text:
After a couple of so-so albums in 2009’s _Sounds of the Universe_ and _Delta Machine_ four years later, it would have been easy to look at Depeche Mode as a spent creative force, despite the fact that they’re the last of their 80s contemporaries standing, are managing to keep their artistic integrity intact, and more importantly, have not become U2.

But there was something missing from those albums, both produced by Ben Hillier, and despite working well on their first collaboration, 2005’s _Playing The Angel_, it was the first time in their career where they’d misfired twice in a row. Neither were necessarily bad records, but they were missing that spark you’d become accustomed to - they sounded tired.

Bearing in mind that musically Depeche Mode is a solo act with Martin Gore taking control of the music, he hasn’t had a producer with electronic music credentials alongside him since working with Mark Bell on 2001’s _Exciter_. This makes the decision to work with James Ford a tantalising one.

Opening track "Backwards" is a swaggering, blues-influenced rock song with dramatic piano which sets the lyrical tone early. The first words sung - “We are not bigots, we have not evolved / we have no respect, we have lost control” (closing track "Fail" follows the same path: "Our consciences bankrupt: we're fucked") - makes it clear that despite never being ones for sweetness and light over the past four decades, Depeche Mode have put their usual subject matters (pain, misery, religion, death and sex) to one side to record a state of the world address. With U2 postponing their forthcoming album so they can too produce something politically of the now, they’re the first major act to reflect on the seismic shifts that have occurred over the past year, and it makes for grim listening. The repeated coda of the opening track - “We feel nothing inside” - is particularly effective, as are the waves of dirty synths . It's a great way to set the scene.

Lead single "Where’s the Revolution" continues the agenda (“Who’s making your decisions? / You and your religions? / Your government, your countries / you patriotic junkies”) and musically follows in the same vein as the opener, again with prominent synth work and the kind of doomy, downward key changes which have underpinned some of their finest work. The heavy distortion on "Scum", is the 'Mode at their angriest, Gahan spitting “Pull the trigger” as the grit filled beats indicate Ford’s influence at its most strongest.

"You Move" also shows how Ford’s musical stylings have been used to augment, rather than overshadow their music. The analogue synth fizzes while Gahan groans “I like the way you move for me tonight", making it their most shag-hungry moment since _SOFAD_ highlight "Rush". They haven’t sounded this sleazy for a long time, and despite them being in their mid-fifties, it isn’t creepy - it just genuinely sounds like someone's going to get fucked.

The space rock-isms of "Cover Me" provide the album’s most anthemic moment, and one of a select fewwhere political doom-mongering is put to one side. Gahan’s heartfelt yearning of “Way up here with the Northern Lights / beyond these broken bars / I pictured us in another life / Where we’re all superstars” is an unexpected moment of positivity, while the Eno-like atmospherics and reverbed slide guitars of the slow build gradually make room for two minutes of techno patterns and dramatic closing key changes. It's the most vital thing they've recorded in years.

Those wanting the BIG Mode track in the vein of "Enjoy the Silence", "It's No Good" or "Barrel of a Gun" will quickly fall under the spell of "So Much Love", the big pop thrill of the album. Similar to "Peace" from _SOTU_, or _Delta Machine_’s "Soft Touch/Raw Nerve" - great songs held back by thin production - here Ford has ripped everything open. Everything sounds massive; the angst, the fizzing krautrocky electro beats, the huge and very Martin Gore-esque doom-riff and Gahan (vocally on fire throughout the album) letting rip with one of his finest baritone performances.

Putting Ford’s expertise as a producer to one side, his work alongside Jas Shaw in Simian Mobile Disco is something which has very much informed the musical landscape of _Spirit_. SMD’s more esoteric works, such as the minimal techno of _Delicacies_, or the more ambient works on 2014’s _Whorl,_ live within these tracks. This, alongside Gore’s techno collaboration with original Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke - the excellent _VCMG_ album from 2012 - has culminated in a new found fervour on _Spirit_ which wasn’t there on their two previous albums. It's their best since 1993’s _Songs of Faith and Devotion_.

question: What does the text say about Depeche Mode's previous two albums?

answer: Depeche Mode's previous two albums, Sounds of the Universe and Delta Machine, were produced by Ben Hillier. Both albums were so-so, and the author says they were missing that spark.

critique: The author says they were missing a spark, not that they were so-so.

critique: The answer should mention that the albums were missing the spark.

critique: The author also says the albums sounded tired. "Neither were necessarily bad records, but they were missing that spark you’d become accustomed to - they sounded tired."

critique: The author says neither album was necessarily bad, but they were missing that spark.

critique: The author says that the albums were missing that spark, not that they were so-so.

critique: The two albums are not described as "so-so".

critique: The answer should mention that the albums were missing that spark.

critique: The author says they were missing that spark, not that they were so-so.


split: train

text:
There are three certainties in life: death, taxes and questions about cloud computing. Resolve one question and two more spring up in its place. Enterprise concerns about security and control, for example, have diminished significantly, but tiering data to the public cloud isn't a given because of new questions about policy, public cloud service offerings and hybrid cloud strategies.

Just as certain as the ongoing cloud discussion? That data is growing faster than the data center capacity of most enterprises. Even if an organization stores data in a colocation data center, costs and management overhead can get overwhelming.

A frequent executive cry is: Let's cap the data center growth. Since it's impossible to cap data growth from new data generators -- and with some medical-related regulations sometimes mandating that data be retained for as long as 30 years -- diminishing the reliance on the data center is the natural solution.

But before tiering data to the public cloud either for backup or archives, I recommend mulling over the following considerations for cloud tiering to come up with the right approach for your organization.

DATA RESIDENCY AND RETENTION

Because Igneous' customers are all multinational organizations, I see firsthand the challenges for these companies to adhere to diverse regulations intended to enforce data privacy. Data residency regulations focus on where they store their data. Data retention requirements dictate how long they keep it.

Many organizations keep all their data on-premises to ensure they comply with local data residency regulations, even better if they can keep primary and secondary storage in-country. Often, enterprises don't want to keep their data longer than they have to because of storage costs, but some organizations manage digital assets and keep data practically indefinitely. That creates a huge data storage need.

ENCRYPTION POLICY

Enterprises want reassurances that their intellectual property is protected from both hackers and law enforcement agencies. Encryption in motion (when data is transferred) and encryption at rest (for data sitting in the public cloud) offer reassurances of security and privacy.

In November 2014, Sony Pictures suffered a cyberattack that erased 3,262 of the company’s 6,797 personal computers and 837 of its 1,555 servers. Before destroying Sony's data, the hackers stole it, releasing confidential files onto public-sharing sites. The data included everything from intellectual property like unreleased scripts to personal information like salary lists.

"Once [a company's] intellectual property is stolen, there is little chance of recovering it," said Rick Holland, vice president at the digital risk management firm Digital Shadows, primarily because the material is so easy to replicate. "Instead, they need to investigate and determine how the attackers compromised their environment."

INTERNET SPEED

Consider internet speed in terms of both the frequency with which you can upload data (recovery point objective or RPO) and the speed with which you can recover previously uploaded data (recovery time objective or RTO). While cost-effective, some public cloud options build in delays that can stretch data tiering out by hours.

Enterprises typically can't simply replicate everything to the public cloud in real time because of internet speed. If your organization needs the ability to quickly recover a data set, that data isn't a good candidate for tiering. On the other hand, older data that isn't frequently modified or accessed that must be retained because of regulations could be ideal for tiering.

CLOUD SERVICE SELECTION

Several important factors come into play. Ask yourself these questions when considering public cloud offerings: How much geo-redundancy do you want or need? Are there any built-in transfer delays that could slow down your tiering? How much does the cloud service cost? How fast can you retrieve data?

The public cloud is increasingly becoming part of the typical enterprise's data storage strategy, and cost is often not the primary reason. Instead, agility is a big motivator.

HYBRID CLOUD COMPATIBILITY

From conversations with enterprise executives about data storage, I know most enterprise data lives on-premises in the form of image files, videos and other unstructured data. But these executives recognize the value of tiering some of their data to the public cloud as part of a larger hybrid approach.

Hybrid cloud remains the "preferred enterprise strategy," according to RightScale’s 2017 State of the Cloud Report (registration required), with 85% of technical professionals reporting they have a multi-cloud, hybrid strategy, up from the 82% who reported a similar approach in 2016.

Determining the right balance of on-premises data storage with cloud storage is critical for enterprises. Tiering data to the cloud has traditionally been a very manual, labor-intensive process involving intensive infrastructure management for IT teams and IT tickets for business users.

A modern approach must involve automation. Enterprises want to tier data quickly to the cloud, restore data fast whenever needed, and free up IT and business users to focus on the jobs they were hired to do.

question: What factors should a business consider when looking for cloud data storage?

answer: Data residency and retention, encryption policy, internet speed, cloud service selection, and hybrid cloud compatibility.

critique: The answer should be a complete sentence.

critique: The answer should mention the importance of automation.

critique: The answer misses the point by only listing the factors. The question wants the reader to consider the factors, not just the answer.

critique: The answer should mention the importance of hybrid cloud compatibility.

question: Summarize why encryption is important for cloud storage.

answer: It protects data from hackers, and it is important to abide by data privacy regulations.

critique: The answer should mention that encryption protects data from law enforcement agencies.

question: What does the text say about the average cost of cloud data storage?

answer: No answer


text:
I used to watch this cute girl from my cubicle workstation. Leaning backwards in my chair taking short sneak peaks at her as she was standing by the coffee machine. She was about the same age as me, around her mid 20‘s. It took a long time before I managed to gather enough courage to actually walk up to her and once I did, I realized that I had no idea what to say. All the thoughts of walking up to her had made me forgot to think of what I should say to break the ice. I was a pretty shy guy back then and didn’t really have any conversation starters up my sleeve. I had been watching her from a distance in almost a year and in this moment when I was finally standing in front of her, I was numb. My mind was blank but still I opened my mouth to say something. I thought I asked her if she likes coffee, but now, when I think back to that moment it must have sounded something like ”you.. l-l-like.. coffee”. I’m quite aware that was probably not the best thing to say, considering it was the first time I actually talked to her. Even though she didn’t say something back, she smiled at me, giggled and then walked back to her own cubicle. I stayed by the coffee machine for moment to catch my breathe and I’m pretty sure I must have seemed like a complete fool to her. But I didn’t really care, for me that was a great success. The woman I had been secretly interested in for a long time had just smiled at me.

Some time passed and now I walked up to her almost every day when she came to refill her coffee mug outside my cubicle. Sometimes it almost seemed as she was waiting for me. There were days when I was too busy to constantly take quick peaks down the hall to see if she was there, those days I would usually hear her clearing her throat or humming just outside my workstation. I wasn’t completely sure but I always thought that it was her way to catch my attention, and every time time I walked out of my cubicle she gave me a heart warming smile. Even though we had long and pleasant conversations I could tell that she sometimes was very nervous. Whenever her hands started trembling too much she would reach for her pocket and pick up a bracelet made out of brown wooden pearls. She would hold it in a firm grip and I came to understand that it was her way of dealing with nervousness. That bracelet made her calm again and it obviously had a personal value to her.

These small meetings kept occurring for a couple of weeks and one day I finally asked her out, and to my surprise she said yes. I had never been happier in my whole life and the thought of her made my smile uncontrollably. I literally woke up happy every morning.

I was supposed to meet her at a nice Italian restaurant not far from where we worked. It took me hours to prepare and I even went out shopping new clothes to make the best impression. I left home exactly 6:17 PM, and I had enough time to pick up a bouquet of flowers on my way to the restaurant. I had never bought flowers to someone before, and when I think about it now I have no idea why I did it that night.

I arrived to the restaurant around 6:45 PM. We were supposed  to meet 7 PM but I preferred to show up earlier. I was very nervous and when the clock hit 7 PM I had already drank two glasses of wine. I watched the door and expected her two walk in to restaurant just any second now. 7:15 PM. I was still staring at the door and I felt that my forehead was sweating. 7:30 PM. She was probably just stuck in traffic. I ordered another glass of wine and tried to make time pass faster. 8 PM. Where is she?? If she was this late she should at least have given me a call to let me know she’s on her way. 9 PM. It all made sense now. Her heart warming smile, her kind words and her longing eyes were just bullshit. She was just another bitch that played with people’s feelings, and I was just another fool that fell for it. How could I have been so stupid?? What was I thinking?

I left my table. My chair fell loudly to the floor and people stared at me as I stormed out of the restaurant. I wasn’t sad. I wasn’t going to let that bitch win. I was angry. Not at her, but at myself for being so easily fooled. I chucked the flowers in the first garbage bin I passed and kept walking down the street. Further down the street something had happened. Two police cars and an ambulance was blocking the sidewalk and at first I didn’t care. I just wanted to go home. But when I passed the scene of the accident I saw something. There was a body lying in middle of the sidewalk. The face was covered with a blanket but an arm was sticking out. I could tell that the arm belonged to a woman in her mid 20‘s and in her hand she was holding something. It was a bracelet.. made of  brown wooden pearls.

I didn’t stop. I kept walking. I didn’t look back. I didn’t cry. I just went straight back home. I went to bed, and I never woke up happy ever again.

title: Office love story (I have never written a short story in english before. Feedback is much appreciated.)

question: What does the story say about how to talk to women?

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention that the story does not say anything about how to talk to women.

critique: It says to rehearse what to say first, or at least be prepared with some kind of conversation starter.

question: What does the story say about the girl the narrator was interested in?

answer: The girl (the narrator's coffee girl) was adorable. The narrator was really attracted to her cuteness. She was around the same age as him and seemed like she was also single. It took the narrator a long time to gradually build up his courage and talk to the girl and embarrass himself a bit. Eventually, the narrator was able to talk to her and make her laugh a little. This made him smile joyously. Things were going steady between them until the narrator decided to make his feel but legitimate by asking her out, and because he put off as much as possible, he asked her out on a more romantic date. The double date was going well until the narrator started drinking more and started to think that something was wrong because the girl started to arrive way too late. The narrator was pissed (angry) and stalked out, and for that, his night with the girl was ruined. He noticed the girloutside with the same bracelet on her wrist after storming out of the restaurant, and for that, he never woke up happy ever again.

text: There was no double date in the story.

category: accuracy

question: What does the story say about the relationship between the girl and the narrator?

answer: The narrator was thinking about her from his cubicle, watching her every day refill her coffee mug. She'd often remind him, staying for a short time until he noticed. Sometimes she'd visits outside his cubicle, clearing her throat and humming to catch his attention. Eventually, the narrator garnered up the courage to talk to her and ask her out, surprised she said yes.

critique: The answer omits the narrator's disappointment at the girl's lateness.

critique: The answer should mention that the narrator never sees the girl again.

critique: The answer should mention the narrator's disappointment.

critique: The answer omits the narrator's disappointment when the girl doesn't show up to their date.

text: The answer omits that the girl ends up dead on the night of their first date.

category: coverage

question: Summarize what happened to their dinner date at the Italian restaurant?

answer: The narrator was waiting for the girl to arrive at the restaurant. He was nervous and had already drunk two glasses of wine. He was waiting for her to arrive at 7 PM but she didn't arrive until 9 PM. He was angry at her for being late and thought she was just another bitch that played with people's feelings. He left the restaurant and never woke up happy again.

critique: The narrator was waiting for the girl to arrive at the restaurant. He was nervous and had already drunk two glasses of wine. He was waiting for her to arrive at 7 PM but she didn't arrive until 9 PM. He was angry at her for being late and thought she was just another bitch that played with people's feelings. He left the restaurant and never woke up happy again.

text: The girl never arrives, and when the narrator leaves the restaurant at 9 PM, he notices that the girl died in an accident outside the restaurant.


text:
It had been 5436 days since the planet of Tetriach had known peace. 5436 days since the
human scum had arrived in their ships and demanded absolute surrender. Petr knew this;
he’d been counting. He had counted every single day that his home, his planet, had suffered
under endless barrages of bombs and lasers and God knows what else. His people were
outmanned, outgunned and outmanoeuvred, but they refused to lay down and die. And
that was the reason that Petr, a 20 year old native, could be found hidden with a rifle in the
dense bushes that lined the main highway into the capital. He knew that it was along this
road that the human division carrying their ‘war hero’ Lt. James Cascella would go. It would
also be the road where the bastard Lt. James Cascella, who killed all of Petr’s family in cold
blood, would die. Petr tightened his grip on the rifle.

James Cascella was tired. He had been a young man of 22 when this war started, when he
leapt at the chance of being the next hero of the human race; the next man to colonise
another planet and show the natives that the human way of life was superior. Now he was
37, and yet the war still raged, albeit more quietly than it used to. The natives (no-one had
ever learned their ‘true’ name; that would make them appear more human, and harder
psychologically to kill) were slowly losing the war. Of course they were. Countless planets
before this one showed that nothing could truly stand in the way of the human juggernaut.
But even so, Cascella wondered whether it had all been worth it. Oh he had achieved his
goal; he was a hero, without doubt. No one man had ever won as many medals as he had.
But that success could not, was not, worth the emotional trauma he had suffered. He had
suffered so much, he often wondered whether he was human anymore. He had walked in
on crying infants firing his gun and not stopped shooting. He was the man that wiped the
entire town of Deant off the face of the earth, women and children and all. He sighed. It was
too late now. What was done was done. So as he sat on the side of the tank that drove him
into the capital to deliver the final blow, he pulled out his rifle and got ready for combat.
There was nothing else to be done, really.

Petr often dreamed of Deant. In the daytime, he dreamed of the city before the war, his
friends and family from his childhood. He could barely remember it anymore of course; he
was only 6 when this war started. But he filled in any gaps he couldn’t recall. In the night
however, all he ever saw was the ruins. The charred corpses of his family and the
devastation that surrounded them. At first, he wasn’t sure why he had been spared. The
bomb had, after all, been designed to kill all life. But now he knew. The Gods had spared
him to bring retribution to the man who detonated the bomb. It was the only reason that
made his survival make any sense. It was also what he had spent the last 10 years of his life
working towards. Which was, of course, why he was here right now. He would only have
one shot. He knew that much. And it would undoubtedly cost him his life. As soon as the
humans saw what had happened, they would capture and kill him, probably with
unimaginable cruelty. Petr didn’t care. All he wanted was revenge. His train of thought was broken, however, as he spotted the line of human vehicles make their way down the road.
And there was Cascella, perched on the edge of the leading tank, gazing into the distance.
Hatred flashed through Petr’s eyes. He lifted his rifle up onto his shoulder, and prepared to
fire.

Cascella’s muscles tensed. He could always sense danger. That sort of thing developed after
almost 15 years of war. He dived to the side, but far too late to stop the bullet hitting him. It
did, however, stop it killing him. Cascella felt the bullet thump into his side, and he cried out
in pain. As he was pulled inside the tank by his comrades, he glimpsed a native with a rifle,
standing up in shock. He appeared surprised that Cascella was still alive. With his last act
before losing consciousness, he pointed at the native.

Petr stood there in disbelief. He had failed. Cascella was undoubtedly still alive. He could see
him pointing at him as he was pulled inside the tank. The last 10 years of his life had gone to
waste. He didn’t even struggle as he was roughly picked up and hauled inside the tank by
human soldiers. He simply sat there and cried. How would the ghosts of his family ever rest
in peace now? Cascella would live on, as their civilisation fell. He had missed his shot. And
now he would face the humans’ retribution.

Cascella stirred. As he did so, he heard a voice shout out. ‘We have your attacker here sir.
Should we kill him now, or wait till later. We could make a decent news story out of this.’
‘No!’ Cascella cried out. Keep him alive. I would like to talk to him. He walked over to the
man. He was still young, Cascella noticed; no more than 25. ‘What’s your name, boy?’ He
refused to answer. Cascella smiled. ‘Boy, you can go to your death in silence if you wish. But
at least let me know your name. Who knows? It might save your life.’
‘I am Petr’, said the native. ‘I am the lone survivor of the destruction of Deant that you
orchestrated, and you, sir, deserve to die.’ Cascella sighed. The boy was undoubtedly right.
For all his crimes, he deserved to die. But maybe, just maybe, he could appease the Gods by
saving this one ‘Let him go!’ he demanded. ‘But sir, he tried to kill you’ protested one of his
soldiers. Cascella turned to him and smiled ‘One day, you might understand my actions. But
for now, simply obey orders. Let. Him. Go.’

Petr sat at the side of the road as the convoy passed by, in disbelief. He had failed to kill his
target. Not only that, he was still alive. Cascella, for whatever reason, had shown mercy. He
who had killed so many of Petr’s kind, had spared him. Petr gazed into the desert. He still
had no love for humans, but maybe they did not deserve destruction. At any rate, they
would soon own this planet. Petr got up, and began the long walk home to his hovel. He had
some thinking to do.

title: [SF] Invasion

question: What does the story say about the technology used by humans for space travel?

answer: No answer

critique: The question is asking for information that is not in the text.

critique: The passage does not say whether or not humans had space travel technology.

critique: The response misses to mention that the story does not mention or describe the technology used by humans for space travel.

critique: The answer should mention that the story does not mention any technology.

question: What does the story say about Petr?

answer: Petr is a 20-year-old native of Tetriach. He is a lone survivor of the destruction of Deant, the city where his family lived. Petr is out for revenge against Lt. James Cascella, who killed his family. He seeks to kill Cascella, who is a war hero. Petr is a skilled shooter, but he misses his shot at Cascella, who is still alive. Cascella spares Petr and orders him released.

critique: The response contains some inaccurate information.

critique: 'Petr is a skilled shooter, but he misses his shot at Cascella, who is still alive' seems like it is related to the question.

critique: The answer should mention that Petr is captured.

critique: It's omitted that Petr is filled with hatred and vengeance.

critique: The answer should mention that Petr is remorseful after failing to kill Cascella.

critique: It should be mentioned that Petr is captured.

question: What does the text say about Lt. James Cascella?

answer: Petr knows where Lt. James Cascella will be passing by and his intention to kill him. Lt. James Cascella was the man who killed all of Petr's family in cold blood. He is 37 years old and the war still rages. He is heading to deliver the final blow to the natives.

critique: It is omitted that Cascella has been a hero of the human race that colonised another planet. Lt. James Cascella receives the bullet wound to his side, and Petr is captured.

critique: It's omitted that Cascella is a war hero.

critique: The response misses to mention that Cascella is a war hero.

critique: The answer can include Cascella's actions after Petr shoots him.

critique: The answer should mention that Cascella is a war hero.

critique: It is omitted that Lt. James Cascella is a war hero.

question: What does the story say about why Cascella spared Petr's life after the latter tried to kill him?

answer: Cascella was a war hero who had won countless medals. He was tired of the war and wondered whether it was worth it. He was also tired of the emotional trauma he had suffered. Cascella knew that Petr was the lone survivor of the destruction of Deant, which he orchestrated. He also knew that Petr tried to kill him. Despite all these, Cascella still spared Petr's life. He did this because he thought Petr was right and he deserved to die. He also did it because he believed he could appease the Gods by saving Petr's life.

critique: Cascella's motives are not explicitly stated.

critique: The war was the reason that the locals might fall. But the word "might" is more important than "a" planet.

critique: The first two lines are not relevant to the question.


text:
Before I share this story I must let you know I am in a dark place in my life. My fiancee broke off the engagement New Years Day. I am working on things day by day and I am getting the treatment to help me with it. So do not be worried for the most part.

I never really wrote growing up but I feel like this is going to be good for me till I get better.

Thank you for reading, and this is a **ROUGH DRAFT** and written on Notepad because that's all I have right now.

"My Day called Regrets"

The year is 2013, and I have made bad deciesions in my past and it is time to get everything straightened out.

It is a cold winters day, and I fight to open my eyes to the sunlight because it is another day of feeling the way I always do. The windows do not hold the cold out and it blows in under my blanket and lets me know I feel still. I let out a Sigh... and I wish things were different... but they aren't. I hurt people and destroyed futures. These things go through my mind every other thought durning my time of being awake. When I fall to sleep I am awoken by a racing heart beat and fear of not knowing how to fix things I thought I could.

As I wonder why I still get up, I make my way to the hoodie laying next to me. It is thick and is the only thing showing warmth to me in this time of cold. My day is filled with pain and trying to not tear up at every though of my past. I get ready for work like everyone else. I am listening to music where the screaming is ecspressing my inner voice and hurt from ex-girlfriends and past lovers who are now a distant memory of the singers past life. I feel his pain and wish everything was better.

I gather my things and head off to my third shift factory job and get ready for another slow night of work knowing the only things my mind will be thinking of are the things I wish it didn't. I put on a show for my co-workers, smiling... laughing... but the few people who know my pain know I am crying inside. I turn away more often then normal to wipe away the few forceful tears that leave my eyes. With everything going on I pretend to chuckle at the poorly told joke told to mee to try and cheer me up. It does not work and I just look away and get back to my work. Trying to focus on the job at hand and keeping as busy as I can to repress the ideas and memories. The night rolls on and everything at work is moving at a slugish pace and I have done all I can to keep busy, so I stand. I stand and just look out into nothingness, thinking, feeling pain I wish I have never felt.

The time is 5am and it is almost time to get done with work. The thought of sleep seems so good, but the dreams to come will keep me up. I shuffle to my locker looking at only where I need to walk not paying attention to the things around me, people, and machines. I kick off my boots knowing that the day is done and I can try and relax. Relaxation is just a distant memory I have not felt in a long time. It hurts. Everytihng hurts. I hate my job and the place I live. But I can not just leave and walk away. My gloves and heavy jacket help me get past the cold winter morning as I walk to my car.

The worst part of going home is knowing the heat from my ex lover is no longer there, and it is filled with the cold and emptieness of my bed. I try to keep warm by holding a pillow as close as possible. It does not help and only makes me feel worse. I hate this. But I need to work on myself before I can even think about looking for someone to try and feel happy with. It will contiune to be cold. I lay cold and alone waiting for my eyes to get heavy. The sand man must be stuck in traffic because my eyes will not get tierd and my pain will not subside. The tears help pull me towards sleep and I know it is another day that I will try to forget. This is just my day called regrets, and I am gone to wake again and repeat it.

title: "My day called Regrets" Rough Draft

question: What are the indications that the narrator is deeply depressed?

answer: Basically every one of the descriptors used. Their fighting to stay awake. Their mood. Their self-portrayal in the music they listen to or write themselves when they aren't listening or performing. They call themselves a failure. They are unable to sleep. They are spending their days in vain repetition.

critique: The narrator is not a writer or performer.

critique: The narrator is not a singer or a writer.

critique: The narrator's depression is not described in the passage. The answer is mostly made up.

critique: "Their fighting to stay awake." - this is inaccurate. The narrator is fighting to open their eyes to the sunlight.

critique: Enough information is provided in the text to answer this question.

question: Why did the narrator and his ex-girlfriend break up?

answer: That information was not provided.

critique: The answer is wrong. The narrator mentions that he hurt people and destroyed futures.

critique: It is implied that the breakup was due to the narrator's inability to get over her.

critique: This is false. The narrator describes the break-up in detail.

critique: The story does not provide the reason why the narrator and his ex-girlfriend broke up.

critique: The narrator does mention some of the reasons why they broke up.

critique: The answer is not correct. The narrator mentions that he hurt people and destroyed futures.


text:
[]

COBHAM SURREY, UNITED KINGDOM – 11/23/2016 (PRESS RELEASE JET) — Mark Towson, formerly Group Human Resources Director at Noble Group has been named “Top Human Resource Director of the Year” for 2016-2017 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP).

While inclusion with the International Association of Top Professionals is an honor in itself, only a few members in each discipline are chosen for this distinction. These special honorees are distinguished based on their professional accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership abilities, longevity in the field, other affiliations and contributions to their communities.  All honorees will be invited to attend the IAOTP’s annual award gala at the end of this year for a night to honor their achievements.

With some 34 years of professional experience in Human Resources, Mr. Towson has certainly proved himself as an accomplished professional and expert in the industry.  As a dynamic, results-driven leader, he has demonstrated success by developing high performance teams for the diverse range of companies he has worked for. Mark has provided visionary leadership in the highly competitive Human Resources profession and has climbed the ranks through several HR leadership roles in the Natural Resources, Energy, Financial Services, Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals sectors, including: Group Human Resources Director at Noble Group and Chief Human Resources Officer at Weatherford International. He has held other global leadership roles at BP, ABN AMRO, Citigroup, Astra-Zeneca and Imperial Chemical Industries with assignments all over the world in Asia Pacific, Europe and the United States.

Mark was appointed as Group Human Resources Director of Noble Group in 2013, based in Hong Kong reporting to the CEO and acted as a member of the Executive Committee, with global HR responsibility for this company ranked 76th in the Global Fortune 500 league that year with revenues of US $98 Billion. His key responsibilities included designing and delivering the Company’s HR strategy, programs, and policies including: executive compensation, total reward policies, performance management systems, senior recruitment and employer branding, employee relations and engagement, leadership and management development programs, succession planning and talent management, international mobility programs and organization development. He has an exceptional track record in enabling executive teams to improve business performance, build organizational capability and execute complex cross-border change management.

Mark received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Politics and Sociology from The University of Hull, in the UK and a Master of Science in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development in the UK and a member of SHRM in the USA.

Mr. Towson has been recognized globally for his dedication and commitment to the field. In 2014 he was named “Outstanding Professional of the Year” by Worldwide Who’s Who and selected to have a chapter in the Top 101 Industry Expert Publication.  In 2016 he was inducted as an honorary lifetime member and named “Top Human Resource Director of the Year” by the International Association of Top Professionals.

Looking back, Mark attributes much of his success to his positive leadership and executive skills, setting a clear people strategy for the company, his range and depth of HR expertise and having very diverse international business experience.  For the future he aspires to continue growing as a professional and making a difference in the business world.

For More Information on Mr. Towson  please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-towson-662a135

About IAOTP

The International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) is an international boutique networking organization who handpicks the worlds finest, most prestigious top professionals from different industries.  These top professionals are given an opportunity to collaborate, share their ideas, be keynote speakers and to help influence others in their fields. This organization is not a membership that anyone can join.  You have to be asked by the President or be nominated by a distinguished honorary member after a brief interview.

IAOTP’s experts have given thousands of top prestigious professionals around the world, the recognition and credibility that they deserve and have helped in building their branding empires.  IAOTP prides itself to be a one of a kind boutique networking organization who hand picks only the best of the best and creates a networking platform that connects and brings these top professionals to one place.

For more information about IAOTP please visit IAOTP- International Association of Top Professionals

Full News Story: http://pressreleasejet.com/news/mark-towson-selected-as-top-human-resource-director-of-the-year-by-the-international-association-of-top-professionals-iaotp.html

Distributed by Press Release Jet

Media Contact
Company Name: IAOTP
Contact Person: Kristen Rae
Email: INFO@IAOTP.COM
Phone: 212-634-4427
Country: United Kingdom
Website: WWW.IAOTP.COM

[]

question: What does the text say about Human Resources?

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention that the text talks about the International Association of Top Professionals recognizing Mark Towson as the top human resources director.

critique: Human resources are not defined in the text.

question: What does the text say about Mark Towson?

answer: Mark Towson, formerly Group Human Resources Director at Noble Group, has been named "Top Human Resource Director of the Year" for 2016-2017 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP). He has 34 years of professional experience in the Human Resources field. He has demonstrated success by developing high-performance teams for the diverse range of companies he has worked for.

critique: Doesn't mention his responsibilities at Noble Group.

critique: The answer should mention his education.

critique: It's omitted that he's been recognized globally for his dedication and commitment to the field.

critique: The answer shoud mention his other accolades.

question: What does the text say about the IAOTP?

answer: The International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) is an international networking organization that handpicks the world's finest, most prestigious top professionals from different industries. These top professionals are given an opportunity to collaborate, share their ideas, be keynote speakers, and help influence others in their fields. The IAOTP is not a membership that anyone can join. You have to be asked by the President or be nominated by a distinguished honorary member after a brief interview.

critique: This does not really go over the importance of the IAOTP.

critique: The answer should mention that the IAOTP is a one-of-a-kind networking organization.

critique: The IAOTP's selection process is not relevant to the question.

critique: The answer should mention that the IAOTP has given thousands of top professionals around the world recognition and credibility.

critique: The answer should mention that the IAOTP is not a membership that anyone can join.

question: What does the text say about the process of choosing professionals for IAOTP awards?

answer: Judging is selective, with peers nominating or being nominated by peers. The nominees are then interviewed. The awards are based on the nominees' professional accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership abilities, longevity in the field, other affiliations and contributions to their communities.

critique: The answer is not clear about the process.

critique: The answer is not clear about the process of choosing professionals for IAOTP awards.

critique: The answer could be clearer in its pronoun use.

critique: The article does not say anything about the process of nominating or interviewing.

critique: PEERevaluation is not firm processt he statement is factually inaccurtate

critique: The answer could be clearer about the process of nomination.


text:
Artificial intelligence (AI) has finally caught the Indian government’s attention.

On Feb. 01, delivering his budget speech, finance minister Arun Jaitley told parliament that the government think-tank, Niti Aayog, will spearhead a national programme on AI, including research and development. The intent showed in the numbers: Budget allocation for Digital India, the government’s umbrella initiative to promote AI, machine learning, 3D printing, and other technologies, was almost doubled to Rs3,073 crore ($477 million) this year.

“It’s extremely encouraging to see the government recognise the need for research in cutting-edge technologies,” Subrat Kar, CEO and co-founder of Noida-based video intelligence platform Vidooly, told Quartz. Niti Aayog’s support will “allow us to indigenously develop technologies on par with our Silicon Valley counterparts, and reduce dependency on them,” Kar said.

Niti Aayog, led by CEO Amitabh Kant, has been a key promoter of various digital campaigns in the country, including the massive biometric programme, Aadhaar, and the India chain project, which is creating blockchain infrastructure to support IndiaStack, a set of codes developed around Aadhaar. That’s why the AI initiative has charged up tech companies.

Meanwhile, the department of science is also set to launch centres of excellence (CoEs), investing in research, training, and skilling in digital manufacturing, big data analysis, quantum communication, and internet of things (IoT).

Yet, all this may have come a little too late.

BACK OF THE LINE

Globally, several countries have already committed millions of dollars to developing AI programmes. The US leads the pack, thanks to decades of public and private investment. Over the last five years, San Francisco’s Bay Area, in It helps that the US is home to institutes that champion AI research. particular, has attracted 41% of all global investments in AI, according to China-based Synced Review. It helps that the US is home to institutes that champion AI research such as Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the world’s biggest tech companies like Facebook, Amazon, Apple, and Google.

China, aclose second, is swiftly ramping up efforts. Canada, reportedly the birthplace of AI research, is fast turning into a hub with tech majors like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook setting up research labs in Montreal.

THE CHINESE EXAMPLE

To play catch up, India is following its neighbour’s footsteps.

“Arguably, China has set the example for India,” said Kartik Hosanagar, professor of technology and digital business at University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. Last year, the Asian nation laid out an AI development plan, outlining goals for the next three years and a blueprint for its strategy until 2030. Not only are its local players, including search giant Baidu, taxi company Didi Chuxing, or internet firms Alibaba and Tencent, spending aggressively on AI, global companies like Google have also set up labs there.

India isn’t faring badly, though. Over half (58%) of the companies using AI in the country work at scale, beyond pilot and test projects. However, the sector is dominated by American firms like Accenture, Microsoft, and Adobe, which have their innovation centres here. Home-grown efforts on the academic, business, and investor fronts are few.

[ ]
Percentage of companies using AI who are doing so at scale, beyond pilots

Between 2014 and 2017, AI startups in India raised less than $100 million from venture capitalists. In any case, hardly any new Indian tech companies are research oriented. There is also a severe dearth of data, which hinders research. And finally, even those who do set up AI-based ventures struggle to find the right talent and skills.

“We should recognise that India is so far behind in this race that I’d put the odds for success to be low,” Hosanagar said. “India might end up as a big consumer of the new tech-economy featuring AI- and IoT-related technologies. But will it be a big producer in this economy? Today’s environment suggests that it’s unlikely.”

China, meanwhile, has been luring top global AI researchers, many from Silicon Valley firms. It has built a $2 billion research park dedicated to AI in western Beijing and its spending more millions on AI research at universities and private firms. The research community in China is also far more robust than in India.

The Chinese government spends 2% of its GDP on research while India’s marks a dismal 0.6%. And its implementation is also far ahead: The country, with its lax privacy standards compared to the rest of the world, is already using facial recognition technology in daily life there already, from buying KFC to boarding planes.

Image: Quartz

Moreover, regular collaboration between Chinese corporates, universities, and the government over the last many years has now begun to pay off for that country. A survey by technical recruiting platform HackerRank ranked Chinese programmers as the world’s best. In recent years, they’ve often won international machine-learning competitions.

In India, AI has only just begun to make its way into classrooms, and a lack of qualified professors is not helping at all.

Moreover, large-scale, real-world applications of AI will take time to emerge. And initially, it is likely to be restricted to laboratories.

“The return on investment in AI won’t be evident for a while,” said Anindya Ghose, the Heinz Riehl professor of business at New York University (NYU). The entire ecosystem—government, companies, employees—needs to brace for this period of limbo as the domains where AI can be used shape up.

Whether India can persevere through this is another matter altogether.

question: What does the text say about androids?

answer: No answer

critique: The text does not discuss androids, so the answer is empty.

question: What does the text say about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and India?

answer: AI has finally caught the Indian government's attention. Finance minister Arun Jaitley told parliament that the government think-tank, Niti Aayog, will spearhead a national program on AI, including research and development. The intent showed in the numbers: Budget allocation for Digital India, the government's umbrella initiative to promote AI, machine learning, 3D printing, and other technologies, was almost doubled to Rs3,073 crore ($477 million) this year.

critique: Add that India is playing catch-up with other countries.

critique: The article does not mention the budget allocation for Digital India.

critique: The answer should mention the challenges India faces.

critique: The answer should mention the challenges India faces in catching up with other countries.

critique: The answer should mention the challenges that India faces in the field of AI.

question: What does the text say about India's place in the AI pecking order?

answer: India is a late entrant in the race to develop artificial intelligence. The country has committed to a national program on AI, including research and development. The government think-tank, Niti Aayog, will spearhead the program. The budget allocation for Digital India, the government's umbrella initiative to promote AI, machine learning, 3D printing, and other technologies, was almost doubled to Rs3,073 crore ($477 million) this year.

critique: The response is missing the part about the US, China, and Canada.

critique: The answer could mention that they are playing catch up to China.

critique: The answer should mention that India is behind other countries.

critique: The answer omits the fact that India is lagging behind other countries in AI development.

critique: The answer should mention that India is behind other countries in AI development.

question: What does the text say about the difficulties India is facing when AI is concerned?

answer: The country is behind in the race to develop AI. The sector is dominated by American firms like Accenture, Microsoft, and Adobe, which have their innovation centers in India. Home-grown efforts on the academic, business, and investor fronts are few. Between 2014 and 2017, AI startups in India raised less than $100 million from venture capitalists. There is also a severe dearth of data, which hinders research. And finally, even those who do set up AI-based ventures struggle to find the right talent and skills.

critique: The answer should mention the issues with the government.

critique: The answer should mention India's lack of qualified professors.

critique: The answer should mention the lack of qualified professors.

critique: The answer omits the fact that the Chinese government spends more on research than India.

critique: The response should include the difficulties the country faces in terms of AI.


text:
Hey guys, thanks for reading; I am still adding onto this story, this is only the first part.

The horizon gleamed with a sterility usually reserved for more dire and artificial moments. I said her name twice and then once more: “Isabella, Isabella, Isabella.” We had walked at least a mile under the shade of trees and now rested on a sandy perch elongated on the shore of the Chattahoochee. With a gentle nudge she awoke; “Isabella! I thought that you would never open your eyes!” The sunlight was receding behind the brown trees across the river and the nip in the air made the fabric on Isabella’s dress stiffen and crinkle. Each time I touched her she would breathe sharply and then promptly smile as if she was anticipating something. I knew little of seduction, for I was bred into a modest life with people who suspected that there were no better things than what they had already been presented with. My families prominence had dispelled the need for convention- we were of a fortunate lineage and we lived properly but still on terms that we created for ourselves.  The afternoon’s wake had crashed long before we had wound up together beneath the spruce and I was starting to wonder what forces were at play.  I stood up and offered her my hand. “We should go before it gets too dark-I’m not as familiar with this side of the river.” I could smell the cedar that my father had cut into logs burning on the other side of the river; I was certain the estate was farther away. My Mother would always worry when I was gone for too long, but I was incensed with a desire that I had never felt before. I stood and brushed off the red and yellow leaves that had torn as I was lying on them. I offered her my hand as she still remained silent; I wished to get inside of her mind, feel her desire, swim in her thoughts- as if by doing so would make her existence even more real; surely there was a sequence of words to un-muddle  her mind. She looked up at me and smiled. The right strap on her purple sundress had fallen down her shoulder and her high cheekbones rose in such a way that made her eyes squint slightly. “Come, and lie back down- we have at least thirty minutes of sunlight left.” I didn’t want to refuse her, so I laid back down resting my head on a log that had been softened by rain. She rested her head on my chest, and I picked bits of leaf out of her long blonde hair. We both lied still for a while and enjoyed the dusk, and listened to the birds sing beneath an ethereal moon that was starting to appear in the still light, late afternoon. After a few moments she looked up at me: “Do you believe in god?” I didn’t know what to say to her; somehow my mind’s recesses had become filled at that moment and I was unable to ponder an answer. I quipped back nervously: “Sometimes.” I looked away from her and back to the darkening sky. She continued speaking: “I’m just curios. That’s all. Sometimes I don’t believe in him. I remember sitting next to my mother as she died. The hospital didn’t smell at all by the way- it was like they cleaned the death out of the air and made everything neat and they even had a cafeteria! How can you serve food in a place where people are dying all the time? Anyways, I always believed in god; my Mom raised me like that-even as I sat there and watched her die, and watched the tubes pump life into her, I still believed. She had barely enough strength to say anything, but she did say one thing. Before she died, she looked at me and said: even if there’s no heaven, I’ll be with you. No heaven? I thought she was crazy. How could there be no heaven? The next few weeks I thought about what she said over and over, and I still don’t know what to make of it. “I chuckled nervously and said something ridiculous like “yeah well that sure is something” “You’re adorable,” she said, and kissed my cheek. She stood up and I felt a light relief from my chest. She stood in front of me and started to dance. I said: “how can you dance with no music?” She didn’t respond as she did a twirl; I could see beneath her dress as she twirled in the still night air. She stopped and looked at me seriously. Her right strap was still caressing her shoulder. She looked at me for a while and then slowly took her right hand and let her left strap slide down her shoulder and her whole dress came sliding off of her. It was the first time I had seen her nude; she was beautiful.  She was so bold and still so very youthful and I didn’t know what to make of anything so I just sat there amazed. She walked over to me slowly: “What about right now?” “What do you mean?” I asked. “Do you believe in God right now?” Without responding I stood up and kissed her right there on that sandy perch by the Chattahoochee- right there in front of all the birds and crickets, and maybe even in front of god. We steadily made our way to the ground.

title: Isabella (900 words)

question: Summarize everything relating to nature.

answer: The narrator and Isabella walk under the shade of trees. The narrator smells the cedar that his father had cut into logs burning on the other side of the river. The narrator and Isabella lie still and listen to the birds sing beneath an ethereal moon. Isabella asks the narrator if he believes in God, and he wonders how she can dance with no music.

critique: "Isabella asks the narrator if he believes in God, and he wonders how she can dance with no music." - this is irrelevant and should be removed.

question: Summarize the narrator's interactions with Isabella.

answer: The narrator and Isabella are walking along the Chattahoochee when Isabella falls asleep. The narrator wakes her and they walk further along the river. The narrator offers Isabella his hand and they lie down on a sandy perch. Isabella asks the narrator if he believes in God, and the narrator responds that sometimes he does. Isabella tells the narrator that she doesn't believe in God. The narrator kisses Isabella.

critique: We know the next occurance because it happens first chronologically

critique: The response is missing the part where Isabella asks the narrator if he believes in God right then and there.

critique: The response is missing that the narrator and Isabella have sex.

critique: It is omitted that the narrator and Isabella lie down to enjoy the dusk and listen to the birds sing.

question: What does the story say about the time of year during which it takes place?

answer: The story takes place in fall, as evidenced by the leaves and the chill in the air.

critique: The story takes place in the late afternoon, not in the fall.

question: What does the story say about Isabella's mother?

answer: Isabella's mother raised her to believe in God, even though she saw her die. Isabella's mother told her that she would be with her even if there is no heaven. The narrator asks Isabella if she believes in God at that moment, and she doesn't respond.

critique: The answer is a summary of the events and not a description of Isabella's mother.

critique: The response is missing the part where Isabella's mother died in the hospital.


text:
Several photos have surfaced showing what is supposed to be the next iPhone and MacBook Pro over the last few days. These leaked photos themselves are not surprising. Apple spy photos are big business and a staple in tech journalism. But if these photos are to be believed, radical changes are about to hit two of Apple’s flagship products. And it’s about damn time.

The iPhone shots show a smartphone that’s smoother and less conspicuous than previous models. It also shows a cell phone without a 3.5mm jack traditionally used for headphones. If true, users will have to use an adapter or buy a new set of headphones that sport a Lightning connection.

Another report shows the MacBook Pro is about to get an overhaul. Gone are full size USB ports present on Apple laptops since the colorful iBook released in 1999. In its place are said to be four USB-C ports, which feature faster speeds but a different connection type that will force more adapters onto owners.

The redesigned MacBook Pro (pictured above) is said to also sport a long OLED touchpad that will replace the function keys that live above the number row. It’s speculated that users will be able to customize actions on this thin touchpad.

The same report states Apple is about to ditch its magical and magnetic MagSafe power connection.

Take a deep breath. The aforementioned changes are just rumors at this point and not confirmed by Apple.

Even if just half of the above turns out to be true, it will be good for Apple and perhaps the consumer. Apple has done this before and pushed the industry forward.

The original iMac didn’t sport a floppy disc drive. That was radical in 1998. USB flash drives were still a thing of fantasy. In 2001 the first iPod shipped with Firewire likely because USB 1.1 was too slow. And then in 2005, Apple dropped Firewire from the iPod. And the list goes on: optical drives, analog connections, even the long-used Dock Connector. In retrospect, dropping support for these technologies makes sense but at the time, the decisions felt radical and alienating

Since the late Steve Jobs’ returned to the company, Apple didn’t wait until the right time; it made the time right.

  Since the late Steve Jobs’ returned to the company, Apple didn’t wait until the right time; it made the time right.

Look at the original MacBook Air. By today’s standards, the first MacBook Air is a mundane computer. It has a small screen, thin body, and long battery life. But in 2008 when it was released, it was the butt of jokes. Sure, it was thin, said bloggers at the time, but it lacked an optical disk drive and relied too much on wireless connectivity since it didn’t have an ethernet port. You’ll have to carry an optical drive and all sorts of adapters, they said.

Apple built the Air not for 2008, but for later when wireless networking was ubiquitous and optical disk drives were all but relics.

Look back at past Apple devices. Products change little over time. Apple tends to let products evolve until a complete overhaul is prudent. And this change tends to be painful for a generation or two after a radical upgrade — remember the pain in trying to find a Lightning cable shortly after the launch of the iPhone 5.

Apple builds its products around platforms much like an automaker. This is done likely to keep manufacturing and supply costs down. The iPad and iPod touch shares many parts with the iPhone. The MacBook Pro and MacBook sport similar layouts and components. But with this shared architecture comes the burden of making painful shifts every few years to set itself up for where technology will be in a few years.

Listen, I don’t want to lose my full size USB ports either. The MacBook Pro has long been my mobile machine of choice because of its plethora of connections and options. Change is hard and I don’t own a single device that recharges over USB-C. Yet. But if the past foretells the future, next year, at this time, I will probably own a handful of USB-C devices and more will be on the way.

I also own a killer set of headphones that, I guess, if I want to use them with the next iPhone, I’ll have to use in conjunction with a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter. Change is hard, friends, yet we’ve done it in the past and the world keeps spinning and Apple keeps printing money.

question: What does the text say about Apple?

answer: Apple is a technology company based in California. It is known for its flagship products, the iPhone and MacBook Pro. The company is known to push the industry forward by making radical changes to its products.

critique: The answer should mention that the changes are not confirmed.

critique: The iPhone being Apple's most popular product is inferred.

critique: This only talks about Apple as a company, not about the products

critique: The answer should mention that the changes are not confirmed yet.

critique: The answer should mention the rumors about the next iPhone and MacBook Pro.

critique: The answer does not mention the radical changes that are about to be made.

question: What does the text say about Apple and spy photos?

answer: Several spy photos have surfaced showing (what is supposed to be) the next  iPhone and MacBook Pro. If these spy photos are to be believed, radical changes are about to hit Apple's flagship products. This view is supported in the article by pointing out that Apple spy photos are big business and very usual.

critique: The article supports this view by pointing out that Apple spy photos are big business and very usual.

critique: 'View' should be capitalised as it is part of the text

critique: The article doesn't say that spy photos are usual.

critique: The article does not point out that spy photos are big business and usual.

question: What does the text say about the original MacBook Air?

answer: The original MacBook Air was released in 2008. It was a mundane computer with a small screen, thin body, and long battery life. However, it was criticized for lacking an optical disk drive and relying too much on wireless connectivity. The MacBook Air was built for the future when wireless networking was ubiquitous and optical disk drives were all but relics.

critique: The answer omits that the MacBook Air was criticized for lacking an ethernet port.

critique: The answer omits that the MacBook Air was criticized at the time of its release.

critique: The computer was criticized for lacking an optical disk drive and relying too much on wireless connectivity. The answer omits this.

critique: It is omitted that the MacBook Air was a radical upgrade at the time of its release.

critique: The answer should mention that the MacBook Air was criticized at the time of its release.

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

question: What does the text say about the manufacturing process of iPhones?

answer: No answer

critique: It can be inferred that Apple builds its products around platforms much like an automaker.


text:
Oh... You're up late. Feel free to toggle nightmode if you need.

G'day, my name is Devin. Devin Mancuso.I'm an Aussie living in San Francisco., California. Occasionally, when my corporate overlords aren't watching, I post things on the internet. You can find me on Twitter and IG. or sign up for my newsletter. (I don't post to a schedule, just whenever I have something I want to say, usually some snarky commentary about the intersection of technology and society).

You can email me at devin@radelaide.net, feel free to say hi.

I am a Designer. I’m passionate about working on projects that challenge existing power structures. and create a more equitable tech landscape for everyday people.

Lately I’ve been researching and working in the following areas:

Immersive computing (XR/MR/VR/AR) and media.

The decentralized web and dApps. For example I also publish this site as a peer-to-peer website on dat://. Dat, built by Code for Science & Society, is a protocol to serve files and works on a distributed network unlike most centralized cloud services. This means Dat transfers files peer-to-peer, skipping centralized servers.

Peer-to-peer websites are just like any other websites, except instead of files being transported by HTTP, they are transported with a peer-to-peer protocol. The website files aren’t hosted on a centralized server, they can be hosted from any computer., even your own.

You can view this site using Beaker Browser, a peer-to-peer web browser developed by Tara Vancil and Paul Frazee, via Dat at dat://dev.in., or dat://26e495b9283e95df506b5cf2c5ba1020e9f2e782bc85c7ac52deecadfcf2bb68 if you’re into that sort of thing.

Rethinking Operating Systems.

For the past 4.75 years I've been working, as a Senior Interaction Designer,Senior Interaction Designer Senior Design Strategist, at Google.

Before that I worked as a PM, a UX Lead, and a Design & Digital Strategy Consultant.

I've been lucky enough to work with some inspiring humans (_you know who you are_) on a whole heap of amazing projects.

Design Strategy, Platforms & Ecosystems

I currently work as a Senior Design Strategist for Google's Platforms & Ecosystems group. My team is focused on ambitious new opportunities that could ship in the next 2-3 years and bring cohesion, innovation, and long-term strategy to products that serve over 2 billion active users across the world. We work with various teams across Google including: Android Auto, Android TV, Android Phones, Android Tablets, Pixel, Wear+Fit, Google Education, Chrome, ChromeOS, Play, and Photos.

YouTube VR/AR

I worked as a Senior Interation Designer and UX Lead for YouTube's VR/AR/MR/XR/?R team.

YouTubeVR is one of the most popular VR apps globally across all major VR platforms. My role as UX Lead involved a mix of both tactical design work on our products, future-focused media strategies and exploratory research projects. Lately I've been focusing on a of areas that fascinate me.

Such as designing feature enhancements for our YouTubeVR app, and ensuring UX consistency as we migrated the app across the various mainstream VR headsets. It's available on Daydream View, Gear VR, Lenovo Mirage, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Oculus Go and Quest.

Or leading projects that seek to improve how immersive media formats (360° & VR180) are integrated into YouTube's iOS and Android mobile platforms.

Most recently I've have been exploring the emergence of virtual-human creators on the YouTube platform, or VTubers as they are often referred to. In 2019 I conducted interviews across Japan, the UK and the US, meeting with some of the top VTubers in the world to better understand what they required from our video platform.

Android Oreo & Pie

I was fortunate enough to be able to contribute to Android for both the Oreo and Pie releases. I led product design projects for the Android Launcher for AOSP (_Android Operating System Platform_) and also contributed to design strategy projects. focused on shaping the future of Android.

 [Pixel Image]

Pixel 2

I worked on Pixel, the Google phone, during 2016-2017. As the Interaction Designer for the Pixel Launcher I led the product design of two core features of the Pixel 2., _At-A-Glance widget_ and _Pixel Launcher search integration_.

 [Pixel Image] [Pixel Image]

AdWords Next

In 2015 I worked on the AdWords platform., a complex tool through which much of Google's multi billion dollar advertising revenue is generated., and easily one of the most challenging products at Google to design for.

Every design decision and concept is painstakingly reviewed. and questioned., often multiple times by senior stakeholders from across the company. Discipline and a willingness to commit to developing a deep level of product knowledge are essential to ensuring design has the opportunity to shine.

During my time in AdWords UX, I focused on data visualization and intelligent reporting., helping advertisers make better sense of their data., and leveraging machine intelligence to assist them in making smarter decisions about how they are using AdWords.

question: What does the text say about the author's current profession?

answer: The author is a Senior Design Strategist for Google's Platforms & Ecosystems group. The author's team is focused on ambitious new opportunities that could ship in the next 2-3 years and bring cohesion, innovation, and long-term strategy to products that serve over 2 billion active users across the world. The author's team works with various teams across Google, including: Android Auto, Android TV, Android Phones, Android Tablets, Pixel, Wear+Fit, Google Education, Chrome, ChromeOS, Play, and Photos.

critique: The answer should mention the author's specific role.

critique: The answer should mention the author's previous jobs.

critique: The author's team is focused on the Platforms & Ecosystems group, not Google's Platforms & Ecosystems group.

critique: The author's team is not discussed in the passage. The answer should be rewritten.

critique: "The author is a Senior" - highlight how the team has 3-4 Senior Design Strategists for accuracy.

critique: The author's work on Android Oreo and Pie is omitted.

question: What does the text say about Dat?

answer: Dat is a protocol to serve files and works on a distributed network. It transfers files peer-to-peer, skipping centralized servers. Peer-to-peer websites are just like any other websites, except instead of files being transported by HTTP, they are transported with a peer-to-peer protocol. The website files aren't hosted on a centralized server, they can be hosted from any computer, even your own.

critique: The answer should mention that the protocol was built by Code for Science & Society.

critique: The answer should mention that Dat is built by Code for Science & Society.

question: What does the text say about VTubers?

answer: VTubers are virtual YouTubers. In 2019, the narrator interviewed top VTubers across Japan, the UK, and the US to understand what they require from the video platform. VTubers tend to be young and live in Japan, the UK, or the US.

critique: The answer should mention that VTubers are virtual creators.

critique: The VTubers are virtual human creators, not virtual YouTubers.

critique: "VTubers" is not a term used in the text. The answer should be rewritten.

critique: The 2nd sentence is inaccurate because it's said nothing of the sort. It also skips the part where Mancuso says "VTubers".

critique: The text does not mention that VTubers tend to be young and live in Japan, the UK, or the US.

critique: The answer is not related to the question.

question: What does the text say about the author's life outside work?

answer: No answer

critique: It can be inferred that the author works a lot, so not having free time makes sense.

critique: The article does mention that Devin lives in San Francisco.

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

critique: The response misses to mention that the author is an Aussie living in San Francisco.

text: The author mentions posting on the internet when he has something to say, often snarky commentary about the intersection of technology and society.


text:
I walked across the back of the room. The noise of the crowd drowned out everything from the outside. The echoes of the hall, so deafening at the time, seemed like a blissful silence in this din. I watched as the crowd formed in groups; People joining, breaking off, moving away, like watching cells through a microscope. Amorphous globs always moving, never still, forming, dissolving, reforming. I watched as men no bigger my brother laughed and joked with men three times their size. Women, fragile and shy at first glanced, talked as loudly and easily as those oozing confidence. The group, it seemed, provided security. I could see an anxious few looking around, unsure of what to expect. I felt a smirk creep across my face. You could always tell the newbies. I stepped forward, moving through the crowded room.

"I'm glad you all could make it." I announced as I walked. Many of the gathering hadn't heard me and continued their conversations. They would quieten down soon enough. I continued towards the head of the room, not looking at anyone, but glancing at everyone.

"I felt like we should have a little chat." I raised my voice a little more. "There are some rumours floating around." I turned as I reached the head of the room.

"Some of you know me personally, others, perhaps not so much. However those who do, will be aware that I am not one for rumours. I find that they usually only provide a distraction from the real issue. However, even I must admit that from time to time, they can offer a certain insight into the feelings of the public, that can be quite informative. Before I discuss these rumours, I would like to share some thoughts with you."

I could still hear the murmurings of hushed discussion scattered throughout the room. I looked over the faces staring at me again, before moving slowly to my left. I could feel their eyes following me without looking.

"The world sees us as monsters of a kind. I'm sure you were all aware of this fact to some degree. We are seen as the violent goats, in long lines of sheep; The angry mistakes of the genial golden generations. And who can say they are wrong?  I have been thinking about this impression we have garnered. I have some thoughts, some ideas, as one is wont to do when thinking." I smiled as I heard some snickers. I turned and moved back towards the centre of the room.

"We are a generation of kids, so afraid of losing face, of losing any semblance of the respect we think we have, that any offence is answered with extreme responses. You insult someone, you get insulted back? No, you get beaten. Once upon a time, you hit someone, you have a fight, someone wins, someone loses, you both go home. Now? Now you get stabbed. Or maybe you do get home, only to be chased down and shot two days later. This violence, they blame it on movies, video games. This isn't the problem. Do they help? Probably not. Are they the cause? No. Media is made this way because its what people want. Their sense of what is right and acceptable and appropriate is warped. Why? Respect. They are so afraid of any assault on their character, any disrespect, undermining them they lash out. Does this sound like someone who feels secure of their place in society? We are a society raised to live beyond our means, both literally and figuratively. We cling to our delusions of power, artificial societal titles, we worked so hard to convince ourselves we earned. So hard we worked, to convince others to recognise our imaginary power. Secretly terrified it will all collapse around us, taken away by someone more deserving of our control. So any offense, any assault on our character is treated as a nuclear threat, capable of ripping apart our world, and is dealt with as such. Swiftly, brutally, finally." I stopped in the middle of the room and looked up. Silence reigned.

"So, these rumours. There have been mutterings in some parts of secret groups meeting. These groups, people can never decide on their purpose, size, or even name. They are a religious cult, they plan to cause havoc, they are starting a new sports team, they are a group of serial killers comparing notes, they are good samaritans, teaching manners and helping little old ladies across the street." hushed laughter spread through the back of the mob. I continued across the room. "What can I say, it seems we are becoming known, ladies and gentlemen. The question is, what now?"

I heard the door open and close at the back of the room. I paused for a moment, waiting for everyone to calm down again. That’s when I saw Stirling pushing his way through the crowd. I watched as he walked hurriedly towards me.

"There is a problem. You need to come with me." he whispered when he got close. I looked at him, his expression a measured image of urgency and assuredness. This was not something I could ignore.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"He's been found." I took a second, then turned back to the assembly. "I'm sorry, but I have to leave you all. There are matters I must attend to." The noise level rose dramatically as we worked our way towards the exit. "Where is he?"

title: Stronger

question: Summarize the motives of the speaker.

answer: The speaker seeks to unite the mob under the belief that they are capable of huge acts of violence fueled by their need for recognition and respect. The speaker believes that members of the mob actually consider themselves an important part of society despite neither being able to define their own purpose nor coming together. The rumors they are hearing also seem to impact on their need for an outlet for their violence. The speaker believes that violence, when inevitable, is actually easier to predict than any scheme and is something they are more prepared to deal with when it occurs.

critique: The first two sentences do not fully capture the reveal in the climax.

critique: The response misses to mention that the speaker is also aware that the mob has been labeled as a group of violent monsters.

critique: The answer is a bit confusing and hard to understand.

critique: The last line is unnecessary and confusing.

critique: The response contains inaccurate information.


question: What does the text say about Apple?

answer: Apple is about to make radical changes to its products.

critique: The answer should mention the specific changes that are supposed to happen.

critique: The answer should be more specific about the products mentioned in the text.

text: The answer should mention that Apple has always pushed for hardware changes that felt radical and alienating at the time but ended up being the norm in the next few years.

question: What does the text say about Apple and spy photos?

answer: Apple spy photos are big business and a staple in tech journalism. The photos leaked show radical changes about to hit two of Apple's flagship products.

critique: The photos are not the reason for the article.

critique: These are two different observations but nothing to do with Apple and spy photography.

critique: The answer should mention that the photos are not confirmed.

critique: The photos leaked are not the ones taken by the author of the article.

critique: The photos are not radical changes, but the changes are radical.

question: What does the text say about the original MacBook Air?

answer: The original MacBook Air is a mundane computer by today's standards. It has a small screen, thin body, and long battery life. But in 2008 when it was released, it was the butt of jokes. It lacked an optical disk drive and relied too much on wireless connectivity since it didn't have an ethernet port.

critique: The first sentence should be in past tense.

critique: It's omitted that Apple made it specifically for a future with wireless networks and that they built it knowing they'd add connectors when they were necessary.

critique: The text doesn't say that the MacBook Air was the butt of jokes in 2008.

critique: The answer should mention that the MacBook Air was released in 2008.

critique: The answer should mention that Apple built the Air for the future.

critique: The answer should mention that Apple built the Air for the future, not for 2008.

question: What does the text say about the manufacturing process of iPhones?

answer: No answer

critique: The text does not mention anything about the manufacturing process of iPhones.

critique: The article does mention the manufacturing process of iPhones.


text:
Making the Most of Your Next Business Trip

Traveling for business is always a terrific opportunity for those of us that are able to it. As, one can take great pleasure in being paid to attend meetings, meet clients and forge friendships in a new city or country and then possibly have enough time left to visit some sights.

These tips below will help you get the most out of a business trip, regardless of whether it is your 1st or you already have hundreds logged.

As follows:

Pack Smart

[Young smiling man packing clothes into travel bag]

Start by choosing the right bag for your trip. If you are only going to be away for a few days then a smart holdall or carry on suitcase should be enough.

Only take essential items with you such as suitable business attire for meetings, casual clothing for downtime and minimal toiletries.  Decide upon what electronics you need: phone, laptop, tablet and e-reader.

Make a List

[Business woman hand working at a computer and writing on a noteped]

Even if you have done this before, there is always a chance that you could get distracted while packing and overlook something.

So, by making a list you will arrive at the airport calmer and not have to constantly check to see if you’ve got your passport when on the way.

Either write everything down or make a printable checklist that you can use for each trip. Some Key items to include are boarding passes, credit cards, foreign currency, passports and phone and laptop chargers.

Schedule Meetings Carefully

[Creativity, brainstorming, planning, teamwork meeting]

Make sure that you are rested, alert and ready for every meeting, whether formal or informal, by giving yourself time to relax in between.

There’s nothing worse than closing a meeting and then having to rush across town to another while constantly worrying if you will be on time.

By scheduling time to return to your hotel for an hour or sit down for lunch you give yourself a better chance to arrive energized.

Allow Time to Explore the Destination

[woman with suitcase in new york city]

While you will be mostly occupied by work-related events, do not miss the opportunity to be a tourist.

Research the destination before you depart to find out about any historic landmarks, galleries, museums and parks that you would like to see.

Check for any sporting events or concerts that might be taking place.

If you have the option, see if you can extend your trip over a weekend so you have more time to explore before heading home.

Also, accept the offer from colleagues/clients to go out for dinner and/or drinks. When going to bars and restaurants with locals you are more likely to discover hidden gems.

[young couple reviewing shopping receipt]

Whether your company is bankrolling the trip or you’re meeting with clients for your own business, make sure you keep track of your receipts for purchases while traveling.

It will make submitting a report to your company for travel reimbursement much easier.

If you are the Boss, you will be able to write off much of your work meals and travel on your taxes. Travel can drain resources, so the more you can use it to your advantage the better.

 Travel With a Partner when Possible

[Happy senior couple in Paris on vacation]

If it is an option then bring a friend or your loved one with you do it.

Many hotels charge more, or the same, for single occupancy rooms than doubles.

So what better way to use that extra space than by offering it to someone you like to be with. When you are at work, they can be out exploring the city and looking for interesting places for you to dine and drink.

For sure, you will be thankful of the company after a busy day and bringing them to social events can make interactions with your colleagues and clients easier.

Have a very pleasant and successful trip

__  better, business, clients, Company, dine, events, meetings, sights, travel, trip, work

The following two tabs change content below.

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HEFFX has become one of Asia’s leading financial services companies with interests in Publishing, Private Equity, Capital Markets, Mining, Retail, Transport and Agriculture that span every continent of the world. Our clearing partners have unprecedented experience in Equities, Options, Forex and Commodities brokering, banking, physical metals dealing, floor brokering and trading.

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question: What is the best way of reducing stress when traveling for work?

answer: Pack smart, make a list and schedule meetings carefully so that you have time to relax in between.

critique: The answer should mention the importance of exploring the destination.

critique: The answer should mention that you should allow time to explore the destination.

critique: The answer should mention that you should only bring necessities, not everything.


text:
    During life people are called many things, some good, some bad. Within a short eight years I’ve been called; a student, worker, son, good listener, hero, savior, and many more. Since I was ten I’ve been talking people out of suicide online. During my eight years of helping people, I’ve helped many people, created an online organization, and learned many new things. This has forever and will constantly change my life.

    Many people ask me, how did this happen? How does a ten year old get mixed up with people’s lives? It was three days after my tenth birthday, the smell of my moms homemade cake was still tangible in the air. I logged onto the computer and found a chat room. I came across a man inside the room. He was talking about ending his life because his wife was cheating on him and getting his kids. My heart was in my ears beating hard, my palms were clammy and wet like a river. I talked with him till late in the night past any ten year olds bed time. This man was set and ready to die, a mere child stopped him. Me.

    A few months after helping the man, I met a girl my age who was rather interested in the “work” I did. She wanted to be part of the action. Lillie and I decided to work together helping people we would find in chat rooms. This continued for about a year. Lillie started to struggle with herself, the constant pressure of someone’s life in your hands at that young of an age takes a heavy toll upon the beholder. Lillie messaged me one night, “Dominic I have a problem” I asked her what it was and she stated, she wanted to die. She couldn’t take helping people anymore. I remember crying, panicking, wanting her to see it my way and not do what she was planning. It all ended so fast only three words remained “Lillie Signed Off.”

    Three years have passed since Lillie’s death, I created an online organization, filled with teens helping people out of dark thoughts. I created this organization in memory of Lillie. DarkShadows. DarkShadows, was constructed of teens from around the world, looking for people with suicidal thoughts that wanted to help prevent suicide. One hundred and ninety-seven teens joined DarkShadows. Each night we would have meetings and we would talk with one another to see if everyone was ok. I learned that this “job” is to hard for one child to take on alone day in and day out, there needs to be an escape route. DarkShadows showed some amazing results, the teens in DarkShadows were able to talk to five hundred plus people out of suicide. With every construction there is a destruction.

    I had a hard time destroying DarkShadows for I was proud of it. I closed down DarkShadows because the stress was enormous, two people were talking people into suicide, three people committed suicide from the pressure, and people started to not care. DarkShadows lasted three years and I was shocked that I could uphold it for so long, but I knew it had to go. I will never forget what I’ve learned from these past experiences.

    I’ve learned, many things over the past few years. I’ve learned that even though the world seems to burn like a raging fireball, there are many people out there still that care for others. I’ve learned that it doesn’t take a hero to save someone, you don’t need a utility belt, powers, cape, gadgets, or a “cool” name to save someone. All you need is a heart, and the will power, and the determination. Everyone is a hero in a way, you’re a hero to your kid, give someone some change for the bus, do something that is not expected from you. You are a hero.

    My life has changed drastically due to this “job”. I have become a better listener, I became mature, I met new people. I think back from when I was ten, I would have never imagined that helping that one guy would take me this far. I feel that due to this, I have a good understanding of people. I can “read” them easier. At times I have thought is it worth it? Is it worth spending hours upon hours helping someone that I don’t even know? When you help someone the end result of them being alive thanks to you is by far the best feeling you can think of. My life will never be the same due to this and for that I am grateful.

    During my short life span I’ve been a lot of things and experienced even more things. Do these names and experiences define me? Or simply give a better understanding of me? By helping one man live through the loss of his wife and kids. I met a great friend that I hold dear in my heart. I became a leader, making tough decisions for a lot of people. I learned, people still care for one another in this world. This has ultimately affected, and effected my life forever and I will never forget it. To be a Hero, you don’t need a cape or a utility belt, just a heart.

title: To Be A Hero You Need A Heart (True Story)

question: What would have happened if Lillie did not kill herself?

answer: Dominic owns and runs DarkShadows, a global organization that tries to help people in need as well as prevent suicide. If Lillie did not kill herself and was still part of his life, Dominic would have never created DarkShadows.

critique: The answer is a bit speculative. It is possible that Dominic would have started the group even if Lillie did not kill herself.

critique: "Dominic owns and runs DarkShadows, a global organization that tries to help people in need as well as prevent suicide. If Lillie did not kill herself and was still part of his life, Dominic would have never created DarkShadows." - this is incorrect. Dominic created DarkShadows because he was inspired by Lillie's death.

critique: Dominic created DarkShadows in memory of Lillie.