text:
	When I first came across the box of tapes, I didn't even think twice. I placed it in the front room, the sun room, where we toss everything we don't need, but don't want to leave in the leaky basement. It wasn't until the following Christmas it even became an issue.

	My wife wanted to set up the Christmas tree in that front room, which meant I had some cleaning up to do. So, I began moving things around. Coming across the box of tapes, I asked her where she wanted them. This triggered a bit of an argument, since she had never seen the box, and I had always assumed that it was hers. The first idea that was thought out loud, once it was established these tapes didn't belong to either of us, was the old owners left them. I reasonable thought. Unfortunately, two years ago when we moved into the house, it was totally empty. I don't mean there was no furniture, no dishes, no bed sheets. I mean empty. Nothing.

	Firstly, all the walls had been painted white. The same white as the ceiling. All the light fixtures had been removed, and besides the three wires poking out of the openings around the junction box, you wouldn't even know the house had ever had them hooked up. Further, there were no sinks, bathtubs, shower stalls, toilets. Nothing. The house was a total decorative blank slate. Now, normally, this house would have been a fixer upper. We looked at it more as a modular opportunity. With the money we saved from buying such an empty space, we were able to afford all the items to simply bring in and install. We never gave a second thought to why the house was so empty, and as soon as I pointed out just how empty the house was, I could tell I wasn't alone in the sinking feeling I got, looking at the box of tapes.

	The second issue we immediately had was all the tapes were in different formats. Different qualities. Some I had never even seen. Everything from old beta max recordings, to hi 8, to CD+R's to bluray discs. None of them marked. None of them dated. No reason to think they were related, besides being stored together, until we watched them.

	It took me the better part of two months to assemble all the video equipment to view everything. I was able to play most of the newer formats on my laptop, or DVD player in the house. Some creative flea market shopping procured me some player I required for most of the rest. Unfortunately there are still some tapes that I am unfamiliar with. And not just me. To be exact, I have four tapes remaining that I haven't viewed, that I have never been able to nail down what type of media they are. Nobody can give me an answer. The worst part is, after viewing all these videos, and sorting through the incredible story that unfolds on them, those four tapes seem to contain the ending. Which means that they were filmed last. On some format nobody has ever seen. And then placed into this box that has somehow made it into my home.

	None of this struck me as a warning. It should have. If I had just thrown the box away, or sent it to someone else to look through it, I might still have my wife, my home, my life. But instead I am sitting in a tent, typing this up on a stolen laptop, powered by those portable solar panels that you never thought you needed. I've learned how to hunt, build shelter, and grow my own crops. I'm approximately seven hours north of the closest major city. Nobody knows I'm here. Which might be the only reason I'm still alive.

title: [HR][SF]Videos

question: What does the story say about the family that used to live in the narrator's house?

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention the mysterious box of tapes.

critique: It is omitted that the family that used to live in the narrator's house is never mentioned in the story.

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

question: What does the story say about the house?

answer: The house was a total decorative blank slate. It had been painted white and all the light fixtures were removed. There were no sinks, bathtubs, shower stalls, or toilets. The house was an empty space.

critique: The narrator mentions that as soon as he pointed out how empty the house was, he got a sinking feeling. Include this feeling of emptiness in the response.

critique: The answer should mention that the house was empty when they moved in.

critique: It's omitted that the house was empty when the narrator and his wife moved in.

critique: The answer should mention that the house was a fixer-upper.

critique: The answer should mention that the house was empty when the narrator and his wife moved in.

critique: The narrator's house is empty, not the house.

critique: The house was empty when the narrator and his wife moved in.

question: What does the story say about the box of tapes?

answer: The narrator and his wife bought an empty house with nothing in it when they moved in two years ago. The house was empty, with all the walls painted white and the light fixtures removed. They didn't think much about it, assuming the previous owners left the house empty. They never gave a second thought to why the house was so empty. When the narrator discovered the box of tapes, he had a sinking feeling about it. The box of tapes was in different formats and had no reason to think they were related, besides being stored together.

critique: It should be specified that they first discovered it during the holidays because they decided to decorate.

critique: The answer should mention the ending of the story.

critique: The answer should mention the tapes' contents.

critique: The answer should mention that the tapes contain a story.

critique: The answer should mention the story's twist.

text: Mention the formats of the tapes, the effort that it took the narrator to play the tapes, what the "last four tapes" seem to be, and how the tapes have affected the narrator's life in the end.

question: What should the narrator have done with the box of tapes when he first found them?

answer: The narrator should have thrown the box of tapes away.

critique: "The narrator should have thrown the box of tapes away." - the narrator has already thrown away his house and his wife.

critique: The narrator should have thrown the box of tapes away or given it to someone else to look through.

critique: It is omitted that he should have sent them to someone else to look through.

critique: It's implied that this would have prevented him hiding in the mountains.

critique: The narrator should have sent the box of tapes to someone else to look through it.


split: train

text:
I realize that, by their very nature, dreams are mysterious and not wont to easily part with their secret meanings. Yet each and every time I slide into the arms of Hypnos, I am overcome with this serenity that has so captivated my soul and heart. It is quite beyond words to describe; it is a sense of being home, at ease, a veritable emotion of well-being so pure and unadulterated that it has become an object of desire in my waking hours. Indeed, I long for the hours in which I may again temporarily leave this world which deigns not to bestow upon me this same miraculous form of bliss, and my great regret is that no matter how firmly and gently I grasp at this wanting ev'ry single night, it manages to escape my clumsy earthly fingers in the morn thereafter. I am then left with this ever-bleeding longing, a wish for time to pass me by gently but quickly, so that I may soon resume my reverie, and preferably close to the place and time where I left off previously. Alas, this wish is seldom granted. Lord Hypnos seemingly has other plans for me those nights, as I am both fond and reluctant to find out time and again.

The scapes themselves are as different as one could imagine. One could be the plain and downright opposite of another, and even if that other was a magnificent picture of calm, peace and beauty, this new discovery shan't be of any shock or worry to me; the great bliss that envelops me in these scapes keeps me safe, as if I am but an observer of magnificent world-lines and divine possibilities far beyond the scope of our own private physical existence. Eyes through mist, so does it seem to present itself in those dreams, though the only regrettable part is always the waking up; the doing away with the security and safety of a world that was created by ourselves, in our proper minds, free from foreign influence or taints that do not originate with our own psyches.

'Tis almost as if those countless lives that I have been offered glimpses of are no less real than this tortuous dwelling in sorrow, just... not quite as accessible. At least not from my current position. So I must contend myself with the glimpses alone, but wond'rous they are indeed. My flesh cannot know the pleasures these worlds provide my mind, the endless and aetheric entertainment that swirls forever in the mists of my own spirit. But lo! Offsetting this sheer joy and freedom is the knowledge that I cannot grasp at it, cannot touch what I feel and see, cannot summon it at will to enjoy it. I must wait, always, for it to come to me, to visit me through the veil of dreams and waking. It must flow across the aether into the streams of consciousness that are human minds caressed by Hypnos' soothing hands. For only under his watchful eye are the streams permitted to mingle and create the dreams we long for. Only by his grace do we experience what it is to be more than what we are.

We are dreamers.

Does this world - so real and solid that it needs no dreamers to keep it aloft in the skies that contain all the celestial bodies - not recoil at the touch of equally solid and dream-free creatures? Does matter not beget matter, and dreams beget dreams?
Then why can I not do away with those thoughts, those memories, that ever-present longing for the next dream, a next chapter in an endless book of magnificent stories, never before told, written only for my eyes?
Can any one creature tell or feel, where is this dividing line?
Are there any who were once part of that other world, but then pushed or pulled, mayhap by sweet-talk and words even lulled, into the next against their will, thereby forfeiting their identities, everything that made them creatures of matter or muse?

How would one tell the difference?

title: Under Hypnos' watchful gaze

question: What is uncomfortable about having an "ever-bleeding longing", in the words of the author?

answer: The author is longing for the next dream, a next chapter in an endless book of magnificent stories, never before told, written only for his eyes.

critique: The answer is not related to the question.

critique: The author is longing for the next dream, a next chapter in an endless book of magnificent stories, never before told, written only for his eyes.

critique: The response is inaccurate. The author is a he.

text: The response is inaccurate. The author's "ever-bleeding longing" isn't a longing for the next dream, but a wish for time to pass him by gently but quickly, so he can go back to his dream from the previous night, preferably close to the time and place where he left off. This wish. however, is seldom granted.

category: accuracy

question: How does one tell the difference between dream and wake, according to the author?

answer: The author is not sure.

critique: The author does have an opinion on the matter.

critique: "The author is not sure." - this lacks coherence and needs a rewrite.

critique: The author does have an opinion on the matter, which is expressed in the passage.

critique: The author does have an answer, but it is not explicitly stated.

critique: "The author is not sure." - is incorrect. The author is sure.

critique: The author does have an answer, but it is not clear

critique: It is omitted that the author is unsure because they are asking the question.

question: Where does the author indicate they are lucid dreaming, or are at least capable of doing it?

answer: The author indicates they are lucid dreaming by saying that they are overcome with a sense of serenity that has captivated their soul and heart. They describe the scapes as different and the great bliss that envelopes them in these scapes keeps them safe. They are able to describe the scapes as if they are observers of magnificent world-lines and divine possibilities. The author is able to describe the scapes as if they are real.

critique: The author does not indicate they are lucid dreaming.

critique: "The author indicates they are lucid dreaming by saying that they are overcome with a sense of serenity that has captivated their soul and heart. They describe the scapes as different and the great bliss that envelopes them in these scapes keeps them safe. They are able to describe the scapes as if they are observers of magnificent world-lines and divine possibilities. The author is able to describe the scapes as if they are real." - these are the author's thoughts on dreams and they have nothing to do with being lucid. Completely unrelated to the question. The last sentence can also be removed. Revise the response.

critique: The author is not lucid dreaming. They are simply dreaming.

critique: The question asks where the author indicates they are lucid dreaming. It is not a necessary assumption that the author is lucid dreaming.

critique: The author does not describe the scapes as if they are observers or as if they are real.

question: Why might Lord Hypnos be personified in this writing?

answer: It may be implied that the writer is picturing Lord Hypnos as an entity that may hypothetically know the answers to the questions being asked.

critique: The answer is not a direct response to the question.

critique: "It may be implied that the writer is picturing Lord Hypnos as an entity that may hypothetically know the answers to the questions being asked." - this answer is incorrect. The writer personifies Lord Hypnos because he is personifying all of the dreamers.

critique: The answer is not related to the question.


text:
Holding onto a Heartbeat
Epigraph:
“If I told you that the crowd was all ears,
Could you find the words to say?
If I told you that you could take home the prize,
Would you know the game to play?
Would you laugh or would you fall to pieces?
Would you lie or would you run?”
-Mad at Gravity, Find the Words

The east window was still open. I sat on her bed and stared at the closet, the door propped open, folded back against the wall by a bronze cleat and ball, third place trophy to some tournament. Fifteen different jerseys and two different referee tops hung in rainbow order, though mostly the same racing green, ending with the single ref black and single ref yellow. I heard the click from the door to the bathroom that separated her and her younger sister’s room and waited for the door to open, wishing for a confrontation. Instead I heard another cracking click as the shower door slid shut followed by the sound of rushing water spraying and splatting against the glass and tub basin. The image of water over her skin was not what I wanted or needed, but my eyes struggled closed, flickering, as I took it in breathing. Pulsing and sometimes shaking hands ran over shoulders, neck, and through hair tingling my neck and chest while constantly struggling to find air in the lapsing ragged breathing. My heart rate accelerated well over one fifty. “We need to learn to be more than soccer,” she had said to me. I struggled to hold onto the words. Four pill bottles rested in her top left desk drawer.
***
My first soccer practice was at five. I was lying on the basement floor shag carpeting while watching television with two of my older brothers. I had just woken up from my post half-day pre-school nap. I’m not sure if I really understood after school cartoons at that point or not, but it didn’t really matter because if my brothers were doing it, I did it too or at least pretended to. I was lying on my back shirtless, thinly ribbed, heart beating over and over, blowing spit bubbles, and absentmindedly pulling at the thick gray carpet and swirling it with my hands while staring on at the tv when my mother knelt down next to me and asked a question I didn’t hear. I also liked to rub my feet, bare or otherwise, up and down, kicking my legs out and pulling them back for a slight fibrous foot rub. She asked me the question again and started tickling my feet.
My spit bubble burst, wetting my lips, and I screamed and kicked trying to roll away from her, but she held my leg with one hand while continuing to tickle with the other. My brothers yelled for her to stop because they couldn’t hear the tv over my piercing post toddler fully oxygenated sugary charged shrieking. She stopped and my breathing was all I could hear. I stared at her with eyes all moist, ready for another attack. I finally heard the question when her lips parted again, lined and slightly cracked and dry, turning wet.
“Honey, how would you like to go to the park?”
“Yea, park. Are ****** and ****** coming too?” I asked turning to look back at my brothers lounging on the couch all lazy eyed.
“Hell no pips, ” my twelve year old brother said.
“Actually, you are going to the park with a lot of other boys your age,” mother said almost at once but did not attempt to make a stand against the partial cursing and back talk from my older brother.
“Like ****** and ******?” I asked.
“Maybe, we’ll just have to go and see, now won’t we,” she said winking. “But first I need you to try these…” I was already falling back to staring at the tv when I felt a hand on my leg as my foot was stuffed into a sock. I looked back to see the long blue socks my feet were being forcibly stuffed into and the black shoes with spikes on the bottom like the ones my brothers wore for soccer.
“Ah, good. They fit perfectly,” she said smiling while tying the laces. Some of her soft golden hair had fallen in front of her face as she leaned back to stand up.
“I’m playing soccer at the park?” I said questioning, both in excitement and fear.
“Yes, honey, I already told you that,” she said. I hadn’t remembered it being mentioned any earlier. “Now go up stairs and put a shirt on and wait at the front door for your father to take you,” she said extending her arms away from the tv, towards the stairs.
Forty-seven minutes later.
I leaned my entire body weight against the heavy sedan door for it to close with a thunk and almost slipped on the pavement in my unfamiliar cleats. My father waved to a group of parents and other boys at the end of parking lot. He also shielded his eyes over black sunglasses looking into the orange September sun. I focused on the bits of gravel pavement, uniformly and infinitely different in the mix. My cleats made a clack scraping sound with each step as I held onto my father’s massive hand following his lead.
Thirteen boys, all five-years-old or nearly so, stood, leaned, and swayed, clinging to their respective parent’s legs or presence while still constantly looking around with a sort of rising frustration at being corralled in the park. The parents carried on light conversation punctuated by Sunday grill laughs and smiles. Three of the fathers wore matching green polo athletic shirts. My father shook each of their hands in turn, smiling, his gray-green slacks folding as leaned forward. His brown leather loafers looked overwhelmed in the rising September grass.
My father turned back to me and with a hand on my back pulled me in front of the three men. The tallest of the three half crouched a bit and extended his huge hand, “Hi there, I’m Mr. E****** and will be your new soccer coach.” I took his hand looking up but only saw the orange sun peeking out from behind his neck.
After meeting the other two coaches, my father clapped me on the back as we retreated. “All right, good luck, love you, be back to pick you up,” he said. He kissed me on the head and walked away toward the parking lot.
I watched as his pace quickened, pumping his arms slightly. A few parents trailed my father but still others remained to watch the practice. It wasn’t that I didn’t want my father to go; I just wanted to know why he left. I hesitated only slightly in returning my focus to Coach E******.

title: Before I go... I wrote a few books this is the beginning of them. I almost graduated with an BFA as a 2nd degree before the high horsing begins.

question: What can we deduce to be the narrator's relationship with soccer?

answer: He seems to care more about what post kids TV cartoons his older bothers are watching, than he does about going to practice. He is sent to the park by his mother to play. While he's excited by the news, he seems more bothered than excited to be there.

critique: The passage does not say that the narrator is annoyed at the idea of going to soccer practice, just confused by the fact that he did not remember his mother mentioning it before. He seems to be bothered by the fact that his father left him there, but that is not evidence of him being upset at the idea of soccer.

critique: The last sentence is incorrect. The narrator is excited to be there.

critique: They are on their way to practice, not just the park.

critique: Some details are not incorrect but are irrelevant to the question

critique: The narrator's relationship with soccer is not the main point of the passage.

critique: There's no evidence that the narrator cared less than the others about watching cartoons.

critique: He seems to be excited at the beginning of the passage, but eventually as he goes, he realizes that he doesn't really want to go.

critique: The narrator's relationship with soccer can be deduced to be that he is interested in the sport, but not in a very serious way.

critique: He seems more bothered at the thought of his brothers not coming to practice than he is about the game itself

text: The story states that when he hears he's going to play soccer, he's filled with both excitemet and fear.

refinement: He seems to care more about what post kids TV cartoons his older bothers are watching, than he does about going to practice. He is sent to the park by his mother to play. While he's excited by the news, he seems more bothered than excited to be there.


text:
I have this "friend". Friend is used with quotation marks because real friends share the following information: pregnancies, graduations, launching of their new blog/website, how they just ate "the most mind blowing sushi EVER", new relationships, breakups, all the dirty details that go on in between, and the sort of information that is about to be revealed in this story.

Now my friend, we'll call him Alan, has worked out of state for almost three years now. He works on an oil rig so he spends two weeks in North Dakota and then lives two weeks in the great state of Utah. I hadn't seen Alan since he left but we've kept contact here and there. Alan is the type of friend that you don't share your deepest, darkest secrets with but is just a good time guy. You know, when you get a text from him it's just a sudden feel good. I know I won't be roped into a drawn out conversation about the meaning of life, how an unfortunate incident in his childhood scared him for life, or how Obamacare is single handedly destroying the United States and will certainly spur the Apocalypse. Side note: I don't believe that last statement is true. I live in a VERY conservative state where that seems to be the popular belief. He just checks in to say "Hi", send a great new song he heard, or just shoot the sarcastic random shit. I adore this about him.

Well, Alan was coming back into town and we decided that THIS TIME we will be getting together for lunch. It's been mentioned here and there but never actually came to fruition. It is decided that he will come pick me up at work and we will head over to Costa Vida because as he put it, "It's always good." I have a difference of opinion but hey, not everyone wants to eat a super healthy freak lunch like I do. Needless to say, I was excited regardless. I hadn't seen his face in forever and where we ate wasn't much of a concern to me.

Alan arrived and I, dressed in my tyed dyed hippie skirt, managed to use all my upper arm strength to pull myself into his truck that was raised about 10 feet off the ground. Yes, that's an over exaggeration but while wearing flip flops and a maxi skirt, it's like you're hoisting yourself onto the Empire State Building in one step. The ride there was a little on the awkward side but I didn't expect any less seeing as the last time we were in each others company was almost three years ago. We arrive at Costa Vida and stand in line waiting to order. The conversation is nothing short of small talk. "How was your trip back?" "How is your daughter doing?"...that sort of stuff. So it's now our turn to order and the man who initially takes the order looks, well, angry. Alan orders his burrito and I order a salad (which is just a burrito with twice as much lettuce and not rolled up.) Upon my request for something semi healthy, the man very clearly lets out a huge sigh. Apparently he was not satisfied with my request to give the world the impression that I do live a semi healthy lifestyle. Of course Alan and I found this funny and now the topic of conversation from there to the table was this one man's delightful presence.

Here's where the story takes a turn. We sit down at the table and I notice Alan is looking very nervous and is actually shaking. Then the conversation goes like this,

Alan: "I have a secret to tell you."
Me: "Okay...?"
Alan: "I'm married."

This is one of those moments in life where your brain goes completely blank and at the same time has more thoughts running through it than ever before. The result...time stands still. There are no words coming out of my mouth for a few moments because not one thought is being fully formed in my brain. They're all just floating through my head randomly like little bubbles popping so fast that I can't make out what they even are.

Me: "You're married?"
Alan: "Yeah."
Me: "Like married, married?"
Alan: "Yeah."
Me: "Since when?"
Alan: "Earlier this year."
Me: "Like in 2013?"
Alan: "Yeah."
Me: "Why didn't you tell me!?"
Alan: "...I don't know."

I feel the need to let everyone know that I wasn't even aware that Alan was engaged. Not only that but I wasn't aware that he was seeing someone. Alan and I have shared some texts in the past that were of the sexual nature. As a mother and a human with pretty high morals, I would not have done this had I known he had a special someone in his life. I have never felt the urge to be in a relationship with Alan or even have an ongoing sexual relationship with him. Okay, let me be completely honest by saying that yes, I have thought about having sexual relations with him but it would be a one or two time thing. Five times tops. He is that guy who you could sleep with and nothing between you would change. You would still go on being the same friends you were before the clothes came off and things got weird...in a (fingers crossed) good way. Not only that but he's on the very attractive side. Beard. Tattoos. Piercings. These things will instantly put a guy on my do-able list. Again though, had I known that he had a female in his life that was playing such a huge significant role, so much so that he actual married her, I would have thrown him into Friend Zone so fast that it would have completely erased any past dirty thoughts I had about the guy.

So upon further interrogation, I find out that he has been married since June (it's now October) and they actually did the whole ceremony. Which means there was a proposal, invitations, cake tastings, color samples, formal wear trying on, endless emotional breakdowns, engagement parties, bachelor parties, etc. Plenty of time to send a friend a quick text sharing your happy news. This, very obviously, did not happen and I had no idea that my "friend" even had an apple of his eye. Needless to say the next few minutes were very awkward. I think there were a lot of blank stares coming from my side of the table and a whole lot of eye contact avoidance from his.

Alan: "You're judging me."
Me: "Not yet. I'm still trying to let it sink in. Judgment will come later."

And it did. Of course it did. I'm divorced so sarcastic comments about marriage flow out of me like rain during springtime in Seattle. Not that I'm against marriage. Quite a fan actually. I love love and love when people are in love and want to be in love again one day. You know, the whole white picket fence, children running around half dressed covered in popsicle stains in the front yard, medium sized half breed dogs barking at the mailman, and the smell of freshly baked cookies pouring out the kitchen window. However, given this situation the only words I could come up with were, "Well, congratulations...?" and "Do I buy you a gift or something?" As we sat there continuing to involuntarily bask in the awkwardness of the moment, Alan tries to deflect the conversation.

He runs his hand across the chair next to him and says,

Alan: "This is really smooth wood."
Me: "Really? You want to comment on any of the other structural properties of the restaurant?"
Alan (looking up and the exposed ceiling): "The ceiling looks...warehousey."
Me (at the exact moment he says the word "warehousey"): "Industrial?"

We both laugh about his choice of word and the fact that it is not a word that would be recognized by any addition of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, and now we are back to our witty normal banter. I still have a special place in my heart for him and always will. Plus he did leave me with this memorable story to tell and one thing I do love about life, the moments that are so irrelevant but give you something to smile about years down the road. No drama. Just good times.

title: The ceiling looks...warehousey.

question: What does the text say about romantic relationships?

answer: The author describes Alan's friend as someone they could sleep with without affecting their friendship. She remarks that it could go well or end badly. She then makes the salient point, "had I known""

critique: The author does not say that she could sleep with Alan without affecting their friendship.

critique: The answer should mention that the author is divorced.

critique: The answer is not relevant to the question.

critique: "She then makes the salient point, "had I known"" - is unnecessary.

question: What does the text say about summer love?

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention that the story is not about summer love.

critique: The answer should mention that the text does not mention anything about summer love.

critique: The answer is incorrect. The text does not mention anything about summer love.

critique: The answer should mention that the story is about a summer love.

question: What does the text say about Alan?

answer: Alan is the narrator's friend who works out of state. He works on an oil rig so he spends two weeks in North Dakota and then lives two weeks in the great state of Utah. He's the type of friend the narrator doesn't share her deepest, darkest secrets with, but he's just a good time guy. Alan is married but didn't tell the narrator.

critique: The answer should mention that Alan is attractive.

critique: The text doesn't say that Alan works in Utah.


text:
[]

This weekend the writer and presenter _June Sarpong_ has released her book _Diversity_ for Harper Collins. Containing the tagline “because the world is separate enough” I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on this.

In an article for Elle Sarpong discusses how she, as someone of Ghanaian heritage (where age brings with it a certain reverence where older women are valued for their wisdom and experience ) finds the Western distain for aging perplexing saying:

_Older women who have experienced life have so much to offer us in terms of balancing work and family life, thriving in male-dominated environments and pioneering different approaches to challenges, whether that be inflexible hours for working mothers or pay barriers._

Its timely to be reading all this as I have also been thinking about this subject for quite a while. Why are attitudes towards women over thirty so problematic? not least by women as they approach certain age milestones.

I am forever reading how “hard” aging is for women. Daily we are encouraged to invest in “anti-aging” remedies. The subtext being that for a woman to look anything other than twenty-two is to somehow fail one of the invisible tests of femininity.

The patriarchy suggests in its whiney little Nigel Farage voice, that to have currency, women must appear youthful, juicy, fertile. Don’t let the bloom fall off the rose.

Depressing statistics regularly suggest the socio-economic landscape favours men, and that women leaving the workplace to have children struggle to play catch up upon their return but is that the only reason women so often bemoan the privilege of getting older? Could it be that we have allowed our eyes to be averted from the glorious power that women in their forties, and onwards possess?

When I see women in their early thirties freaking out about “getting older” discounting other women because they are “past it” I feel a reinforcement of a distorted mythology around women and aging.

I can totally see why they are conditioned to feel that way but also feel unable to indulge such short-sighted views on the most inevitable aspects of the human condition- we all get older.

 Isn’t it time we stopped talking in a baby voice? Shouldn’t we stop wanting to be infantilised? When we post memes about not wanting to “adult” are we maybe just being really fucking lame?

Being an adult isn’t just about paying bills and having responsibilities, it’s about having enough experience to compare and contrast. It’s about knowing more than the narrow prescribed curriculum you studied at school because you have actually had time to fall in and out of love with different people, music, books, art.

Growing older means you can have had an _Egon Schiele_ and a _Lempicka_ phase and know why you no longer need to hang up art prints to prove you are smart. Growing older means you own your likes and dislikes and are no longer ashamed to admit that _The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole _ is still one of favourite books but feel confident to bring up _The Yellow wallpaper_ even if it is a bit obscure and involves ideas around madness and toxic interior design.

The question we need to ask ourselves is whether appearing young and sweet and attractive is more valuable to us than possessing wisdom? If knowledge is power surely increasing in years should be the goal. And yes, that includes looking older.

Perhaps part of our resistance to aging are the options we feel are on offer.

Are the only choices we have as women _Maiden, Mother, Crone?_  A bright young thing, a caregiver  and then someone waiting to be pushed out to sea on a boat made of poor pension pay-outs? Could there not be a fourth way?

Feminists like Jennifer Baumgardner have argued  since 2008 for a fourth wave of feminism, a movement with an  increased focus on intersectionality, including the repudiation of trans-exclusionary radical feminism and a focus on solidarity with other social justice movements.

Perhaps we also need to identify a new status that transcends ideas of women either being girls or mamas or matriarchs and, instead identifies us as wisdom gatherers and policy creators. Not yet crone but crone in waiting?

I’m not a young woman, I’ve been a young woman. I’ve moved onto a new life stage which is more varied and complex and rich than ever before and its intoxicating.

Ignore the bogeyman of ageing  He (and it is patriarchal thinking that encourages this mind-set) is too distracting. There is much work to do to create equality in the workforce especially for WOC and for our sisters in other countries, still struggling to access rights we take for granted.

There are real things for us to worry about but the physical appearance of growing older is not one of them.

As Le Tigre sing in Hot Topic

_Carol Rama and Eleanor Antin_

_Yoko Ono and Carolee Schneeman_

_You're getting old, that's what they'll say, but_

_Don't give a damn I'm listening anyway_

Our tents dont need to be red but we do need to start openly revering the process of ageing. Not respecting in some patronising head patting way but actually acknowledging how time more than anything else gives us the opportunity to become more educated and more empathetic.

Don't give a damn to what society tells you, I'm listening anyway.

Diversity By June Sarong is available to buy now

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All content (text, photos and other) are the property of Perelandra Beedles unless otherwise stated. Please refrain from copying any material without recognition of the author and a link to the source on this blog

question: What does the article say about the way society views older women?

answer: The patriarchy suggests that to have currency, women must appear youthful and that women have a limited shelf life, therefore time is dismissive of them after a certain age. As opposed to this, the article says that growing older is a welcome change for women and as a new life stage, women have more opportunities to learn and become wiser and more empathetic.

critique: The article does not say that women have a limited shelf life. It says that women are considered past their "sell by" date when they reach a certain age.

critique: The first sentence is confusing and should be reworded.

critique: The answer omits the author's take on the matter.

critique: The suggestion that time will be dismissive of women after a certain age is inaccurate.

critique: The answer omits that Sarpong is of Ghanaian heritage and finds the Western disdain for aging perplexing.

critique: The article doesn't say that growing older is a welcome change for women. It says that it's time to stop talking in a baby voice and wanting to be infantilized.

question: What does the article say about the matriarchy?

answer: No answer

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

critique: The question is asking for the answer to be generated, not empty.

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

critique: The article does not mention the matriarchy.


text:
SIR WILLIAM ARROL & CO. was a leading Scottish civil engineering and construction business founded by William Arrol and based in Glasgow. It built some of the most famous bridges in the United Kingdom including the second Tay Bridge, the Forth Bridge and Tower Bridge in London.

Early history

The Company was founded by William Arrol, born in Houston, Renfrewshire in 1839, the fourth child of Thomas Arrol, a cotton spinner. He started work at the age of nine in a cotton mill, having passed himself off as thirteen. In 1850, the family moved to Paisley and William found work at Coats’s Cotton Thread Manufacturing making bobbins. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to a blacksmith at Paisley, supplementing his practical education with night school classes and the purchase of books on engineering.[1]

At end of his apprenticeship William Arrol worked as a journeyman blacksmith with mixed success. Work was not easy to find and in 1858, now aged nineteen, he took a job at Ker’s factory at Paisley. Eventually he was engaged as a foreman at Laidlaw’s Engineering Works in Glasgow. Here he was entrusted with his first bridges: the Greenock and Ayrshire Railway at Greenock in 1885 and the West Pier at Brighton 1866. After two years, Arrol had saved enough money to set up with a friend as boiler and girder makers. However, they incurred heavy losses through non-payment by customers and the partnership was dissolved. On his own again with his small works in Glasgow, in 1871 he was given the construction of railway bridges on the Balerno line in Edinburgh.[2]

In 1872, now in his early thirties, Arrol left his old works and moved to Dalmarnock in south Glasgow. His first important contract was for a bridge over the Clyde at Bothwell for the North British Railway. This bridge, which was 120 feet above the water, was notable for Arrol’s introduction of the idea of building the girders on land and rolling them out pier to pier. In 1875 he built the first of the two great bridges for the Caledonian Railway over the Clyde. Faced by a strike by the riveters he invented a hydraulic riveting machine, later to enjoy widespread use in the shipbuilding industry. [3]

The Great Bridges

December 1879 saw the great Tay Bridge disaster where the railway bridge collapsed under the lateral pressure of high winds, barely a year after it had opened. William Arrol was awarded the contract for the new bridge. Construction of the new Tay Bridge was started in 1882 and it opened in 1887. Almost simultaneously, William Arrol was also working on the Forth Bridge. Construction began in 1882 and when it was opened in1890 it had the longest single cantilever bridge span in the world. William Arrol’s commitment to these two bridges was rewarded with a knighthood: Sir William Arrol & Company Ltd was incorporated in June 1893.[4] The completion of the two Scottish bridges gave Sir William Arrol an international reputation and in the succeeding years bridges were built around Great Britain, Europe and as far as Australia. Perhaps the best known was London’s Tower Bridge opened in 1894, where Sir William Arrol erected all the steel work.[5]

Diversification

The development of Dalmarnock Works to cope with Arrol’s increased business involved the construction of new buildings with large spans and roofs of steel and glass which let in light throughout the building. Their size allowed the installation of large overhead cranes with up to 100 tons lifting capacity. This became an activity in its own right as similar buildings were constructed for other companies.[6] Also arising out of Dalmarnock Works and bridgebuilding were cranes. particularly for shipbuilding; they had a loading capacity ranging from five to 150 tons. The most famous crane. the largest of its time, is the Titan Crane completed in 1907; a gigantic cantilever crane of 150-ton capacity. for John Brown & Company.[7] With this increased range of activity, the Dalmarnock Works occupied 17 acres and employed 2000 men plus thousands more working on outside contracts. Sir William died in 1913 but the Company continued as an independent entity until 1969.[8]

Notable projects

[View of the cantilever construction of the Forth Bridge] [The Forth Bridge built by Sir William Arrol & Co.|alt=Colour photograph of the Forth Bridge. ]

Bridges

Bridges built by the company include:

-   Caledonian Railway Bridge across the River Clyde completed in 1878
-   Tay Rail Bridge completed in 1887
-   Forth Bridge completed in 1890
-   Tower Bridge in London completed in 1894
-   North Bridge in Edinburgh completed in 1897
-   Redheugh Bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne completed in 1901
-   Connel Bridge completed in 1903
-   Nile Bridge at Cairo completed in 1908
-   Tees Transporter Bridge completed in 1911
-   Warrington Transporter Bridge completed in 1916
-   Keadby Bridge completed in 1916
-   Southwark Bridge in London completed in 1921
-   White Cart Bridge completed in 1923
-   Jubilee Bridge (Walney) completed in 1908
-   Jubilee Bridge (Queensferry) completed in 1927
-   Corporation Bridge in Grimsby completed in 1928
-   Wearmouth Bridge completed in 1929

[A closeup of the central section of the second Tay Bridge|alt=Colour photograph of the central section of the second Tay Bridge]

-   Tsoelike Suspension Bridge in Lesotho completed in 1930
-   Forth Road Bridge completed in 1964
-   Deptford Railroad Bridge completed in 1964
-   Severn Bridge completed in 1966
-   The second Craigellachie Bridge completed in 1970
-   The Humber Bridge completed in 1981

Cranes

-   Titan Clydebank, completed in 1907
-   Titan Crane, Fairfield, completed in 1911
-   250-ton crane, HMNB Portsmouth, dated 1912, demolished 1984[9]
-   Titan Crane, James Watt Dock Crane, completed in 1917
-   Titan Crane, Barclay Curle, completed in 1920
-   Blocksetter Travelling Titan (South African Harbours and Railways); for use at Durban, completed prior to 1932[10]
-   Blocksetter Travelling Hercules (South African Harbours and Railways); for use at Table Bay, completed prior to 1932[11]
-   Blocksetter Travelling Hercules; for use at Ceuta, completed prior to 1932[12]

Titanic

[Workers leaving the Harland & Wolff shipyard in early 1911. The RMS _Titanic_ can be seen in the background, underneath the Arrol Gantry.] The company was contracted by Harland and Wolff Shipyard, Belfast, to construct a large gantry (known as the Arrol Gantry) for the construction of three new super-liners, one of which was called the RMS _Titanic_. Like the ships themselves, the gantry crane was one of the largest built at the time, comparing with transporter bridges in length, height and capability.[13]

Hikitia

[Hikitia at the Taranaki St wharf in Wellington] The company also built the crane for the Hikitia in 1926, which is thought to be the last fully operational self-propelled steam crane in the world.

Demise of the business

The company was acquired by Clarke Chapman in 1969 and the Dalmarnock Works were closed in 1986.[14]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9] 20th Century Naval Dockyards, Devonport and Portsmouth Characterisation Report, Naval Dockyards Society, 2015

[10] Arrol Catalogue ca. 1932

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14] NZR Cranes

title: Sir William Arrol & Co.

question: Summarize William Arrol's life before his thirties.

answer: William Arrol was born in 1839. He started work at the age of nine in a cotton mill. He worked in a cotton thread manufacturing making bobbins. He was apprenticed to a blacksmith at the age of fourteen. He worked as a journeyman blacksmith. He worked as a foreman at Laidlaw's Engineering Works.

critique: The answer omits the fact that Arrol worked as a boiler and girder maker.

critique: Went over the 2-line summary requirement

critique: The answer should mention his education.

critique: It's omitted that Arrol's first important contract was for a bridge over the Clyde at Bothwell for the North British Railway.

critique: The answer omits the fact that Arrol was given the construction of railway bridges on the Balerno line in Edinburgh.

critique: The answer omits the time period between his apprenticeship and his work at Laidlaw's Engineering Works.

question: What does the text say about why Dalmarnock Works had to close?

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention that the company was acquired by Clarke Chapman in 1969 and the Dalmarnock Works were closed in 1986.

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

critique: The answer could mention the company's demise.

critique: The answer should mention the demise of the company.


text:
STEVEN FEIN is a professor of psychology in the Department of Psychology at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Fein has two daughters named Alina and Hannah.[1]

He attended Princeton and the University of Michigan, where he received his Ph.D. in social psychology. His primary research interests are stereotypes and prejudice, suspicion and attribution theory, and how the media affects both men and women’s views of women.[2]

Experiments

One of Fein’s experiments, Hype and suspicion, examined the effects of pretrial publicity (PTP) on prejudice in jurors. In the context of the OJ Simpson trial, mock jurors were exposed to PTP, after which they tended to vote “guilty.” However, when the PTP indicated that the defendant was African American, the jurors became suspicious of a racist motive within the publicity.[3]

Another study by Fein and Spencer argued that self-image affects stereotypes and prejudice. They found that participants whose self-image was reinforced were less likely to view a member of a stereotyped group as negative. On the other hand, when self-image was threatened, those participants tended to degrade the stereotyped member, which bolstered their self-image.[4] Also, he has studied culture/ethnicity, media influences, interpersonal processes, self/identity, self-affirmation theory and social cognition.[5][6]

Fein also conducted a series of experiments that demonstrated how people's perceptions of political candidates can be influenced dramatically by the reactions of others around them. For example, in one experiment, subjects watched a tape of a Presidential debate between Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale. In one condition, there was no manipulation of the tape. In another condition, two brief, amusing “soundbites” by Reagan that got a very positive audience reaction were edited out. In a third condition, the soundbites were left in, but the audience reaction was edited out. In the unedited condition, the large majority of subjects thought Reagan's debate performance was superior to Mondale's. In the condition in which the soundbites were cut out, the preference for Reagan was completely eliminated, showing how strong an effect a couple of jokes were to influence overall perceptions of a 90-minute-long debate. But the results were even more dramatic for the third condition. Here, with the soundbites left in, but the audience reaction cut out, the subjects overwhelmingly thought Mondale's overall debate performance was superior to Reagan's. This demonstrated that it wasn't what Reagan actually said that made the difference, but rather the perceptions of the audience's reaction to what he said that had the biggest impact. Without the validation of the audience's laughter and applause, Reagan's one-liners flopped rather than soared, and viewers were affected significantly by that.[7] This work was cited during the 2008 presidential debates between Barack Obama and John McCain when CNN showed a graph reflecting the reactions of a group of undecided voters live during the debates; Fein was quoted in numerous stories criticizing CNN for potentially influencing numerous voters in this way.[8]

Publications

Other publications by Fein include research on the role of arousal in stereotype threat,[9] suspicion and the fundamental attribution error,[10] and a study testing whether measuring the personalities of new medical students could predict what area of medicine they would specialize in several years later.[11] His two most cited papers are Steven Fein and Steven J. Spencer “Prejudice as Self-image Maintenance: Affirming the Self Through Derogating Others” in _Journal of Personality and Social Psychology_ 1997 Vol. 73, No. 1,31-44 (cited 932 times according to Google Scholar) and SJ Spencer, S Fein, CT Wolfe, C Fong “Automatic activation of stereotypes: The role of self-image threat” in _Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin_ November 1998 vol. 24 no. 11 1139-1152 (cited 308 times) [12]

In addition to the text _Social Psychology_, Fein co wrote other books including _Readings in social psychology: The art and science of research_ with Saul Kassin and _Motivated social perception: The Ontario symposium_, with S. J. Spencer, M. Zanna, and J. M. Olsen. He has also represented the American Psychological Association as well as the committee of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology.[13]

Fein also has co-hosted “Live From E Street Nation” with Dave Marsh on Sirius-XM's “E Street Radio” station on several occasions. One two of these occasions he has had the LA-based rock band, The Airborne Toxic Event, come on to the show for extensive interviews and live performances.

[1] Kassin, S. M., Fein, S., & Markus, H. R. (2008). Social psychology (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

[2] Steven Fein

[3] Fein, S., Morgan, S. J., Norton, M. I., & Sommers, S. R. (1997). Hype and suspicion: Effects of pretrial publicity, race, and suspicion on jurors' verdicts. Journal of Social Issues, 53, 487-502.

[4] Fein, S., & Spencer, S. J. (1997). Prejudice as self-image maintenance: Affirming the self through derogating others. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 31-44.

[5] Associated Press (August 13, 1988). Pitchers throw more beanballs in hot weather, study suggests."

[6] De La Mater, B. W. (2006, March 8). MTV: For better or worse. The Berkshire Eagle

[7] Fein, S., Goethals, G. R., & Kugler, M. B. (2007). Social influence on political judgments: The case of presidential debates. Political Psychology, 28, 165-192.

[8] Schechner, S. (2008, October 10). When your political opinion isn't yours alone; Broadcasts of political debates that include live audience feedback can influence what you're thinking--hecklers can too. Wall Street Journal, A14.

[9] Ben-Zeev, T., Fein, S., & Inzlicht, M. (2005). Arousal and stereotype threat. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 41, 174-181.

[10] Fein, S. (1996). Effects of suspicion on attributional thinking and the correspondence bias. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70, 1164-1184.

[11] Maron, B. A., Fein, S., Maron, B. J., Hillel, A. T., El Baghdadi, M. M., & Rodenhauser, P. (2007). Ability of prospective assessment of personality profiles to predict the practice specialty of medical students. Proceedings, Baylor University Medical Center, 20, 22-26.

[12] Google Scjolar results

[13] fein.socialpsychology.org

title: Steven Fein

question: Summarize the findings of Fein's research into perceptions of political candidates.

answer: In one experiment, subjects watched a tape of a Presidential debate between Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale. In one condition, there was no manipulation of the tape. In another condition, two brief, amusing “soundbites” by Reagan that got a very positive audience reaction were edited out. In a third condition, the soundbites were left in, but the audience reaction was edited out. In the unedited condition, the large majority of subjects thought Reagan's debate performance was superior to Mondale's. In the condition in which the soundbites were cut out, the preference for Reagan was completely eliminated, showing how strong an effect a couple of jokes were to influence overall perceptions of a 90-minute-long debate. But the results were even more dramatic for the third condition. Here, with the soundbits left in, but the audience reaction cut out, the subjects overwhelmingly thought Mondale's overall debate performance was superior to Reagan's. This demonstrated that it wasn't what Reagan actually said that made the difference, but rather the perceptions of the audience's reaction to what he said that had the biggest impact. Without the validation of the audience's laughter and applause, Reagan's one-liners flopped rather than soared, and viewers were affected significantly by that.

critique: The first paragraph is a summary of Fein's experiment, not the experiment's findings.

text: The answer quotes the relevant section of the text instead of summarizing it.

category: coverage

question: Summarize Fein's key experiments mentioned in the passage.

answer: One of Fein's experiments, Hype and suspicion, examined the effects of pretrial publicity (PTP) on prejudice in jurors. In the context of the OJ Simpson trial, mock jurors were exposed to PTP, after which they tended to vote "guilty." However, when the PTP indicated that the defendant was African American, the jurors became suspicious of a racist motive within the publicity. Another study by Fein and Spencer argued that self-image affects stereotypes and prejudice. They found that participants whose self-image was reinforced were less likely to view a member of a stereotyped group as negative. On the other hand, when self-image was threatened, those participants tended to degrade the stereotyped member, which bolstered their self-image.

critique: The answer is incorrect about the experiment in which the jurors became suspicious of a racist motive within the publicity.

text: The answer omits the experiments about how people's perceptions of political candidates are influenced by other people's reactions.

question: Summarize Fein's work and activities outside of his research.

answer: He has authored books on social psychology, social perception, and research methodology. He has also co-hosted the radio show Live from E-Street Nation.

critique: The answer should mention his daughters.

critique: It is omitted that Fein co-wrote books on social psychology, social perception, and research methodology.

text: The answer's claim that Fein authored books on research methodology isn't corroborated by the article.

question: Summarize what the article says about Fein's political opinions.

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention that Fein's political opinions are not discussed in the article.

critique: This answer is completely devoid of meaning.

critique: The article does not mention Fein's political opinions.

critique: The article does not explicitly state Fein's political opinions.

critique: The answer should mention that Fein's political opinions are not mentioned in the article.


text:
_PSYCHOTIC GENIUS_ is the third album released by rapper, Ganksta NIP. It was released on February 20, 1996 through Rap-a-Lot Records and was produced by Mike Dean, Mike B, Gregory Jackson, Mezeio Jackson, Swift and N.O. Joe. The album peaked at #32 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and #19 on the Top Heatseekers.

Track listing

1.  “Uncle Sam” – 5:51
2.  “Psychotic Genius” – 4:25
3.  “Small Town Killas” – 5:58
    -   (Feat. Point Blank)
    -   Written-By – Reginald Gilland
4.  “Peep Da Game” – 5:32
5.  “Slaughterhouse” – 5:27
6.  “Goin To Da Death” – 4:59
    -   Producer, Written-By – Mezeio Jackson
7.  “Psychflow” – 3:47
8.  “Hood Talez” – 5:36
    -   (Feat. Street Military)
9.  “Peace To Da Young G's” – 5:24
10. “Crimewave” – 5:10
11. “Hollograms” – 4:55
    -   Producer – N.O. Joe
    -   Written-By – Joe Johnson*
12. “Murda After Midnite” – 5:20

Personnel

-   Engineer, Mastered By – Mike Dean
-   Mastered By – Anthony Valcic
-   Producer – Mike B.(tracks: 2, 4, 8), Swift (tracks: 1, 5, 7, 9)
-   Producer, Written-By – Gregory Jackson (tracks: 3, 10, 12)
-   Written-By – Jonathan Catalon(tracks: 1, 5, 7, 9), Michael Banks* (tracks: 2, 4, 8), Rowdy Williams

Album Chart Positions

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Chart (1996)                      | Peak                              |
|                                   | position                          |
+:==================================+:==================================+
| Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums            | 32                                |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Top Heatseekers                   | 19                                |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

Category:1996 albums Category:Ganksta N-I-P albums Category:Rap-A-Lot Records albums Category:Albums produced by Mike Dean (record producer) Category:Albums produced by N.O. Joe Category:Gangsta rap albums by American artists Category:Horrorcore albums Category:G-funk albums

title: Psychotic Genius

question: What does the text say about Psychotic Genius?

answer: Psychotic Genius is the third album released by rapper Ganksta NIP. It was released on February 20, 1996 through Rap-a-Lot Records and was produced by Mike Dean, Mike B, Gregory Jackson, Mezeio Jackson, and Swift. The album peaked at #32 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and #19 on the Top Heatseekers.

critique: The album's chart positions are not relevant.

critique: The album's chart performance is irrelevant to the question.

critique: The album's chart positions are irrelevant to the question.

question: What does the text say about the album's tracklisting?

answer:
The album's tracklisting is as follows:
1. Uncle Sam - 5:51
2. Psychotic Genius - 4:25
3. Small Town Killas - 5:58
4. Peep Da Game - 5:32
5. Slaughterhouse - 5:27
6. Goin To Da Death - 4:59
7. Psychflow - 3:47
8. Hood Talez - 5:36
9. Peace To Da Young G's - 5:24
10. Crimewave - 5:10
11. Hollograms - 4:55
12. Murda After Midnite - 5:20

critique: The answer should mention that the album's tracklisting is according to the album's track listing.

question: What does the text say about the album's personnel?

answer: The album's personnel include engineer Mike Dean, mastered by Anthony Valcic, and producer Mike B.

critique: Doesn't mention the producers Gregory Jackson, N.O. Joe, and Swift.

critique: The answer should mention the other personnel.

text: The answer should mention the artist, Gangsta NIP, as well as Mezeio Jackson, Jonathan Catalon, Micheal Banks, and Rowdy Williams.

question: What does the text say about music production?

answer: The album was produced by Mike Dean, Gregory Jackson, Mezeio Jackson, and N.O. Joe. The album was engineered, mastered, and mixed by Mike Dean.

critique: "The album was engineered, mastered, and mixed by Mike Dean." - this is incorrect because Mike Dean only mastered the album. He did not engineer or mix it.

critique: The album was also mixed by Anthony Valcic.

critique: The album was also produced by Mike B and Swift.

critique: The album was engineered, mastered, and mixed by Anthony Valcic.


text:
A nation's Intelligence Agency released a 140 page report detailing the lack of food and water for the planet's growing population, the inevitability of climate change to keep elevating dangerous weather conditions, and the destined collapse of the current monetary system.  The whole nation was already full of unhappy people, a generation that had been fed the lie that if they worked hard they would eventually be prosperous and happy, were unemployed or held dead-end jobs where they were constrained, bored, underpaid and unappreciated.  They were furious at being mislead.  A generation of baby-boomers before them had stolen all of the prosperity from the nation and left a dying planet behind as their inheritance.

The nation’s news-media grew increasingly cynical, morbid and depressing every day.  Networks were purely out to make money and the dying nation, which felt helpless to help itself, ate up these stories and wallowed in its unhappiness.  As a result those with mental disorders such as antisocial personality disorder, psychopathy and narcissistic personality disorder, began to believe that they were in fact part of the majority, as people had forgotten long ago that TV was not a true representation of reality.  Such individuals became so convinced of their normalcy that they never sought out the mental counseling they so desperately needed, and as their self-assurance grew so did their boldness.

A few started openly killing innocents, and once made famous by the greed of the media, more joined in.  Soon even innocent children were not safe from the crossfire.  With every disaster that befell the nation its people, scared and delusional, gave up one civil liberty after another until the freedom the nation once held proudly over the heads of the rest of the world was nothing more than a distant memory.  Its citizens grew divided between the five stages of grief; denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance as though each stage were in fact an ideology to live by.

Only a small percentage of the population had made it to the final stage and the deniers were so desperate to believe that everything would be OK that they turned their back completely on science and reason, the two things that human beings prided themselves on the most.  The desperate actively ignored the evidence that came to light more and more every day, and lashed out at those who sought to end their ignorance.  These people controlled vital aspects of the government, and so the nation was locked in a terrible stand still, completely unable to deal with the current problems and imminent dangers of the future.

Only one solution seemed to remain; revolution.  A total revision of government and civilization.  But revolution was never to happen, too much of the nation had become convinced that they were completely helpless to influence the world, and reverted to total depression, complete apathy or a mix of the two.  Each time an uprising started it was never able to gain enough momentum to stop the government from quelling it, through military and police action, and more powerfully through clever manipulation of the press and propaganda.  People came to fear conflict more than anything, especially amongst themselves and so they created societal restrictions on which words they could say and which situations they could show in movies and on TV. In this stifling environment people became unable to think for themselves, and creativity and originality were snuffed out.  Suicides, murders and sickness grew.

Some began openly hoping for the end of their world.  Nature began lashing out in its death throes as the misery of money continued to strangle it.  Floods, droughts, blizzards, and terrible storms wreaked havoc across the planet.  Wars over resources broke out around the globe, and finally the government took total control of the nation through military and police supervision.  Each and every citizen was now a ward of the state, but even with strict laws in place limiting the production of more children the population had already grown too large to sustain.  Soon governments around the world began to consider something once thought to be unthinkable-nuclear war.

All it took was one missile, and all pandemonium broke out. No one can remember who made the first move, but it hardly mattered once a nuclear winter, an event which scientists had been warning about for decades, consumed the planet.  The access to food and water, already scarce, became virtually non-existent and the starving population bottlenecked.  The humans, plants and animals that managed to survive were plagued with genetic mutations and disease.  Extinctions on a massive scale ravaged the land and sea.  Eventually only a small niche of organic life remained, breeding and evolving over many thousands of years to create a new era.  Although some mutated form of the human genome survived, the human race is never again at the top of the food chain.

All information that humans had gathered and analyzed over the centuries was lost forever, for you see, the human race had been so distracted by war and money that they had never mastered space travel.  When the sun eventually went supernova, any existence of life on the planet Earth and possibly in the entire known universe was completely eliminated.  Doomed to revert to the stardust which had originally allowed for its creation.

The end.

This is my first time writing anything other than a research paper really, so I'm curious as to how other people view the style, and what you all generally think.  (It's ok if you don't like it!)

title: "I'm afraid that this story takes place in the not-so-distant future."

question: Summarize the central theme of the story.

answer: The central theme of the story is the inevitability of climate change and the destined collapse of the current monetary system. The nation's Intelligence Agency released a 140 page report detailing the lack of food and water for the planet's growing population. The nation was already full of unhappy people, a generation that had been fed the lie that if they worked hard they would eventually be prosperous and happy, were unemployed or held dead-end jobs where they were constrained, bored, underpaid and unappreciated. They were furious at being mislead. A generation of baby-boomers before them had stolen all of the prosperity from the nation and left a dying planet behind as their inheritance.

critique: The story does not mention the destined collapse of the current monetary system.

critique: This is more of a summary of the story than the theme.

critique: This response gives very little of the central theme in the story, and barely embeds them into the main plot.

critique: The answer is a summary of the entire story, not just the central theme.

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

critique: The response contains irrelevant information.

question: Summarize how this set of issues is resolved.

answer: No answer

text: While it does not 'resolve' the issues per se, the story does state that a nuclear winter and destruction of nature is what brings an end to life on Earth.

question: Explain what could have been done differently to ensure that humanity-and life on the planet-survived.

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention that the story does not provide a solution to the problem.

critique: The story has a definite answer to this question.

question: Summarize the tone of the story.

answer: The tone fluctuates from hopeful to desperate to desolate. There are rays of hope throughout, and a lot of fear. Everything seems bleak and the future of humans uncertain.

critique: The tone is not hopeful, it is desperate.


text:
	I was a close friend of Ben Harper's for about 10 years, from playing legos, to shooting tin cans, to racing cars. I was there for him after his parents died, about to take him in until his aunt decided to stop being a bitch and let him live with her. Ben was never right after his parents died, but I could never put a finger on what exactly happened. It was like his mind was wrapped in a foggy black abyss, wrestling with itself, closing out everything he ever had. He went from constant chatter, to silent reluctance, and  from soccer practices to therapy sessions. But one thing was for certain, Ben Harper was always my good friend.
	As kids, we were always playing cops and robbers. I was always a cop, alongside our good friend Dennis, and Peter was always the first to volunteer himself to be the robber, most likely because he was  always so damn good at it. He'd sneak by with a certain level of stealth that made you think his feet weren't even on the ground. Even thinking  about it now...I'd say Peter's exceptional skills in cops and robbers is what has turned me and Dennis into such great cops. Always taking in the smallest details, always analyzing multiple times. Peter was a great catalyst to our career success.
	But one day in our sophomore year of highschool, Peter came to my house, unannounced. He asked if he could come in, his head tilted to the ground, hands shaking. He didn't walk in right away, but stood like a statue in an exhibit.
	“Can I come in...?”  Slightly monotone.
	Something was wrong.
	“Yeah dude, you alright?”
	He walked right passed me, sat on the couch his head in between his legs, cradled by his trembling hands.
	“My fucking aunt dude...”
	Peter's aunt was a bitch, everyone knew that. She treated Peter like a 6 year old, making him come home for dinner, making sure he was inside at night. I think she's part of the reason why he's fucked up, in fact, I'm almost sure of it. When I bring it up all he says is, “Dude, you have no idea...”
	I ask Peter what happened. He gets up, pacing, running a hand through his wild hair.
	“I get home, and there are boxes in my room. She gives me this smartass smirk that she's done my whole fucking life and just says, 'Be packed by next week. We're moving.'”
	He's reliving the moment as he explains it. I've never seen him this mad. I don't know what to say.
	“Fuck, dude.”
	“I'm losing it Tony, I'm really. Fucking. losing it.” He slams his hands on the wooden table as he says it.
	I keep trying to calm him down, but the brewing rage inside of him just keeps a continuous boil. I tell him maybe he could live with me for a while, to which his face turns blank. His rage turns to fear.
	“Do you know what she would do to me?”
	You're right, I don't...What the fuck happens at Peter's when no one is around?
	 I tell him to get in the car, and I drive off. I pick up Dennis, and we head to the shooting range.  Peter shot consistent bulls-eyes that night. That was one of the last memories I have of him, until he was gone.
	Dennis and I stayed close throughout our college years. We went to NYU together, were in the same frat, and lived together the whole four years. We tried to keep in touch with Peter as much as possible, but it was rough. He moved from New Jersey to Minnesota, and was going to college, but I don't think he ever told me what he was going for. Apparently his aunt restricted how much he could talk to people, so he could never talk for long. We eventually fell out of contact, but I hope he was at least living at college and moved out. That fucking bitch.

title: Blood Red Part I (feedback appreciated)

question: Summarize the relationship between the main named characters.

answer: The narrator and Harper were close friends for about 10 years. They played legos, shooting tin cans, and later cars. The narrator helped Harper recover after his parents died. He later helped Harper cope with his aunt moving him out. Harper went to the shooting range, and was friends with the narrator and his friend Dennis. They stay close throughout college.

critique: The narrator and Harper's relationship was about kick bench and not about legos.

critique: The sentence about Harper's parents is irrelevant to the question.

critique: The answer is missing the part where the narrator and Harper stayed in touch with Peter after college.

critique: It's omitted that the narrator and Harper's friend Peter is a catalyst to their career success.

critique: "He later helped Harper cope with his aunt moving him out. Harper went to the shooting range, and was friends with the narrator and his friend Dennis. They stay close throughout college." - this is confusing and doesn't make sense. Harper's aunt moved him from his home in New Jersey to Minnesota, and he never told the narrator or Dennis where he was going. He went to college but was told not to talk to anyone, so he stopped talking to his friends. Change this to reflect that.

critique: The narrator and Harper were close friends for about 10 years. They played legos, shooting tin cans, and later cars. The narrator helped Harper recover after his parents died. They later helped Harper cope with his aunt moving him out. Harper went to the shooting range, and was friends with the narrator and his friend Dennis. They stay close throughout college.

critique: This is not a summary of the relationship between the main characters.

critique: The narrator and Harper were close friends for about 10 years.

critique: "But one thing was for certain, Ben Harper was always my good friend." is evidence of their staying close for 10 years, so add that they were good friends.

critique: The narrator and Harper were close friends for about 10 years. They played legos, shooting tin cans, and later cars. The narrator helped Harper recover after his parents died. He later helped Harper cope with his aunt moving him out. Harper went to the shooting range, and was friends with the narrator and his friend Dennis. They stay close throughout college. Harper went to college in Minnesota.

critique: The narrator and Harper were close friends for about 10 years. They played legos, shooting tin cans, and later cars. The narrator helped Harper recover after his parents died. He later helped Harper cope with his aunt moving him out. Harper went to the shooting range, and was friends with the narrator and his friend Dennis. They stay close throughout college.

critique: It doesn't specify that Harper's aunt is the one that moved him out.

critique: Harper not away at the time of his parent's death

critique: The answer should mention that the narrator and Harper were close friends from playing cops and robbers.

question: Summarize Peter's relationship with his aunt.

answer: Peter's aunt suspects something is wrong with him because he won't be like other children and will always be late coming back home. She seems quite controlling over Peter, even going as far to suspect him of doing something wrong which must mean she keeps checking up on him. She also allows him to live away from home, but only because he has college to focus on. She only cares how he is viable and successful because it allows him to inherit the family business.

critique: Peter's relationship with his aunt is not detailed.

critique: The aunt does not suspect Peter of doing something wrong.

critique: The aunt's motives are not mentioned in the passage.

critique:
-The passage says nothing about the aunt's faults being based on being related to him.
-The passage doesn't suggest that the aunt comes to visit the house.
-Peter mentions that she makes him come home for dinner, she doesn't just keep an eye on him.

critique: - Peter's aunt does not suspect that he does something wrong, she only wants him to get a degree. - Peter's aunt did not allow him to live in college. He went to Minnesota.

critique: "She also allows him to live away from home, but only because he has college to focus on" Peter was about to move back in with his grandmother.

critique: It is not stated that she suspects something is wrong with him because he won't be like other children and will always be late coming back home.

critique: The aunt doesn't allow Peter to live away from home, the aunt says "you're moving."

critique: There is no evidence that his aunt allows him to live away from home because he has college to focus on.

critique: The aunt's motives are not explicitly stated.

critique: Parts of this answer are not relevant to the question.

critique: The aunt doesn't allow him to live away from home.

question: Summarize what the passage tells us about the characters' time at school.

answer: Peter, Ben and Tony went to the same school together. Peter developed a reputation for being good at cops and robbers. When Peter asked Peter if he could come into his house, something was wrong. Peter's aunt was not nice to him. Dennis and Tony continued to be friends with Peter, but Peter was out of their life after some years.

critique: This should be stated in past tense, as the passage is written in past tense.

critique: The aunt's treatment of Peter is irrelevant to the question.

critique: "Peter, Ben and Tony went to the same school together." - the boys did not go to the same school.

critique: Peter's friends continued to be in touch with him throughout their college years.

critique: "Peter, Ben and Tony went to the same school together. Peter developed a reputation for being good at cops and robbers. When Peter asked Peter if he could come into his house, something was wrong. Peter's aunt was not nice to him. Dennis and Tony continued to be friends with Peter, but Peter was out of their life after some years." - this is not what the story says, it is more of an inference. It's better to omit this part.

critique: The aunt is not nice to him, but she isn't necessarily mean to him.

critique: The first sentence is incorrect. Peter was in the same school as Tony and Dennis.

critique: The answer should mention that Peter was good at school.

critique: The answer should include that Peter was a good student.

critique: The answer should mention that Peter was a good student.

critique: It is omitted that Peter and Tony were in the same fraternity in college. The passage also does not mention how long it was until the friends lost contact.

critique: The answer breaks the summary into too many sentences.

critique: The answer is missing some important details about their time at school.

critique: The response includes irrelevant information.

question: Summarize what happens to the characters after they leave school.

answer: Peter's aunt died which means he is free to live his way. Tony and Dennis go on to great success in their career as cops.

critique: The question does not ask for the reason for the narrator's success in his career

critique: This is incorrect. Peter's aunt never died.

critique: It is not stated that Peter's aunt died.

critique: There is no mention of the aunt's death in the story.

critique: Tony and Dennis do not go on to great success in their career as cops

critique: Peter's aunt died before the story began

critique: The aunt's death is not mentioned in the passage.

critique: This is incorrect. Peter's aunt is still alive.

critique: While the accuracy of the information can't be questioned, it's not relevant to the question.

critique: It isn't stated that Peter's aunt dies, but we can infer it as Peter becomes free to live his way after that.


text:
_I don’t want to._

How many times have you wanted to say those four words in your professional life? I’m willing to bet the number is pretty high.

Maybe you were looking for a way out of a networking event that your friend was begging you to attend. Perhaps you just really didn’t feel like meeting that acquaintance for coffee so she could “pick your brain.” Or, maybe you wished you could scream this in your boss’ face when you were tasked with a project that filled you with dread.

There’s no shortage of instances that are ripe for the use of this rejection. But, there’s something about saying you don’t _want_ to do something that seems like a whiny and immature excuse.

Surely, there has to be a better way to get yourself out of something that you’d rather not do.

Good news: there is. Try one of these three statements that sound way more professional—even if your insides are only yelling, “Wahhh, I don’t wanna!”

1. “I Don’t Have the Time”

The majority of the instances when I find myself trying to sneak out of yet another commitment, my reasoning is simple: It’s because my schedule is already far too packed.

You know what? Being busy or booked is a perfectly justifiable reason for passing on something, so don’t be afraid to use it.

If you want to cushion the blow a little more, preface this statement with an, “I’d love to, but…” You might rather watch paint dry than do what that person is requesting, but they certainly don’t need to know that.

2. “Maybe Next Time”

This one works especially well for social obligations—like being invited out to a happy hour or a lunch date with a networking contact.

By referencing a “next time,” you’re politely shutting down that person’s request without brutally closing the door entirely.

Is it a little dishonest or passive aggressive—particularly if you never actually intend to do what’s being asked of you? Maybe. But, if your singular, current focus is staying far away from that event, this will get the job done.

3. “No, Thank You”

Sometimes keeping it simple really is the way to go, and I love this straightforward suggestion from Quora user and professor at Southern Virginia University, Orson Scott Card.

If and when you don’t want to do something, reply with a simple, “No, thank you.”

“If you explain, the person proposing the activity can argue, seek another day to do it, protest that you are mistaken in your reason for not doing the proposed activity,” says Card in his Quora response, “Eventually, you have to lie, get angry, be offensive, or give in.”

By repeating only this gracious rejection, you aren’t giving them any wiggle room to argue with you. They’ll have to accept the fact that you’re turning them down—or run the risk of looking rude if they continue to push when you’ve made it clear that you’re not interested.

There are plenty of things that you don’t want to do in your professional life (and, sorry, but sometimes you have no choice but to actually do them).

But, in those moments when you need an excuse better than, “Nah, I don’t want to!” rely on these three statements instead. You’ll pass on prospective obligations with just the right amount of politeness and professionalism.

[Kat Boogaard]
Kat is a Midwest-based freelance writer, covering topics related to careers, productivity, and the freelance life. In addition to The Muse, she's a contributor all over the web and dishes out research-backed advice for places like Atlassian, Trello, Toggl, Wrike, The Everygirl, FlexJobs, and more. She's also an Employment Advisor at a local college, and loves helping students prepare to thrive in careers (and lives!) they love. When she manages to escape from behind her computer screen, she's usually babying her two rescue mutts or continuing her search for the perfect taco. Say hi on Twitter @kat_boogaard or check out her website.

More from Kat Boogaard

question: What are some tips that the article describes to get yourself out of a social commitment?

answer: One tip is to say you don't have the time. Another tip is to say you'll do it next time. The last tip is to simply say no.

critique: The answer should mention that the article is about getting out of social commitments.

critique: The article does not say it will do it next time.

critique: The last tip is not to say "No, thank you".

question: Would introverts find the tips in this article very helpful?

answer: Yes, I think they would.

critique: The answer should be more specific about why the tips would be helpful to introverts.


text:
What is it?

What is juvenile arthritis?

Juvenile arthritis is the term used to describe arthritis in children. Children can get arthritis just like adults. Arthritis is caused by inflammation of the joints. A joint is where two or more bones are joined together. Arthritis causes

-   Pain.
-   Swelling.
-   Stiffness.
-   Loss of motion.

The most common type of arthritis in children is called juvenile idiopathic arthritis (idiopathic means “from unknown causes”). There are several other forms of arthritis affecting children.

Juvenile arthritis is a rheumatic disease, or one that causes loss of function due to an inflamed supporting structure or structures of the body. Some rheumatic diseases also can involve internal organs.

What are the symptoms?

What are the symptoms of juvenile arthritis?

The most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that don’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap. Other signs can include:

-   Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee.
-   Excessive clumsiness.
-   High fever and skin rash.
-   Swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.

Most children with arthritis have times when the symptoms get better or go away (remission) and other times when they get worse (flare).

What causes it?

What causes juvenile arthritis?

Scientists are looking for the possible causes of juvenile arthritis. They are studying both genetic and environmental factors that they think are involved.

Juvenile arthritis is usually an autoimmune disorder. A healthy immune system helps a person fight off harmful bacteria and viruses. But in an autoimmune disorder, the immune system attacks some of the body’s own healthy cells and tissues.

Scientists don’t know why this happens or what causes the disorder in children. Some think that something in a child’s genes (passed from parents to children) makes the child more likely to get arthritis, and then something else, such as a virus, sets off the arthritis.

Is there a test?

Is there a test for juvenile arthritis?

There is no easy way a doctor can tell if a child has juvenile arthritis. Doctors usually suspect arthritis when a child has symptoms of:

-   Constant joint pain or swelling.
-   Skin rashes that can’t be explained.
-   Fever along with swelling of lymph nodes or inflammation in the body’s organs.

To be sure that it is juvenile arthritis, doctors may:

-   Perform a physical exam.
-   Ask about family health history.
-   Order lab or blood tests.
-   Order x-rays.

How is it treated?

How is juvenile arthritis treated?

Doctors who treat arthritis in children will try to make sure your child can remain physically active. They also try to make sure your child can stay involved in social activities and have an overall good quality of life.

Doctors can prescribe treatments to reduce swelling, maintain joint movement, and relieve pain. They also try to prevent, identify, and treat problems that result from the arthritis. Most children with arthritis need a blend of treatments – some treatments include medicines.

Researchers are also trying to improve current treatments and find new medicines that will work better with fewer side effects.

Who treats it?

Who treats juvenile arthritis?

A team approach is the best way to treat juvenile arthritis. It is best if a doctor trained to treat these types of diseases in children, called a pediatric rheumatologist, manages your child’s care. However, many children’s doctors and “adult” rheumatologists also treat children with arthritis.

Other members of your child’s health care team may include:

-   Physical therapist.
-   Occupational therapist.
-   Counselor or psychologist.
-   Eye doctor.
-   Dentist and orthodontist.
-   Bone surgeon.
-   Dietitian.
-   Pharmacist.
-   Social worker.
-   Rheumatology nurse.
-   School nurse.

Living With It

Living with juvenile arthritis

Juvenile Arthritis Affects the Whole Family

Juvenile arthritis can strain your child’s ability to take part in social and after-school activities, and it can make schoolwork more difficult. But, all family members can help the child both physically and emotionally by:

-   Getting the best care possible.
-   Learning as much as you can about your child’s disease and its treatment.
-   Joining a support group.
-   Treating your child as normally as possible.
-   Encouraging exercise and physical therapy for your child.
-   Working closely with your child’s school.
-   Talking with your child about his or her condition and feelings.
-   Working with therapists or social workers.

Exercise Is Key to Reducing Symptoms of Juvenile Arthritis

Pain sometimes limits what children with juvenile arthritis can do. However, exercise is key to reducing the symptoms of arthritis and maintaining function and range of motion of the joints. Ask your child’s health care team for exercise guidelines.

Most children with arthritis can take part in physical activities and certain sports when their symptoms are under control. Swimming is a good activity because it uses many joints and muscles without putting weight on the joints.

During a disease flare, your child’s doctor may advise your child to limit certain activities. It will depend on the joints involved. Once the flare is over, your child can return to his or her normal activities.

Other Medical Problems

Other medical problems related to juvenile arthritis

Inflammation inside of the eye that can cause swelling, redness, and damage to the eye tissue is a severe medical problem that can occur in children with juvenile arthritis. Sometimes there are no symptoms, so all children with juvenile arthritis need to have regular thorough eye exams.

Some children with juvenile arthritis also have growth problems. Depending on the severity of the disease and the joints involved, these may include:

-   Bone growth that is too fast or too slow. This change in growth rate can cause one leg or arm to be longer than the other. Other children may have a small or misshapen chin.
-   Uneven joint growth.
-   Slow overall growth. Doctors are exploring the use of growth hormone to treat this problem.

question: What are the symptoms and causes of juvenile arthritis?

answer: The most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that don't go away. Scientists are looking for the possible causes of juvenile arthritis. They are studying both genetic and environmental factors that they think are involved. Juvenile arthritis is usually an autoimmune disorder.

critique: The answer should mention that the causes are unknown.

critique: Remove the third sentence, which is not necessary for the question.

critique: The answer should mention that the causes of juvenile arthritis are unknown.

critique: The answer should mention that juvenile arthritis is caused by inflammation of the joints.

question: What are the guesses scientists have about the causes of juvenile arthritis?

answer: Some think that something in a child's genes makes them more likely to get arthritis, and then something else, like a virus, sets it off.

critique: The answer should mention that scientists also think environmental factors are involved.

critique: The answer should mention that scientists are also looking into environmental factors.

critique: The answer should mention the other guesses scientists have.

critique: It would be better to use the term "causes" instead of "causes off".

question: What do doctors do to treat juvenile arthritis?

answer: They try to make sure children can remain physically active and involved in social activities. To do this, a team of doctors who offer treatment for children with various conditions will work together to see your child.

critique: The answer does not mention the treatments that doctors use to treat juvenile arthritis.

critique: The answer should mention the treatments that doctors prescribe.

critique: The answer should explicitly mention the various treatments doctors try.

critique: The answer should mention the different treatments doctors use.

critique: The answer should mention the treatment options.

critique: Doctors can prescribe treatments to reduce swelling, maintain joint movement, and relieve pain. They also try to prevent and treat problems that result from arthritis. Include this information in the answer.


text:
Return to form: Daniel Sturridge.

Daniel Sturridge made a dream return to the visitors’ starting line-up after injury with a 16th-minute opener that set Liverpool on course for a crushing victory.

And Villa then wilted as they slumped to their heaviest home defeat of the post-1992 Premier League era to slide closer to relegation, ending the day eight points adrift of the safety line.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool produced a slick display to claim a first win in six games in all competitions.

There were six different goalscorers as James Milner, Emre Can, Divock Origi, Nathaniel Clyne and Kolo Toure added to Sturridge’s effort.

However, the home side helped with a feeble display that saw thousands of fans head for the exits with less than an hour played as four goals in 14 second-half minutes set Liverpool on course for a huge win.

Those that remained turned on owner Randy Lerner with chants against the American, while Liverpool’s comprehensive win took them eighth in the table, just three points behind Manchester United in the Europa League place.

For Sturridge, who played for Villa as a schoolboy, it was the perfect way to mark his first league start since October following a series of injury setbacks.

Villa had enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, passing the ball neatly and crisply.

But they failed to create even a half-chance to test Simon Mignolet in the Liverpool goal and paid the price when Sturridge opened the scoring.

The forward ghosted between Villa defenders Joleon Lescott and Aly Cissokho, who failed to track his run.

That left him with the simple task of heading home Philippe Coutinho’s delicious cross from around six yards out.

Villa’s approach play remained encouraging, but Mignolet made a simple catch from a Jores Okore header before Ashley Westwood tried his luck from distance with a shot that flew well wide.

Liverpool, however, continued to pose the greater threat in possession and a set-piece brought the second goal on 25 minutes.

Okore was guilty of conceding a needless free-kick on the Villa right and Milner’s delivery evaded everyone, including goalkeeper Mark Bunn, and nestled inside the far post.

It owed much to fortune, but from that moment Villa caved in.

The Merseysiders ought to have added to their lead on the half-hour when Villa’s shell-shocked defenders gifted them another chance.

Milner was given time and space for a cushioned header from a cross by Roberto Firmino, but Jordan Henderson saw his low drive deflected wide off Okore.

Liverpool began to take control with Bunn saving a shot by Firmino and then, a minute before half-time, diving to his right to pull off a better save from a curling effort by Sturridge.

Early in the second half Leandro Bacuna cut in from the flank for Villa, but his tame shot was held at the second attempt by Mignolet.

Villa imploded again in the 58th minute when Can started and finished the move for Liverpool’s third goal.

Bacuna’s awful first touch allowed Can to win possession and feed Firmino before continuing his run, receiving the Brazilian’s pull-back and hammering home a shot from the edge of the area.

It was 4-0 five minutes later when Coutinho’s fine pass exploited a Villa defence in disarray and Origi controlled the ball with his first touch of the game and finished with his second.

[]

Clyne added the fifth by forcing home the rebound after Bunn saved his initial shot in a goalmouth scramble.

And Villa’s embarrassment deepened when they gave Toure a free header on 71 minutes to nod home a Henderson cross for 6-0.

Thousands of seats had emptied by the 80th minute, but the Villa fans that remained mustered ironic cheers as substitute Scott Sinclair played a one-two with Lescott and curled a shot against the woodwork.

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

answer: Daniel Sturridge made a dream return to the visitors' starting lineup after injury with a 16th-minute opener that set Liverpool on course for a crushing victory. He is a forward who played for Villa as a schoolboy. Sturridge opened the scoring. He ghosted between Villa defenders Joleon Lescott and Aly Cissokho, who failed to track his run.

critique: The answer is more about the game than Sturridge's career.

critique: The answer should mention the series of injuries Sturridge has suffered.

critique: It's omitted that Sturridge's goal was his first league start since October following a series of injury setbacks.

critique: The article suggests that the Aston Villa defender being unable to track Sturridge was what made it possible for Sturridge to score

critique: The answer omits the fact that Sturridge is a former player of Villa.

question: What does the text say about how much money Sturridge has earned?

answer: No answer

critique: The text does not mention how much money Sturridge has earned.

critique: The passage does not mention any amount of money Sturridge has earned.