sanctuary in 1997. In 2001 the church was declared a Minor Basilica.

Papal Prophecy

Perhaps the most well-known story regarding the shrine is an incident during the Canonical Coronation of the statue by Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński on 15 August 1963, attended by the future Pope John Paul II as Bishop of the Archdiocese of Kraków. The statue accidentally slipped during the ceremony and the future pontiff caught the scepter which had fallen out of the statue's grasp, a scene that was later interpreted as a prophecy of the young Bishop's future selection as Pope. [“Miraculous Spring”]

Statue of Our Lady of Ludźmierz

The figurine of Our Lady of Ludźmierz, which has drawn throngs of pilgrims since the Middle Ages was originally placed in one of the church's side altars, and it wasn't until 1776 that the statue made its way into the main altar. The statue of Our Lady of Ludźmierz is thought to be about 600 years old. The wooden statue itself is about 125 cm in height, and a replica is situated next to the “miraculous spring” next to the sanctuary.

Multiple copies of the figure have spread all over the world, from the Pfarrkirche of St. Johannes Baptist in Baindt to the church of St. Mary of Częstochowa in Cicero. Most of the spread in devotion to Our Lady of Ludźmierz can be traced back to the outmigration of the Góral community out of their native Carpathian homeland.

Medieval Legend

There is a medieval legend from about 1400 that refers to the Shepherdess of Podhale or the _Gaździna Podhala_ which refers to a Hungarian merchant on his way to Nowy Targ who after having lost his way in the nearby swamps, was miraculously led out by a mysterious lady to the church. When he understood that this mysterious figure had been Mary, the mother of Jesus, he attempted to kneel to give thanks in prayer when a miraculous spring burst forth. He pledged to commission a statue that would depict Mary as he'd seen her and bring it back to the church

Category:Gorals Category:Shrines to the Virgin Mary Category:Catholic Church in Poland Category:Polish folklore Category:Marian apparitions Category:The Most Holy Virgin Mary, Queen of Poland Category:Basilica churches in Poland Category:Nowy Targ County Category:Churches in Lesser Poland Voivodeship

title: Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ludźmierz

question: Summarize the history of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ludzmierz.

answer: The church was built in the 13th century. The Cistercians ministered to the parish in Ludzmierz until 1824. The current building was built in 1869-77. The statue of Our Lady of Ludzmierz was placed in the church's side altar in 1776. The statue was moved to the main altar in 1776.

critique: The statue was moved to the main altar in 1776.

question: Summarize the papal prophecy.

answer: According to the text, during the Canonical Coronation of the statue of Our Lady of Ludzmierz, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski accidentally dropped the statue. The future Pope John Paul II caught the scepter that fell out of the statue's grasp, which was interpreted as a prophecy of the future pontiff's selection as Pope.

critique: The answer should mention that the future Pope John Paul II caught the scepter before it hit the ground.

critique: The answer should mention that the statue was interpreted as a prophecy of the young Bishop's future selection as Pope.

critique: The answer should mention that the future Pope caught the scepter before it hit the ground.

critique: The answer should mention that the future Pope John Paul II was the Bishop of the Archdiocese of Krakow at the time of the incident.

critique: The answer should mention that the future Pope John Paul II caught the scepter that fell out of the statue's grasp.

critique: It is omitted that the future John Paul II caught the scepter that fell out of the statue's grasp.

question: Summarize the most interesting relic ever found in the church.

answer: No answer