split: train

text:
“BETTY'S BABY BUMP” is the 16th episode in the second season, and the 39th episode overall, of the American dramedy series _Ugly Betty_, which aired May 8, 2008. The episode was written by Dawn DeKeyser from a teleplay by Bill Wrubel, and directed by Linda Mendoza.

Plot

The story begins with a romantic dinner between Betty and Henry, only to be interrupted by Charlie. Frustrated by Charlie's interference, Betty tells Henry that the only way to solve this problem is be around Charlie, so Betty switches gears with rival Charlie and tries to befriend her by first accompanying Charlie to her yoga class. However efforts to befriend her during the yoga class failed, resulting the yoga instructor throwing them out of the class. Then Betty decides to throw a baby shower. Charlie does everything in her power to make Betty miserable by complaining about all the littlest things. Despite efforts by Henry to start a long distance romance, Claire tries to put a little sense into Betty by pinching her elbow and to let Betty know that she will have to give up her future with Henry eventually. At the baby shower, Betty finally confronts Charlie, only to have Charlie tell Betty that her water broke. They soon share a sweet moment of reconciliation before she has her baby. Henry then arrives and witnesses the birth of his son, but as the rest of Betty's family look on, Betty soon realizes that she cannot keep a long distance relationship with Henry while he has a child.

Meanwhile, Hilda confronts Justin's PE teacher when she learns Justin is flunking gym. Coach Diaz expresses his belief that everyone should benefit from some exercise so he decides to fail Justin for constantly skipping class. Justin is not happy about Hilda confronting Coach Diaz, so Hilda invites him to the salon for a haircut. Hilda admits to Betty that she had a crush on Coach Diaz, but things turn worse when Hilda got distracted and nick the coach in the ear during his haircut visit. After that incident she goes down to the school and talks to the coach to apologize. He then tells Hilda that he will pass Justin if Justin help out with the choreography for the cheerleading squad. Afterwards, Hilda asked for his first name, to which he says its Tony. It looks like Hilda has all of a sudden fallen for him.

Daniel unravels after his break-up with Renee and has affected his work at _MODE_ and it is not sitting well with Claire, Alexis or Betty. So he reluctantly sees a shrink who he would later have sex with. After a night of sexual escapades that resulted in his wallet getting stolen, Daniel shows up at the Suarezes asking for money. After a walk with Betty's father Ignacio, Daniel learns that he should find himself something that he can be passionate about. Later he returns to the office to help Claire and Alexis with the upcoming issue.

Christina finally learns who fathered the baby she's carrying for Wilhelmina during a medical checkup. She runs away to her apartment, where her husband Stuart was staying, after she sees the name of the father (Bradford Meade) on the sonogram at the doctor's office. While she was there, Stuart tells Christina that she has Wilhelmina in a weak spot and should bargain her for the baby. When Stuart calls Wilhelmina over, Christina runs away (to Betty's place for advice) saying that there is a baby to think about, but eventually returns to Wilhelmina saying that she will have the baby if Wilhelmina promises to care and love the baby and give it everything it deserves.

Soon, Wilhelmina, who had been using this baby ploy as part of her “comeback” to _MODE_ via media exposure, takes that advice from Christina to heart, then visits the Meades and reveals that she is having Bradford's baby by showing the sonogram over the _MODE_ logo and that she will give it exactly what it deserves: A third of the Meade empire.[1]

Production

This episode marks Eddie Cibrian's debut as a recurring character Coach Anthony Diaz. Cibrian was expected to become a regular in the third season, but eventually ended his role early in season 3 instead. This also marks Jayma Mays' last episode as Charlie. Cibrian and guest star Kari Matchett were also regulars on the short-lived 2005-2006 ABC sci-fi series _Invasion_.

Reception

Quotes _Entertainment Weekly_'s Tanner Stransky about this bittersweet episode: “In this situation, my concern is squarely for Betty: Is the girl even considering her own happiness? She's the one having to make the concessions if this arrangement goes forward. Since the new baby needs his father around, Henry will have to be away — all the way in Tucson. But if Betty and Henry are going to be together forever, one would assume that they, too, would have children one day. What happens then? Does Betty have to move to Arizona so she can raise a family near Henry? Leave her own family and career behind? Or raise her children alone? Or would she and Henry wait 18 years until this new little tyke heads off to college and Henry can come back to New York? Thankfully, I think Betty realized all this at the episode's heartbreaking end — she cried and hugged Ignacio as Henry gleefully held his new son at Charlie's side. Just as her heart was being ripped out, mine was, too. But Betty knows what she has to do, which is, without question, break up with Henry. She should take comfort in the fact that Claire Meade is always around if she ever feels like backsliding into Henry's arms.”[2]

Ratings

As with the previous episode, this one also scored a 5.6/9 rating in the United States.[3]

Also starring

-   Eddie Cibrian as Coach Anthony Diaz
-   Jayma Mays as Charlie
-   Derek Riddell as Stuart McKinney

Guest starring

-   Rob Brownstein as Dr. Weiss
-   Kari Matchett as Dr. Wallace
-   Brandon Johnson as the paramedic
-   Jennifer Say Gan as the instructor

[1]

[2] From EW.com

[3] From zap2it.com

title: Betty's Baby Bump

question: What does the excerpt say about babies?

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention that Betty has a baby shower.

critique: The answer should mention the baby shower.


text:
JEFFREY SCOTT RAIKES (born May 29, 1958) is the co-founder of the Raikes Foundation. He retired from his role as the chief executive officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2014.[1] He serves on the boards of Giving Tech Labs,[2] Hudl[3] Costco Wholesale,[4] the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Sciences and Management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln,[5] and the Microsoft Alumni Network. He is Chair of the Stanford University Board of Trustees.[6] Until early 2008, Raikes was the President of the Microsoft Business Division and oversaw the Information Worker, Server & Tools Business and Microsoft Business Solutions Groups.[7] He joined Microsoft in 1981 as a product manager.[8] He retired from Microsoft in September 2008, after a transitional period, to join the Gates Foundation.[9] He also held roles managing the company's sales force and services groups.

Early life

Raikes grew up in Ashland, Nebraska, graduating from Ashland-Greenwood High School in 1976. Raikes prepared to work for the US Department of Agriculture on agricultural policy while earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering-Economics Systems (EES) from Stanford University.[10] It was while at Stanford that Raikes had his first exposure to computing, learning Pascal on a DEC System 20. The first computer he bought was an Apple II, which he used to help his brother, Ron Raikes, manage the family farm.

Career

He joined Apple Computer as the VisiCalc Engineering Manager in 1980. He worked at Apple for 15 months before being recruited to Microsoft by Steve Ballmer in 1981 as a product manager. He was promoted to director of Applications Marketing in 1984 and was the chief strategist behind Microsoft's investments in graphical applications for the Apple Macintosh and the Microsoft Windows operating system. In this role, he drove the product strategy and design of Microsoft Office. Raikes was promoted to vice president of Office Systems, where he was responsible for development and marketing of word processing, workgroup applications and pen computing.[11]

He later held roles managing North American operations, and worldwide sales, marketing, and services. In 2000, he was appointed to lead Productivity and Business Services, which later became the Information Worker business at Microsoft. He was named a company president in 2005.

Philanthropy

Raikes has a wide range of philanthropic interests. He and his wife are co-founders of the Raikes Foundation. He is a trustee at the University of Nebraska Foundation, funded a professorship in agronomy, and was a designer of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management. He has been active in United Way for several years. In 2006–2007, he co-chaired the annual campaign of United Way of King County with his wife, setting a national record for funds raised. On 2008-05-12 it was announced that Raikes would replace Patty Stonesifer as the CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation;[12] he stepped down in 2014.[13]

He is a major donor to the Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity (CCSRE) at Stanford University where he also established the Jeff and Tricia Raikes Undergraduate Scholarship Fund to ensure that students admitted to Stanford from rural and inner-city schools have an opportunity to attend the university. He was chosen as a trustee of Stanford University in 2012 and in 2017 was elected chair.[14][15]

In 1992 the Pacific Northwest was in danger of losing the Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball franchise. Raikes joined with other local business leaders to purchase the team, keeping them “safe at home” for the enjoyment of Northwest baseball fans.[16]

In June 2008, Raikes donated approximately $10 million to the University of Nebraska's JD Edwards Honors Program, which officially changed its name to the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management shortly thereafter.

In July 2017, Jeff Raikes and his wife Tricia Raikes inspired the creation of Giving Tech Labs and joined their board.

Personal life

Raikes and his wife, Tricia Raikes née McGinnis, have three children: Michaela, Connor, and Gillian.

[1]

[2]

[3]  Hudl|website=Hudl|language=en-us|access-date=2018-11-18}}

[4]

[5]  Raikes School {{!}} Nebraska|last=Network|first=University of Nebraska-Lincoln {{!}} Web Developer|website=raikes.unl.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-11-18}}

[6]  Board of Trustees|website=boardoftrustees.stanford.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-11-18}}

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

title: Jeff Raikes

question: What does the article say about Jeff Raikes' philanthropic interests?

answer: Jeff Raikes and his wife are co-founders of the Raikes Foundation. He is a trustee at the University of Nebraska Foundation. He has been active in United Way for several years. He co-chaired the annual campaign of United Way of King County with his wife, setting a national record for funds raised. He donated approximately $10 million to the University of Nebraska's JD Edwards Honors Program. He was chosen as a trustee of Stanford University in 2012 and in 2017 was elected chair. He joined with other local business leaders to purchase the Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball franchise, keeping them “safe at home” for the enjoyment of Northwest baseball fans.

critique: Why did Raikes purchase the Mariners? They wanted to keep the team in the Northwest. This should be mentioned.

critique: The answer is a summary of Raikes' philanthropic activities, not a list of his philanthropic interests.

critique: The last sentence is irrelevant to the question.

critique: The answer should mention his other philanthropic interests.

critique: The answer could be more specific about the donations he has made.

critique: The answer should mention his philanthropic interests outside of the ones mentioned.

critique: The answer should mention Raikes' other philanthropic interests.

text: The answer should mention Raikes' role at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

category: coverage

question: What does the article say about Raikes' career?

answer: Raikes joined Apple Computer as the VisiCalc Engineering Manager in 1980. He worked at Apple for 15 months before being recruited to Microsoft by Steve Ballmer in 1981 as a product manager. He was promoted to director of Applications Marketing in 1984 and was the chief strategist behind Microsoft's investments in graphical applications for the Apple Macintosh and the Microsoft Windows operating system. In this role, he drove the product strategy and design of Microsoft Office. Raikes was promoted to vice president of Office Systems, where he was responsible for development and marketing of word processing, workgroup applications and pen computing. He later held roles managing North American operations, and worldwide sales, marketing, and services. In 2000, he was appointed to lead Productivity and Business Services, which later became the Information Worker business at Microsoft. He was named a company president in 2005.

critique: The answer is a bit long for the question. It would be better to just summarize Raikes' career.

critique: The answer should mention his retirement.

critique: The answer omits Raikes' philanthropic interests.

critique: "credited to the Microsoft Windows" - change the pronoun "to" to "with"

critique: The answer should mention his philanthropic interests.

question: What does the article say about Raikes' political views?

answer: No answer

critique: The question is asking for Raikes' political views.

critique: The article does not explicitly state Raikes' political views, but it can be assumed that he is a Democrat.

critique: Provide at least a partial answer to meet the requirements of the task.

critique: The article does not mention Raikes' political views.


text:
[]

Budgeting is a catalyst for business success. Having a budget allows businesses to grow, enhance their operations, and minimise the effects of any unexpected costs. As a result, businesses can thrive and find new opportunities in their markets and industries.

_WHAT IS A BUDGET?_ A budget is a financial plan that gives guidelines for spending and sets financial targets for businesses to achieve. Budgeting identifies current available capital, provides an estimate of expenditure, and anticipates incoming revenue.

To optimise business success, Select Training and Management Consultancy L.L.C. will deliver suggestions for monitoring and controlling a business’ budget.

MONITORING THE BUDGET

After assessing all of the financial details needed to create a business’ budget, it is important to _monitor_ the budget for optimal effectiveness. Giving other individuals responsibility over certain areas of the budget, (by department, business unit, project, etc.), is a great way to make sure that it is closely considered in day-to-day operations. Scheduling regular meetings to discuss budget details will also ensure that the budget is not only being considered, but is being discussed.

To make sure your business’ budget is on track, Select recommends the following:

1.  Collect figures as they become available.
2.  Compare actual numbers with budgeted amounts.
3.  Cite reasons for positive and negative variances.
4.  Classify reasons as a trend or unique incident.

After using the previous tips to monitor your business’ budget, below are some signs that it is on track:

1.  Variances are minor.
2.  The reasons for any variances are already known and predicted.
3.  The reason for a negative variance is due to a unique incident and not a trend.

BUDGETARY CONTROL USING VARIANCES

A _VARIANCE_ is the difference between actual and planned results. Variances may be favourable or adverse, depending on whether a good or bad thing has happened. The calculation of variances allows managers to better monitor the performance of their business. It allows the variances to be analysed, the reasons to be examined, and the decisions to be made. By using the variances, managers can produce more accurate budgets in the future, which will help with planning and control.

The following list of formulae show how to calculate different variances:

1. MATERIAL VARIANCES:

Material price variances may occur if a discount is given, a business found a cheaper supplier, or there has been an unexpected rise in prices.

_Material price variance = (budgeted price – actual price) x actual usage_

Material usage variances may occur because of careless work creating waste, inefficiency, or a machine breakdown.

_Material usage variance = (budgeted usage – actual usage) x budgeted price_

2. LABOUR VARIANCES:

Wage rate variances can be caused by the activities of trade unions, the supply of labour. and government regulations.

_Wage rate variance = (budgeted wage rate – actual wage rate) x actual hours_

Labour efficiency variances are affected by the productivity of the workers, training, and the reliability of the machinery used.

_Labour efficiency variance = (budgeted hours – actual hours) x budgeted wage_

3. SALES MARGIN VARIANCES:

Sales margin price variances may arise due to changes in market conditions or unplanned changes in prices.

_Sales margin price variance = (actual price – budgeted price) x actual sales_

Sales volume variances can occur for many reasons. Changes in consumer tastes, the action of competitors, and changes in marketing techniques are a few causes.

_Sales volume variance = (actual sales – budgeted sales) x budgeted price_

Follow us on our social media accounts and visit our website at www.selecttraining.ae

question: What are the main ideas allowing businesses to keep to their budgets?

answer: The main idea is the monitoring of the budget. A few other ideas are for people to become responsible for certain areas of the budget by department, business unit, or project. Scheduling regular meetings to discuss budget details also ensures the budget is being considered.

critique: It's omitted that variances are also important.

critique: It's omitted that managers can use variances to better monitor the performance of their business.

critique: The answer omits the importance of variances.

critique: Monitoring of budget is described as a way to keep oneself in line with budget.

critique: The answer should mention the importance of variances.

critique: The answer should mention the variances.

question: What does the article say about discretionary spending?

answer: No answer

critique: The article does not mention discretionary spending.

critique: The response misses to provide an answer to the task.

critique: The passage does not mention discretionary spending.

critique: The article doesn't mention discretionary spending specifically, but the idea is included in its definition of budgeting, which is a financial plan that gives guidelines for spending and sets financial targets for businesses to achieve with identifiable capital, expenditure and revenue streams.

text: The answer should mention that the article does state anything about discretionary spending.

category: accuracy


text:
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Food PR is an Award-Winning Communications Agency servicing all of Ireland offering full Communications and Public Relations services .

Experts in PR, Communications and Social Media for Food, Drink Lifestyle Brands as well as Hotels, Restaurants, Pubs & Bars. We offer strategic and creative campaigns with measurable results. We cultivate and nurture brands through telling their story.

[About FoodPr]

[Public Relations]

Public Relations

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

Food PR & Communications work Ireland’s food and drink industry’s most exciting personalities and businesses, to help build and manage profiles and providing the necessary media guidance while devising effective and result-oriented campaigns.

[Social Media Marketing]

Social Media Marketing

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Food PR & Communications sister agency Food Social (insert link) social media team are constantly keeping up to date with the latest and ever-changing social media marketing trends for Food, Drink or Hospitality Brands. Our team use the best practice social media communications tools and strategies, positioning each client carefully and in turn targeting the right audience for each business in a unique voice and style.

[Communications Consultancy]

Communications Consultancy

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Food PR & Communications deliver innovative PR & Communications strategies that help keeps your business and brand in the public eye, as well as a relevant part of the media world. We work with each client to explore, expand and identify unique aspects to help find their voice and achieve their overall business goals.

[Content Creation]

Content Creation

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An unique, consistent online brand image and authentic voice are essential elements of building brand love for Food, Drink and Hospitality Brands in Ireland. Food Social’s team of copywriters and designers create engaging content which catches the attention of your business prospects, encourages them to engage with your brand and most importantly, turns them into paying customers.

[Crisis Management]

Crisis Management

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

Food PR & Communications are skilled in offering support to our clients across a range of issues such as managing crisis communications, responding quickly, effectively and strategically to protect or rebuild your brand’s reputation.

-   Having worked with Olivia and Food PR since 2010, we see the service they provide as an important part of our business's growth. We have had consistent national media coverage over the years. We have also been propelled into an international spotlight. We see our PR as a crucial part of our business and Food PR has provided us with support with an upbeat, can-do attitude.

    JP McMahon Michelin Star Chef

-   Esquires Coffee has been engaged with Food PR since January 2016 after an intensive search to find a company, boutique in style, that would be able to offer a one-stop solution and had a true understanding of the food and beverages industry. Since that time Olivia Collins and her team have done a terrific job in promoting the Esquires Coffee forms part of the Cook’s Global Foods International network and since Food PR have taken over our marketing and public relations role we would be very much seen within the overall Cook’s group as being the leaders and innovators in both these important categories.

    Tony McVerry Esquires Coffee

-   This was our first experience of using a professional PR agency to promote our brand of Irish honey products and we were admittedly very uncertain as to the value it would bring. Olivia and her dedicated team quickly quashed all concerns and provided us with a detailed and passionate level of service that left us wanting more. Their attention to detail and excellent contacts in the food industry set them apart from the crowd, and we’d openly recommend FoodPR Agency for any budding or established Irish food & drink company in their quest for branding success.

    Conan McDonnell Beeactiv - Raw Irish Honey

-   Olivia and Food PR listened to us closely and immediately understood our needs, without fuss they set about achieving these goals in a very efficient way. They were the safeguard we needed, giving advice and making a number of suggestions along the way, whilst at the same time elevating our campaign to a new level.

    Colum Lanigan La Rousse Foods

-   Food PR have played a really important part in the growth of our business. They’re a great company to work with and their passion and dedication to their clients is what sets them apart.

    Andy McFadden Glovers Alley Restaurant, Dublin

-   The team at Food PR and Food Social planned and advised on the recent opening of our new deli space at Galway Bay Seafoods - The Dockside Deli. From branding advice , through communications strategy and into event management of our launch and social media management they were instrumental in producing a flawless campaign. We are really happy to have them as part of our team and we are working together on developing more campaigns throughout the year

    Andrew Keady Galway Bay Seafoods and Dockside Deli

-   The team at Food PR & Communications have had a massive influence on the way we market ourselves at Greene's Restaurant. We have been working closely with Olivia and her team for over two years now and couldn't be more satisfied with their services. The enthusiasm and dedication of the Food PR team has shone through on all of the projects we have collaborated with them on.

    Bryan MacCarthy Greenes Restaurant & Cask Bar Cork

-   Food PR have an in-depth knowledge of the Food Sector and provided invaluable practical advice on the strategic management of our ‘Galway, West of Ireland, European Region of Gastronomy’ designation at a local, national and international level. Olivia and her team brought a high level of professionalism, energy and creativity to each of their campaigns through-out the contract while maximising value for money and return on investment for the four public bodies she represented.

    Elaine Donohue Programme Lead for Galway & West of Ireland, European Region of Gastronomy

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[FoodPR]

Food PR & Communications is the leading communications agency specialising in Food, Drink & Hospitality. We are passionate about how professional PR and communications strategies can quickly grow a business and make brands household names. [Read more...]

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question: What makes Food PR & Communications beloved by its clients?

answer: The copywriters and designers create engaging content, which catches the attention of business prospects. The company is grounded in trust and integrity. The team is always available to answer questions. The company also responds quickly to protect or rebuild a brand's reputation. Food PR & Communications is skilled in managing crisis communications.

critique: The answer is a summary of the article, not a reason why clients love the company.

critique: The answer should mention the company's passion.

critique: The company's response time to crisis management is not relevant to the question.

critique: This is an answer to a different question.

critique: The company is grounded in trust and integrity. The team is always available to answer questions. The company also responds quickly to protect or rebuild a brand's reputation. Food PR & Communications is skilled in managing crisis communications.

critique: The first sentence is redundant because the question already addressed what clients love about the company.


text:
Part One: The Turning Point

	Picture for a moment, if you will, someone you love. Picture that person, really focus on them. What would you be willing to do for that person? Is there a limit to what you would do for them? I'll bet there is. Would you kill for them? And I don't mean kill in defense, I mean murder. Would you slaughter innocent lives for that person? Would you transcend into a place of pure evil? Would you become, for all intensive purposes, a monster? Most of you probably wouldn't. But I’m about to do just that.
	We all have regrets. Things that we wish we could go back and change. I have only recently learned what it means to truly regret something. Meeting her was the turning point in my life. The day our eyes met was the day I began my descent into darkness, I just didn't know it yet.
	Her name was Emarosa, and she was my goddess. I can see her so vividly, like she's right in front of me. Pale skin that seemed to glow under the moon. Her hair was the midnight sky and her eyes were the brightest of all the stars. She was like a mirror that reflected back everything good in the world.
	It was almost 3 years ago when I asked her to marry me, and half that long since she did. I remember it clearly. As I saw her walk down the aisle my heart exploded and filled my body with warmth from head to toe. This is it I thought, this is joy in the purest and most primitive sense. Nothing else mattered, I was on top of the world. Months prior we had agreed that we didn't need an extravagant honeymoon. No paradise could compare to just spending a week in the country away from the world in each other's arms. And that's what we did.
	We were driving down an unlit back road to our cabin. It was almost three in the morning and she was sleeping in the passenger seat. I glanced over at her to admire how peaceful she looked. It was just for a moment, but in that moment everything changed.
	I didn't see the road turn. What happened after played in slow motion. The vehicle collided with a tree like a wave breaking against a cliff as one lone branch reached out through the shattered windshield and tore right through her heart. All at once her eyes snapped open, as she gasped for air. She brought her gaze upon me one last time before her frail form went limp. I watched what remained of her life drain from her eyes through the hole in her chest. Her white gown now stained in the most violent shade of red.
	I spent the next few days in a trance. I can hardly remember anything from the ambulance ride back to civilization to the last shovelful of dirt my trembling hands cast upon her casket. For the first time in my life I felt lost, like an untrained sailor out at sea with no idea of what direction to go next.
	The following months led me to a very dark place. I lost my job, and my mind fell into disarray. The last bit of light in my eyes was snuffed out like a candle that day, and I had no desire to keep on living. Alone in the dark I groped through the unruly stack of past due bills, and eviction notices for the gun I left sitting there. The cold barrel against my temple was the first real thing I had felt since the woman I love died. My thumb searched for the hammer, and pulled it back. The click echoed and reverberated off of the collection of empty bottles littered across the floor. I took a deep breath, and eased my finger into the trigger housing. Just as I began to squeeze a cold hand grabbed my wrist, and eased my arm back down. I spun around and saw something I will never forget. It was her. My Emarosa.

Part Two: The Collector

	I never believed in the supernatural before that night, but there she was smiling down at me. She reached out her hand and caressed my cheek. Tears rolled down my face, and sizzled against her ghostly flesh, and that’s when I realized it. Suddenly I was aware that my cheek was burning, her hand was white hot. I jumped away startled. Her smile twisted sadistically, and her flesh burned away. There standing in her place was the most sinister looking man I had ever seen.
	 He called himself The Collector. He was well over seven feet tall, smartly dressed in a red suit and a midnight black leather duster. His narrow face, and high, well defined cheek bones accentuated the malice that radiated from his dark eyes. The Collector pulled a pack of smokes from his duster, stuck one in his mouth, and lit it. He gave me a vague description of who he was, and what he did.
	It was explained that he was a demon of sorts, or at least what we refer to as a demon, and as his name implies he is a collector. Every once in a while he would cross over into our world, and present a grief stricken mortal with a most tempting offer. In exchange for one-thousand souls he would return your loved one. In other words, if I sacrificed enough people to him he would bring Emarosa back from the grave, just as she was before.
	Like any decent person I was hesitant, but he made it very clear that it was my choice. He laid a very ancient looking dagger in my hands and explained that it didn’t matter how the person died as long as I slit their throat with the dagger afterwards. He also explained that the weapon would lose its power after five years, and if I hadn’t harvested enough souls by then I would never get her back. The Collector flashed one last ominous grin and disappeared into the shadows, leaving nothing behind but a smoldering cigarette butt.
	I think I was always going to accept the deal, but I didn’t want to give in too easily. I wanted to be a good guy. I packed my father’s old military rucksack with clothes, my revolver, ammo, and yes even the dagger. I became a vagabond, and I wandered for quite some time. With each day that passed I became hollower, more detached. I forgot the taste of happiness, and lusted after it desperately. I had lost my purpose, my spark, and I was about to lose my humanity.
	This is where I am now. Standing above the filthy, unconscious body of some nameless transient with my dagger drawn. I can almost hear the blade crying out for blood. Screaming for violence. I smile, bend over and cut the man’s throat from ear to ear. Steam rises from the wound and embraces my quivering form as his neck spits the last bit of life from his body.
	I hear a man slow clap from behind me, and I turn to face The Collector. He flashes a grin, one that I understand immediately. We have a deal.

title: [TH] A dark thriller/tragedy. Work in progress.

question: What does the story say about the type of relationship the narrator had with Emarosa?

answer: The story begins with the narrator's memories of Emarosa, whom he loves. They were engaged and had a pact not to take a lavish honeymoon since they'd rather spend time in the country in each other's arms. After Emarosa's death, the narrator is grief-stricken and begins to lose his purpose in life. He even loses his job after he had stopped going to work. The narrator believes that The Collector is the answer to his problems, since he's willing to trade a thousand souls to bring Emarosa back.

critique: The answer should mention that Emarosa was killed in a car accident.

critique: The narrator's job loss is not relevant to his relationship with Emarosa.

question: What does the story say about the type of person the narrator is?

answer: The narrator is very much in love with his wife, Emarosa. When she dies, he becomes depressed and loses his job. He is also indebted and loses his home, leaving him nothing and no one to live for. When he is about to commit suicide and when he kills for the first time, he is taken over by The Collector, who offers to bring back Emarosa from the dead in return for 1000 souls. The narrator is willing to kill for her and becomes a serial killer to get his wife back.

critique: The answer should mention that the narrator is a serial killer.

critique: The story does not say that the narrator is indebted and loses his home, leaving him nothing and no one to live for.

critique: The narrator was already a serial killer when he made the deal. He was already killing people when the deal was made.

critique: The narrator's quirk of stabbing people with a dagger before The Collector suggests that he is willing to keep killing, notwithstanding "The Pact", is omitted.

critique: The narrator is not a serial killer. He is a man who is willing to kill for his wife.

critique: The response should include that the narrator is willing to do anything for Emarosa, even if it means killing innocent people.

critique: The narrator is not indebted and loses his home. He is about to commit suicide and loses his job.

question: What does the story say about the narrator's first victim?

answer: The estranged husband of the narrator's dead lover comes to her with a deal from a demon: sacrifice one thousand souls, and the demon will bring the dead lover back to life. In exchange, the old woman agrees to kill a random victim so she can get the weapon back -which she believes is the only thing preventing her from going to hell-which she'll need to kill the demon. So she goes and kills a random stranger which necessitates sacrificing one person to finally get closure on the death of her beloved.

critique: The response is incorrect and does not answer the question.

critique: The response is incorrect. The narrator is not the estranged husband of the dead lover. The narrator is the one who killed the woman.

critique: The response is a summary of the deal between the narrator and the demon, not of the first victim.

critique: The response contains inaccurate information.

critique: This is false. It is The Collector that is in need of a thousand souls

critique: The story does not mention the narrator's first victim.


text:
_For_ Architectural Digest_, by Sara Tardiff._

Founded in 1733, Savannah, Georgia, was the country’s first planned city. With an elaborate design that boasted public squares, neoclassical architecture, and a road system that allowed the urban market to flourish, the city was ahead of its time. Today, the historic downtown is known for its unique infrastructure and breadth of architectural gems, attracting millions of visitors each year. Although the city will always lovingly celebrate its past, it is looking to the future with a 2018 redesign of the historic downtown area that will make better use of the waterside space and public areas, and improve the overall experience for residents and visitors alike. The city of Savannah tapped global urban design firm EDSA to take on the task, with an emphasis on preserving its rich history. _AD_ spoke with John Torti, a senior associate at EDSA, about the firm’s design plans, the obstacles they faced, and how they intend to stay true to Savannah’s historic roots.

[
Savannah's downtown skyline as seen from across the Savannah River.
]

Savannah's downtown skyline as seen from across the Savannah River.

_ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST:_ What are the primary reasons the city of Savannah is ready for a major redesign?

JOHN TORTI: Savannah is known for its rich history, and tourism is a vital component of the local economy. In recent years the historic downtown area has seen a surge in development projects, and the city thought it was an appropriate time to improve the public realm.

_AD:_ Walk us through the plans.

JT: Once we understood the vision and created our guiding principles for the project we came up with two initial concepts for the community to react to. One focuses on the historical significance of the city, pulling cues from the city’s grid system, the use of live oak trees, and the historic building materials. The other ties in with the city’s relationship to the water, in this case the Savannah River, which really is the true lifeline of the city — it’s what brought the first ships there in 1733. This plan lends itself more towards wayfinding, using palm trees and nautical detailing to orient users in the downtown area and guide them to the river.

_AD:_ How are you working with the community during this project?

JT: We’ve done a lot of consensus building within the community, it’s been an integral part of the design process. Throughout the conceptual design phase, which we actually just wrapped up, we had a series of six meetings with the public, and at each meeting we honed the design and got input from the residents and the city so we could ultimately create a cohesive design that works for all users.

[
EDSA met with local residents to ensure their design was meeting the city's expectations.
]

EDSA met with local residents to ensure their design was meeting the city's expectations.

_AD:_ What are some of the major challenges of redesigning a historic city?

JT: We often find certain needs from the community exceed the space we have to work with. This is very common when working in historical places, whether we have to work with existing buildings or 100-year-old oak trees, those things define the space that you have and as designers we need to get creative with the space allotted. Through several evolutions of planning, we began to work with the constraints and find a way to celebrate them in the process.

_AD:_ What were you most excited about when taking on this project?

JT: As designers, nothing excites us more than to see our vision become reality. We focus on implementation and we pride ourselves on this. Creating a cohesive, innovative public space that enhances the quality of life for Savannah residents really brings us great joy.

_AD:_ Are there any eco-friendly initiatives involved in EDSA’s design?

JT: It’s always important for us to be as sustainable as possible, whether it’s the use of building materials or the type of infrastructure we implement. We have many different green goals, such as the use of bioswales and permeable paving that will reduce the amount of burden on the existing infrastructure. We also hope the city takes cues from this and begins to make these new standards for future projects.

_AD:_ In what ways will Savannah benefit from the redesign?

JT: The ultimate plan, once implemented, will provide a safe, walkable public realm that enriches the quality of life for Savannah residents while continuing to exceed visitors’ expectations. It will be a design that celebrates the city’s natural and timeless beauty while preserving the history and tradition of Savannah—making it a model city for another century to come.

MORE FROM ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST:

[]

question: Summarize the unique aspects of Savannah, Georgia.

answer: Savannah, Georgia was the country's first planned city. It was founded in 1733 and has an elaborate design that boasted public squares, neoclassical architecture, and a road system that allowed the urban market to flourish. Today, the historic downtown is known for its unique infrastructure and breadth of architectural gems.

critique: It is omitted that the city will always celebrate its past and is looking to the future with a 2018 redesign of the historic downtown area that will make better use of the waterside space and public areas, and improve the overall experience for residents and visitors alike.

critique: The answer should mention the city's relationship with the water.

critique: The answer should mention the city's relationship with the Savannah River.

question: Summarize the role that residents have in city planning in Savannah.

answer: Residents are involved in the planning process from the beginning. They are asked to give input on the initial concepts, and throughout the process they are asked to give input on the design. The designers meet with the residents to ensure that the design is meeting the city's expectations.

critique: The input is not just on the initial concepts, but throughout the process.

critique: It's the project managers at EDSA, not the residents, who ensure that the design is meeting the city's expectations.

critique: The input is asked to be given for the initial concepts, not for the design process.

critique: The answer should mention the importance of the community's input.

question: Summarize John Tortl's background.

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should state that the article does not provide any information on John Torti's background.

critique: The answer should mention that John Torti is a senior associate at EDSA.

critique: The answer should mention that Torti is a senior associate at EDSA.


text:
[A giraffe in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve] [Tourists at Sedudu Island ] [Matsieng Foot prints] [Domboshaba Hills] [Hippos and elephants in Chobe] Botswana's principal TOURIST ATTRACTIONS are its game reserves, with hunting and photographic safaris available. Other attractions include the Okavango Delta region, which during the rainy season is a maze of waterways, islands, and lakes.[1] The tourism industry also helped to diversify Botswana's economy from traditional sources such as diamonds and beef and created 23,000 jobs in 2005.[2]

Development of the Tourist Industry

Botswana's tourism industry began to develop in the context of favorable geopolitical conditions in the 1990s.[3] Southern Africa experienced political stability following the end of apartheid as well as the release of Nelson Mandela from prison in 1990. The global improvements in transportation and communication systems of the time further served to make tourism in Botswana more viable.[4] In 1990 Botswana implemented a Tourism Policy aiming to increase tourist numbers, government revenue, and employment opportunities. The policy focused on attracting up-market international tourists from Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand to increase revenue. While employment rates were successfully increased with the tourism industry representing 4.5% of the total formal employment in Botswana,[5] most higher paying management level positions in the industry were reserved for expatriate workers.

Social and Environmental Impacts

Botswana relies on natural resources for both general livelihoods and tourism.[6] The scarce and fragile natural resources of the country are particularly crucial for rural livelihoods, which utilize water, forests, and rangeland.[7] The Okavango Delta region is both a popular tourist destination and a world heritage site as well as one of the largest inland deltas in the world.[8] Its popularity with tourists has stimulated the growth of infrastructure, facilities, and services in the region including banks, hotels, and airstrips. However, local communities of Khwai, Mababe and Sankoyo villages in the Okavango complain they lack access to natural resources of the Moremi Game Reserve because it has been dominated by international tourists and foreign tourism companies.[9]

While the vast majority of attractions are based on the country's natural resources, the tourism industry itself makes the very resources it has commodified vulnerable to damage. Large groups of people in tourist groups can disrupt wildlife and lead them to migrate to other habitats that may be unsustainable. Litter left behind by tourist groups can also alter soil composition and introduce harmful invasive species to the region. Other popular tourist activities like speedboating can further disturb aquatic wildlife while wildlife and bird photography can distort the behavior of certain species including their feeding and breeding patterns.[10]

Botswana has experimented with various methods of preserving natural resources including community based natural resource management (CBNRM), which is based on assumption that local people have more incentive and are more committed to the sustainable use of natural resources where they live compared to the more removed government.[11] However, the lack of resources and skills in local communities has often led them to depend on the assistance of international partners to achieve their dual goals of increasing economic prosperity and preserving natural resources.[12]

Expanding cultural tourism in Botswana has the potential to make tourism more sustainable by reducing the pressure and traffic in existing wildlife attraction sites while simultaneously creating a more equitable distribution of tourism-based development by providing more opportunities for local communities to engage in the tourism economy.[13] Cultural tourism provides opportunities for tourists to learn about art, heritage, and local traditions. Some argue it can boost the economic status of the people, create employment, enhance community cohesion and cultural pride, and contribute to the development of infrastructure.[14] Similarly, village based tourism also focuses on exposing tourists to traditional crafts and daily life, which particularly advantages women, who have often been left out of the benefits of tourism.[15] Revenue from village based tourism creates opportunities for vocational training and entrepreneurship for local women. Employment in their own home village allows women to fulfill their familial obligations while gaining financial independence.[16]

Visitor attractions

Hotels, lodges and camping sites

Botswana offers the traveller a choice of accommodation options from top class tourist hotels, luxury lodges and safari camps, to budget guesthouses and camping grounds. The major tourist areas have a choice of private lodges, safari camps, and public camping sites.

A variety of cuisines are served in hotels and restaurants from local favourites and game meat, to continental and Asian dishes. There are also plenty of fast food outlets and small restaurants/takeaways offering local dishes. For the full collection of accommodation sources, you can browse at Tourism in Botswana - Africa Tourism Web Portal.

National parks

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Central Kalahari Game Reserve is an extensive national park in the Kalahari desert of Botswana. Established in 1961 it covers an area of 52,800 km², making it the second largest game reserve in the world.[17] The park contains wildlife such as giraffe, brown hyena, warthog, cheetah, wild dog, leopard, lion, blue wildebeest, eland, gemsbok, kudu and red hartebeest.

Chobe National Park

Chobe National Park, in northwest Botswana, has one of the largest games concentration in Africa continent. By size, this is the third largest park of the country, after the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and the Gemsbok National Park, and is the most diverse. This is also the country's first national park.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a large wildlife preserve and conservation area in southern Africa. The park straddles the border between South Africa and Botswana and comprises two adjoining national parks: Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa and Gemsbok National Park in Botswana. The total area of the park is 38000 km² (14,668 mi²). Approximately three-quarters of the park lies in Botswana and one-quarter in South Africa.

Tourist information

The Botswana government's National Conservation Strategy and Tourism Policy was created to promote tourism while protecting wildlife areas. Citizens of the United States, South Africa, British Commonwealth countries, and most Western European countries do not need visas for stays of less than 91 days. Passports are required for travel in the country. Proof of yellow fever and cholera immunizations are required of tourists from infected areas.[18]

The World Economic Forum report on Travel and Tourism Global Competitiveness ranked Botswana 88 out of 141 countries in its 2015 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index. The same report praised Botswana's attractions, and the low rating was due to challenges confronting tourists, including lack of access to modern technologies, poor roads and communications.[19]

Statistics

In 1999, there were 2,100 hotel rooms with 3,720 beds and a 53% occupancy rate. 843,314 visitors arrived in Botswana that year with more than 720,000 from other African countries. Tourism revenues in the year 2000 totaled $313 million. In 2003, the US Department of State estimated the average daily cost of staying in Gaborone to be $129, compared to Kasane at $125. Costs may be as low as $50 in other regions of the country.[20] Botswana is considered the safest country to visit in Africa.[21]

Most visitors arriving to Botswana who stated holiday as their purpose of entry in 2014 came from the following countries of nationality:[22]

  ------ ---------------------------- ---------
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{{#section-h::Visa policy of Botswana|Visitor statistics}}

[1] Nations Encyclopedia

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17] Central Kalahari Game Reserve - Attractions - Tourism of Botswana

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22] Tourism Statistics Annual Report 2014

title: Tourism in Botswana

question: What does the article say about the disadvantages of tourism in Botswana?

answer: The tourism industry has made the country's natural resources vulnerable to damage. Large groups of people in tourist groups can disrupt wildlife and lead them to migrate to other habitats that may be unsustainable. Litter left behind by tourist groups can also alter soil composition and introduce harmful invasive species to the region. Other popular tourist activities like speedboating can further disturb aquatic wildlife while wildlife and bird photography can distort the behavior of certain species including their feeding and breeding patterns.

critique: The response should include the social and environmental impacts of tourism.

question: Summarize the expected tourism experience for international tourists in Botswana.

answer: The country has a variety of accommodation options from top class hotels to budget guesthouses and camping grounds. There are also a variety of cuisines available in hotels and restaurants. The country has a National Conservation Strategy and Tourism Policy to promote tourism while protecting wildlife areas. The country is considered the safest country to visit in Africa.

critique: The response misses to mention that the country has a variety of attractions, including game reserves, the Okavango Delta region, and national parks.

question: What does the article say about the effects of tourism on Botswana's middle-class?

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention the potential for the tourism industry to benefit the middle class.

critique: The answer should mention the potential for tourism to create more jobs for the middle class.

critique: The article does not explicitly say anything about the effects of tourism on Botswana's middle-class.

critique: The response misses to mention that the article does not talk about the effects of tourism on Botswana's middle-class.

critique: The answer is omitted, so include a response.

critique: The article does mention the effects of tourism on Botswana's middle-class.


text:
MOYCASHEL (),[1] previously the barony of Rossaughe, before that, Delamares country,[2] is a barony in south County Westmeath, in the Republic of Ireland. It was formed by 1542.[3] It is bordered by three other baronies: Clonlonan to the west, Rathconrath to the north, Moyashel and Magheradernon to the north-east and Fartullagh to the west. The largest population centre is Kilbeggan.

Geography

Moycashel has an area of .[4] The barony contains a part of the south–west end of Lough Ennell and the River Brosna flows through Kilbeggan before it connects to the River Shannon.

The M6 motorway passes through the barony to the south of Kilbeggan and (together with the M4) links Dublin with Galway.

The N52, a national secondary road passes through Kilbeggan linking the M7 motorway from just south of Nenagh, County Tipperary to the M1 motorway north of Dundalk in County Louth.

The R446 regional road (the old N6) runs through Kilbeggan and roughly parallel to the M6, also connecting Dublin with Galway.

In addition the R389 (linking Kilbeggan to the R392 near Moyvore) and the R391 (linking Clara, County Offaly to Mullingar, County Westmeath) pass through the barony.

Civil parishes of the barony

This table[5] lists an historical geographical sub-division of the barony known as the civil parish (not to be confused with an Ecclesiastical parish).

  Name in English           Name in Irish
  ------------------------- ------------------------------
  Ardnurcher or Horseleap   _Baile Átha an Urchair_
  Castletownkindalen        _Baile an Chaisleáin_
  Durrow                    _Darú_
  Dysart                    _An Díseart_
  Kilbeggan                 _Cill Bheagáin_
  Kilcumreragh              _Cill Chruimthir Fhiachrach_
  Newtown                   _An Baile Nua_
  Rahugh                    _Ráth Aodha_

Towns, villages and townlands

-   Ballynagore
-   Castletown Geoghegan
-   Dysart
-   Kilbeggan
-   Rosemount
-   Streamstown

There are 171 townlands in the barony of Moycashel.[6]

Buildings and other places of note

-   Kilbeggan Distillery
-   Kilbeggan Racecourse
-   The old Market House, Kilbeggan
-   Middleton Park House

[1] Barony of Moycashel _The Placenames Database of Ireland_ Retrieved 31 May 2015

[2] Irish Act 34 Henry VIII c.1; see

[3] Moycashel _townlands.ie_ Retrieved 31 May 2015

[4]

[5] Civil parishes of the barony of Moycashel. _The Placenames Database of Ireland_ Retrieved 8 Jun 2015

[6]

title: Moycashel

question: What does the text say about Moycashel's history?

answer: Moycashel was previously the barony of Rossaughe, before that, Delamares country. It was formed in 1542. It is bordered by three other baronies: Clonlonan to the west, Rathconrath to the north, Moyashel and Magheradernon to the north-east, and Fartullagh to the west.

critique: The answer should mention that Moycashel is a barony in south County Westmeath, in the Republic of Ireland.

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

critique: The answer should mention the civil parishes of the barony.


text:
[Jollywise]

What can we expect from the kids’ entertainment space in 2017?

The new year is well and truly upon us, and every other tech blog ready to impart their digital predictions for 2017 if they haven’t already. Whilst generally you can expect a lot of the same old – ‘this will be the year for VR’, etc. – we wanted to examine some of the things that we expect to see more specifically in the kids’ entertainment space this year.

Augmented and virtual reality

The underlying issues of accessibility and refinement prevented VR from slipping comfortably into the mainstream in 2016, while the Pokémon Go craze of the summer teased AR potential. While we might not have seen the ‘year for VR’ that we had hoped for, what we did see was a string of brands getting involved with VR just to say they’re in the VR game – regardless of whether they actually have something valuable to offer to the space. Ideally, this year we’ll see more companies offering valuable uses of the technology, rather than the ‘VR for VR’s sake’ that is born out of the fear of being left behind.

Furthermore, we’re hoping to see more defined areas for the use of virtual and augmented reality, be it gaming, education, or even live events – and we’re especially interested in how this will come to fruition in kids’ entertainment and education. However, while developers of VR work towards a tech-accessible, cost-friendly product, it’s likely that we’ll be looking more closely at AR for the time being. The challenge, we suspect, will be creating AR that outlives the initial gimmick, which means content is more important than ever.

There are a few great examples of recent children’s AR that we’d love to see more of. TILT Textiles weave their technology with animated stories in their Enchanted Duvet and Jungle Rug to create an interactive storytelling experience for youngsters, while Curiscope’s Virtuali-Tee (which got a mention in our post on augmented reality last year) is a strong example of the ways in which augmented reality might be integrated into the classroom as a tool for learning.

Web TV

As early as 2010 we’ve seen reports surfacing to indicate the shift from cable/satellite television to online show providers. Over the past few years in particular, web based TV has gained a lot of traction, but this area has been largely dominated by Netflix and Amazon Video, whose online exclusive shows (think Netflix’s recent A Series of Unfortunate Events and Amazon’s The Grand Tour) are able to pull more and more people into subscriptions. Newer or more niche services (Mubi, Twitch, Animax, Hulu) tend to be overshadowed by the bigger names and app versions of existing TV channels.

We’re excited to see what this shift could mean for kids’ TV this year, especially with the recent prototype demonstration of Disney’s own TV product at CES 2017. With tablet sales in decline, we could be looking at a resurgence of television that favours web-based, ‘watch anytime’ content. An expansion of the children’s web TV space is on the horizon.

We’re also anticipating further crossover between television and gaming in 2017. SVOD (Subscription Video On Demand) platforms like Azoomee, Sky, and Hopster currently operate as two separate services: a classic TV service, and then gaming. We’re hoping to see the lines between these two services begin to blur, as more crossover content is created. Interactivity is especially appealing to kids. So there’s no reason this can’t be geared towards younger viewers.

Live Video

As Facebook continued its attempt to undercut YouTube’s dominance in the video space, live video was everywhere in 2016. We’re seeing many kids turning away from traditional television and towards their favourite YouTube stars – the interactivity of the platform means that the viewing experience is more personal, intimate, and therefore valuable.

Web TV is allowing kids to watch what they want to, exactly when and where they want to watch it, but the appeal of the interactivity of YouTube has encouraged a flood of online video creators to start aiming their content at younger audiences. Live videos build on this to create a more ‘immediate’ interactive experience, so kids are especially engaged when consuming content from their favourite YouTubers (MirandaSings is a great example) this way.

As our Facebook and YouTube subscription feeds become more and more infiltrated with live video content, we’re anticipating an emergence of live video in the kids’ entertainment space – and we’re especially interested to see which broadcaster will be the first to truly capitalise on this demand.

AI and chat bots

While we blogged about the rise of the internet bot last year, we’re excited to see how this space will be refined in 2017, and how (if at all) the chatbot will find and secure its space in kids’ entertainment and education.

We saw the beginnings of this exploration in 2016; Unilever, for example, have used a chatbot campaign on Facebook Messenger called ‘Little Brush, Big Brush’ to create an interactive storytelling platform that encourages children to look after their teeth. Then there’s Oyoty, a bot app described as a ‘personal safety assistant’, that’s designed to connect with children’s social accounts, detect potential problems, and help them learn to stay safe online.

The trick, however, will be finding the line between being helpful/educational, and not stepping on parents’ toes.

OUR CEO JON MASON also indicates that we could see an increase in the use of bots outside of the sales and service bots that were everywhere in 2016. We’re looking, he suggests, towards,

  “Bots as entertainment, branching narratives, and stories – low cost ways of providing immersive brand extensions for entertainment companies”.

We’re ready to see interactive children’s storytelling secure a place in the chatbot game.

Fitness and educational tech

Despite the apparent need for “quality research and evidence” to support the claims of the negative impact of “increasingly screen-based lifestyles”, the media continues to be hot to report on the negative physical effects of children’s preoccupation with digital entertainment. To combat the negative association between digital entertainment and childhood obesity, we’ve seen toy companies invest in technical toys that incorporate gamification to encourage tech savvy children to take part in physical activity.

Fisher Price’s Think & Learn Cycle, for example, attempts to entice three to six years olds to exercise whilst playing screen-based games. It’s essentially a children’s exercise bike in disguise, that maintains the brand’s educational focus. This is just one example of how toy companies are shifting focus from toys that function purely as entertainment, to technical toys that provide longer-term value in the form of fitter and smarter kids. These attractive benefits could result in a surge in the production and popularity of fitness based toys this year – even the AR Jungle Rug that we mentioned encourages physical activity in the form of yoga.

We’ll also be seeing kids’ entertainment pay more attention to the development of emotional intelligence. Our upcoming game for The Next Step, for example, focuses on relationships; the player must figure out the best way to communicate with a variety of personalities to successfully navigate the story. We’re interested to see what other projects surface this year in kids’ entertainment to perpetuate values of empathy and good communication.

Overall?

In 2016 we saw a lot of digital trends extensively explored, but very few refined. This year, we’re hoping to see these trends consolidate, establishing their relevance and overall suitability to a young demographic.

OUR GAME FOR THE NEXT STEP, “TAKE IT TO THE TOP” IS NOW AVAILABLE TO PLAY HERE.

[]

Posted January 16th 2017

Steph Rathbone

Steph is Jollywise's Content Executive and resident bookworm.

question: What does the text say about VR's inability to slip into the mainstream on 2016?

answer: VR has underlying issues of accessibility and refinement. The author of the text mentions that VR might not have been the year for VR that many people hoped for.

critique: The answer should mention that VR has been around for a while, and 2016 was not the year for it.

critique: The answer could be more specific about VR's accessibility and refinement.

text: "VR might not have been the year for VR that many people hoped for." This sentence is confusing. It should instead say "2016 might not..."

category: coherence

question: What does the text say about growth in live video?

answer: The text shows that there was an increase in the use of live video in 2016. This was due to the increased popularity of subscription services like Netflix and Amazon. The popularity of services like Netflix and Amazon have also reduced the need for live TV.

critique: The answer should mention the popularity of live video on social media.

critique: The answer should mention the popularity of YouTube.

critique: The response is missing the part about the rise of live video on Facebook and Youtube.

critique: The answer should mention that the popularity of live video is due to the interactivity of the platform.

text: Netflix and Amazon are irrelevant to the growth in live video.

question: What does the text say about Facebook?

answer: Facebook has become a dominant force in online streaming. The company has been undercutting Youtube with their own live videos. In 2016, Facebook was flooded with live videos. The company is anticipating an emergence of live video in the kids entertainment space.

critique: The second sentence is irrelevant and should be removed.

critique: The answer should mention the live video trend.

critique: "The company is anticipating an emergence of live video in the kids entertainment space." - extraneous information that should be deleted.

text: The article mentions Facebook trying to undercut Youtube, but it never says Facebook has become a dominant force.

question: What does the text say about smartphones?

answer: Smartphones have become an important part of kids' entertainment in 2016. Some kids' content is available only on these devices and more kids' TV services are moving towards web-based content. There are several apps being developed to target kids. Developers are also looking into better ways to use AR and VR.

critique: The usage of the devices by kids isn't evidenced.

critique: The answer should mention the decline in tablet sales.

critique: The answer is too long and should be rewritten.

critique: The answer mentions content being available only on smartphones, which is incorrect.

critique: The answer is a bit too long and includes extraneous information not useful for the task.

critique: The last sentence is extraneous and irrelevant.

text: There's no mention of smartphones in the article.


text:
I'm standing in front of a burning house, leaning against a large oak tree.  I'm wondering to myself whose house this is, and why I'm here. I hear the sound of approaching sirens behind the roar of the flames.

Spires of flame shoot in and out of the house, the way a lizard's tongue does. Not just out of the windows, out of everywhere. I can tell the house is really starting to come apart.  The fire rages on, drowning out all noise, save for the distant and tiny sound of sirens.

The sirens are getting steadily louder, as I watch rafters fall and beams disintegrate. The firefighters arrive, the sirens and lights rending the night. The armor clad men explode out if the truck, securing tools and attaching hoses.  I hear them decide amongst themselves that the house is beyond saving, dropping the hoses and heading straight for the front door. They don't seem to pay me any mind, so I move further from the house as they rush in, noting that I can hear more sirens on the way.

I begin to feel rather guilty. I mean, I've just been standing here watching this house burning down, without any concern. Like I've been watching a damn bonfire, waiting for someone to arrive with marshmallows.

This guilty feeling is not simply that, though. There is a sense of dread about it as well.  I don't recognize this house, but I feel strangely connected to it.  I'm feeling like there's something I ought to know about this fire, this house, this situation, but I'm not sure what that is.

As I'm pondering this, I notice, tacked onto the back of the tree I've just been leaning against, a note:

This was no accident. I've locked us all inside. It's the only way to make it stop. The only way for this to end. - James Kern

I see the two paramedics quickly exiting  the front of the ambulance, run to back, open the rear doors. The dreadful feeling surges, as I realize that the arrival of paramedics means injuries.
As they ready their equipment, I approach. The nearest one is unloading a gurney, and I ask him:
"How many people are in there?!"
He doesn't respond at all. Deciding he can't hear me over the flames, I yell:
"Sir, how many people are there in that house?!"

Again, he shows no sign of having heard me, or even of having seen me.  The way he is behaving has me questioning whether the firefighters had simply been too focused on the matter at hand, or if they had genuinely not seen me standing there.

I decide they're just intensely focused and begin to jump up and down, flailing my arms, and screaming.  This doesn't even garner a glance from the men.  Out of frustration, I shove the gurney. The paramedic looks bewildered and perhaps a bit frightened, but he still doesn't acknowledge me.

As I start to scream at him to pay attention to me, the front door of the house vomits the firefighters, carrying a limp figure, roughly the size of a man, but it seems oddly diminished. With a mighty groan and a crash, the house collapses in on itself. Charred clothing hangs off the man, ragged and smoking.

The paramedics frantically strap the man to the gurney, and load him into the ambulance, yelling about almost losing him, and the firefighters are saying that the wife and children were already lost by the time they got to the house, and that all signs pointed to arson.

As the ambulance peels away, the firefighters begin to shed their suits. I try and try to talk to them, but I get nothing in return. It's as if I'm not there. I begin to feel faint, as I'm screaming at the men to notice me, and then I see nothing, as if my eyes blinked shut, but never opened. For eons, I stare into that nothingness, that total and complete lack of anything.

I can't move, my arms and legs feel almost as if they're strapped down. My eyes are open. Bright lights flood my eyes, which flutter and blink,  and as the paramedics swim into view, I hear:

"Can you hear me, Mr. Kern?"

title: Can Your Hear Me, Mr. Kern?

question: What does the text say about the narrator?

answer: The narrator is James Kern. He's watching his house burn down, and he's feeling guilty. He's also feeling a sense of dread. He's not sure why he feels this way, but he feels that he knows something about the fire. He's also feeling faint and can't see anything.

critique: The narrator is not James Kern. James Kern is the person who wrote the note.

critique: The narrator is not James Kern. James Kern is the suspect in the fire.

critique: The narrator is not James Kern. James Kern is the one who started the fire.

critique: The narrator is not James Kern. James Kern is the person who locked himself inside the burning house. The narrator is a ghost who has been watching the fire.

critique: It is not stated he's watching his house.

question: Summarize what James Kern was trying to make stop.

answer: James Kern was trying to make the fire stop. He was trying to make the fire stop by locking himself and his family inside the house.

critique: The answer is wrong. James Kern was trying to make the fire stop by locking himself and his family inside the house.

critique: It is omitted that he was trying to make the fire stop by killing himself.

critique: The narrator is James Kern, not the person who wrote the note.

critique: The answer is not clear and needs to be rewritten.

critique: The answer is incorrect. James Kern was trying to make the fire stop by locking himself and his family inside the house.

critique: The answer is wrong. The narrator is James Kern and he's not trying to make the fire stop.


text:
[]

Social media marketing is one of the most accessible routes you can take to promote your brand identity, products or overall business. The costs are nearly non-existent but the rewards are great.

The proof is in the numbers, too – 79 percent of American Internet users are on Facebook, while 1.3 billion people in the world are regular Facebook users. Plus, high percentages of adult internet users are active on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and every other major network. Those numbers translate into high traffic to websites and foster a strong connection between brand and users.

Lucky for you, capitalizing on the success of social media marketing is easier than you think. Below are 4 tips that will help you hone the perfect social media strategy to start promoting your company with ease.

1.  REFINE YOUR DEMOGRAPHIC

Before you create your accounts and start posting away, take stock of your demographic (or determine it, if you haven’t gotten that far yet). Many social media channels skew older or younger, or cater to certain media forms better than others – and there are far too many social media networks to keep up with anyways. Understanding the channels that will play to your audience will be better for your time, sanity AND company down the road.

2.  FIND A SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Managing several platforms and everything that comes with them can be time consuming. However, there are plenty of social media management systems that can streamline your workload and maximize your content strategy in one easy-to-access place.

I recommend looking into Buffer if you have a simple strategy with just a few profiles, Hootsuite if you want something more middle-of-the-road, or Sprout Social if you want a robust management system. Each platform offers varying degrees of insight into demographics, your competition, and ways you can improve your own posts.

[]

3.  CREATE A COMMUNITY

Part of why social media is so popular is because it creates an interactive community of people who have similar likes, as opposed to traditional marketing and advertising, which flatly tells consumers why they should purchase a product. Thus, spending time cultivating a community where followers and users feel seen, heard and appreciated is imperative.

Spend time each and every day engaging in conversation on Twitter, commenting in posts on Instagram, and replying to comments on Facebook, for example. What’s better? Not only will you gain a reputation for caring about your users (a major bonus point!) but you’ll help beat the algorithms and get pushed higher into potential consumers’ news feeds, broadening your reach.

4.  ENLIST THE HELP OF AN EXPERT

Once your social media marketing starts to gain some footing, it may be time to invest in an expert – after all, every business has a lot of moving parts, so at some point it’s always worth handing the baton to someone who really knows how to throw it.

This expert can take many forms – consultant, in-house strategist, or social media marketing agency. Whoever you choose, just be sure that have experience reaching the goals you hope to achieve, such as growing followings or executing targeted campaigns.

CONCLUSION

Creating a social media marketing strategy takes some time, but there are some tricks and tools that can make the task a little easier. Follow the guidelines below, and you’ll see your online presence booming in no time.

-   Note your company’s demographic and focus on social media platforms that compliment that
-   Find a management system that will help you post and engage with your followers
-   Create a more personal community on all of your channels
-   Enlist the help of an expert to improve strategies and create campaigns

question: Summarize the main idea of this passage.

answer: The main idea of this passage is to promote the use of social media marketing to promote a brand, product, or business. The author prompts the reader to use social media by stating the 79% of American Internet users are on Facebook, 1.3 billion people in the world are regular Facebook users, and the percentages of adult internet users are active on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and every other major network.

critique: The percentages of adult internet users are not relevant to the question.

critique: The percentages of adult internet users are not relevant to the main idea of the passage.

critique: The percentages of adult internet users are not relevant to the main idea.

critique: This answer should be rewritten to reflect the emphasis on building a community.

critique: The answer should mention the 4 tips the author gives.

critique: The author is not trying to promote the use of social media.

question: What are some examples of the results of growing one's social media marketing?

answer: The article does not mention any specific results.

critique: The nodes provide more information about a more social media community as opposed to results of "growing one's social media marketing." One suggestion may be to mention the more involved online community that blossoms on social media.


text:
There is no doubt that video games rank highly in most children’s favourite pastimes and although a love of gaming does not automatically spell disaster, as parents, we want our children to enjoy a wide range of activities, including playing outdoors.

Studies have shown that children spend increasingly less time playing outdoors than in previous years and it is hard not to lay some of the blame on the enticing lure of screens. Outdoor activity is important for children. In a study by the University of Derby and The Wildlife Trust, children exposed to the natural world showed increased self-esteem and nature time has been linked to positive mental health in children and adults.

To encourage children to switch off their consoles this summer, why not take the best bits from their favourite video games and take them outside?

IF YOUR CHILD LOVES FORTNITE, WHY NOT TRY: CAPTURE THE FLAG

Fortnite relies on a squad of players working together to defeat opposing teams. Take this outside with a game of Capture The Flag.

To play, first find a suitable large space with good hiding places. Divide into two teams, each with their own flag and agree where each team’s territory is. Each team must then hide their flag somewhere on their own territory. The object of the game is to capture the other’s teams flag without being caught on enemy territory. If caught, a player must stay in a ‘jail’ unless rescued by a fellow team mate.

[]

IF YOUR CHILD LOVES THE SIMS, WHY NOT TRY: BUILDING A FAIRY HOUSE

The Sims is a world within a world in which you build and furnish your own Sims house. Take this outside with an outdoor craft activity and get the kids building a fairy house.

Use twigs, leaves and other natural materials and see what their imagination can come up with.

[]

IF YOUR CHILD LOVES POKEMON, WHY NOT TRY: A WILDLIFE SCAVENGER HUNT

In Pokemon you’ve got to try and catch them all and build your Pokemon collection. Take this outside by organising a wildlife scavenger hunt.

Create your own scavenger hunt sheets based on the nature and wildlife you can find around your neighbourhood or download one from sites such as the Woodland Trust.

[]

IF YOUR CHILD LOVES SPLATOON, WHY NOT TRY: A WATER BATTLE

Splatoon is a first person shooter where you splat the opposition to defeat them. Take this outside by setting up an epic water battle with water pistols and water balloons. If there are a few of you, split into teams for more strategic battle fun.

[]

IF YOUR CHILD LOVES ROBLOX, WHY NOT TRY: A BLINDFOLD OBSTACLE COURSE

Roblox allows children to create worlds and build relationships with other players. Take this outside by building an outdoor obstacle course.

Use everyday objects that you can find in your garden or park to create an obstacle course. Include things that you have to crawl under or jump over and then taking turns to be led around and complete the course whilst blindfolded. This helps build trust and cooperation and is also a lot of fun!

[]

IF YOUR CHILD LOVES OVERWATCH, WHY NOT TRY: KICK THE CAN

Overwatch relies on players working as a team to defeat the enemy. Take this outside with a game of Kick The Can.

One person is designated It and places a can (or other object) in the middle of an open space, like a garden, whilst the other players hide. The It player must find the hidden players by touching them, whilst guarding the can. Once touched, players are held in a designated captive area in sight of the can. They can only be freed by another non-captive player kicking the can whilst avoiding being caught themselves.

[]

IF YOUR CHILD LOVES JUST DANCE, WHY NOT TRY: A GARDEN DANCE-OFF

Just Dance allows you to get your groove on to popular hits. Take this outside with a garden dance off.

Get the children to pick their favourite song and get dancing. Points awarded for creativity, using the space inventively and they can also incorporate some parkour moves like walking lunges and standing jumps. You can check out our 15 Minute Happy parkour activity for inspiration.

[]

question: What is the purpose of this blog and to whom is it addressed?

answer: It is a guide to encouraging children to play outdoors.

critique: It is not stated that the blog is a guide to encouraging children to play outdoors.

critique: The answer should mention that the blog is addressed to parents.

critique: The answer should include the target audience.

critique: It also teaches the reader to bring elements from video games and bring them outdoors.

critique: "It is a guide to encouraging children to play outdoors." - it's not just a guide. The blog is an advertisement for outdoor activities that kids can do based on their favorite video games.


text:
MARK A. MOYAR (born May 12, 1971) is the former Director of the Office for Civilian-Military Cooperation at the US Agency for International Development.[1] He served previously as the Director of the Project on Military and Diplomatic History[2][3] at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and has been a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute[4] and a member of the Hoover Institution Working Group on the Role of Military History in Contemporary Conflict.[5]

Early life

Moyar was born May 12, 1971 in Cleveland, Ohio to Bert and Marjorie Moyar. He graduated from Hawken School in Gates Mills, Ohio in 1989.

Education

Moyar holds a B.A. _summa cum laude_ in history from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in history from Cambridge University. While a student at Harvard, he wrote for the conservative student newspaper _The Harvard Salient_. He also played saxophone in the Harvard Jazz Band with legendary saxophonist Joshua Redman.

Accomplishments

His articles on historical and current events have appeared in the _New York Times_, the _Wall Street Journal_, and the _Washington Post_. During his time as a Senior Fellow at the Joint Special Operations University (2013-2015), he published three lengthy studies on special operations—in Colombia, Afghanistan, and Mali: Village Stability Operations and the Afghan Local Police (2014),[6] Countering Violent Extremism in Mali (2015),[7] and Persistent Engagement in Colombia (2014) [8]

Moyar is the author of the 2006 book _Triumph Forsaken: The Vietnam War, 1954–1965_. In it he argues that Ngo Dinh Diem was an effective leader. Moyar states that supporting the November 1963 coup was one of the worst American mistakes of the war. The other biggest mistakes according to Moyar were: the failure to cut the Ho Chi Minh trail, and the United States Congress' refusal to support the South Vietnamese government after the 1973 Paris Peace Accords were violated, and the refusal of emergency aid to South Vietnam near the end of the war.

_Triumph Forsaken_ caused a great stir and many opinionated reviews, some negative, as well as some positive. In response to the reactions engendered by the book, Andrew Wiest and Michael J. Doidge edited _Triumph revisited : historians battle for the Vietnam War_ (2010),[9] a collection of detailed reviews of the book by 15 different academic historians. The reviews are attached to responses by Moyar, who challenges the criticism of his work.

Books

-   _Phoenix and the Birds of Prey: The CIA's Secret Campaign to Destroy the Viet Cong_ (1997)
    -   Republished in 2007 as _Phoenix and the Birds of Prey: Counterinsurgency and Counterterrorism in Vietnam_ with a foreword by Harry Summers and a new preface and chapter;
-   _Triumph Forsaken: The Vietnam War, 1954–1965_ (2006)
-   _A Question of Command: Counterinsurgency from the Civil War to Iraq_ (2009)
-   _Strategic Failure: How President Obama's Drone Warfare, Defense Cuts, and Military Amateurism Have Imperiled America_ (2015)
-   _Aid for Elites: Building Partner Nations and Ending Poverty through Human Capital_ (2016)
-   _Oppose Any Foe: The Rise of America’s Special Operations Forces_ (2017)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

title: Mark Moyar

question: What does the text say about the war in Iraq?

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention Mark Moyar's book.

critique: The response misses to provide an answer to the task.

critique: The response contains no answer despite the question having been answered in the text.

text: The answer should mention that Moyar wrote a book titled "A Question of Command: Counterinsurgency from the Civil War to Iraq".

question: What does the text say about Mark Moyar's early life and education?

answer: Mark Moyar was born on May 12, 1971, in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from the Hawken School in Gates Mills, Ohio in 1989. Moyar holds a B.A. in history from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in history from Cambridge University.

critique: The detail on Moyar's B.A. is not factual. Moyar received his BA from Harvard University.

critique: Moyar graduated from the Hawken School in 1989, not the year he was born.

critique: The answer should mention Moyar's parents.

critique: It's omitted that Moyar wrote for the conservative student newspaper, The Harvard Salient, while he was a student at Harvard.

critique: The answer should mention that Moyar wrote for the conservative student newspaper while at Harvard.

critique: The answer should mention that Moyar wrote for the conservative student newspaper while a student at Harvard.

critique: The answer should mention that Moyar wrote for the conservative student newspaper while he was a student at Harvard.

critique: The answer should mention that Moyar wrote for the Harvard Salient.

question: What does the text say about Moyar's career?

answer: Moyar became the Director of the Office for Civilian-Military Cooperation at the US Agency for International Development. He worked as the Director of the Project on Military and Diplomatic History at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Moyar served previously as the Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and a member of the Hoover Institution Working Group on the Role of Military History in Contemporary Conflict.

critique: The answer should mention his education.

critique: It's omitted that Moyar was born in 1971.

critique: It is omitted that Moyar has also been the Director of the Office for Civilian-Military Cooperation at the US Agency for International Development.

question: What does the text say about Moyar's accomplishments as a writer?

answer: Moyar has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. He's published three lengthy studies on special operations in Colombia, Afghanistan, and Mali. Moyar is the author of the 2006 book Triumph Forsaken: The Vietnam War, 1954-1965. He challenges the criticism of his work in response to the reactions engendered by the book.

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

critique: Moyar's response to the reviews is irrelevant.

critique: The response should include that Moyar is the former Director of the Office for Civilian-Military Cooperation at the US Agency for International Development.

text: The answer could mention that he challenged the criticism in Triumph: Revisited, which was published by Andrew Wiest and Michael J. Doidge in 2010.


text:
 Allow cookies deposit to access content.

Singles are under more pressure than ever

Fakeness affects all our interactions, including online dating. The rise of “easy to use” dating apps has transformed romance into a game: Catch them all, or play again. Egos are boosted by likes and winks, while profiles are displayed like products in a supermarket. We’re used to binge consumption; now too many of us are binge dating.
No wonder _57% of single women ﬁnd modern dating exhausting*_!
_“58% of single feel there are a lot of people who lie about their intentions or about who they are”_*
_“37% feel there are a lot of people who don’t want to commit”*_

Match is determined to continue to ﬁght for real connections

Many singles are looking for more than a swipe on a picture and “you got a Match” notifications. They’re looking for a deeper connection than just a “hello”.

_“34% of singles want to engage in meaningful relationship”*_

AT MATCH, WE WANT TO HELP SINGLES SHOW THEIR TRUE PERSONALITIES. Not simply through data like their height, hair colour or age, or the boxes they tick. We encourage singles to describe themselves in their own words, showing specific details of their personality. And we know not everyone is a writer! Our coach Lara will give you all the help you need to let your true self shine through your words.

_“70% engage into conversation even if don’t like picture”*_

At Match, we don’t believe singles should tolerate the disrespectful comments and conversations that are far too common online. Instead, we want to promote high quality, friendly connections. Women are empowered to reward singles who show respectful behaviour thanks to the Match Badge, so their profiles rise up the rankings. People with the Match Badge receive, on average, _15% more messages_**.

Like our singles, Match isn’t about playing games. That’s why we created our real-life events where everyone is single, and our hosts make it easy to break the ice. We organize events around music, food, coaching, charity and much more – there’s something for everyone. What’s more, they work: +/- 40% _of attendees tell us they met someone they want to stay in touch with at our Events_ ***

Looking for someone special takes more than swiping random profiles. Singles searching for love need the right tools. Match members can select the people they really want to meet, based on detailed criteria they’ve set up themselves.

But our most important asset is COMMITTED SINGLES READY FOR REAL STORIES.
Match isn’t a free dating service. Our subscription is a commitment in itself. We believe our singles are truly committed to – and involved in – their search for love. They know why they are here.

We know this isn’t news. But we also know that it isn’t fake. And it’s the only way online dating can do its job: helping people meet people to start real stories.

MATCH. START SOMETHING REAL.

*Source LoveConnection Nov. 2018 – Research conducted by Kantar TNS on the behalf of Meetic in Europe among singles aged 18 to 65 yo.

** Internal Data –Meetic Europe 2018

*** Internal survey Jan-December 2018 _37%_ _of_ _participants at Match Events_ _answered yes to“I met someone I want to stay in touch with”_

Related Articles

question: What are some characteristic of Match that make it unique?

answer: Match wants to help singles show their true personalities, not just their data. They want to promote high-quality, friendly connections. They also want to empower women to reward singles who show respectful behavior. They also organize real-life events where everyone is single and their hosts make it easy to break the ice.

critique: "Match wants to help singles show their true personalities, not just their data." - this is inaccurate. Match helps singles show their true personalities by encouraging them to describe themselves in their own words and showing specific details of their personality.

critique: The answer should mention that Match is a paid service.

critique: It misses to mention that match also allows singles to select the people they really want to meet, based on detailed criteria they’ve set up themselves.

critique: The answer omits that Match also wants to help singles find committed singles.

text: The "Match Badge" is missing from the answer and should be included.

question: Would Tinder consider Match their competition?

answer: No answer

critique: The question is easy to answer, so it should be.

critique: The article doesn't mention Tinder, but it seems to be the most popular competitor to Match.

critique: There is no evidence to suggest that Tinder would not consider Match their competition.

critique: The article does not answer this question.


text:
[]

A job half-finished
Europe’s banks are stronger than they were, but not strong enough

A marathon of regulatory reform has further to run

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

THE permanent revolution rumbles on. Ten years after the financial crisis, Europe’s bankers must wonder whether the regulatory upheaval will ever cease (see article). Next month two European Union directives start to bite. MiFID2 will make trading more transparent and oblige banks to charge clients separately for research; PSD2 will expose banks to more competition from technology companies, and each other, in everything from payment services to budgeting advice. A new accounting rule, IFRS 9, also kicks in, demanding timelier provisions for credit losses. The global capital standards drawn up after the crisis, Basel 3, may at last be on the verge of completion—implying yet another uptick in equity requirements for some European lenders.

Amid this blizzard of letters and digits, the European Commission is pushing ahead on yet another front. It is urging governments and the European Parliament to complete the EU’s banking union by 2019 and thus cut the “doom loop”, in which weak banks and sovereigns drag each other down. Because regulators treat all euro-area government bonds, regardless of origin, as risk-free, banks have an incentive to load up on them in order to economise on equity; and they favour their home governments’ bonds. Should the sovereign-bond prices fall, as they did in Greece, local banks take a big hit; if governments have to prop up lenders, the spiral goes on down.

Much has already been done to weaken this link. A single supervisor, housed in the European Central Bank (ECB), watches over the euro zone’s biggest lenders. A single resolution board, backed by a central fund, deals with failing banks. Yet the banking union is only half-built. The zone’s economic bounceback might well make its completion seem less urgent (see Free exchange). But waiting for the next financial crisis to strike would be the greater folly.

One big missing piece is a common European deposit-insurance scheme. Germans and other northerners have balked at the thought of bailing out supposedly feckless southerners. To allay such fears, the commission wants to go gradually: at first, should depositors have to be made good, a European insurance fund would merely lend money to national schemes, which would then be recovered from other banks.

Northerners will remain suspicious. That makes two other elements of the commission’s plan essential complements to deposit insurance. One is to bulk up banks’ shock absorbers, most likely with convertible debt, so that they can withstand heavy losses. The other is to tackle the piles of non-performing loans that, though shrinking, still weigh down lenders in Italy and other southern countries. That requires speeding up and harmonising procedures for insolvency and recovering collateral. The commission and the ECB are also working on rules for prompter recognition of duff loans in future.

All that makes sense but, to sever the doom loop, the commission wants to go further. It is looking at an ingenious scheme, first proposed by a team of European economists, to create securities backed by a pool of sovereign bonds. The safest tranches would be the riskless asset, free of nationality, that the euro area currently lacks.

Cut the cord

Though worth pursuing, the transition to the safe asset would be tortuous. After purchases to back the asset, the markets for some government bonds will end up being rather thin. Germans may suspect that they will remain the ultimate guarantor. Other means of strengthening Europe’s banks therefore remain vital. Consolidation, both within and across borders, would help. Europe has too many small banks; even its biggest lack scale. And many academics believe that banks everywhere should add still more equity to their balance-sheets. Completing the banking union is necessary for financial stability. It is not sufficient.

This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline "A job half-finished"

question: Summarize what the passage says about the "Doom Loop"

answer: The "Doom Loop" is a situation in which weak banks and sovereigns drag each other down. The European Commission is urging governments and the European Parliament to complete the EU's banking union by 2019 and thus cut the "Doom Loop". The banking union is only half-built.

critique: The answer omits what the "Doom Loop" is.

critique: The answer should mention the missing elements of the banking union.

critique: The response would be better if it included additional and/or pertinent information such as the missing part of a common European deposit-insurance scheme.

critique: The answer should mention the missing piece of the banking union.