text:
STEPHANIE MCKAY is an American soul singer and songwriter from the Bronx in New York, whose music includes elements of soul, funk, rock and hip hop. McKay's career has spanned over 20 years, during which time she has collaborated with artists including Anthony Hamilton, DJ Spinna Toshi Reagon and Big lovely, Roy Hargrove, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Katalyst, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Tricky, Carl Hancock Rux and Amp Fiddler and numerous others.[1][2] She has released two solo albums, McKay (2003) and Tell it Like it Is (2008), a self-titled EP Stephanie McKay (2006) and has toured internationally as a solo artist. She formerly played guitar in Kelis' band and recorded with the Brooklyn Funk Essentials.[3]

Early life

Stephanie McKay was born in NYC. Raised in the Bronx, an ethnically diverse district in New York City. During her early years she was a member of school choirs and music groups at Truman High School, before joining the Alvin Ailey School. McKay then moved onto the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she graduated with a BFA in modern dance in 1993. The depth of her music influences when growing up in New York are rooted in the classic soul singers of the sixties and inventiveness of popular soul bands from the seventies. She spoke of this in a recent interview she gave;

  “_I have a brother who is eight years older than me, who was always playing 70's soul and funk music like Earth, Wind And Fire and the Ohio Players, while my mom was in the other room listening to Al Green and Barry White. On my own though, I was a fan of the classic pop station WABC, where I first discovered artists like Michael Jackson and Jim Croce_”.

In many ways, McKay's music is the continuation of the great legacy of these artists for a new generation.

Early music career

After a knee injury detoured her dance aspirations, McKay started to audition for singing jobs. One of those auditions was for producer Kashif who hired her on the spot for a new girl group called “The Promise”. The group went on to be signed by Clive Davis at Arista Records. Although never released, it was during this period that McKay began writing songs. She began to study voice privately with Don Lawrence and drums with Kenwood Dennard.

Solo career

While pursuing her professional music aspirations in New York, McKay continued to dance with several modern dance companies, Jane Comfort, Amy Pivar, Urban Bush woman, and sing her original music in New York City clubs. From her subsequent experience she began to gain more work as a session vocalist. She was hired to sing in the studio and onstage by various artists to complement their sound and live show. One of these artists was Carl Hancock Rux an Obie Award winning playwright, poet, novelist and recording artist. It was while working for Carl Hancock Rux, she sang a demo of one of his songs. The demo was passed by Rux to Geoff Barrow of Portishead who was starting work on a new project. While on tour with Kelis in England, Stephanie met Geoff at the recommendation of Rux and they decided to complete an album.

The album was entitled _McKay_ and included original compositions by Stephanie, along with producers Tim Saul and Geoff Barrow—the latter of the two is credited in the album's sleeve notes as “Fuzzface”. The album also features two songs co-penned by Geoff Barrow and Carl Hancock Rux and additional instrumentation by other notable, Bristol-based musicians in Adrian Utley and John Baggott. The LP also contains the closing track “Echo”, a Sweet Honey in the Rock cover version, penned by the acclaimed social activist, Bernice Johnson Reagon.

The album received critical acclaim. UK national newspaper _The Guardian_ commented that McKay's debut was “resurrecting the passion and pride of politically conscious and eternally lovelorn ladies of late-1960s, early 1970s soul, McKay shines bright,” while dance bible MOJO described McKay as “extraordinarily eclectic” and her album was “a coherent artistic statement and worth investigating.”

McKay went on to play the WOMAD, Bristol and the Jazz Cafe in England and her music received international acclaim and rotation on MTV. The album “McKay” was released in Europe on (Go Beat/Polydor/Universal). Word crossed the pond to America, and Stephanie was soon signed by American company Astralwerks/EMI . In an attempt to reintroduce McKay to the American market, US label Astralwerks released a five song EP in September 2006 with two new songs from forthcoming album and two older songs from “McKay” album and a remix by DJ Spinna of “Tell It Like It Is”, as well as being featured on US funk musician Amp Fiddler's album release _Afro Strut_.

Her second album 'Tell it like it is" was later released independently on Pias/Muthas of Invention. McKay went on to play Glastonbury in 2009, North Sea Jazz Festival, and Spoleto in France. The single “Jackson Avenue” received wide airplay throughout Europe. After the death of her mom in 2008 and the birth of her son in 2009, Mckay took a hiatus and concentrated on motherhood instead of touring. She continued to release singles with longtime collaborator DJ Katalyst from Australia with the single “Day into Night” and “You can't save me”.

She is married to jazz tenor saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart. Jacques and Stephanie have collaborated musically with the album _Rise above_ (Dreyfus) an album released by her husband which contained the single “Feel so free”. Other songs from the album such as " Forget regret" have been recorded by Roy Hargrove. “Friend and lover” a composition McKay and Schwarz-bart wrote together for jazz guitarist Yosuke Onuma (Sony) Japan was also recorded by EMILY (jazz pianist and singer) and TOKU (trumpeter and singer) for Sony, and will be released in September 2013 in Japan.

Stephanie McKay is currently working with famed engineer Bob Power on a new collaborative project entitled [2sharp9]. In January 2013, she sang with Jimmy Cliff on The Super Bowl 2013 Volkswagen commercial “Get Happy”. Whether being hired live performer, studio session singer, or writer. Her work resonates with audiences and critics alike.

Music style

McKay's musical style has been described as “Motown meets midnight Marauder”. Her songs fuse powerful urban poetics with sonic sound waves that includes elements of hip-hop, rock, pop, soul.

Albums

-   McKay (2003)
-   Stephanie Mckay EP (2006)
-   Tell It Like It Is (2008)

Singles/EPs

-   Tell him
-   Take me Over
-   Tell it like it is
-   Stephanie McKay EP (2006)
-   Jackson Avenue (2008)

[1] 1

[2] 2

[3] Stephanie McKay Interview by Tom Paul. Soul Tracks March 21, 2008. Retrieved August 5, 2011.

title: Stephanie McKay

question: What does the article say about McKay's collaborative works?

answer: McKay has worked with numerous artists, including Anthony Hamilton, DJ Spinna Toshi Reagon, and Big lovely, Roy Hargrove, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Katalyst, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Tricky, Carl Hancock Rux, and Amp Fiddler.

critique: The answer should mention that she has also worked with Kelis.

critique: Missing the names of two other artists who she worked with.

critique: Doesn't mention that she also recorded with the Brooklyn Funk Essentials.

critique: The answer should mention the collaborative project she is working on now.

question: What does the article say about jazz music?

answer: No answer

critique: The article does not mention anything about jazz music.

critique: The answer should mention that the article does not mention anything about jazz music.


split: train

text:
**Red Ribbon**

   Each blink is more difficult and it takes me just a bit more effort to open my eyes than it did the last time. The cold of my bathtub is comforting. I lean back, take a deep breath and slowly exhale. My mind hasn't stopped racing, showing me images from my childhood, from my adolescence, from high school, from college.

   At four years old, I ran away from a camping trip to try to catch up to my parents on a hiking trail. I didn't know which direction they had gone, so I just followed the river. Ten minutes later, I was still alone and it started to sink in. No one is going to take care of me but myself. “#%!^, that's a scary thought. How will I be able to eat? I don't know how to do anything...” I wandered for what felt like forever, never straying from the security of the path I was on. Ah, the path.

   I snapped back to the present. That path. Nearly thirty years later and I realized I was jealous of that path. It had a direction, it knew where it was going. The only surprises on that path came from off the trail. Was this the right way to live my life? Is this how I would find happiness? Should I become a singularly focused individual, striving only for one goal, ignoring anything outside of that? This path is more soulful than I would have imagined a dirt road could be.

   I blink again. My eyelids feel sticky. I'm in my kitchen and I'm nine years old. Our kitchen is being remodeled and the floor is missing. I can see the dirt, spiderwebs, the century of unuse under the house. There is no rot, there is no termite damage, there is no foundation. Our house sits directly on the dirt hillside, raised up just enough to allow air to flow underneath. The house feels sturdy but there is nothing holding it in place, it could slide down the hill at any moment. Who cares? What does this mean?

   The hole in the floor of the kitchen is all I can think about when I open my eyes again. This house has lasted for more than 100 years. All without any sort of foundation, in earthquake country. It has been shaken and beaten more then I ever could be. It refuses to collapse but instead welcomes new people and wraps them in its love. This house is like a grandmother nearing senility; a shaky foundation, but a strong outward presence. A welcoming hug every time you enter through the front door. Is this how I should live? Wandering the earth, rootless, searching for a place to make a stand and show my love for my fellow man? I tried that in college, it didn't work. Free love and no foundation made me completely insecure. At any moment I could be cast aside and would have nothing to fall back on.

   My eyes lose focus as I follow the wall down from the ceiling to the bathtub, finally coming to rest on the floor of the bathtub. The rouge river winds down hands to my knees and finally pools at my heels until there is enough to continue its one-way journey. The thin thread heads straight into the darkness at the end of the tub, where it drips nosily into the drain.

   I blink twice. The second blink takes me away again. It's my Sophomore year of high school and I'm in love for the first time. Her name was Carrie, she was blonde with blue eyes. She was the co-captain of the JV Cheer squad and she always smelled like a freshly picked peony. We went on our first date together when I asked her to the Winter Formal. When I picked her up, I had to sit through “the talk” from her father while I waited for her to put her finishing touches on. After the dance, we went to an after party thrown by one of the Seniors. I didn't drink at all (it was part of “the talk”) but she did and by the time I got her back to her house, the alcohol was in full effect. We made out for half an hour. That 30 minutes was all it took, I knew I was in love. Our relationship lasted for the rest of the year but it didn't make it past the Summer she spent working on her uncle's ranch in Wyoming. I got two reasons out of her, and I've never known which one was more true. She said, “You're just too....nice” and “Cowboys.” My soul crushed, I spent the next two months sad and pitiful. First love, first loss, first time the nice guy finished dead last.

   My eyelids are heavy, but I open them and sigh. I'm back in the bathtub. I'm not an adolescent any more. I sigh again, this time in relief. The bathtub isn't so cold anymore, it has stolen my body heat giving only white porcelain in return. I brush my hand against the side of the tub, leaving irregular streaks as I move my fingers and paint with my essence. I see bits of Van Gogh and Cezanne in the chaotic crimson my fingers trail behind. I shut my eyes and am transported to my friends dorm in college. Jill is seated on her bed with Starry Night peaking at me over her right shoulder. There are two other friends in here, but I can't see their faces or remember their names. We have been discussing which super power we would want to have and why for the last three hours. I have held to my contention that being able to stop time would make one unstoppable while heavily debating flight and superspeed. We finally stop debating at 2am and I go home to sleep. In the morning, I hear from friends in the dorms near Jill. They are all asking me what I was talking about last night, apparently they could hear my laugh from the next dorm over. I tell them. They laugh more. I feel ashamed that my laugh has made me recognizable from hundreds of feet away. I am embarrassed by our conversation. I make a mental note, which I will immediately forget, to tone down my laugh.

   As I open my eyes from this memory, I realize the truth. I have spent most of my life running from my emotions. They crippled me time and again. My brain doesn't see it that way however, it relishes the emotions, the differences, the change, the unique. The problem is that I don't. My brain is pleading with me in the only way it knows how. It is pleading for me to reverse this process. It is imploring me to lift myself up, to stand up again. It has shown me the memories that were most important to me. I finally relent and lift my heavy hands, attached to heavy arms, to the edge of the tub. I set my feet flat against the floor of the tub, toes pushing against the side so I don't slip in the pooled and partially coagulated blood. I see my phone, it is across the room. It is now my only chance for survival. I strain my muscles to stand.

My eyes close.

title: Red Ribbon [1200 words] (first post here, feedback welcome, please comment)

question: Summarize the emotions the narrator feels in the beginning half of this story.

answer: The narrator feels a sense of nostalgia as they are reminiscing about their childhood. They feel deeply emotional as they are thinking about their first love. The narrator feels a sense of relief as they realize that they have spent most of their life running from their emotions.

critique: The narrator is not reminiscing about their childhood.

question: Summarize the biggest revelation the narrator has in this story.

answer: The biggest revelation the narrator has in this story is understanding that he/she has been running from their emotions for most of their life and how their emotions have crippled them time and again.

critique: "The biggest revelation the narrator has in this story is understanding that he/she has been running from their emotions for most of their life and how their emotions have crippled them time and again." - is not stated. Replace with "The biggest revelation the narrator has in this story is understanding that he/she has been running from his emotions for most of his life and how his emotions have crippled him time and again."

question: How will the narrator feel once she realizes she can stop running from her emotions?

answer: It is not stated.

critique: It is implied that she will feel relieved.

critique: "It is not stated." - more information can be gleaned from the text and it is not stated in the text that she will not feel anything. The model should consider rewriting this answer.

critique: The answer should mention that the narrator is dead.

critique: We can be certain that the narrator would feel alive, free and liberated as such an acknowledgment would signify an end to her self-imposed "turmoil" and transition from limbo (constant feeling of sadness and anger) to PEACE and restored self-confidence.


text:
_CATCH THE WIND: SONGS OF A GENERATION_ is the second studio album (first cover album) by Australian Idol 2006 winner Damien Leith. It was released on 26 April 2008.

The album features 18 songs of Leith's interpretations from the 1960s and 1970s that inspired and captured his spirit at a young age. “The great songwriters of the 60s and 70s have always been a major influence on my own original material. In many ways the songs of that generation are as relevant today as they were back then. I've chosen songs that either mean a great deal to me on a personal level or those that I'd just love people to hear.”

The album debuted at number three on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart, selling 9,688 copies in its first week.[1] In the following week, in the lead up to Mother's Day, the album rose to number two. Selling over 17,000 units, the album lost the top position by less than 300 copies.[2]

Track listing

1.  “Catch the Wind” (Donovan) – 2:19
2.  “Annie's Song” (John Denver) – 2:30
3.  “Wild World” (Cat Stevens) – 3:31
4.  “If” (David Gates) – 3:16
5.  “The Times They Are a-Changin'” (Bob Dylan) – 3:00
6.  “Father and Son” (Stevens) – 3:20
7.  “Vincent” (Don McLean) – 4:14
8.  “Everybody's Talkin'” (Harry Nilsson) – 4:03
9.  “Universal Soldier” (Buffy Sainte-Marie) – 2:18
10. “Guitar Man” (Gates) – 3:28
11. “Baby, I Love Your Way” (Peter Frampton) – 3:09
12. “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” (Neil Young) – 3:34
13. “Longer” (Dan Fogelberg) – 2:56
14. “Blowin' in the Wind” (Dylan) – 3:02
15. “Old Man” (Young) – 2:49
16. “And I Love You So” (McLean) – 3:03
17. “Sunshine on My Shoulders” (Denver) – 4:20
18. “Time in a Bottle” (Jim Croce) – 3:02

Personnel

-   David Anderson – Photography
-   Glenn A. Baker – Liner Notes
-   Jenifer Carmody – A&R
-   James Patrick Cooper – Art Direction, Design
-   Ross Fraser – Producer, A&R
-   Paul Gray – Keyboards, Vocals (background), Producer
-   Esther Coleman Hawkins – Choir Master
-   Damien Leith – Guitar, Vocals, Producer
-   Greg Royal – Bass

Charts

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Chart (2008)                      | Peak                              |
|                                   | position                          |
+:=================================:+:=================================:+
| Australian ARIA Albums Chart[3]   | 2                                 |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

Certification

Year-end charts

  Chart (2008)                         Position
  ------------------------------------ ----------
  Australian Albums Chart[4]           41
  Australian Artists Albums Chart[5]   9

[1] Madonna Gives Retail A New Music Week . Undercover. Retrieved 15 May 2008.

[2] Andre Rieu Tops Mothers Day Chart Week . Undercover. Retrieved 15 May 2008.

[3] Australian Top 50 Albums Chart . Retrieved on 4 May 2008.

[4]

[5]

title: Catch the Wind: Songs of a Generation

question: What does the article say about the album 'Catch the Wind: Songs of a Generation'?

answer: CATCH THE WIND: SONGS OF A GENERATION is the second studio album (first cover album) by Australian Idol 2006 winner Damien Leith. It features 18 songs of Leith's interpretations. He is inspired and captured by the 1960s and 1970s. Trevor Plummer is quoted as saying that Leith is the only person to take Australian Idol, win the reality show, and keep it going as a solo artist, in contrast to Haley-the other American Idol Award winner who went multiplatinum as a solo artist.

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

critique: There is no mention of Trevor Plummer in the article.

critique: The passage does not mention Trevor Plummer.

critique: There is no mention of Trevor Plummer saying that Leith is the only person to take Australian Idol, win the reality show, and keep it going as a solo artist, in contrast to Haley-the other American Idol Award winner who went multiplatinum as a solo artist.

question: What does the article say about the other Leith's albums?

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention that the album is Leith's second studio album.

critique: The answer should mention that the album is Leith's second album.

critique: The question is asking for information that can be found in the passage.

critique: The question asks for information that is available in the article.

critique: The answer should mention that the album is the only one mentioned in the article.


text:
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| [][]                                                                  |
|                                                                       |
| Egyptian and                                                          |
| Aero Theatres                                                         |
|                                                                       |
| Hollywood & Santa Monica                                              |
|                                                                       |
| Fri, May 6, 2016 - Sun, May 8, 2016                                   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| [Buy Tickets] [SHARE]                                                 |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

[]

LAUREL & HARDY: THE ORIGINAL ODD COUPLE

Co-presented by Jeff Joseph/SabuCat, with special thanks to the UCLA Film and Television Archive, the Library of Congress, Tom Holland/Holland Releasing and Marty DeGrazia of Sonar Entertainment.

Laurel and Hardy were among the most successful and beloved comedy teams in cinema history. An Englishman, Stan Laurel traveled to America as a part of Fred Karno’s troupe (in which he understudied Charlie Chaplin), while Georgia-born Oliver Hardy got his start in the booming pre-WWI Florida movie industry; the two first crossed paths in Hollywood at the Hal Roach Studios in 1921.

At first glance, the pair could not have been more mismatched – one thin and childlike onscreen, the other heavyset and haughty. They were very different off-screen as well, with Laurel a focused comedic strategist, while Hardy was more easygoing and content working in front of the camera. Perhaps it was these complementary styles that made the partnership so enduring, lasting nearly 30 years with appearances in more than 100 films together.

Join us for three days of hilarity from the legendary duo, with full restorations of a dozen shorts including “THE MUSIC BOX” (a Best Live Action Short Academy Award winner), “BUSY BODIES,” “HELPMATES,” “TOWED IN A HOLE” and long-lost pie-fight epic “THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY,” as well as two features: WAY OUT WEST and the rarely screened THE FLYING DEUCES. It’s safe to say that these films - photochemically restored from the original 35mm nitrate elements, then digitally cleaned for these DCP presentations - haven't looked this good since their first release! In addition, we'll be running rarely screened 35mm prints of THE DEVIL’S BROTHER and BONNIE SCOTLAND.

LAUREL AND HARDY SCHEDULE
LAUREL AND HARDY SERIES TRAILER
LEARN ABOUT THE RESTORATION PROCESS

Series programmed by Gwen Deglise and Jeff Joseph. Program notes by John Hagelston and Jeff Joseph.

Both Theatres • Fri, May 6, 2016 - Sun, May 8, 2016

[Buy Tickets]

[SHARE]

question: Describe Laurel and Hardy.

answer: Laurel and Hardy were among the most successful and beloved comedy teams in cinema history. They were very different off-screen as well, with Laurel a focused comedic strategist, while Hardy was more easygoing and content working in front of the camera.

critique: The answer should mention their physical appearance.

question: Would Laurel and Hardy be funny to today's generation of kids?

answer: It is not stated.

text: A hypothetical question will always have an answer and it does not require for the answer to be stated in the narrative. Instead, the answer should be inferred from the given information or narrative.

category: coverage


text:
2019-2020 Season !

Bon Voyage 2018-19

WPH seeking to fill

Board Member at Large Position

[BOD WPH.jpg]

Whidbey Playhouse

Frequently Asked Questions: COVID Edition

November 30, 2020

Gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation. For some it may be challenging to find things to be grateful for during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially around the holiday season. We want to be able to enjoy gatherings with our family and friends. We want to be able to attend holiday festivities, including Whidbey Playhouse productions. We want life to go back to what we knew as normal.

NEWS!

As a non profit theater we rely on your attendance to shows as well as your generous contributions through out the year. Covid19 has been especially hard on theaters across the country; smaller community theaters like ours hit the hardest. We ask that you consider us as part of your Christmas list this year.

We are participating in #givingtuesday ~ This is an unparalleled global day of unity to increase grassroots generosity, citizen engagement, plus corporate and individual giving. As we are all in this together, during one 24-hour period you can give, reconnect, and support our community while we prepare for the “new normal.”

#givingtuesday is December 1. Mark your calendars!

BOARD MEETINGS

NOW PLAYING

[ELFJR_Virtual_Dec2020_Poster.jpg]

ELF Jr. The Musical

Presented by Whidbey Playhouse as a Multi-Camera Virtual Presentation

December 4 to 31

Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa's permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh realities that his father is on the naughty list and his half-brother doesn't even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.

This modern-day holiday classic, brought to life by the Whidbey Playhouse, is sure to make everyone embrace their inner Elf. After all, the best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing out-loud for all to hear.

Presented virtually December 4 to 31

Due to the pandemic, Whidbey Playhouse is closed to patrons, and currently operating as a broadcast studio only.

Cost:

$10 WPH Show Ticket

[CHRISTMAS08.png]

YOUTH PROGRAMS: Would-Be-Players

WOULD-BE-PLAYERS

Listed below are the class times and performances dates:

**********************************************

NOVICE/STARS -Mon & Tues April 27 -June 10  3:45-5:45pm

ENTERTAINER - Wed & Thurs  April 27 -June 10  3:45-5:45pm

***********************************************

POSTPONED AT THIS TIME

[kids theater copy.jpg]

GALLERY

Whidbey Has Talent

SAVE THE DATE!! May 17, 2020

CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19

Whidbey has Talent celebrates the young and talented students ranging from K-12 who reside in the school districts of Whidbey Island.

Please contact us for more information on how to participate or sponsor this event proudly produced by the Whidbey Playhouse Inc.

[WHT2020_ShowPoster_updatedfinal.jpg]

[IslandThriftLogowhite.jpg]

Thank you to Island Thrift for

their generous sponsorship

MEMBERSHIP UPDATES

FACEBOOK

TBD

CLASSES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

[Looking For Better Rates.jpg]

POSTPONED!

NELLO ACTING CLASS

This Saturday March 14!

Star Studio

10 am -1:30 pm

WHIDBEY HAS TALENT

CANCELLED AT THIS TIME

UPDATES Weekly

[WHT2020_ShowPoster_updatedfinal.jpg]

Show Times:

Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:30 pm

Musicals:

Tickets:

$20 Adults

$18 Students

Non-Musicals:

$18 All Seats

Discounts Available

No Babes in Arms: Must Purchase Ticket 4 years and Older

Off Season: Price Varies

Many Thanks to our Sponsors & Advertisers!

Whidbey Playhouse website is updated weekly.

question: Summarize Whidbey Playhouse's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

answer: Whidbey Playhouse is a non-profit theater that relies on ticket sales and donations to operate. They are currently closed to patrons and operating as a broadcast studio only. They are participating in #givingtuesday, a global day of unity to increase grassroots generosity, citizen engagement, and corporate and individual giving. They are also running virtual performances of Elf Jr. The Musical.

critique: The answer should mention the board meeting.

critique: The response misses to mention that they are postponing their Nello Acting Class and their Whidbey Has Talent event.

critique: The answer omits the call for donations.

critique: The answer omits the theater's response to the pandemic.

critique: It's omitted that they're posting announcements on their Facebook page.

critique: Whidbey Playhouse is not currently running virtual performances of Elf Jr. The Musical.

question: What does the text say about Christmas?

answer: The text asks for donations to the theater for Christmas. The theater is participating in #givingtuesday, which is a global day of unity to increase grassroots generosity, citizen engagement, and corporate and individual giving. The theater is closed to patrons and operating as a broadcast studio only.

critique: The answer should include that the playhouse is closed to patrons and operating as a broadcast studio only.

critique: The answer doesn't mention Buddy, the would-be-elf.

critique: The answer omits the play the theater is putting on.

critique: Remove the sentences that are not relevant to Christmas.

critique: The answer omits the theater's Christmas show.

question: What does the text say about supporting the community?

answer: Whidbey Playhouse asks that people consider them as part of their Christmas list due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They are participating in #givingtuesday, which is an unparalleled global day of unity to increase grassroots generosity, citizen engagement, and corporate and individual giving.

critique: The answer should mention that the theater is closed to patrons.

critique: The answer omits that the Playhouse is closed to patrons and operating as a broadcast studio only.

critique: The answer should mention that the theater is closed due to the pandemic.

critique: It would be more accurate to say that Covid-19 is a reason they're participating in #givingtuesday. It needs to be modified.

critique: The answer omits the fact that the theater is closed to patrons.

critique: The answer omits mentioning that the theater is closed to patrons, and currently operating as a broadcast studio only.

critique: The answer omits the Whidbey Playhouse's request to support their community.

critique: The answer omits the fact that the theatre is closed to patrons.

question: What does the text say about dancing?

answer: No answer

critique: The response doesn't mention any details about dancing.


text:
SLEEP FOR SLEEP’S SAKE

Getting a proper night’s rest can be a challenge, especially when your mind is racing with anticipation about your wedding day. Between the invites, decor, favours, choosing the right music, writing your own vows…everything begins to build up. Relaxing seems impossible when decisions need to be made and the pressures of having the perfect day rely heavily on y-o-u. Sleep is vital for your health so do not rob yourself of it…

If you are one of many individuals who struggle to get at least 6 hours of sleep a night, whether its due to stress, insomnia, or just an over active mind… rest assured you can assist your body in little ways without having to reach for a sleeping pill. By being open-minded, you can make minimal changes that have a big impact on the quality of your sleep.

Guest Writer OLIVIA GUDANIEC

TEMPERATURE

For starters, the temperature around you can make a huge difference. Did you know that the body’s core temperature is slightly lower during your sleeping hours? It is for this reason that adjusting your thermostat can improve your sleep quality. There is no magic number but it is best to choose a temperature between 15 – 20 degrees Celcius. If cold feet are a constant culprit keeping you awake, grab some socks and get cozy.

NATURAL REMEDIES

When it is time for bed and your body starts receiving the right cues from your environment, you will gradually begin to release melatonin. This chemical controls your sleeping and waking cycles. Yet, light can affect how much melatonin you produce so try dimming the lights a few hours before bedtime to start the process. If that still does not do the trick, many people I interviewed said that they thrived using non medical sleeping aids. So to get in the _mood_ to sleep, why not try incorporating a humidifier with a relaxing essential oil like lavender. Keep in mind that sleep aids can only assist healthy sleeping habits and are not meant to be used indefinitely. Either way it is worth experimenting if you are having a disruptive or a difficult time sleeping.

COMFORT

You can also look into updating your pillows and mattress. Most people are not even aware that pillows need to be replaced every few years (for hygienic reasons). Mould spores, dust mites and even those unattractive dead skin cells are inevitable. If you fold your pillow in half and it does not spring back to it’s original shape, or you cannot remember when you last purchased it, then it is definitely time to start searching for something new. On the other hand, with mattresses the typical time frame to replace this large item is ten years. We spend approximately 1/3 of our lives in bed passing through different stages of sleep a night. Don’t you think it is wise to invest in quality items that offer support and comfort? Not to mention, if muscle/joint pain is an issue for you or if you are sweating throughout the night, you may want to consider that it’s time to change your mattress. Just keep in mind what type of sleeper you are and ask plenty of questions when shopping around.

PRE-BEDTIME

If you have followed all of these tips and are still tossing and turning, consider making some adjustments with what you are consuming before going to bed. After all, digestion also slows down while you are sleeping. Therefore, avoid consuming high fat foods, any alcohol, coffee, dark chocolate, soda/pop, spicy foods and of course, energy drinks. Remember that while you are sleeping, your body is still working so it is best to skip any large meals before shutting down. To promote better sleep reach for foods that contain the amino acid _tryptophan,_ which is rumoured to help greatly as it produces serotonin. This assists your body by boosting melatonin which as mentioned earlier, impacts your sleep cycles. So instead of excessive snacking opt for some cherries, milk, fortified cereals (whole grains not the sugary stuff), bananas, avocados, low fat/plain yogurt, and chamomile/ valerian tea. Be mindful, keep yourself relaxed and maintain a well balanced diet, your wedding day depends on it.

OLIVIA GUDANIEC Artist/Writer
Facebook/Twitter/Instagram Olivia Gudaniec
www.oliviagudaniec.com

question: Summarize the author's reasons for replacing your pillows/mattress.

answer:
Since the author doesn't specify the reason as such, but says to replace them every few years due to mold spores, dust mites, and dead skin on them, it can be assumed that they are part of the home where mice, insects, and humans live. From this fact, it can only be logical that these items carry a lot of bacteria and other microbes which grow on them over time and can cause diseases.* Hence, it is important to replace them frequently to reduce the chances of disease-aka replacing them every few years.

*: The author didn't give details as to why they assume a 'disease' was possible. It is only mentioned that these items need to be replaced frequently.

critique: The author never mentions mice, insects, or humans. This is made up.

text: While the answer conveys the information in the article correctly, the accompanying commentary is irrelevant and wrong.

category: coherence

question: What does the text say one should do before going to bed to promote sleep?

answer: The author lists several things to consider doing before bed. Avoid consuming anything with caffeine, alcohol, or a high fat diet. Eat foods with tryptophan, like cherries, bananas, avocados, and whole grain cereal. Drink chamomile or valerian tea.

critique: The answer should mention that the author also suggests dimming the lights and using a humidifier with a relaxing essential oil.

critique: To include relevant information from the passage.

critique: The answer should mention the importance of comfort.

critique: The answer should include that the author also suggests to dim the lights.

critique: The answer should mention that the author also recommends avoiding spicy food, dark chocolate, and energy drinks.

critique: The answer omits the importance of comfort and temperature.


text:
James Garcia date of death October 13,2014 5:32 PM El Paso, Texas, USA

“Ugh my head is on fire.”

“Getting hit by a couple hundred pounds of metal moving 90 miles an hour will do that to you.”

James shielded his eyes attempting to obscure the bright light radiating from the white landscape surrounding him. A tall figure with a stout build and a familiar gait gradually began to approach him. As his eyes began to adjust James could see the creature. It was clad in a plaid button up and a dusty pair of wranglers. James pressed his lips together to speak but all he could muster up was a quick puff of stale air.

“How would you feel about being black this time? Caribbean? Hell
maybe even Haitian?”

“Dad?” James managed to stammer up.

The being sighed and shook his head.

“Hhhmmm or how about something Oriental? Wait is that the pc term? Oh well lovely group of people nonetheless smart, strong, and fertile as all get out. Jackie Chan is freaking awesome. Have you Rush Ho..”

“DAD?!?!” James spouted after finally catching his breath.

“Jeez kid loosen up a bit will ya’? I’m not your dad ok, although I do get that a lot.”

“If you’re not my dad then who the fuck are you?”

“Wow language. As for who I am. That’s a good question not sure of that myself. You guys have given me a lot of names over the years Yahweh, God, the Grim something or other.”

James shot the man a look consisting of disbelief and frustration.

“Look I’m not gonna sugar-coat it mate, you’re dead. You were on the way to that girl’s house. What’s her name? I remember it was something stupid? Britni? Brooke?

“Barbra.”

The man snapped his thick callused fingers.

“Oh yeah that’s it! Anyway you were on your way to Barbra’s and you got hit by a car; a Dodge Caravan no less. Death by Mini Van, how about that.” The man chuckled to himself. “If more of you guys would just look both ways before crossing the street my job would be immensely easier.”

James was becoming agitated

“Ok so if I’m dead where I am? Heaven? And why the hell do you look like my dad?!”

The man let out a long drawn out sigh

“Look I been at this long enough to know that I appear as the person you trust the most. Pretty cheesy I know but you’d be surprised how much easier it makes the transition. Heaven? Naw mate you’re a little far off from heaven.”

James face shifted from agitation to unease and he began to twiddle his thumbs.

“So Hell then…”

“Goodness no! Ok listen up mate can you say with absolute certainty that you were happy with your life. A 25 year old pizza delivery boy, with a bachelor’s degree in art history whatever that means, dating a women named Barbra. Do you even like her?”

“…No”

“See.” The bulky figure said with a large grin

“I believe in chances. I don’t like to let people move on until they are truly happy. Life’s a gift if you don’t get to fully enjoy it what’s the point?”

“So what? You just reset it?”

He nodded “More or less  new race, gender, intelligence, nationality the whole bada bing. So how ya feeling now? You up to it?”

“Do I honestly have a choice?”

“Well you can say no but that won’t really stop me. Not like you’re going to remember any of this anyway we’ve had this talk before”

“This isn’t the first time I’ve died.”

“This the first time *James* has died.”

“So how ma..”

“This will make about 678.”

“Christ that’s a lot.”

“Let’s just say you’re accident prone. So what do ya  say mate wanna give it another go?”

“Let’s do it not like I have anything to lose. Could I maybe be European or something? You know the whole blond with blue eyes thing kills the girls.”

The man smiled rolling up his sleeves and nodding

“Sure mate no problem.”

Eno Akpu-nku date of birth October 14,2014 2:33 AM Johannesburg, Gauteng, Africa

title: Again(697 words)

question: How has James arrived at this transition between lives?

answer: A car accident while on his way to see Barbra.

critique: It is omitted that James died in a car accident.

critique: The answer could be more specific about how James died.

critique: The answer should include that he got hit by a car.

critique: However, he was not on his way to see Barbra when he died as it turns out.

critique: James is asked to repeat life until he's happy. Include this information in the response.

critique: There's an implication that he's in Hell because he doesn't like being hit by a car, but the question asks about how it happened and there doesn't appear to be a reason needed to be in Hell.

critique: The answer should mention that he is dead.

critique: The answer should mention that he was hit by a car.

critique: The answer should mention that James is dead.

critique: The answer reveals the reason James is reincarnated but not how he arrives at the transition between lives.

critique: This response needs more details because it is part of the story.

critique: James needs to change his personality and not just location.

question: Why does James think that he is talking to his dad?

answer: Because he shows up as the person the most trusted by the person.

critique: The response misses to mention that James' dad looks like the being that he is talking to.

critique: "I been at this long enough to know that I appear as the person you trust the most. Pretty cheesy I know but you’d be surprised how much easier it makes the transition." is evidence that the figure knows he is not James' dad.

critique: The answer should include the word "might".

critique: It may be implied that the entity shows up as James' dad because James identifies with his dad the most.

critique: This answer is too vague and needs to be more specific. This specific answer can be found in the story.

critique: It can be inferred from the passage that James is under the impression that he is talking to his dad because the person he is talking to is taking the form of his dad.

critique: The answer should mention that James is confused.

critique: The answer should include the fact that James thinks the man looks like his dad.

critique: The answer is stated as a fact, but not a reason to why James thinks that way.

critique: The answer should mention that James thinks the man looks like his dad.

critique: The answer does not make it clear that James' dad has passed away and so James believes the man is a ghost of his father.

critique: The answer is not fully correct. James thinks that the man is his dad because he looks like his dad.

critique: I'd keep "the person the most trusted" as simply "the person James trusts the most".

question: Why must James return as another person?

answer: so he can experience another chance to be happy.

critique: We don't know what the man's intention is. He says he believes in chances and wants to give people a chance to be happy.

critique: The answer should be more specific about the kind of happiness James wants.

critique: The answer should note that he is given a chance to be happy.

critique: It is not stated what he will do with the new life, but it is implied that he will have another chance to be happy.

critique: The answer is incorrect and needs to be re-written.

critique: It is omitted that he is given a new race, gender, intelligence, and nationality.

critique: It is omitted that the reason he must return is because he did not like his life with Britni.

critique: This is true, but it's not stated that he must return to be happy.

critique: The answer should mention the being's statement about how he believes in chances.

critique: This misses an important part of James' return.

critique: The answer is not clear about what James must do to be happy.

critique: The answer is not clear about the reason James must return.

critique: The text does not mention that he must get another chance to be happy. He wants to change his appearance and the situation of his previous death.

question: Will James be happy with his reincarnation?

answer: No answer

critique: The answer is not correct, because it is implied that James will be happy with his reincarnation.

critique: James is happy with his new incarnation.

critique: It's omitted that James is unhappy with his life, and seems to think that changing his race and gender will make him more attractive to women.

critique: It misses to mention that he is reincarnated as Eno Akpu-nku.

critique: The story doesn't say how to define happiness.

critique: This response is incorrect. He is happy with his reincarnation

critique: There is an answer, as it's apparent he was not happy before

critique: The answer is false because James is happy with his reincarnation.


text:
AMY BROWN (8 April 1783 – 7 May 1876) was the English mistress of Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry, younger son of King Charles X of France and Marie Thérèse of Savoy. Some authors have stated that they married in a secret ceremony which was conducted in England by her father, a Protestant pastor, but there is no evidence of it. Together they had two daughters; however, when he returned to France, he was constrained to put an end to his relationship for reasons of state.

Early years

Amy Brown was born on 8 April 1783 in Maidstone, Kent,

 England, as the fifth child of eight born to John L. (in other sources named Joseph) Brown, a Protestant pastor,[1] and his wife Mary Ann Deacon. By 1793, Amy's four older siblings had died in infancy or early youth, and thus she became the eldest surviving child of her parents.

On 10 January 1804 Amy gave birth a daughter, named Georgina Emma Marshall. Her second child, a son named Georges Granville Brown, was born on 20 February 1805 and ten months later, on 25 December, a third child, another son named John Freeman was also born. Apparently this last child was born in a legitimate marriage with a certain Mr. Freeman. Nothing further is recorded of her husband or his subsequent fate; however, author David Skuy describes Amy as having been a widow when she first met the duke.[2]

The Duke of Berry

Amy met Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry in 1805 in London, three years after the Bourbon royal family was exiled to England. As her son had been born in December of that year, it was likely that they had first met while she was pregnant, although the exact date of their meeting is not known. In late 1806 or early 1807, Amy gave birth to another son, named Robert Freeman; his surname established that Amy's husband appears as the official father, although is probable that the Duke of Berry was the biological father of both John and Robert Freeman, but never recognised them. Robert died young, in 1823.

Amy perhaps married Charles Ferdinand in a secret ceremony conducted by her father in 1806, without the duke having first obtained permission from his family and ignoring the fact that as a non-Catholic, no son of Amy's could ever ascend the French throne.[3] As it turned out, they did not have a son (with the controversial exception of John and Robert Freeman), although Amy bore the duke two daughters:[4]

-   Charlotte Marie Augustine de Bourbon, comtesse d'Issoudun (13 July 1808 – 13 July 1886),[5] married in 1823 Ferdinand de Faucigny-Lucinge, Prince of Lucinge, by whom she had issue. She is an ancestress of Anne-Aymone Giscard d'Estaing, president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing's wife.
-   Louise Marie Charlotte de Bourbon, Comtesse de Vierzon (29 December 1809 – 26 December 1891), married in 1827 Charles de Charette de La Contrie, Baron de La Contrie, by whom she had issue. She is an ancestress of French minister Hervé de Charette.

After receiving the news of Napoleon's abdication, the duke returned to France in 1814, taking his daughters with him. Amy remained behind in England. Upon his return, he was constrained to separate Amy for political reasons. If it was real, the marriage was declared invalid due to the lack of royal consent to the match, and therefore the official position was that Amy had never been his wife at all but rather his mistress.[6] He subsequently married Maria Carolina (5 November 1798 – 17 April 1870), eldest daughter of King Francis I of the Two Sicilies, by whom he had four children, including Henri, Comte de Chambord, Legitimist pretender to the throne of France. He also fathered two illegitimate sons by dancer Eugénie-Virginie Oreille (8 August 1795 – October 1875), who was one of his many mistresses. The duke was assassinated by a saddler, Louis Pierre Louvel on 14 February 1820; while he lay dying, the duke asked to see Amy and his daughters, entrusting them to the care of his wife, who afterwards adopted the two girls.[7]

Death and legacy

Amy's son by her first marriage, John Freeman died 26 August 1866 in Zurich, Switzerland; and Amy herself died on 7 May 1876 at the age of ninety-three at the Chateau de La Contrie, France. Through her daughter, the Baronne de Charette, Amy is the ancestress of Hervé de Charette[8] (born 30 July 1938) the French Foreign Minister from 1995–1997 [Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry, husband or lover of Amy Brown]

[1] David Skuy, _Assassination, power, and miracles: France and the Royalist reaction of 1820_, (2003), McGill-Queen's University Press, Canada, , Google Books, p.4, retrieved 4-10-10

[2] Skuy, p.4

[3] Skuy, p. 4

[4] Francois Velde,_The French Royal Family: A Genealogy_

[5]

[6] Skuy, p. 5

[7] Skuy, p. 12

[8] François Velde, _The French Royal Family: A Genealogy_

title: Amy Brown (royal mistress)

question: What does the text say about Charles Ferdinand's military career?

answer: No answer

critique: The text doesn't say anything about Charles Ferdinand's military career.

question: What does the text say about Amy Brown's early life?

answer: Amy Brown was born on 8 April 1783 in Maidstone, Kent, England as the fifth of eight children born to John L. Brown, a Protestant pastor, and his wife Mary Ann Deacon. Her four siblings died in infancy or early youth, and Amy became the eldest surviving child of her parents.

critique: The answer should mention that Amy's father married her off to a Mr. Freeman.

critique: The answer should mention that Amy's father conducted a secret marriage ceremony with the Duke of Berry.

critique: The answer should mention that her father conducted a secret ceremony with the Duke of Berry.

critique: The answer could mention her birth order.

critique: Amy's being the eldest surviving child is not very important.

critique: It's omitted that Amy's father conducted a secret marriage ceremony for her and the Duke of Berry.

critique: The answer should mention that Amy's father conducted a secret marriage ceremony for her and the Duke of Berry.

critique: The answer could mention the birth of her children.

question: What does the text say about Amy and the Duke of Berry?

answer: In 1806, when Amy met Charles Ferdinand (the Duke of Berry), he had recently returned from exile with his family to France, a few years after Napoleon had abdicated. They started an affair, and she gave birth to his daughter, Charlotte Marie Augustine in 1808. She also possibly married him, but he was a non-Catholic and so their son could not ascend the French throne. They never legally married as none of Charles' family gave their blessing for the union.Their affair ended when he married someone else and she was left behind in England.

critique: The response inaccurately mentions that the Duke of Berry was a non-Catholic.

critique: The response inaccurately mentions that the Duke of Berry had recently returned from exile.

critique: The model should add that Charles was constrained to separate Amy for political reasons.

critique: The response inaccurately mentions that the Duke of Berry was a non-Catholic and so their son could not ascend the French throne. However, the Duke was Catholic and so their son could not ascend the French throne.

critique: The two were not really in an affair, at least not while they were together.

critique: The response inaccurately mentions that the Duke of Berry had recently returned from exile with his family to France, however it was three years after Napoleon had abdicated.

critique: It's not clear when the affair ended, so it's better to omit this.

question: What does the text say about the Duke of Berry?

answer: The Duke of Berry was Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry, younger son of King Charles X of France and Marie Thérèse of Savoy. He was exiled to England from 1793-1814. There, he met and entered into a relationship with Amy Brown, the English mistress of Charles Ferdinand. Together, Amy and the Duke of Berry had two daughters: Charlotte Marie Augustine de Bourbon and Louise Marie Charlotte de Bourbon.

critique: The answer omits the Duke of Berry's assassination and his family.

critique: The answer fails to mention that the Duke of Berry was constrained to separate from Amy due to reasons of state upon his return to France. This is an important detail that should be included in the response.

critique: He married and had children from a later marriage, so presumably met Brown only after returning to France

critique: The Duke of Berry's exile is irrelevant to the question.

critique: The Duke of Berry was exiled to England in 1814, not 1793.

critique: The answer omits the Duke's assassination.


text:
_UPDATE Q3/2016: _
_WE PUBLISHED A NEW RANKING, BASED ON ACTUAL IOT PROJECTS WHICH CAN BE FOUND HERE. _

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wearables have climbed to the top of the IoT applications ranking for Q2/2015, riding the wave of Apple’s introduction of the Apple Watch.

Other major findings of the Q2 IoT applications ranking:

-   Smart Home, that had previously occupied the #1 spot has fallen to the third position despite further product introductions by heavy-weights Google and Apple.
-   Smart Cities have moved into second place, as Indian cities have started to embrace the concept.
-   Smart Farming, a niche application of IoT, is picking up speed as TelCo operators make a move in this area.

The IoT application ranking is published by IoT Analytics on a quarterly basis. The aim of the ranking is to quantify the popularity of the biggest IoT applications as the technology evolves. The ranking is an indication of overall segment activity and public popularity – it does not reflect the actual size of the IoT market segment.

[iot applications ranking]

Q2/2015: Most popular IoT applications (and biggest movers)

1. Wearables (+1)

Q2 has seen a hype around wearable devices. +33% Google searches and twice as many LinkedIn discussions have boosted the IoT application to first place in the ranking.

Smart watches were the most important wearable application in Q2, led by Apple’s official release of the Apple watch on April 24. Further strengthening the position in the ranking was Fitbit’s successful IPO in June.

It seems, however, that wearables have reached the top of the hype. Apple refused to release official sales figures for the Apple Watch as part of their quarterly earnings results (July 2015). While Apple claims that they haven’t done so for competitive reasons, many experts believe that the Apple Watch is not living up to its expectations. Feedback from users is also mixed.

2. Smart city (+1)

Many large cities have started initiatives related to “Smart Cities”. Boston, Barcelona, Copenhagen are making a strong push into that direction, to name a few.

But the biggest push of all is currently coming from India. Last year, Indian PM Modi vowed to construct 100 so-called “smart cities” by 2022, an infrastructure project some estimate would cost $1 trillion. A year after the announcement, the plans are starting to be implemented and with it a lot of criticism and controversy.

Many news articles in Q2/2015 shared a concern that this gigantic Smart City project would leave out the poor who have much greater needs than “smarter cities”, they need water and power. This controversy as well as the announcement of several US cities to start “Smart City”-initiatives (like Kansas City or Charlotte N.C.) increased the coverage for “Smart Cities.

On top of that, Google launched Sidewalk Labs on June 11 with the aim to bring Smart Cities into the focus of other IT-companies.

3. Smart home (-2)

Smart home is still one of the most trending IoT applications, although it is losing two positions. Both Apple and Google continue to push the topic with new developments. The first HomeKit-certified products launched in June. Apple announced further HomeKit features for iOS 8 with the goal that every iPhone will soon be controlling a smart device by default. Google announced the first “Nest Security Cam”. Another prominent smart home company went public in June: Alarm.com.

8. Smart farming (+2)

Somewhat surprising but quite logically, Smart farming is rising in the IoT applications ranking as well.

Many companies are realizing that there are synergies between the IoT technology used in Smart Cities and for Smart Farming applications. Both areas have an outdoor-component that will require some kind of cellular (M2M) connectivity.

Verizon’s IoT efforts, for example, include both new partnerships with Smart Cities Councils as well as Smart farming accelerators and farming conferences. Vodafone announced the expansion of its Farmers Club initiative to empower farmers through technology, especially in emerging markets.

In case you have missed previous IoT rankings

Q1/2015 – IoT application ranking

Q2/2015 – IoT company ranking

Subscribe to the IoT Analytics newsletter to stay on top of the latest IoT news and developments as well as future IoT application rankings.

question: What does the text say about Wearables?

answer: Wearables have climbed to the top of the IoT applications ranking for Q2/2015, riding the wave of Apple's introduction of the Apple Watch. The wearables market has seen a hype around wearable devices. Google searches and LinkedIn discussions have boosted the IoT application to first place in the ranking.

critique: The answer should mention the negative reports about the Apple Watch.

question: What does the text say about the Smart Cities IoT applications?

answer: Smart Cities have moved into second place, as Indian cities have started to embrace the concept. Many large cities have started initiatives related to "Smart Cities". Boston, Barcelona, Copenhagen are making a strong push into that direction, to name a few. But the biggest push of all is currently coming from India. Last year, Indian PM Modi vowed to construct 100 so-called "smart cities" by 2022, an infrastructure project some estimate would cost $1 trillion. A year after the announcement, the plans are starting to be implemented and with it a lot of criticism and controversy. Many news articles in Q2/2015 shared a concern that this gigantic Smart City project would leave out the poor who have much greater needs than "smarter cities", they need water and power. This controversy as well as the announcement of several US cities to start "Smart City" initiatives increased the coverage for "Smart Cities".

critique: The answer is a summary of the entire text and should be rewritten.

critique: The answer is a summary of the entire text. It should be rewritten to reflect only the information relating to the Smart Cities.

critique: The answer mentions the wrong cities as examples of cities that are making a strong push into the "Smart City" direction.

text: The answer is just a copy and paste of the section in the text on Smart Cities, and could be condensed down to say that Smart Cities have risen in popularity with a number of large cities making pushes in that direction; and in particular India has announced significant investment into smart cities, which has been met with a lot of criticism and controversy.

question: What does the text say about the cost of IoT applications?

answer: No answer

critique: The text does not mention the cost of IoT applications.

critique: The answer should mention that the article does not mention the cost of IoT applications.


text:
Damn. Now I really didn't see this happening. Of all the things to happen at this bland school and this is the shit that happens. Wow. I guess I'm getting a bit carried, let me start from the beginning.
          My school, Jefferson Middle School, is rather boring, nothing really exciting happens here except the occasional girl drama that usally goes like, "Brian likes me! Not you, skany hoe!" And ends in a matter of three days. I'm usually quiet, if you were to call me "popular girl," you would be wrong but calling me a "nerd" wouldn't be right either. I was just sort of there. I had my friends and that's all I needed. That's where this story starts. With my friend, Daniel. Daniel was a pretty intresting boy. All acceralted classes, loved video games and comics, and wasn't bad looking at all. Over the first year of middle school, Daniel and I became pretty close. Hanging out after school and learning about eachother. It was pretty nice. Daniel loved life and he wasn't afraid to show it. If he had something to say, oh would he say it, but he was never disrespectful about it. He was always being a gentlemen. People always said shit about him.
         "Oh! Did you hear about Daniel? I heard he was sucking cock in the bathroom!"
         "Daniel the fag!"
         "Daniel should go burn in fucking hell with all the other fags that enjoy buttsex!" Get the trend here? They kept on saying he was gay, over and over. Through messages on Facebook, notes, or even writing on bathroom walls, which is very cliche. There have been times where I have asked if he was gay and I would get the same answer every time.
          "Do you think I am?" Over and over, he never changed it. Daniel was really proud and he felt as if he shouldn't state if he were gay or not and I really admire that about him. 8th grade started and I assumed that the gay jokes would have gotten old by now, but they didn't. They actual got worse. More people started calling him a "fag, dick-sucker," and spreading rumors that I don't even wanna remember. I noticed a change in Daniel, he wasn't as outgoing, didn't speak his mind, became less quite, less proud. I tried helping him, I really did but it never worked. He seemed to just become more depressed. Those kids never noticed either, they just attacked him more and more, getting more ruthless with each insult. This drama was lasting way more than three days and I wasn't sure what would happen. Shit even got worsed.
          That's when I heard the intercom come on one day during class.
       "Students, I am sad to announce that our student, Daniel Rigsbee, has died yesterday." They didn't tell us how he died, but we all knew. He killed himself. The voice of the principal announcing his death was so fucking emotionless, it made it seem as if Daniel was some character in a movie that died. Everyone was silent. I was filled with anger. Those ruthless bastards did this. They didn't know when to stop. The minute the bell rang, I sprinted to his house asking if it was true was they said today. His father simply nodded and beckoned me in. He said that there was a note left in his room directed to me and "bitches." I walked to his room, feeling as if I was going to puke. I found the note, all directed in rainbows, colors, and smiley faces. It made me sick. I opened the note with nervoness and read.
        "Dear Juno and the son of bitches at school. Let me make this clear. I am not fucking gay. I am as straight as the pole your mom dances on. I should not have to tell people this, it's my life and you shouldn't be butting in. Pun intended. You caused this and I hope you feel great. You did it! You've killed me! I'm not gonna say that this wasn't your guys' fault because fuck that. It totally was. I hope you live with that burden that you killed me for your whole life. Juno, I hope you live a great life and don't cry over me, you didn't cause this. You are amazing and don't let people do what they did to me to you. I would punch their neck. (:
                                            Bye,
                                                  Daniel-Not fucking gay-Rigsbee
        What the fuck? That wasn't sad at all. This was the Daniel that I knew. He killed himself because he was done of the shit. I don't think he felt sorry or anything. I don't even know. As I turned to leave, I found something else. It was another note reading, "I hope this was exciting enough for you, Juno. I am a coward. I wasn't gonna deal with this anymore. They didn't win, remerber that. I won. They get to deal with my death. -Daniel"
         Fucking. Daniel.

title: Uhhmm...Well I'm 13 and I would like to be a writer when I get older so here's one of my short stories. Reviews? Be honest.

question: What does the story say about bullying?

answer: The author believes bullies didn't care about Daniel and that their bullying tactics might have made Daniel commit suicide. She believes the bullies are the ones who killed her friend. She points out that the bullies were unrelenting, and the only resolution he could find was to kill himself.

critique: The first sentence is a bit confusing. It would be better to say that the author believes bullies didn't care about Daniel and that their bullying tactics might have made him commit suicide.

text: The response is extremely repetitive.

question: Summarize the narrator's relationship with Daniel.

answer: Juno and Daniel are best friends and have been since 8th grade. She cares deeply for him. However, she didn't notice the student body's cruelty towards him. She was angry when she heard he committed suicide.

critique: The answer should mention that Daniel is the one who committed suicide.

critique: The narrator's anger at Daniel's death is omitted.

question: Summarize the school's reaction to Daniel's death.

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention that the school's reaction was emotionless.

text: The response should include that the principle of the school seemed emotionless when announcing Daniel's death.

question: What does the story say about the bullies' reaction to Daniel's note?

answer: No answer

critique: The response can include the actual content of the note because it's declared to be public in the story.

critique: The response is incorrect. The story does not say anything about the bullies' reaction to Daniel's note.

critique: The response is not related to the passage.

critique: The answer should mention that the bullies did not react to the note.

critique: The answer should mention that the bullies didn't have a reaction.


text:
Plenty of daily events can cause anxiety. Whether it’s triggered by stress at work, relationship problems, current events, or any other emotional event, everyone knows how it feels to be anxious, worried, or panicked. But for some people, simply waking up in the morning and starting a new day can instill this sense of fear. This is called morning anxiety.

Morning anxiety is just what the name would suggest: anxiety that sets in at the start of each day. For some, this means just worrying—about what happened the day before and what might happen today. For others, it can be much more extreme. Katherine Glick, licensed professional counselor, certified holistic health coach, and therapist at Talkspace, tells SELF that for some of her anxiety patients, the morning is their worst time of day. “I had one patient who would have a panic attack like clockwork every single morning,” she says.

While not all people experience anxiety in the same way or at the same magnitude, the reasons morning anxiety happens are similar across the board. And there are ways for everyone to minimize it and look forward to—instead of dread—the start to each new day.

Morning is a prime time for anxiety for a few reasons. One is that most of us don’t get enough quality sleep.

A lot of anxiety comes from a physical, hormonal, chemical place, Glick says. Sleep is one of the best ways our bodies can regulate these physiological aspects of our mental health. “It’s during good sleep that brain chemicals related to mental health are replenished,” Glick says. “So if you don’t get good sleep, you’re going to wake up anxious off the bat.” Skimping on sleep leaves us with elevated levels of stress hormones, “so we're starting off the day in a biologically stressed place.” Considering a third of Americans aren’t getting the recommended amount of sleep, it’s not surprising that many of us feel mentally off in the morning.

On top of that, it’s normal for all of yesterday's worries to resurface the second your brain’s awake.

“Not only physically will you be out of whack, but as soon as your brain shakes away the sleep clouds, it’s going to remember everything that was on your plate yesterday that wasn’t resolved,” Glick says. “Now you have to figure that out while being in a chemically stressed place, which is really tough.”

And you probably also start thinking about everything new you have on your plate today.

“Morning anxiety may be triggered when we are consumed with the ‘what ifs’ of the day or week,” Jamison Monroe, CEO of Newport Academy, a healing center for adolescents struggling with mental health issues, eating disorders, and substance abuse, tells SELF. (Monroe, who was in and out of treatment centers as a teenager, co-founded Newport Academy with his father to provide better options for teens facing the same problems.) He explains that this fear of the future is called “future tripping.” “When someone is focused too much on the future, upon awaking they may be tormented by all the things they have to do for the day, or even worse, all the things that may go wrong.” This worry can be all-consuming and lead to an increasing amount of anxiety.

To quash morning anxiety, you need to first break the mental habit, and then learn how to focus on living in the present.

If you have morning anxiety regularly for a period of time, your brain starts expecting it, even on days when you have no real worries, Glick says. You need to break the cycle by retraining yourself to not fear the mornings. Then, adopt morning habits that foster calmness and living in the present. Here’s how.

1. GET MORE SLEEP. Brush up on your sleep hygiene. “Establish a bedtime routine, and stop looking at screens at least a half hour before bed, do a quick meditation or yoga before bed,” Glick suggests. “Good sleep is really important for biological functioning.”

2. START AN ENJOYABLE MORNING ROUTINE. That means not snoozing until the very last second and then leaving the house in a panicked frenzy. “Set your alarm for early enough to get up, have breakfast, maybe even read the paper for 5 minutes, so you can deliberately start the day with some calm and relaxation,” Glick suggests.

3. SPEAKING OF THE SNOOZE BUTTON—STOP USING IT. You get 8 more minutes of sleep at the expense of confusing the hell out of your body clock. Get up when your alarm goes off.

4. MEDITATE. Glick suggests a breathing exercise like The 4-7-8 Breath, developed by Andrew Weil, M.D., but doing any simple breathing exercise in the morning will help focus and relax your mind and body and train you to focus on the present instead of the past or future. Monroe suggests using an app like Headspace or Calm—“make sure to put your phone in airplane mode so you don’t get interrupted,” he says.

5. USE POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS. “Say out loud, or to yourself, some positive affirmations such as, ‘I am focused on the present moment,’ or ‘I am happy and healthy,’” Monroe suggests. Positive affirmations are an insanely simple way to train yourself to be more positive and present. There’s a reason therapists recommend them—over time, they do work.

6. WRITE WHATEVER'S ON YOUR MIND. “Write two or three pages in the morning, whatever comes to mind, it doesn't have to be full sentences or make any sense, just get out whatever stuff is in your brain,” Glick suggests. “It’s a nice therapeutic practice and sets up the day in a way that's calm and meditative.”

7. STRETCH OR PRACTICE YOGA. This can be a more physical form of meditation. Taking some time to meditate and relax will help you stay present and face the day with a calmer disposition.

8. GET OUT AND MOVE. Take a walk, go out for a run, or hit the gym. If you’re someone who feels better after getting up and moving (it really does help), work it into your new morning routine. Exercise relieves stress and does a whole load of other great things for our brains and bodies.

question: What does the text say about anti-anxiety supplements?

answer: No answer

critique: In response to the question, no answer is given.

critique: The answer is incorrect. The text does not mention anything about anti-anxiety supplements.

question: What does the text say about morning anxiety?

answer: Morning anxiety is anxiety that sets in at the start of each day. For some, this means just worrying about what happened the day before and what might happen today. For others, it can be much more extreme. Katherine Glick, licensed professional counselor, certified holistic health coach, and therapist at Talkspace, tells SELF that for some of her anxiety patients, the morning is their worst time of day.

critique: The answer should mention the causes of morning anxiety.

question: What does the text say about the relationship between sleep and morning anxiety?

answer: Glick explains that a person with morning anxiety is already in a stressed state when they wake up and are not rested enough. Sleep is one of the best ways our bodies can regulate the physiological aspects of mental health. Sleep replenishes brain chemicals related to mental health. Glick says that if you don't get good sleep, you're going to wake up anxious off the bat. Skimping on sleep leaves us with elevated levels of stress hormones.

critique: The answer should mention that sleep deprivation can cause morning anxiety.

question: What does the text say about the steps needed to keep morning anxiety at bay?

answer: The first step is to get more sleep. The second step is to start an enjoyable morning routine that does not involve rushing out of the house. The book suggests setting the alarm for early, reading the paper for about 5 minutes, and taking a meditation or yoga class to foster mindfulness.

critique: The answer should mention the other steps as well.


text:
The sweat dribbled down my neck… Guns screamed as they bombarded our mighty vessels. The deaths of innocent solider pained me to know that young men who had such blissful live were strong enough to give it all up in the name of their country… the sirens howled as we approached the beach the mortars rained upon us like a pack of lions charging at their prey. That very shrapnel that once formed those mortars was now either stuck in the sand or impaled in a soldier’s soul forever holding him at the battlefield.
The heavy machine gun emplacement rained fire upon us. The howitzers did so to… fatigue struck me as I stumble across the beach searching for some cover to emplace myself within hoping that nothing would harm me. As I ran I noticed a hole that had been created by the mortars explosion. As I dived into it my life passed before my eyes… my birth…my first birthday… my first pet… my graduation and finally my death. In a way I had predicted my own death. The end-game of my life….  As the mortar struck the captain screamed “move up” I began to dash for the nearest bunker knocking anything in my way down. The Germans  began to charge bayonets at the ready. The cavalry began their assault on the bunkers. As they approached the Germans they drew there sword and began to slash furiously. One by one they fell. Rolling… rolling ever more on the battlefield. Their heads where like that of a beach ball. It was a simpler time back then before all this erupted, the chaos, the destruction, the bloodshed.
Our Capitan ordered us to open fire and so we did the black gun powder ceased my nostrils as if they were trying to take control. The very touch of the guns was brutal so much pain was caused by them and what would they solve. Their purpose was not to create but to destroy to take away to cause pain to other people. Wars were not intended for peace they were intended to destroy…take over…rule. They are the very thing that will soon end the human race, and one day and when it does end … we will all think back to this moment the First World War.
BANG!! An explosion I charge up further hoping that I won’t be shot. Today is not a good day to die. Today was my birthday the day I was born… and this day could be the last. I have to make every minute count. This is not war this is poverty… corruption
Death!
We were the front line we were to supposedly lead the fight but why? We were we picked to lead the fight I never wanted to come out here but peer pressure from my friends caused me too. It should have been my choice I always dreamed about owning a little bar. But that dream was cut short because of this. We all thought this would be fun… a way to travel the world. I wanted to see parts of the world I would never be able to see. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I took it not knowing the horrors that would follow me. I see now that warfare is something not to be trifled with and yet I choose to be engulfed into its everlasting flames. It was as if I had entered the gates of hell and was now stuck there for eternity. My only salvation was death and that was a price I was willing to pay.
As I began to move again a huge squad of Germans decided to show their faces and we were ready for them. The captain howled across the battlefield open fire. Rifles blazed one bullet after a next. They tore through the Germans flesh as if we were tigers ripping flesh from our captured prey. Bullet by bullet … bit by bit the Germans fell believing in what they thought was right.
There weak body’s not able to withstand the fear driven shot of the rifles.
Why did the Germans even choose to fight was it over land, Politics or maybe just for fun. Will we ever find out what this was over? Will this war ever end? It seems like years since we signed up. The propaganda tricked me into this they were abusing our lives’ taking away our freedom, for the sake of their own. Why don’t they come down here and fight. Why don’t they see what trench warfare is like instead of making up lies saying it brilliant.
What was the point in all this? Many lives are being wasted by the second. And for what? We will get nothing in return for the price we paid. We sold our soul to the devil and yet get nothing in return.
I can only hope we have enough men to help take this. Reinforcement’s would only be gunned down as soon as they landed. Our job now was to secure this beach that mean taking out every last German within 2 miles of here. We need our reinforcement if we’re going to make a push into the city. Who knows what horrors await us there. I don’t want to think about. I must concentrate on taking this position first. It is vital we own this spot or how else will we be able to launch our attack. As I charge into the bunker a German lunges at me with his bayonet I manage to dodge the first to strikes and get him but his friend catches me off guard.
 All I hear is death…
All I smell is smoke…
All I see is blood spurting from the huge gash in my chest…
We were all made for a purpose mine was to go into war and die. There was no point in me trying to move. It would only make my sacrifice more painful. As I look up I see a crowd of Germans pointing their guns at me waiting for their leader to give them the word. He spoke in English “burn in hell you English dog”. They were the final word I heard.
Then my brother’s charged in hoping to save me they were too late.
As they burst through the doors the Germans had pulled the trigger. I laid there on the floor never to awaken again…  Put into an eternal slumber.

title: [HF] Short war story

question: What does the story say about World War II?

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention that the story is about World War I.

critique: Incorrect. It is implied that the narrator is a soldier during World War II.

critique: The answer should mention that the story is set in World War I.

critique: The response misses to mention that World War I was mentioned by the person throughout the passage, but World War II is not mentioned at all.

critique: The text does mention the first world war, but not the second.

critique: The answer should mention that the story is set during World War I.

critique: The answer should mention that the story doesn't refer to World War II.

question: What did the story say about the narrator?

answer: The narrator participated in a battle during a World War. He describes this war as chaos, destruction, and bloodshed. He was tricked into fighting for the sake of other people because of propaganda. He never dreamed of engaging in this kind of warfare but peer pressure from friends made him sign up for it. He desired going to exotic places and drinking in bars. However, he realizes that wars are not intended for peace and causes the downfall of humanity. He charges into a German bunker and dies in the process.

critique: This has a lot of unsubstantiated speculation. There is one concrete sentence here, and the rest are possibilities or generalizations.

critique: The narrator's death is not relevant to the question.

critique: The narrator's death should be mentioned as the climax of the story.

text: It is stated that the narrator's dream was to travel but it is not stated 'desired going to exotic places and drinking in bars'.

category: accuracy

question: What does the story say about the battle for the beach that claimed the life of the narrator?

answer: The narrator and his fellow soldiers were bombarded by the Germans as they approached the beach. The narrator was hit by a mortar and fell into a hole. He saw his life flash before his eyes as he lay there. The Germans charged at the narrator and his fellow soldiers with bayonets. The narrator and his fellow soldiers opened fire and killed the Germans. The narrator charged into a bunker and was killed by the Germans.

critique: The first sentence should state that they disembarked from their ships to board the beach.

text: It is not stated that the narrator was hit by a mortar and fell into a hole and that his friends killed Germans.

question: What does the story say about the narrator's thoughts on World War I?

answer: The narrator believes that wars are not intended for peace and that wars will eventually end the human race. He thinks that wars are meant to take over and to rule. He thinks that wars are something not to be trifled with and that he was tricked into joining the war by propaganda. He also feels that the war has been going on for years and that he has lost his freedom for nothing.

critique: The narrator thinks there was no point to the war, not that wars are intended for nothing.

critique: The narrator's thoughts on the war are not expressed in the story.


text:
I knew the location of every gun in my father’s house. I knew the rifle, concealed innocently in a long, red case with a thick black strap that might belong to a guitar or a golf caddy, was lodged in the left-hand corner of the closet in our spare bedroom. I knew the handgun, the infamous Walther PPK, was stored in a locked box in the closet of my parents’ bedroom, placed innocuously beside shoeboxes and old electronics cases.
I spent most of my childhood in my own mind, grandmother strewn across our sofas, hand upon her head, sighing theatrically as if she had just been in a freak car accident that landed her perfectly across the couches in front of the “As the World Turns”. Her house was located directly next to mine and she would often walk back and forth between them to the point where she beat a trail through both of our lawns, leaving me to eat 84 spoonfuls of sugar and bolt around the house, opening each drawer, closet, and box hoping to find *something*.
I could not be blessed enough in that I never found my parents’ 1973 pornos or anything remotely close to that, but I did find many a pair of ridiculously over-sized glasses and a single pair of the most amusing wine-cork-looking clog/platform shoe-embodiment-of-the-70’s that I have ever seen.
My father never talked much about his guns other than to show me what they looked like. I must have been 14 or 15, right about the time my depression hit full force. Perhaps he caught on to this, as we always seemed to have a silent understanding of each other, and perhaps this is why he declined when I asked if he would show me how to shoot a gun, you know, for self-defense.
I tried to have this conversation again at 18, leaving for college with the scars now mostly faded across my arms, wrists, hips, legs, and shoulders. I was turned down again, though my mother backed me up this time, saying I SHOULD know how to use a gun should an intruder take flight and suddenly burst his way through my 4th floor window.
Five more years have passed since then and I have self-destructed in a number of ways, but I am drawn back to the same allure, the same pining curiosity I felt when I saw the deep red rifle bag as a child. Pills crushed and insufflated into my right nostril, more swallowed, and more chewed, I type out a suicide note on my iPhone 5 and can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of what I am actually doing. The horrible, childish font trying so hard to convey the racing thoughts and the complexities of my mind, framed by the obnoxious lined yellow paper pad template, as if anybody uses those in real life anymore. I revised it a few times, cried until I dry heaved and passed out.
This morning, I woke up crying. I scoured the house that isn’t mine, hoping to find my uncle’s guns – if I was lucky, I could finally hold the same Walther that my father has. I opened drawers to auntie’s panties, assorted junk (though I did score a sweet watch and $100), and more church pamphlets than Fred Phelps has on hand, but I finally see a black locked box in the corner of the closet.
I skid on my knees and rip the dusty box out of its home and tug it into my bedroom, where I gingerly place it on my desk and look for any markings that might tell me what’s inside, and how to crack it open. I see the word “Gerlach” on the bottom right corner. Sounds sort of German, hopefully it’ll be a finely crafted handgun. Maybe there will be bullets inside already? I am genuinely giddy with delight, but after 5 minutes of excited google searching, I realize that I have in front of me an apparently *very* fine set of Polish cutlery

title: Misfiring of neuronal triggers

question: Summarize the plot twist of the story.

answer: The narrator is looking for a gun to kill themselves with. They have been self-destructive for years, and their parents have been trying to help them. The narrator finally finds a gun in the corner of the closet. They are excited to see it. However, it is a set of Polish cutlery.

critique: The answer should mention that the narrator is looking for their uncle's guns.

critique: The narrator does not find a gun in the corner of the closet.

critique: The first sentence is inaccurate. The narrator is not looking for a gun to kill themselves with. They are looking for a gun to shoot a potential intruder.

critique: This is a summary of the plot, not the plot twist.


text:
[]
Image: WireImage/getty images

Kanye West just made everyone mad again, but this time it had nothing to do with "dragon energy" or politics. It's because he paid $85,000 for a photo of Whitney Houston's bathroom.

This week, rapper Pusha-T — who is signed to West's label GOOD Music — revealed that the artwork for his album _DAYTONA_ was changed at the last minute because of the producer of the project, Mr. West himself.

Though it wasn't revealed until Thursday evening, the change came on Wednesday in the early hours of the morning, just a few days before the album was scheduled to drop.

"[West] changed my artwork last night at 1:00 a.m. because he wasn't feelin' it," Pusha told Angie Martinez in an interview on Wednesday.

He revealed that initial photographs had been picked out and approved, until he got a call from a no caller ID number that happened to be West. According to Pusha, West told him over the phone that "this is what people need to see to go along with this music."

The photograph that West was so insistent on?

A 2006 snapshot of Whitney Houston's bathroom, which Kanye himself paid $85,000 to license.

"I feel like the cover represents an organized chaos," Pusha told Entertainment Weekly. "The energy of the album is a bit chaotic, but it’s all in place. Looks at that cover, I’m sure whoever frequents that bathroom or area knew whatever they wanted to find and knew where it was."

Houston battled drug addiction and died in 2012 from drowning (with drugs in her system), so when West posted the image on Thursday evening, the backlash began immediately after people realized that the image was of her bathroom shot for tabloids. Many called out West for his exploitation of Houston's private struggles.

  Kanye West is a tone deaf, exploitative cliche, hiding under the guise of creative freedom. What’s so funny about how cliche he is, is how so “effortfully” contrarian he is. The Whitney’s bathroom album art is a trash thing to do. She died from this thing for Gods sake!

  — Damilola Marcus (@OmogeDami) May 25, 2018

  Since Kanye Got Whitney Houston’s Bathroom As Pusha T Cover, Somebody Use The Bathroom Kim Kardashian Got Robbed In As An Album Cover

  — Jean (@xankadaver) May 24, 2018

  Kanye West claims 2 have been suffering from opiate addiction himself. Instead of exploiting Whitney Houston’s struggles 4 his own personal gain, why doesn’t he post a picture of his own drug stash? What he’s doing isn’t “edgy” or “artsy”; it’s exploitative, wrong & disrespectful

  — Jackie Talks Nerdy ☔ (@JackieTalkNerdy) May 24, 2018

  To disrespect a titan like Whitney Houston, to reduce her legacy to a single image of a place and time in her life, is EXACTLY what Kanye seems to complain that the media does to him all the time. Indeed, the irony.

  — Toyin Ojih Odutola (@obia_thethird) May 24, 2018

Pusha-T and West have yet to respond to the controversy that has bubbled because of the album art. 'Ye has instead chosen to tweet about the "overwhelming positive responses" to the music, which is now available on all streaming platforms.

question: Summarize the tension in this article.

answer: Rapper West paid $85,000 for a photograph of Houston's bathroom and used it for an album cover. The decision has caused a backlash due to the fact Houston had a drug addiction and died of drowning in 2012. Additionally, some critics of West state that he is exploiting Houston and her struggles for his personal gain, which is the exact thing he has complained the media does to him.

critique: The album cover was changed at the last minute.

critique: The death is not relevant to the backlash.

critique: The answer should mention that the critics are angry at West for exploiting Houston's private struggles.

critique: The answer should mention that Houston's bathroom was used for Pusha-T's album cover.

critique: The fact that Houston died of drowning is not relevant to the situation.

critique: There is no mention of Houston's drug addiction in the article.

critique: The response is missing a few details about the backlash.

critique: The answer should mention that the album cover was changed at the last minute.

question: Summarize the author's perspective on the purchase.

answer: The author is critical of Kanye West's purchase of the photo. They believe that it is disrespectful to Whitney Houston's legacy and that it is exploitative. They also believe that it is tone-deaf.

critique: The author does not believe that the purchase is tone-deaf.

critique:
'...that it is disrespectful to Whitney Houston's legacy and that it is exploitative.' This is redundant and should be removed.
'...that it is tone deaf...' - Tone-deafness cannot be quantified. This should be replaced with something more concrete.

critique: The author is not the only one who feels this way.

question: Summarize what West says are his personal motivations for licensing the image.

answer: It is unclear. West has said that he feels the cover represents an organized chaos.

critique: The response should include the fact that West says the cover represents an organized chaos.

critique: The answer should mention that West's motivations are not explicitly stated.

critique: The answer given by the article needs to be put into proper context in order to understand the reasons behind West's purchase of the image.