dgand84/projgand huggingface dataset:
Título: Slipknot (band)
Seção: Image and identities
Background: Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. The band was formed in 1992 by percussionist Shawn Crahan, drummer Joey Jordison and bassist Paul Gray. After several lineup changes in its early years, the band settled on nine members for more than a decade: Corey Taylor, Mick Thomson, Jim Root, Paul Gray, Craig Jones, Sid Wilson, Shawn Crahan, Chris Fehn and Joey Jordison. Gray died on May 24, 2010, and was replaced during 2011-2014 by guitarist Donnie Steele.

Conteúdo: The band is known for its attention-grabbing image; the members perform wearing unique, individual facemasks and matching uniforms--typically jumpsuits--while each member is typically assigned and referred to by number based on their role in the band (#0 through #8), although the latter practice has diminished following the death of Paul Gray.  The band has said the idea of wearing masks stemmed from a clown mask that Crahan took to rehearsals when the band first started. Crahan later became known for his clown masks, adopting the pseudonym "Shawn the Clown". The concept developed; by late 1997, the band decided every band member would wear a unique mask and matching jumpsuit. Taylor said in 2002, "it's our way of becoming more intimate with the music. It's a way for us to become unconscious of who we are and what we do outside of music. It's a way for us to kind of crawl inside it and be able to use it." The concept of wearing matching jumpsuits has been described as a response to commercialism in the music industry and led to the idea of assigning the band members numerical aliases. According to Taylor, "Originally, we were just going to wear the jumpsuits ...  we figured we might as well take that further and number ourselves ...  We were basically saying, 'Hey, we're a product!'".  During their careers, the members of Slipknot have developed their images, updating their uniforms and each member's mask upon the release of each album. The appearance and style of the masks d

user: what was their image?

assistant: attention-grabbing image; the members perform wearing unique, individual facemasks and matching uniforms--typically jumpsuits

user: what other things played a part in their image?

assistant: The concept of wearing matching jumpsuits has been described as a response to commercialism in the music industry and led to the idea of assigning the band members numerical aliases.

user: What else were they known for?

assistant: Several band members have said wearing the masks helps to maintain privacy in their personal lives.

user: Were they successful?

assistant: The band's image has been the subject of much criticism and controversy, with critics generally accusing it of being a sales gimmick.

user: How did they respond to that accusation?

assistant: The band's members object to these claims; according to them the masks are used to divert attention from themselves and put it on the music.
Título: Patsy Mink
Seção: Early years and education
Background: Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink (Zhu Ben  matsu, Takemoto Matsu, December 6, 1927 - September 28, 2002) was an American lawyer and politician from the U.S. state of Hawaii. Mink was a third generation Japanese American and member of the Democratic Party. She also was the Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. Mink served in the U.S. House of Representatives for a total of 12 terms, representing Hawaii's first and second congressional districts.

Conteúdo: Mink was born in Hamakua Poko on the island of Maui. She attended Maui High School and in her junior year won her first election to become student body president. The month before her election, Honolulu was attacked by Japan. As a consequence, most of the student body was uncomfortable with anything that was Japanese-oriented. In order to get elected, Mink had to overcome these hard feelings. Mink was the only female who had ever showed ambition for student office in the school's history, something that was unheard of at the time. She orchestrated a strategy of impressing the various cliques on campus, including the popular football team. Her coalition-building strategy worked and she won a close election. In 1944, Mink graduated from high school as class valedictorian.  Mink moved to Honolulu where she attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa with medical school and a career in medicine her ultimate goal. During her sophomore year, she was elected president of the Pre-Medical Students Club and was selected as a member of the varsity debate team. She spent one semester (from September 1946-January 1947) enrolled at Wilson College, a small women's college in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania before transferring to the University of Nebraska where she once again faced discrimination. The university had a long-standing racial segregation policy whereby students of color lived in different dormitories from the white students. This annoyed Mink, and she organized and created a coalitio

user: Where did she go to school?

assistant: she attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa

user: What did she major in?

assistant: she attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa with medical school and a career in medicine her ultimate goal.
Título: Robert Benchley
Seção: Later life
Background: Robert Charles Benchley (September 15, 1889 - November 21, 1945) was an American humorist best known for his work as a newspaper columnist and film actor. From his beginnings at The Harvard Lampoon while attending Harvard University, through his many years writing essays and articles for Vanity Fair and The New Yorker and his acclaimed short films, Benchley's style of humor brought him respect and success during his life, from his peers at the Algonquin Round Table in New York City to contemporaries in the burgeoning film industry. Benchley is best remembered for his contributions to The New Yorker, where his essays, whether topical or absurdist, influenced many modern humorists. He also made a name for himself in Hollywood, when his short film How to Sleep was a popular success and won Best Short Subject at the 1935 Academy Awards, and through his many memorable appearances in films such as Alfred Hitchcock's Foreign Correspondent (1940) and Nice Girl?

Conteúdo: 1939 was a bad year for Benchley's career. Besides the cancellation of his radio show, Benchley learned that MGM did not plan to renew his contract, and The New Yorker, frustrated with Benchley's film career taking precedence over his theatre column, appointed Wolcott Gibbs to take over in his stead. Following his final New Yorker column in 1940, Benchley signed with Paramount Pictures for another series of one-reel shorts, all filmed at Paramount's Long Island studio in Astoria, New York. Most of them were adapted from his old essays ("Take the Witness!," with Benchley fantasizing about conquering a tough cross-examination, was filmed as The Witness; "The Real Public Enemies," showing the criminal tendencies of sinister household objects, was filmed as Crime Control, etc.). In 1940 Benchley appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's Foreign Correspondent for which he is also credited as one of the dialogue writers. In 1941 Benchley received two more feature-length roles: Walt Disney's The Reluctant Dragon, in which Benchley tours the various departments of the Disney studio, and Nice Girl? with Deanna Durbin, noteworthy for a rare dramatic performance by Benchley.  Benchley's roles primarily came as a freelance actor, as his Paramount shorts contract didn't pay as well as feature films. Benchley was cast in minor roles for various romantic comedies, some shoots going better than others. He appeared in prominent roles with Fred Astaire in You'll Never Get Rich (1941) and The Sky's the Li

user: when did he retire?

assistant: frustrated with Benchley's film career taking precedence over his theatre column, appointed Wolcott Gibbs to take over in his stead.

user: Did he continue writing?

assistant: Benchley signed with Paramount Pictures for another series of one-reel shorts, all filmed at Paramount's Long Island studio in Astoria, New York.
Título: Dr. Dre
Seção: 1984-1985: World Class Wreckin' Cru
Background: Young was born in Compton, California, the first child of Theodore and Verna Young. His middle name, Romelle, is derived from his father's amateur R&B singing group, The Romells. His parents married in 1964, separated in 1968, and divorced in 1972. His mother later remarried and had three children: sons Jerome and Tyree (both deceased) and daughter Shameka.

Conteúdo: Inspired by the Grandmaster Flash song "The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel", he often attended a club called Eve After Dark to watch many DJs and rappers performing live. He subsequently became a DJ in the club, initially under the name "Dr. J", based on the nickname of Julius Erving, his favorite basketball player. At the club, he met aspiring rapper Antoine Carraby, later to become member DJ Yella of N.W.A. Soon afterwards he adopted the moniker Dr. Dre, a mix of previous alias Dr. J and his first name, referring to himself as the "Master of Mixology". Eve After Dark had a back room with a small four-track studio. In this studio, Dre and Yella recorded several demos. In their first recording session, they recorded a song entitled "Surgery", with the lyrics "calling Dr. Dre to surgery" serving as the chorus to the song. He later joined the musical group World Class Wreckin' Cru under the independent Kru-Cut Records in 1984. The group would become stars of the electro-hop scene that dominated early 1980s West Coast hip hop. "Surgery", which was officially released after being recorded prior to the group's official formation, would prominently feature Dr. Dre on the turntable. The record would become the group's first hit, selling 50,000 copies within the Compton area.  Dr. Dre and DJ Yella also performed mixes for local radio station KDAY, boosting ratings for its afternoon rush-hour show The Traffic Jam. Dr. Dre's earliest recordings were released in 

user: What was World Class Wreckin Cru?

assistant: musical group

user: When was it started?

assistant: 1984.

user: Who was involved?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Did they produce many albums?

assistant: Surgery",

user: What type of surgery?

assistant: "Surgery", which was officially released after being recorded prior to the group's official formation, would prominently feature Dr. Dre

user: Did it make bill board charts?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER
Título: Les Paul
Seção: Later career
Background: Les Paul was born Lester William Polsfuss in Waukesha, Wisconsin, to George and Evelyn (Stutz) Polsfuss. His family was of German ancestry. Paul's mother was related to the founders of Milwaukee's Valentin Blatz Brewing Company and the makers of the Stutz automobile. His parents divorced when he was a child.

Conteúdo: In 1965, Paul went into semi-retirement, although he did return to the studio occasionally. He and Ford had divorced at the end of 1964 after she got tired of touring. Paul's most recognizable recordings from then through the mid-1970s were an album for London Records/Phase 4 Stereo, Les Paul Now (1968), on which he updated some of his earlier hits; and two albums comprising a meld of jazz and country improvisation with guitar virtuoso Chet Atkins, backed by some of Nashville's celebrated studio musicians, Chester and Lester (1976) and Guitar Monsters (1978), for RCA Victor.  Paul began suffering from arthritis in the mid-1960s. As he got older, the condition worsened, and in his final years he lost much of the use of his right hand except the ring and pinky fingers. In 1969, he began to lose his hearing. He had difficulty tuning guitars properly due to his ears "misinterpreting" pitch. Frustrated with the quality of most hearing aids, he set to work designing his own and was still at the job when he died. He once joked that "Audio engineers and musicians are the two kinds of people that hearing aid manufacturers fear the most."  He played at slower tempos with a large pick that was easier to hold. In 2006, at the age of 90, he won two Grammy Awards at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards for his album Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played. He also performed every Monday night with guitarist Lou Pallo, bassist Paul Nowinski (and later, Nicki Parrott), and guitarist Frank Vi

user: What were his most recognizable moments?

assistant: an album for London Records/Phase 4 Stereo,

user: Did he have any known albums?

assistant: Les Paul Now (

user: Did he have any complications in his later career?

assistant: Paul began suffering from arthritis in the mid-1960s.

user: Did he win any awards?

assistant: he won two Grammy Awards

user: Did he play with any other musicians?

assistant: Lou Pallo, bassist Paul Nowinski (and later, Nicki Parrott), and guitarist Frank Vignola and for a few years, pianist John Colaianni. Paul, Pallo, and Nowinski

user: When did he retire?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER
Título: Testament (band)
Seção: Dark Roots of Earth (2010-2013)
Background: Testament is an American thrash metal band from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1983 under the name Legacy, the band's current lineup comprises guitarists Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick, lead vocalist Chuck Billy, drummer Gene Hoglan, and bassist Steve Di Giorgio. Since its inception, Testament has had numerous lineup changes, leaving Peterson as the only constant member. Billy replaced original singer Steve "Zetro" Souza (who left the band to join Exodus as the replacement of Paul Baloff) in 1986, prior to the recording of their first studio album, The Legacy, and has been a member of the band since.

Conteúdo: As early as 2009, Testament commenced writing new material for their tenth album. In an interview with Metalheadz, guitarist Eric Peterson stated that there were about four songs written and that "there's other guys in the band who like to play the more rock melodic style but the next one is gonna be a bit heavier." In a January 2011 interview during the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise, frontman Chuck Billy revealed that Testament had been working on six new songs, with four or five "maybe left to write," and would begin recording their new album by early March. On 18 May 2011, guitarist Alex Skolnick posted an update on his Twitter, saying, "Another tune done! My riffs from last week [plus] some of [fellow Testament guitarist Eric Peterson's plus] new ones we wrote today. Planning one more, then we've got more than we need."  Testament began recording their tenth studio album on June 20, 2011. Drummer Paul Bostaph was unable to take part in the recording due to a "serious injury", although he was expected to rejoin when the band tours to support the album. Gene Hoglan, who played drums on the band's 1997 album Demonic, filled in for Bostaph. It was also reported that Lamb of God drummer Chris Adler would make a special guest appearance on a couple of bonus tracks.  Testament appeared at the California dates of the summer 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, replacing In Flames.  On 14 July 2011, it was announced that the tenth Testament studio album would be called Dark Ro

user: Is "Dark Roots of Earth" the name of  a Testament album?

assistant: Dark Roots of Earth debuted at No. 12 on Billboard 200,

user: When was "Dark Roots of Earth" released?

assistant: 2012.

user: When Dark Roots of Earth was released, what numbered album was it in their catelogue?

assistant: tenth Testament studio album

user: What is the name of a single from the Dark Roots of Earth album?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Did the public enjoy the album?

assistant: debuted at No. 12 on Billboard 200, the band's highest chart position to date.
Título: Mary Chapin Carpenter
Seção: Early records and "country" label
Background: Mary Chapin Carpenter (born February 21, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter. Carpenter spent several years singing in Washington, D.C. clubs before signing in the late 1980s with Columbia Records, who marketed her as a country singer. Carpenter's first album, 1987's Hometown Girl, did not produce any singles, although 1989's State of the Heart and 1990's Shooting Straight in the Dark each produced four Top 20 hits on the Billboard country singles charts. Carpenter's most successful album to date remains 1992's

Conteúdo: Carpenter's first album, "Hometown Girl" was produced by John Jennings and was released in 1987. Though songs from Hometown Girl got play on public and college radio stations, it was not until Columbia began promoting Carpenter as a "country" artist that she found a wider audience. For a long time, Carpenter was ambivalent about this pigeonholing, saying she preferred the term "singer-songwriter" or "slash rocker" (as in country/folk/rock). She told Rolling Stone in 1991, "I've never approached music from a categorization process, so to be a casualty of it is real disconcerting to me".  Some music critics argue that Carpenter's style covers a range of influences even broader than those from "country" and "folk". Time critic Richard Corliss described the songs in her album A Place in the World as "reminiscent of early Beatles or rollicking Motown", and one reviewer of Time* Sex* Love* noted the "wash of Beach Boys-style harmonies ... backwards guitar loops" and use of a sitar on one track, all elements not commonly found on a country or folk album.  After 1989's State of the Heart, Carpenter released Shooting Straight in the Dark in 1990, which yielded her biggest single up to that point, the Grammy Award-winning "Down at the Twist and Shout". Two years later, Carpenter released the album that, to date, has been her biggest popular success, Come On Come On (1992). The album went quadruple platinum, remaining on the Country Top 100 list for more than 97 weeks, and eventually sp

user: what country label was interested in carpenter

assistant: Columbia

user: did carpenter sign with columbia records

assistant: Columbia began promoting Carpenter as a "country" artist that she found a wider audience.

user: what was the name of her first record with columbia

assistant: first album, "Hometown Girl"

user: what year did she release her first album with columbia

assistant: released in 1987.

user: did she stay with columbia records

assistant: CANNOTANSWER
Título: John Lennon
Seção: Cynthia Lennon
Background: John Winston Ono Lennon  (9 October 1940 - 8 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, and peace activist who co-founded the Beatles, the most commercially successful band in the history of popular music. He and fellow member Paul McCartney formed a much-celebrated songwriting partnership. Along with George Harrison and Ringo Starr, the group would ascend to world-wide fame during the 1960s.

Conteúdo: Lennon met Cynthia Powell (1939-2015) in 1957 when they were fellow students at the Liverpool College of Art. Although Powell was scared of Lennon's attitude and appearance, she heard that he was obsessed with the French actress Brigitte Bardot, so she dyed her hair blonde. Lennon asked her out, but when she said that she was engaged, he screamed out, "I didn't ask you to fuckin' marry me, did I?" She often accompanied him to Quarrymen gigs and travelled to Hamburg with McCartney's girlfriend to visit him. Lennon was jealous by nature and eventually grew possessive and often terrified Powell with his anger and physical violence. Lennon later said that until he met Ono, he had never questioned his chauvinistic attitude toward women. He said that the Beatles song "Getting Better" told his own story, "I used to be cruel to my woman, and physically--any woman. I was a hitter. I couldn't express myself and I hit. I fought men and I hit women. That is why I am always on about peace."  Recalling his July 1962 reaction when he learned that Cynthia was pregnant, Lennon said, "There's only one thing for it Cyn. We'll have to get married." The couple wed on 23 August at the Mount Pleasant Register Office in Liverpool, with Brian Epstein serving as best man. His marriage began just as Beatlemania was taking off across the UK. He performed on the evening of his wedding day and would continue to do so almost daily from then on. Epstein feared that fans would be alienated by the idea of a m

user: Did she work?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Did she have anything to do with music?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Did she spend time with her husband?

assistant: She often accompanied him to Quarrymen gigs and travelled to Hamburg with McCartney's girlfriend to visit him.

user: Did she like to go with him?

assistant: Lennon was jealous by nature and eventually grew possessive and often terrified Powell with his anger and physical violence.

user: Did they stay together?

assistant: After negotiations, Lennon capitulated and agreed to let her divorce him on the same grounds.
Título: Ryan Howard
Seção: Personal life
Background: Ryan James Howard (born November 19, 1979) is an American professional baseball first baseman who is currently a free agent. Howard previously played for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2004 to 2016. Howard stands 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm) and weighs 240 pounds (110 kg). He bats and throws left-handed.

Conteúdo: Howard has a fraternal twin brother named Corey, as well as an older brother and a sister. He says he is the smallest of the Howard sons. His favorite baseball team growing up was the St. Louis Cardinals. Howard has a son named Darian Alexander, who was born January 26, 2001. Howard graduated from Lafayette High School (Wildwood, St. Louis County, Mo.) in 1998, where he played trombone. While attending Missouri State University he became a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and his line name was "Blue Hurt". Howard is a representative for a number of products including Under Armour and the Subway restaurant chain. He also appeared on the cover of MLB 08: The Show.  Howard appeared alongside teammate Chase Utley as himself on the 2010 episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia "The Gang Gets Stranded in the Woods". He also appeared as himself during the 7th season of Entourage in the episode "Lose Yourself" and appeared in the final season of The Office; set in Scranton and created during his time in Triple-A there. Howard is the acknowledged namesake of one of the show's characters, who in one episode claimed to be "Ryan Howard, the baseball player" in an attempt to gain entry into a New York nightclub.  Howard married former Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader Krystle Campbell in Maui on December 1, 2012.  A longstanding lawsuit between Howard and his family over finances was settled in November 2014.  In May 2017, Howard also announced his new role as Partner at SeventySix C

user: what was ryans personal life like?

assistant: Howard graduated from Lafayette High School (Wildwood, St. Louis County, Mo.) in 1998,

user: Are there any other interesting aspects about this article?

assistant: Howard has a fraternal twin brother named Corey, as well as an older brother and a sister.

user: who were his parents?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: what is the most interesting part of the article, in your opinion?

assistant: While attending Missouri State University he became a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and his line name was "Blue Hurt".

user: what did he do after he graduated?

assistant: Howard married former Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader Krystle Campbell in Maui on December 1, 2012.
Direct PLUS Loan Application for Graduate/Professional StudentsWilliam D. Ford Federal Direct Loan ProgramFederal Direct PLUS Loan Request for Supplemental Information 


What is a Direct PLUS Loan Application for Graduate/Professional Students? 
This is a request for supplemental information in connection with your application for a Federal Direct PLUS Loan Direct PLUS Loan through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Direct Loan Program. Some schools may have a different process for obtaining the additional information needed to process your Direct PLUS Loan application. The information that you provide will be sent to the school that you select. The school you select will use the information collected to determine your eligibility for a Direct PLUS Loan and process your application. Before you can receive a Direct PLUS Loan , you must complete a Direct PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note Direct PLUS Loan MPN, which explains all of the terms and conditions of Direct PLUS Loans and constitutes your legally binding agreement to repay all Direct PLUS Loans that you receive under the Direct PLUS Loan MPN. You will have an opportunity to complete the Direct PLUS Loan MPN after you complete the Direct PLUS Loan Request. The Direct PLUS Loan Application allows you to authorize the school to use your loan funds to satisfy other educationally related charges after tuition and fees, and room and board have been paid. You are not required to provide this authorization. BEFORE YOU CONTINUE: If you have placed a security freeze on your credit file , you must lift or remove the freeze at each credit bureau before you continue. Your application will not be processed if you have a security freeze. 

Apply for a PLUS Loan 
LOG IN TO START Start Demo 

user: Need help with the Direct Plus Loan Application for graduate students.

assistant: Would you like to learn what a Direct Plus Loan Application for graduate students is?
A non - exempt diesel - powered motor vehicle may be subject to either the OBDII emissions inspection or the diesel emissions inspection. Additional information about these inspections may be found on the table below. 

Emissions Inspections for Diesel-powered Vehicles 


Vehicles subject to diesel emissions inspection 
All non - exempt diesel - powered vehicles registered in the NYMA or Diesel Emissions Metropolitan Area DEMA some registrations may or may not show they are within DEMA, with a maximum gross weight MGW, as indicated on the vehicle registration certificate, over 8,500 pounds, must get an annual diesel emissions inspection. The diesel emissions inspection must occur at the same time as the annual safety inspection. The DEMA includes the five boroughs of New York City, and Nassau County, Suffolk County, Rockland County, and Westchester County. The model year does not exempt a vehicle from the inspection. Read section 79.2 of the inspection regulations to get information about vehicles that are exempt. All diesel - powered vehicles registered outside of the Diesel Emissions Metropolitan Area DEMA, with a maximum gross weight MGW over 8,500 pounds, do not require an annual diesel emissions inspection, but may be subject to a random roadside diesel emissions inspection. All model year 1997 or newer non - exempt diesel - powered vehicles, registered anywhere in New York State, with a gross vehicle weight rating GVWR less than 8,501 pounds, must get an annual OBDII emissions inspection, and are not subject to the diesel emissions inspection. All model year 1996 or older diesel - powered vehicles, registered anywhere in New York State, with a gross vehicle weight rating GVWR less than 8,501 pounds, are not subject to the OBDII emissions inspection, the low - enhanced emissions inspection, or the diesel emissions inspection. 

Diesel Opacity Emissions 
The Diesel Opacity Emissions inspection is not required in other areas of NY State, or for vehicles register 

user: What do I need to know about Diesel Opacity Emissions?

assistant: Testing isn't required in some areas of New York or for out of state registered vehicles, but vehicles can be tested at any time.

assistant: Have you failed a roadside inspection?

user: No, I haven't failed a test.

user: Which vehicles should be inspected?

assistant: Diesel vehicles 1997 or newer and over 8500 pounds that are registered in New York.

user: Do diesel vehicles need inspecting?

assistant: Yes, non-exempt diesel vehicles need to be inspected.

user: Do light diesel vehicles require inspections?

assistant: Any vehicle over 8500 pounds requires inspections.
Título: Ethel Merman
Seção: Later life and death
Background: Merman was born in her maternal grandmother's house located at 359 4th Avenue in Astoria, Queens in New York City in 1908, though she would later emphatically insist that it was actually 1912. Her father, Edward Zimmermann (1879-1977), was an accountant with James H. Dunham & Company, a Manhattan wholesale dry-goods company, and her mother, Agnes (Gardner) Zimmermann (1883-1974), was a teacher. Edward Zimmermann had been raised in the Dutch Reformed Church and his wife was Presbyterian.

Conteúdo: Merman began to become forgetful with advancing age, and on occasion, had difficulty with her speech. At times her behavior was erratic, causing concern among her friends. On April 7, 1983, she was preparing to travel to Los Angeles to appear on the 55th Academy Awards telecast, when she collapsed in her apartment. Merman was taken to Roosevelt Hospital, where doctors initially thought she had suffered a stroke. However, after undergoing exploratory surgery on April 11, Merman was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma. The New York Times reported that she underwent brain surgery to have the tumor removed, but it was inoperable and her condition was deemed terminal (doctors had given Merman eight and half months to live). The tumor caused Merman to become aphasic, and, as her illness progressed, she lost her hair and her face swelled. According to Merman biographer Brian Kellow, Merman's family and manager did not want the true nature of her condition revealed to the public. Merman's son Robert, Jr., who took charge of her care, later said he chose not to publicly disclose his mother's true condition because Merman strove to keep her personal life private. He stated, "Mom truly appreciated [her fans'] presence and their applause. But you shouldn't attempt to be personal--she drew lines, and she could cut you off."  Merman's health eventually stabilized enough for her to be brought back to her apartment in Manhattan. On February 15, 1984, 10 months after she was diagnosed with br

user: What was she doing in her later years?

assistant: Merman began to become forgetful with advancing age, and on occasion, had difficulty with her speech.

user: Did she develop any health problems?

assistant: At times her behavior was erratic, causing concern among her friends. On April 7, 1983, she was preparing to travel to Los Angeles

user: How did she die?

assistant: Merman was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma. The New York Times reported that she underwent brain surgery to have the tumor removed, but it was inoperable
Título: Salvador Dalí
Seção: Sculptures and other objects
Background: Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dali i Domenech, Marquis of Dali de Pubol (11 May 1904 - 23 January 1989), known professionally as Salvador Dali ( Catalan: [s@lb@'do d@'li]; Spanish: [salba'dor da'li]), was a prominent Spanish surrealist born in Figueres, Catalonia, Spain. Dali was a skilled draftsman, best known for the striking and bizarre images in his surrealist work. His painterly skills are often attributed to the influence of Renaissance masters.

Conteúdo: Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dali i Domenech was born on 11 May 1904, at 8:45 am GMT, on the first floor of Carrer Monturiol, 20 (presently 6), in the town of Figueres, in the Emporda region, close to the French border in Catalonia, Spain. In the summer of 1912, the family moved to the top floor of Carrer Monturiol 24 (presently 10). Dali's older brother, who had also been named Salvador (born 12 October 1901), had died of gastroenteritis nine months earlier, on 1 August 1903. His father, Salvador Dali i Cusi, was a middle-class lawyer and notary whose strict disciplinary approach was tempered by his wife, Felipa Domenech Ferres, who encouraged her son's artistic endeavors.  When he was five, Dali was taken to his brother's grave and told by his parents that he was his brother's reincarnation, a concept which he came to believe. Of his brother, Dali said, "[we] resembled each other like two drops of water, but we had different reflections." He "was probably a first version of myself but conceived too much in the absolute." Images of his long-dead brother would reappear embedded in his later works, including Portrait of My Dead Brother (1963).  Dali also had a sister, Anna Maria, who was three years younger. In 1949, she published a book about her brother, Dali as Seen by His Sister. His childhood friends included future FC Barcelona footballers Sagibarba and Josep Samitier. During holidays at the Catalan resort of Cadaques, the trio played football (soccer) together.  Dali

user: what scultures did he make?

assistant: Two of the most popular objects of the surrealist movement were Lobster Telephone and Mae West Lips Sofa,

user: what was special about them?

assistant: Surrealist artist and patron Edward James commissioned both of these pieces from Dali;

user: what other people did he work with?

assistant: Dali took a stab at industrial design in the 1970s with a 500-piece run of the upscale Suomi tableware by Timo Sarpaneva
Título: Harry Houdini
Seção: Mirror challenge
Background: Erik Weisz was born in Budapest to a Jewish family. His parents were Rabbi Mayer Samuel Weisz (1829-1892) and Cecilia Steiner (1841-1913). Houdini was one of seven children: Herman M. (1863-1885) who was Houdini's half-brother, by Rabbi Weisz's first marriage; Nathan J. (1870-1927); Gottfried William (1872-1925); Theodore (1876-1945); Leopold D. (1879-1962); and Carrie Gladys (1882-1959), who was left almost blind after a childhood accident. Weisz arrived in the United States on July 3, 1878, on the SS Fresia with his mother (who was pregnant) and his four brothers.

Conteúdo: In 1904, the London Daily Mirror newspaper challenged Houdini to escape from special handcuffs that it claimed had taken Nathaniel Hart, a locksmith from Birmingham, five years to make. Houdini accepted the challenge for March 17 during a matinee performance at London's Hippodrome theater. It was reported that 4000 people and more than 100 journalists turned out for the much-hyped event. The escape attempt dragged on for over an hour, during which Houdini emerged from his "ghost house" (a small screen used to conceal the method of his escape) several times. On one occasion he asked if the cuffs could be removed so he could take off his coat. The Mirror representative, Frank Parker, refused, saying Houdini could gain an advantage if he saw how the cuffs were unlocked. Houdini promptly took out a pen-knife and, holding the knife in his teeth, used it to cut his coat from his body. Some 56 minutes later, Houdini's wife appeared on stage and gave him a kiss. Many thought that in her mouth was the key to unlock the special handcuffs. However, it has since been suggested that Bess did not in fact enter the stage at all, and that this theory is unlikely due to the size of the 6-inch key Houdini then went back behind the curtain. After an hour and ten minutes, Houdini emerged free. As he was paraded on the shoulders of the cheering crowd, he broke down and wept. Houdini later said it was the most difficult escape of his career.  After Houdini's death, his friend Martin Beck was quote

user: What did the mirror challenge consist of?

assistant: In 1904, the London Daily Mirror newspaper challenged Houdini to escape from special handcuffs that it claimed had taken Nathaniel Hart, a locksmith from Birmingham, five years to make.
Título: James Dean
Seção: East of Eden
Background: James Byron Dean was born on February 8, 1931, at the Seven Gables apartment on the corner of 4th Street and McClure Street in Marion, Indiana, the only child of Winton Dean and Mildred Marie Wilson. He was primarily of English descent, with smaller amounts of German, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh ancestry. Six years after his father had left farming to become a dental technician, Dean and his family moved to Santa Monica, California. He was enrolled at Brentwood Public School in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, but transferred soon afterward to the McKinley Elementary School.

Conteúdo: In 1953, director Elia Kazan was looking for a substantive actor to play the emotionally complex role of 'Cal Trask', for screenwriter Paul Osborn's adaptation of John Steinbeck's 1952 novel East of Eden. The lengthy novel deals with the story of the Trask and Hamilton families over the course of three generations, focusing especially on the lives of the latter two generations in Salinas Valley, California, from the mid-19th century through the 1910s. In contrast to the book, the film script focused on the last portion of the story, predominantly with the character of Cal. Though he initially seems more aloof and emotionally troubled than his twin brother Aron, Cal is soon seen to be more worldly, business savvy, and even sagacious than their pious and constantly disapproving father (played by Raymond Massey) who seeks to invent a vegetable refrigeration process. Cal is bothered by the mystery of their supposedly dead mother, and discovers she is still alive and a brothel-keeping 'madam'; the part was played by actress Jo Van Fleet.  Before casting Cal, Elia Kazan said that he wanted "a Brando" for the role and Osborn suggested Dean, a relatively unknown young actor. Dean met with Steinbeck, who did not like the moody, complex young man personally, but thought him to be perfect for the part. Dean was cast in the role and on April 8, 1954, left New York City and headed for Los Angeles to begin shooting.  Much of Dean's performance in the film is unscripted, including his dance

user: What is East of Eden?

assistant: John Steinbeck's 1952 novel East of Eden.

user: How is James Dean connected to the book?

assistant: Before casting Cal, Elia Kazan said that he wanted "a Brando" for the role and Osborn suggested Dean, a relatively unknown young actor.

user: Did he audition?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER
Título: Octavia E. Butler
Seção: The Parable series: 1993-1998
Background: Octavia Estelle Butler was born on June 22, 1947, in Pasadena, California, the only child of Octavia Margaret Guy, a housemaid, and Laurice James Butler, a shoeshine man. Butler's father died when she was seven, so Octavia was raised by her mother and maternal grandmother in what she would later recall as a strict Baptist environment. Growing up in the racially integrated community of Pasadena allowed Butler to experience cultural and ethnic diversity in the midst of racial segregation. She accompanied her mother to her cleaning work, where the two entered white people's houses through back doors, as workers.

Conteúdo: In the mid-1990s, Butler published two novels later designated as the Parable (or Earthseed) series. The books depict the struggle of the Earthseed community to survive the socioeconomic and political collapse of twenty-first century America due to poor environmental stewardship, corporate greed, and the growing gap between the wealthy and the poor. The books propose alternate philosophical views and religious interventions as solutions to such dilemmas.  The first book in the series, Parable of the Sower (1993), features a fifteen-year-old protagonist named Lauren Oya Olamina, and is set in a dystopian California in the 2020s. Lauren, who suffers from a syndrome causing her to literally feel any physical pain she witnesses, decides to escape the corruption and corporatization of her community of Robledo. She forms a new belief system, Earthseed, in order to prepare for the future of the human race on another planet. Recruiting members of varying social backgrounds, Lauren relocates her new group to Northern California, naming her new community "Earthseed".  Her 1998 follow-up novel, Parable of the Talents, is set sometime after Lauren's death and is told through the excerpts of Lauren's journals as framed by the commentary of her estranged daughter, Larkin. It details the takeover of Earthseed by right-wing fundamentalist Christians, Lauren's attempts to survive their religious "re-education", and the final triumph of Earthseed as a community and a doctrine.  In between her 

user: What is The Parable Series?

assistant: Butler published two novels later designated as the Parable (or Earthseed) series.

user: What happened in 1993?

assistant: The first book in the series, Parable of the Sower (1993), features a fifteen-year-old protagonist named Lauren Oya Olamina, and is set in a dystopian California in the 2020s.

user: Was the book successful?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: When was her second book published?

assistant: Her 1998 follow-up novel, Parable of the Talents, is set sometime after Lauren's death and is told through the excerpts of Lauren's journals

user: When was the third book published?

assistant: In between her Earthseed novels, Butler published the collection Bloodchild and Other Stories (1995),

user: Which of these books was her most successful?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER
Título: Patty Loveless
Seção: North Carolina years
Background: Patty Loveless (born Patricia Lee Ramey; January 4, 1957) is an American country music singer. Since her emergence on the country music scene in late 1986 with her first (self-titled) album, Loveless has been one of the most popular female singers of neotraditional country. She has also recorded albums in the country pop and bluegrass genres.

Conteúdo: In North Carolina, Patty and her husband Terry played in a circuit of small bars and concert halls. She sang covers of late 70s rock songs, along with Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie Raitt tunes, with the occasional country song. (After her marriage, she adopted the professional name Patty Loveless, as not to draw any connection to adult film actress Linda Lovelace.  During this time of her life she also was distant from her family, as she had married without their consent. According to Loveless, "...I think my father thought I had lost my mind. This music is going to just ruin your life... it ruined your life... But it was a music that I learned from again... You wouldn't believe the people that would come to this club. They would get off from work, and they wouldn't go home. They'd come to this club and have a few beers, or ... dance.... I learned a lot about people and life in those places. I mean there was all walks of life... people who had hit the very bottom. And myself, there was times I felt myself becoming one of those people too. There was some hard times for us both, my ex-husband and I. And I think at the time, it caused us to be torn apart, and we lost respect for each other. And it got to the point that we didn't know each other..." A low point of her life was in October 1979, when her father, whom she idolized, died near Louisville while Loveless was in North Carolina.  The years in North Carolina were not successful for her, as the police started busting the clubs 

user: Did she work a regular job in North Carolina?

assistant: played in a circuit of small bars and concert halls.

user: Was she in a band or a solo artist?

assistant: Patty and her husband Terry
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user: Where exactly do I apply?

assistant: Apply For Benefits Onliner If you want to apply for retirement benefits , disability benefits , or just Medicare and you meet certain criteria

user: That does not apply to me

assistant: ok that is fine, If you want to apply for retirement benefits , disability benefits , or just Medicare and you meet certain criteria

user: can I complete it online?

assistant:  If you want to apply for retirement benefits , disability benefits , or just Medicare and you meet certain criteria you can complete your application online

user: yes

assistant: Oh okay no problem

user: Does my spouse get benefits?

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user: How can I get benefits

assistant: Social Security can provide you , your spouse , and other eligible members of your family with benefits :
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Título: Jessi Colter
Seção: Later music career: 1980-2002
Background: Miriam Johnson was born in 1943 in Phoenix, Arizona and raised in a strict Pentecostal home. Her mother was a Pentecostal preacher and her father was a race-car driver. At age 11, Colter became the pianist at her church. After graduating from Mesa High, Ariz. in 1961, she began singing in local clubs in Phoenix.

Conteúdo: In 1981, Colter and her husband returned to release a duet album entitled Leather and Lace. The album's first single, "Storms Never Last," was written by Colter, and the second single, "The Wild Side of Life"/"It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels," was also a major hit in 1981, peaking at No. 10 on the Billboard Country Chart. The album was certified Gold in sales by the RIAA that year, Colter's second RIAA-certified album to date. Stevie Nicks wrote the title track of the album; however, after receiving word that Colter and Jennings might divorce, Nicks released her own version of the song as a duet with Don Henley. It peaked at No. 6 on Pop chart, also in 1981. Also in 1981 Colter released her final studio album on Capitol records, Ridin' Shotgun, which also spawned Colter's last charting single on the country charts, "Holdin' on."  As the decade progressed, Colter's success began to decline. She released an album in 1984 on the Triad label titled Rock and Roll Lullaby, produced by Chips Moman. However, in the later years of the decade, she decided to let her recording career decline in order to help take care of and nurse her husband through his drug abuse and various medical problems. She remained active during this time.  In the early 1990s, she focused her attention on performing and released an album of children's music titled Jessi Colter Sings Just for Kids: Songs from Around the World in early 1996. It featured a guest appearance by Jennings, who recited some of

user: Did something happen later in her music career?

assistant: In 1981, Colter and her husband returned to release a duet album entitled Leather and Lace.

user: Did she have any hit singles on the album?

assistant: The album's first single, "Storms Never Last," was written by Colter, and the second single, "The Wild Side of Life"/"It Wasn't God

user: Did any of her songs go on the charts?

assistant: "The Wild Side of Life"/"It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels," was also a major hit in 1981, peaking at No. 10 on the Billboard Country Chart.

user: Did she win any awards for her music?

assistant: The album was certified Gold in sales by the RIAA that year, Colter's second RIAA-certified album to date.