OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Barack Obama's Letter to John Gage regarding the Department of Defense

20 October 2008
| “ | John Gage National President American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO 80 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 Dear President Gage, I am writing to respond to your concerns raised with my staff about the draft May 22nd regulations issued by the Department of Defense to implement the National Security Personnel System (NSPS). As I understand it, DoD has stated that it will implement final regulations on this matter in October. I agree with yout hat it is inappropriate and unwie for DoD to implement such a highly contentious, ill-conceived program so late in this administration, particularly following teh vast revisions to the program included in the FY08 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It is clear to me that the intention of Congress was to reinstate collective bargaining. Yet DoD is still moving forward with a personnel system that prohibits most collective bargaining. Based on my conversations with DoD civilian employees, I have several concerns about the NSPS pay system, including the aforementioned restrictions on bargaining rights, the disconnection between pay and performance despite what employees have been told, the requirement that performance ratings be pushed into a forced distribution, or bell curve, the suppression of wages by permitting bonuses to be paid instead of base salary increases, and the cirtual elimination of merit consideration in the promotion process. Further, the class action lawsuits alleging race, gender, and age bias by employees placed under pay systems similar to NSPS in other agencies should give us pause. I cannot and will not support a pay system which discriminates against employees, and I cannot and will not support a pay system which ultimately is designed to suppress wages for civilian DoD employees over time. The elimination of collective bargaining rights is not the purpose Congress had this year when it enacted legislation in support of the hundreds of thousands of civilian employees who support the mission and operations of the Department of Defense. I am fully aware that DoD's civilian employees are the Department's backbone, without which our troops would never be able to conduct operations in an effective manner. Never before has that support function been so important to all Americans, as we fight two wars simultaneously in Iraq and Afghanistan. I want to assure you that if I am elected President, I will substantially revise these NSPS regulations, and strongly consider a complete repeal. Thank you, John, for all you and AFGE's members do for America. Sincerely, [signature] Barack Obama | ” |
# Barack Obama's Letter to John Gage regarding the Department of Housing and Urban Development

20 October 2008.
| “ | John Gage National President American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO 80 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 Dear President Gage, I am writing to present a few thoughts on my vision for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Department's mission – to promote affordable quality housing and community development available to all without discrimination – is critical to the well-being of millions of working families. As we tackle the effects of the current fiscal crisis on Americans, HUD must be part of the solution. I am committed to appointing a Secretary, Deputy and Assistant Secretaries who are committed to HUD's mission and capable of executing it. I know that the Department needs resources to successfully implement the expansion of programs required by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. I pledge to work with Congress to secure resources necessary to meet HUD's important mission. Because of the fiscal mess left behind by the current Administration, we will need to look carefully at all departments and programs. We plan specifically to look at work that is being contracted out to ensure that it is fiscally responsible and effective. It is dishonest to claim real savings by reducing the number of HUD employees overseeing a program but increase the real cost of the program by transferring oversight to contractors. I pledge to reverse this poor management practice. I look forward to working with HUD employees and their union representatives. We face challenging times. Together, we can provide solutions to our nation's financial and physical infrastructure problems. Thank you, John, for everything you and your members do for America. Sincerely, [signature] Barack Obama | ” |
# Barack Obama's Letter to John Gage regarding the Department of Labor

20 October 2008.
| “ | John Gage National President American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO 80 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 Dear President Gage, I am writing to present a few thoughts on my vision for the U.S. Department of Labor. The agency's proper and effective administration is critical to the safety and prosperity of working Americans. I will appoint a Secretary of Labor who fully supports the mission of the Department and who will protect working Americans and their families. An Obama Department of Labor will fight to protect overtime rights for millions of Americans, enforce wage and hour laws, and ensure that OSHA enforces workplace safety laws. My Labor Secretary will support DoL civil servants as they work to enforce our labor laws. As you know, one of the worst disasters of the Bush Administration has been the Department's failure to ensure mine safety. In my Department of Labor, the Administrator of Mine Safety and Health will be an advocate for miners' safety and health, not for the mining companies' bottom lines. Our mine safety program will have the staffing and the enforcement tools needed to get the job done. Finally, I believe that it's time we stopped talking about family values and start pursuing policies that truly value families, such as paid family leave, flexible work schedules, and telework, with the federal government leading by example. Thank you, John, for everything you and your members do for America. Sincerely, [signature] Barack Obama | ” |
# Barack Obama's Letter to John Gage regarding the Department of Veterans' Affairs

20 October 2008.
| “ | John Gage National President American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO 80 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 Dear President Gage, I am writing regarding my concerns about Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) policies that threaten the delivery of health care and benefits to our veterans, and deprive them of valuable employment opportunities with in the VA. First and foremost, the way our nation provides funding for VA health care must be reformed. I recently cosponsored legislation to end the unpredictability and inadequacy of VA's discretionary funding process and instead, use an advance appropriations process that would allow Congress to provide VA health care dollars in advance and allow for improved planning and predictability. My Administration will recommend passage of advance appropriation legislation for the FY appropriations cycle, instead of yearly continuing resolutions that lead to delays in hiring and facility construction. I will also work to fully fund veterans care. Earlier this year, I proudly voted for an expansion of GI bill benefits because I believe that access to an affordable college education is critical to a successful transition to civilian life and a secure future for veterans and their families. That is why I was deeply troubled to learn of the VA's initial plans to contract out work under the new law, using a closed bidding process that lacked an opportunity for current VA employees to compete to keep their jobs, despite their excellent track record and the large number of veterans in these positions. I am glad that the VA reversed itself and decided to administer the program in-house. Please let me know how I can be of assistance in helping the VA meet the ambitious goals set by Congress. As president, I will ensure that this landmark law is guided by the goal of educating veterans rather than enriching contractors. My administration also will address the VA's personnel policies that have greatly eroded the Title 38 collective bargaining rights of nurses and doctors and other providers who work in VA medical facilities. The VA's interpretation of these rights circumvents congressional intent and weakens its ability to recruit and retain an adequate workforce to care for the men and women who have sacrificed in service to our nation and our freedom. Collective bargaining rights are fundamental for our workforce and will help ensure quality health care delivery. I also pledge that my administration's nominees will have a clear understanding of Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Thank you, John, for everything you and your members do for America. Sincerely, [signature] Barack Obama | ” |
# Barack Obama's Letter to John Gage regarding the Environmental Protection Agency

20 October 2008.
| “ | John Gage National President American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO 80 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 Dear President Gage, I am writing to share my views with you regarding the importance of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in an Obama Administration. The mission of the EPA is to protect the environment of the nation. In recent years, however, the pursuit of this goal has slowed, and in some cases, has been jeopardized outright. This is due to the failed leadership of the past eight years, despite the strong and ongoing commitment of the career individuals throughout this agency. During this same period, inadequate funding for the EPA has resulted in the ineffective allocation of resources, thus weakening enforcement and oversight of many environmental laws and regulations that protect the American people. That's why I am commited to pursuing greater funding for the EPA so that its responsibilities are carried out. Clean water, land and air, and ensuring the health and safety of our citizens, especially children, will be high priorities in an Obama Administration. In addition, EPA was established to be the nation's leader in environmental science, research, and education – yet these are the three fields which have been damaged by politics and ideology. I strongly oppose attempts by the Bush Administration to thwart publication of EPA researchers' scientific findings, as well as the attempt to eliminate the agency's library system. In an Obama Administration, the prinicple of scientific integrity will be an absolute, and I will never sanction any attempt to subvert the work of scientists. Thank you, John, for all you and AFGE's members do for America, and for the protection of our environment. Sincerely, [signature] Barack Obama | ” |
# Barack Obama's Letter to John Gage regarding the Department of Homeland Security

20 October 2008
| “ | John Gage National President American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO 80 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 Dear President Gage, I am writing regarding my concerns about the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its policies affecting its workforce. America owes DHS employees a debt of gratitude for their efforts to protect this nation from disasters – be they man-made, accidental, or natural. I support collective bargaining rights for all workers. As President, I will review decisions by the Bush Administration that have denied these rights to federal employees and seek to restore them. I am also pleased to see the so-called "pay-for-performance" system advanced by the Bush Administration has finally been withdrawn. While I strongly believe that workers can and should be rewarded for high quality work, any such recognition program must not reward one employee at the expense of another. This is unfair and serves to reduce morale, rather than improve it. In all of my administration's hiring decisions, I will work to ensure that each nominee has a clear understanding of the labor-management collective bargaining process and my commitment to assuring its fairness. The same goes for my appointments to the Federal Labor Relations Authority and the Federal Services Impasses Panel. I know that DHS employees understand how to best implement the DHS mission and I want to be sure they have the tools they need to get the job done. Our national security depends on it. Thank you for everything you and your members do for the America people. Sincerely, [signature] Barack Obama | ” |
# Archaeological Journal/Volume 8/Original Documents: Armory of Winchester College, Inventory taken about the year 1455

ARMORY OF WINCHESTER COLLEGE.
Inventory taken about the year 1455.
The following document may not inappropriately be appended to the interesting extracts for which the Society is indebted to Mr. Gunner. It is found in a Register amongst the College Muniments, containing lists of the Wardens, inventories of books, sacred ornaments, furniture, &c. These were taken a few years after the decease of Robert Thurnberne, Warden from 1413 to 1450. The following list occurs after household effects:—
ARMARIA.
Item, xlvj. do Basnettes et Palettes cum xxxiij. Ventall'. Item, ij. par' de Plates integ' coopert' cum blod' velvett', quorum j. cum Frenge de serico. Item, vij. Brestplates cum iiij. Pusiones. Item, viij. par' Rerebrases et ij. pro j. arm'. Item, viij. vambrases, cum iiij. par' de leg harneys et j. leg' cum Cusshu. Item, ij. par' de Sabaturez cum vj. par' cirothecarum. Item, xv. lorice, cum xiij. Pollaxes, unde xij. de una et eadem secta. Item, xij. archus (sic) novi. Item, iij. shefes sagittarum. Item, j. Gesarme, et j. Barello pro loricis purgandis.
It would be curious to ascertain what had at any period been the number of men for whom equipment was kept in the armory. We find a disproportionate number of head-pieces, not fewer than forty-six, and a slender supply of body-armour, with few weapons; a dozen new bows had been provided, with a modicum of arrows. It is clear that there was slight fear of hostile aggressions at that time.
There occur here some terms of military costume, which will be interesting to some of our readers. We find Palettes, not, as Sir Samuel Meyrick somewhat hastily surmised, round plates for the shoulder-joint, like a painter's palette, but head-pieces; the pelluris, galea ex coreo et pelle, a defence, no doubt, of cuir bonilli. There were pusiones, or Pisans, not made at Pisa, but defences, as Mr. Hudson Turner well observes, for the pis, or breast. For the thighs of the collegiate guard there was small protection, the harness for one leg only having a quisshew, or cuissart. Hauberks there were fifteen, with a barrel in which they were cleansed from rust by rolling, the customary expedient, of which mention is made in other documents. A. W.
# Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume VIII/Pseudo-Clementine Literature/The Clementine Homilies/Homily XIX
## Contents

* Chapter 1
* Chapter 2
* Chapter 3
* Chapter 4
* Chapter 5
* Chapter 6
* Chapter 7
* Chapter 8
* Chapter 9
* Chapter 10
* Chapter 11
* Chapter 12
* Chapter 13
* Chapter 14
* Chapter 15
* Chapter 16
* Chapter 17
* Chapter 18
* Chapter 19
* Chapter 20
* Chapter 21
* Chapter 22
* Chapter 23
* Chapter 24
* Chapter 25
# Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume VIII/Pseudo-Clementine Literature/The Clementine Homilies/Homily XIX/Chapter 1

Homily XIX.
Chapter I.—Simon Undertakes to Prove that the Creator of the World is Not Blameless.
The next day Peter came forth earlier than usual; and seeing Simon with many others waiting for him, he saluted the multitude, and began to discourse. But no sooner did he begin than Simon interrupted him, and said:  “Pass by these long introductions of yours, and answer directly the questions I put to you. Since I perceive that you (as I know from what I heard at the beginning, that you have no other purpose, than by every contrivance to show that the Creator himself is alone the blameless God),—since, as I said, I perceive that you have such a decided desire to maintain this, that you venture to declare to be false some portions of the Scriptures that clearly speak against him, for this reason I have determined to-day to prove that it is impossible that he, being the Creator of all, should be blameless. But thus proof I can now begin, if you reply to the questions which I put to you.

## Footnotes

* ↑ This passage is corrupt. Wieseler has proposed to amend it by bold transposition of the clauses. We make one slight alteration in the text.
# Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume VIII/Pseudo-Clementine Literature/The Clementine Homilies/Homily XIX/Chapter 14

Chapter XIV.—Is Matter Eternal?
And Simon said: “But what if matter, being coeval with Him, and possessing equal power, produces as His foe leaders who hinder His wishes?” And Peter said:  “If matter is eternal, then it is the foe of no one: for that which exists for ever is impassible, and what is impassible is blessed; but what is blessed cannot be receptive of hatred, since, on account of its eternal creation, it does not fear that it will be deprived of anything. But how does not matter rather love the Creator, when it evidently sends forth its fruits to nourish all who are made by Him? And how does it not fear Him as superior, as trembling through earthquakes it confesses, and as, though its billows ran high, yet, when the Teacher was sailing on it and commanded a calm, it immediately obeyed and became still? What! did not the demons go out through fear and respect for Him, and others of them desired to enter into swine; but they first entreated Him before going, plainly because they had no power to enter even into swine without His permission?”

## Footnotes

* ↑ Probably “eternity” should be read, instead of “eternal creation.”
* ↑ At this word thems. of Cotelerius breaks off; and we have the rest only in the Ottobonian ms., first edited by Dressel.
* ↑ Matt. xxvii. 51, viii. 24–26.
* ↑ Matt. viii. 31.
# Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume VIII/Pseudo-Clementine Literature/The Clementine Homilies/Homily XIX/Chapter 15

Chapter XV.—Sin the Cause of Evil.
And Simon said: “But what if, being lifeless, it possesses a nature capable of producing what is evil and what is good?” And Peter said: “According to this statement, it is neither good nor evil, because it does not act by free choice, being lifeless and insensible. Wherefore it is possible to perceive distinctly in this matter, how, being lifeless, it produces as if it were living; and being insensible, it yet plainly fashions artistic shapes both in animals and plants.” And Simon said: “What! if God Himself gave it life, is not He, then, the cause of the evils which it produces?” And Peter said: “If God gave it life according to His own will, then it is His Spirit that produces it, and no longer is it anything hostile to God, or of equal power with Him; or it is impossible that everything made by Him is made according as He wishes. But you will say, He Himself is the cause of evil, since He Himself produces the evils through it. What sort, then, are the evils of which you speak? Poisonous serpents and deadly plants, or demons, or any other of those things that can disturb men?—which things would not have been injurious had not man sinned, for which reason death came in. For if man were sinless, the poison of serpents would have no effect, nor the activities of injurious plants, nor would there be the disturbances of demons, nor would man naturally have any other suffering; but losing his immortality on account of his sin, he has become, as I said, capable of every suffering. But if you say, Why, then, was the nature of man made at the beginning capable of death? I tell you, because of free-will; for if we were not capable of death, we could not, as being immortal, be punished on account of our voluntary sin. And thus, on account of our freedom from suffering, righteousness would be still more weakened if we were wicked by choice; for those who should have evil purposes could not be punished, on account of their being incapable of suffering.

## Footnotes

* ↑ Possibly the right reading is ἐμψύχους, “it produces living beings.”
* ↑ Or, “on whose account.”
* ↑ [Comp. xi. 8; Recognitions, iii. 21, 26, etc.—R.]
* ↑ The text is corrupt.
# Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume VIII/Pseudo-Clementine Literature/The Clementine Homilies/Homily XIX/Chapter 12

Chapter XII.—God Produced the Wicked One, But Not Evil.
And Simon said: “If, then, God is the cause only of what is good, what else can we think than that some other principle begot the evil one; or is evil unbegotten?” And Peter said: “No other power begot the wicked one, nor is evil unbegotten, as I shall show in the conclusion; for now my object is to prove, as I promised in the commencement, that God is blameless in every respect. We have granted, then, that God possesses in an incomparable way the better attributes that belong to men. Wherefore also it is possible for Him to have been the producer of the four substances,—heat, I mean, and cold, moist and dry. These, as being at first simple and unmixed, were naturally indifferent in their desire; but being produced by God, and mixed externally, they would naturally become a living being, possessing the free choice to destroy those who are evil. And thus, since all things have been begotten from Him, the wicked one is from no other source. Nor has he derived his evil from the God who has created all things (with whom it is impossible that evil should exist), because the substances were produced by Him in a state of indifference, and carefully separated from each other; and when they were externally blended through his art, there arose through volition the desire for the destruction of the evil ones. But the good cannot be destroyed by the evil that arose, even though it should wish to do so: for it exercises its power only against those who sin. Ignorant, then, of the character of each, he makes his attempt against him, and convicting him, he punishes him.” And Simon said: “God being able to mingle the elements, and to make His mixtures so as to produce any dispositions that He may wish, why did He not make the composition of each such as that it would prefer what is good?”

## Footnotes

* ↑ “Evil” is not in the mss. It is inserted from the next sentence.
* ↑ “Every” is inserted by a conjecture of Schwegler’s.
* ↑ Lit., “naturally had their desire towards neither.”
* ↑ The mss. have “by law.” We have changed νόμῳ into μόνον.
* ↑ The devil is plainly meant by the “he.”
# Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume VIII/Pseudo-Clementine Literature/The Clementine Homilies/Homily XIX/Chapter 13

Chapter XIII.—God the Maker of the Devil.
And Peter said: “Now indeed our object is to show how and by whom the evil one came into being, since he did come into being; but we shall show if he came into being blamelessly, when we have finished the subject now in hand. Then I shall show how and on account of what he came into being, and I shall fully convince you that his Creator is blameless. We said, then, that the four substances were produced by God. And thus, through the volition of Him who mingled them, arose, as He wished, the choice of evils. For if it had arisen contrary to His determination, or from some other substance or cause, then God would not have had firmness of will: for perchance, even though He should not wish it, leaders of evil might continually arise, who would war against His wishes. But it is impossible that this should be the case.  For no living being, and especially one capable of giving guidance, can arise from accident: for everything that is produced must be produced by some one.”

## Footnotes

* ↑ This passage is evidently corrupt. But it is not easy to amend it.