Question: Where is the Alger House located?

Answer: Manhattan

<hl> Cheryl Yvette Dawson and Madifing Kaba are to be married Sunday evening at the Alger House, an event space in Manhattan . <hl> The Rev. Jill Flowers, who was ordained by the One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, is to officiate. Mrs. Kaba, 33, works in Manhattan as a senior manager specializing in small-merchants pricing strategy for American Express. She graduated from Duke and received an M.B.A. from Columbia. She is a daughter of Annette I. Dawson and Michael Dawson of Hollis, Queens. The bride’s father retired as a mechanic who worked on trains for Metro-North in Manhattan. Her mother retired as an executive assistant at the Manhattan law firm Sidley Austin. Mr. Kaba, 42, is a management consultant in the banking and capital markets advisory group of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Manhattan. He graduated from the University of Illinois and received an M.B.A. and a master's in public policy from Carnegie Mellon University.

Cheryl Yvette Dawson and Madifing Kaba are to be married Sunday evening at the Alger House, an event space in <hl> Manhattan <hl>. The Rev. Jill Flowers, who was ordained by the One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, is to officiate. Mrs. Kaba, 33, works in Manhattan as a senior manager specializing in small-merchants pricing strategy for American Express. She graduated from Duke and received an M.B.A. from Columbia. She is a daughter of Annette I. Dawson and Michael Dawson of Hollis, Queens. The bride’s father retired as a mechanic who worked on trains for Metro-North in Manhattan. Her mother retired as an executive assistant at the Manhattan law firm Sidley Austin. Mr. Kaba, 42, is a management consultant in the banking and capital markets advisory group of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Manhattan. He graduated from the University of Illinois and received an M.B.A. and a master's in public policy from Carnegie Mellon University.

Cheryl Yvette Dawson and Madifing Kaba are to be married Sunday evening at the Alger House, an event space in <hl> Manhattan <hl> .


Question: How old is Madifing Kaba?

Cheryl Yvette Dawson and Madifing Kaba are to be married Sunday evening at the Alger House, an event space in Manhattan. The Rev. Jill Flowers, who was ordained by the One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, is to officiate. Mrs. Kaba, 33, works in Manhattan as a senior manager specializing in small-merchants pricing strategy for American Express. She graduated from Duke and received an M.B.A. from Columbia. She is a daughter of Annette I. Dawson and Michael Dawson of Hollis, Queens. The bride’s father retired as a mechanic who worked on trains for Metro-North in Manhattan. Her mother retired as an executive assistant at the Manhattan law firm Sidley Austin. Mr. Kaba, 42, is a management consultant in the banking and capital markets advisory group of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Manhattan. He graduated from the University of Illinois and received an M.B.A. and a master's in public policy from Carnegie Mellon University.

Answer: 33

Cheryl Yvette Dawson and Madifing Kaba are to be married Sunday evening at the Alger House, an event space in Manhattan. The Rev. Jill Flowers, who was ordained by the One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, is to officiate. <hl> Mrs. Kaba, 33 , works in Manhattan as a senior manager specializing in small-merchants pricing strategy for American Express. <hl> She graduated from Duke and received an M.B.A. from Columbia. She is a daughter of Annette I. Dawson and Michael Dawson of Hollis, Queens. The bride’s father retired as a mechanic who worked on trains for Metro-North in Manhattan. Her mother retired as an executive assistant at the Manhattan law firm Sidley Austin. Mr. Kaba, 42, is a management consultant in the banking and capital markets advisory group of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Manhattan. He graduated from the University of Illinois and received an M.B.A. and a master's in public policy from Carnegie Mellon University.

Cheryl Yvette Dawson and Madifing Kaba are to be married Sunday evening at the Alger House, an event space in Manhattan. The Rev. Jill Flowers, who was ordained by the One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, is to officiate. Mrs. Kaba, <hl> 33 <hl>, works in Manhattan as a senior manager specializing in small-merchants pricing strategy for American Express. She graduated from Duke and received an M.B.A. from Columbia. She is a daughter of Annette I. Dawson and Michael Dawson of Hollis, Queens. The bride’s father retired as a mechanic who worked on trains for Metro-North in Manhattan. Her mother retired as an executive assistant at the Manhattan law firm Sidley Austin. Mr. Kaba, 42, is a management consultant in the banking and capital markets advisory group of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Manhattan. He graduated from the University of Illinois and received an M.B.A. and a master's in public policy from Carnegie Mellon University.

Mrs. Kaba, <hl> 33 <hl> , works in Manhattan as a senior manager specializing in small-merchants pricing strategy for American Express.


Question: Who is the officiant?

Answer: Rev. Jill Flowers

Cheryl Yvette Dawson and Madifing Kaba are to be married Sunday evening at the Alger House, an event space in Manhattan. <hl> The Rev. Jill Flowers , who was ordained by the One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, is to officiate. <hl> Mrs. Kaba, 33, works in Manhattan as a senior manager specializing in small-merchants pricing strategy for American Express. She graduated from Duke and received an M.B.A. from Columbia. She is a daughter of Annette I. Dawson and Michael Dawson of Hollis, Queens. The bride’s father retired as a mechanic who worked on trains for Metro-North in Manhattan. Her mother retired as an executive assistant at the Manhattan law firm Sidley Austin. Mr. Kaba, 42, is a management consultant in the banking and capital markets advisory group of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Manhattan. He graduated from the University of Illinois and received an M.B.A. and a master's in public policy from Carnegie Mellon University.

Cheryl Yvette Dawson and Madifing Kaba are to be married Sunday evening at the Alger House, an event space in Manhattan. The <hl> Rev. Jill Flowers <hl>, who was ordained by the One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, is to officiate. Mrs. Kaba, 33, works in Manhattan as a senior manager specializing in small-merchants pricing strategy for American Express. She graduated from Duke and received an M.B.A. from Columbia. She is a daughter of Annette I. Dawson and Michael Dawson of Hollis, Queens. The bride’s father retired as a mechanic who worked on trains for Metro-North in Manhattan. Her mother retired as an executive assistant at the Manhattan law firm Sidley Austin. Mr. Kaba, 42, is a management consultant in the banking and capital markets advisory group of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Manhattan. He graduated from the University of Illinois and received an M.B.A. and a master's in public policy from Carnegie Mellon University.

The <hl> Rev. Jill Flowers <hl> , who was ordained by the One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, is to officiate.


Question: Who did Kaba find to be very engaging and always smiling?

“He knew the menu, so he took charge with the ordering, but not in an arrogant, controlling way,” she said. “He was very polite, and I thought to myself that unless I find out that this guy is totally crazy, he’s the perfect guy for me.” Mr. Kaba found Ms. Dawson to be very engaging and always smiling. “She made me feel very comfortable,” he said. So they planned a second date a few days later, at the driving range at Chelsea Piers, where they shared their first kiss. “I’m an average golfer, but she didn’t know how to play the game at all, so I looked even better in her eyes,” Mr. Kaba said.

Answer: Ms. Dawson

“He knew the menu, so he took charge with the ordering, but not in an arrogant, controlling way,” she said. “He was very polite, and I thought to myself that unless I find out that this guy is totally crazy, he’s the perfect guy for me.” <hl> Mr. Kaba found Ms. Dawson to be very engaging and always smiling. <hl> “She made me feel very comfortable,” he said. So they planned a second date a few days later, at the driving range at Chelsea Piers, where they shared their first kiss. “I’m an average golfer, but she didn’t know how to play the game at all, so I looked even better in her eyes,” Mr. Kaba said.

“He knew the menu, so he took charge with the ordering, but not in an arrogant, controlling way,” she said. “He was very polite, and I thought to myself that unless I find out that this guy is totally crazy, he’s the perfect guy for me.” Mr. Kaba found <hl> Ms. Dawson <hl> to be very engaging and always smiling. “She made me feel very comfortable,” he said. So they planned a second date a few days later, at the driving range at Chelsea Piers, where they shared their first kiss. “I’m an average golfer, but she didn’t know how to play the game at all, so I looked even better in her eyes,” Mr. Kaba said.


Question: What driving range was the couple's first kiss?

Answer: Chelsea Piers

“He knew the menu, so he took charge with the ordering, but not in an arrogant, controlling way,” she said. “He was very polite, and I thought to myself that unless I find out that this guy is totally crazy, he’s the perfect guy for me.” Mr. Kaba found Ms. Dawson to be very engaging and always smiling. “She made me feel very comfortable,” he said. <hl> So they planned a second date a few days later, at the driving range at Chelsea Piers , where they shared their first kiss. <hl> “I’m an average golfer, but she didn’t know how to play the game at all, so I looked even better in her eyes,” Mr. Kaba said.

“He knew the menu, so he took charge with the ordering, but not in an arrogant, controlling way,” she said. “He was very polite, and I thought to myself that unless I find out that this guy is totally crazy, he’s the perfect guy for me.” Mr. Kaba found Ms. Dawson to be very engaging and always smiling. “She made me feel very comfortable,” he said. So they planned a second date a few days later, at the driving range at <hl> Chelsea Piers <hl>, where they shared their first kiss. “I’m an average golfer, but she didn’t know how to play the game at all, so I looked even better in her eyes,” Mr. Kaba said.

So they planned a second date a few days later, at the driving range at <hl> Chelsea Piers <hl> , where they shared their first kiss.


Question: What game brought both individuals together despite thier skills?

Answer: golf

“He knew the menu, so he took charge with the ordering, but not in an arrogant, controlling way,” she said. “He was very polite, and I thought to myself that unless I find out that this guy is totally crazy, he’s the perfect guy for me.” Mr. Kaba found Ms. Dawson to be very engaging and always smiling. “She made me feel very comfortable,” he said. So they planned a second date a few days later, at the driving range at Chelsea Piers, where they shared their first kiss. <hl> “I’m an average golf er, but she didn’t know how to play the game at all, so I looked even better in her eyes,” Mr. Kaba said. <hl>

“He knew the menu, so he took charge with the ordering, but not in an arrogant, controlling way,” she said. “He was very polite, and I thought to myself that unless I find out that this guy is totally crazy, he’s the perfect guy for me.” Mr. Kaba found Ms. Dawson to be very engaging and always smiling. “She made me feel very comfortable,” he said. So they planned a second date a few days later, at the driving range at Chelsea Piers, where they shared their first kiss. “I’m an average <hl> golf <hl>er, but she didn’t know how to play the game at all, so I looked even better in her eyes,” Mr. Kaba said.

“I’m an average <hl> golf <hl> er, but she didn’t know how to play the game at all, so I looked even better in her eyes,” Mr. Kaba said.


Question: Who took charge of ordering off the menu for the couple?

Answer: Mr. Kaba

“He knew the menu, so he took charge with the ordering, but not in an arrogant, controlling way,” she said. <hl> “He was very polite, and I thought to myself that unless I find out that this guy is totally crazy, he’s the perfect guy for me.” Mr. Kaba found Ms. Dawson to be very engaging and always smiling. <hl> “She made me feel very comfortable,” he said. So they planned a second date a few days later, at the driving range at Chelsea Piers, where they shared their first kiss. “I’m an average golfer, but she didn’t know how to play the game at all, so I looked even better in her eyes,” Mr. Kaba said.

“He knew the menu, so he took charge with the ordering, but not in an arrogant, controlling way,” she said. “He was very polite, and I thought to myself that unless I find out that this guy is totally crazy, he’s the perfect guy for me.” <hl> Mr. Kaba <hl> found Ms. Dawson to be very engaging and always smiling. “She made me feel very comfortable,” he said. So they planned a second date a few days later, at the driving range at Chelsea Piers, where they shared their first kiss. “I’m an average golfer, but she didn’t know how to play the game at all, so I looked even better in her eyes,” Mr. Kaba said.


Question: How soon was a second date planned?

Answer: few days later,

“He knew the menu, so he took charge with the ordering, but not in an arrogant, controlling way,” she said. “He was very polite, and I thought to myself that unless I find out that this guy is totally crazy, he’s the perfect guy for me.” Mr. Kaba found Ms. Dawson to be very engaging and always smiling. “She made me feel very comfortable,” he said. <hl> So they planned a second date a few days later, at the driving range at Chelsea Piers, where they shared their first kiss. <hl> “I’m an average golfer, but she didn’t know how to play the game at all, so I looked even better in her eyes,” Mr. Kaba said.

“He knew the menu, so he took charge with the ordering, but not in an arrogant, controlling way,” she said. “He was very polite, and I thought to myself that unless I find out that this guy is totally crazy, he’s the perfect guy for me.” Mr. Kaba found Ms. Dawson to be very engaging and always smiling. “She made me feel very comfortable,” he said. So they planned a second date a <hl> few days later, <hl> at the driving range at Chelsea Piers, where they shared their first kiss. “I’m an average golfer, but she didn’t know how to play the game at all, so I looked even better in her eyes,” Mr. Kaba said.


Question: Who did the monk batter with?

Let’s start with an update from our last episode, which you may recall concerned a battle between a monk and United Airlines. The confrontation between a tranquillity-seeking man and an immovable corporation proved irresistible to websites like Yahoo News, Gawker and Boing Boing, to name a few. And a reporter from a local TV station was dispatched to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, in Abiquiu, N.M., where the monk, Brother Noah, was asked to repeat his not very hostile kiss-off to an unyielding United phone rep: “Thank you for speaking. God bless you. I will pray for you. But you have not been helpful.” The column reverberated enough that the Haggler worried it had disturbed the otherwise placid life of the monastery. But Brother Noah emailed a few days after publication with reassuring words. “I am sure that nobody enters a monastery to become an Internet meme,” he wrote, “but the brothers and I are doing O.K.”

Answer: United Airlines

<hl> Let’s start with an update from our last episode, which you may recall concerned a battle between a monk and United Airlines . <hl> The confrontation between a tranquillity-seeking man and an immovable corporation proved irresistible to websites like Yahoo News, Gawker and Boing Boing, to name a few. And a reporter from a local TV station was dispatched to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, in Abiquiu, N.M., where the monk, Brother Noah, was asked to repeat his not very hostile kiss-off to an unyielding United phone rep: “Thank you for speaking. God bless you. I will pray for you. But you have not been helpful.” The column reverberated enough that the Haggler worried it had disturbed the otherwise placid life of the monastery. But Brother Noah emailed a few days after publication with reassuring words. “I am sure that nobody enters a monastery to become an Internet meme,” he wrote, “but the brothers and I are doing O.K.”

Let’s start with an update from our last episode, which you may recall concerned a battle between a monk and <hl> United Airlines <hl>. The confrontation between a tranquillity-seeking man and an immovable corporation proved irresistible to websites like Yahoo News, Gawker and Boing Boing, to name a few. And a reporter from a local TV station was dispatched to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, in Abiquiu, N.M., where the monk, Brother Noah, was asked to repeat his not very hostile kiss-off to an unyielding United phone rep: “Thank you for speaking. God bless you. I will pray for you. But you have not been helpful.” The column reverberated enough that the Haggler worried it had disturbed the otherwise placid life of the monastery. But Brother Noah emailed a few days after publication with reassuring words. “I am sure that nobody enters a monastery to become an Internet meme,” he wrote, “but the brothers and I are doing O.K.”

Let’s start with an update from our last episode, which you may recall concerned a battle between a monk and <hl> United Airlines <hl> .


Question: What is the name of the monk?

Answer: Brother Noah

Let’s start with an update from our last episode, which you may recall concerned a battle between a monk and United Airlines. The confrontation between a tranquillity-seeking man and an immovable corporation proved irresistible to websites like Yahoo News, Gawker and Boing Boing, to name a few. <hl> And a reporter from a local TV station was dispatched to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, in Abiquiu, N.M., where the monk, Brother Noah , was asked to repeat his not very hostile kiss-off to an unyielding United phone rep: “Thank you for speaking. <hl> God bless you. I will pray for you. But you have not been helpful.” The column reverberated enough that the Haggler worried it had disturbed the otherwise placid life of the monastery. But Brother Noah emailed a few days after publication with reassuring words. “I am sure that nobody enters a monastery to become an Internet meme,” he wrote, “but the brothers and I are doing O.K.”

Let’s start with an update from our last episode, which you may recall concerned a battle between a monk and United Airlines. The confrontation between a tranquillity-seeking man and an immovable corporation proved irresistible to websites like Yahoo News, Gawker and Boing Boing, to name a few. And a reporter from a local TV station was dispatched to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, in Abiquiu, N.M., where the monk, <hl> Brother Noah <hl>, was asked to repeat his not very hostile kiss-off to an unyielding United phone rep: “Thank you for speaking. God bless you. I will pray for you. But you have not been helpful.” The column reverberated enough that the Haggler worried it had disturbed the otherwise placid life of the monastery. But Brother Noah emailed a few days after publication with reassuring words. “I am sure that nobody enters a monastery to become an Internet meme,” he wrote, “but the brothers and I are doing O.K.”

And a reporter from a local TV station was dispatched to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, in Abiquiu, N.M., where the monk, <hl> Brother Noah <hl> , was asked to repeat his not very hostile kiss-off to an unyielding United phone rep: “Thank you for speaking.


Question: Where is the Monastery of Christ located?

Answer: Abiquiu, N.M

Let’s start with an update from our last episode, which you may recall concerned a battle between a monk and United Airlines. The confrontation between a tranquillity-seeking man and an immovable corporation proved irresistible to websites like Yahoo News, Gawker and Boing Boing, to name a few. <hl> And a reporter from a local TV station was dispatched to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, in Abiquiu, N.M ., where the monk, Brother Noah, was asked to repeat his not very hostile kiss-off to an unyielding United phone rep: “Thank you for speaking. <hl> God bless you. I will pray for you. But you have not been helpful.” The column reverberated enough that the Haggler worried it had disturbed the otherwise placid life of the monastery. But Brother Noah emailed a few days after publication with reassuring words. “I am sure that nobody enters a monastery to become an Internet meme,” he wrote, “but the brothers and I are doing O.K.”

Let’s start with an update from our last episode, which you may recall concerned a battle between a monk and United Airlines. The confrontation between a tranquillity-seeking man and an immovable corporation proved irresistible to websites like Yahoo News, Gawker and Boing Boing, to name a few. And a reporter from a local TV station was dispatched to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, in <hl> Abiquiu, N.M <hl>., where the monk, Brother Noah, was asked to repeat his not very hostile kiss-off to an unyielding United phone rep: “Thank you for speaking. God bless you. I will pray for you. But you have not been helpful.” The column reverberated enough that the Haggler worried it had disturbed the otherwise placid life of the monastery. But Brother Noah emailed a few days after publication with reassuring words. “I am sure that nobody enters a monastery to become an Internet meme,” he wrote, “but the brothers and I are doing O.K.”

And a reporter from a local TV station was dispatched to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, in <hl> Abiquiu, N.M <hl> ., where the monk, Brother Noah, was asked to repeat his not very hostile kiss-off to an unyielding United phone rep: “Thank you for speaking.


Question: Where is the reporter from?

Answer: a local TV station

Let’s start with an update from our last episode, which you may recall concerned a battle between a monk and United Airlines. The confrontation between a tranquillity-seeking man and an immovable corporation proved irresistible to websites like Yahoo News, Gawker and Boing Boing, to name a few. <hl> And a reporter from a local TV station was dispatched to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, in Abiquiu, N.M., where the monk, Brother Noah, was asked to repeat his not very hostile kiss-off to an unyielding United phone rep: “Thank you for speaking. <hl> God bless you. I will pray for you. But you have not been helpful.” The column reverberated enough that the Haggler worried it had disturbed the otherwise placid life of the monastery. But Brother Noah emailed a few days after publication with reassuring words. “I am sure that nobody enters a monastery to become an Internet meme,” he wrote, “but the brothers and I are doing O.K.”

Let’s start with an update from our last episode, which you may recall concerned a battle between a monk and United Airlines. The confrontation between a tranquillity-seeking man and an immovable corporation proved irresistible to websites like Yahoo News, Gawker and Boing Boing, to name a few. And a reporter from <hl> a local TV station <hl> was dispatched to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, in Abiquiu, N.M., where the monk, Brother Noah, was asked to repeat his not very hostile kiss-off to an unyielding United phone rep: “Thank you for speaking. God bless you. I will pray for you. But you have not been helpful.” The column reverberated enough that the Haggler worried it had disturbed the otherwise placid life of the monastery. But Brother Noah emailed a few days after publication with reassuring words. “I am sure that nobody enters a monastery to become an Internet meme,” he wrote, “but the brothers and I are doing O.K.”


Question: Who interviewed brother Noah about the batter?

Answer: a reporter

Let’s start with an update from our last episode, which you may recall concerned a battle between a monk and United Airlines. The confrontation between a tranquillity-seeking man and an immovable corporation proved irresistible to websites like Yahoo News, Gawker and Boing Boing, to name a few. <hl> And a reporter from a local TV station was dispatched to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, in Abiquiu, N.M., where the monk, Brother Noah, was asked to repeat his not very hostile kiss-off to an unyielding United phone rep: “Thank you for speaking. <hl> God bless you. I will pray for you. But you have not been helpful.” The column reverberated enough that the Haggler worried it had disturbed the otherwise placid life of the monastery. But Brother Noah emailed a few days after publication with reassuring words. “I am sure that nobody enters a monastery to become an Internet meme,” he wrote, “but the brothers and I are doing O.K.”

Let’s start with an update from our last episode, which you may recall concerned a battle between a monk and United Airlines. The confrontation between a tranquillity-seeking man and an immovable corporation proved irresistible to websites like Yahoo News, Gawker and Boing Boing, to name a few. And <hl> a reporter <hl> from a local TV station was dispatched to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, in Abiquiu, N.M., where the monk, Brother Noah, was asked to repeat his not very hostile kiss-off to an unyielding United phone rep: “Thank you for speaking. God bless you. I will pray for you. But you have not been helpful.” The column reverberated enough that the Haggler worried it had disturbed the otherwise placid life of the monastery. But Brother Noah emailed a few days after publication with reassuring words. “I am sure that nobody enters a monastery to become an Internet meme,” he wrote, “but the brothers and I are doing O.K.”


Question: What is Wayfair?

Amen. Now, another guy with another problem. Q. I ordered a lamp from Wayfair, an online furniture store, which the company insisted on delivering to my office. When the package arrived, FedEx also dropped off two huge boxes that I insisted were not part of my order. The deliveryman insisted otherwise and left them. Inside were two huge pieces of patio furniture. I don’t have a patio. And after getting home with the box containing my lamp, I discovered that it was a shambles of oversize toothpicks. I called Wayfair. The company promised a refund on the lamp but refused to pick up the patio furniture because I didn’t keep the boxes for them. The boxes didn’t fit in my office because it was crowded with patio furniture. Their solution is for me to keep the furniture, sell it on Craigslist or donate it to charity. I don’t like any of these options. I can’t even toss out the furniture without having to pay a bulk disposal fee from a trash company. But the company won’t budge. Maybe you can change their mind.

Answer: an online furniture store

Amen. Now, another guy with another problem. <hl> Q. I ordered a lamp from Wayfair, an online furniture store , which the company insisted on delivering to my office. <hl> When the package arrived, FedEx also dropped off two huge boxes that I insisted were not part of my order. The deliveryman insisted otherwise and left them. Inside were two huge pieces of patio furniture. I don’t have a patio. And after getting home with the box containing my lamp, I discovered that it was a shambles of oversize toothpicks. I called Wayfair. The company promised a refund on the lamp but refused to pick up the patio furniture because I didn’t keep the boxes for them. The boxes didn’t fit in my office because it was crowded with patio furniture. Their solution is for me to keep the furniture, sell it on Craigslist or donate it to charity. I don’t like any of these options. I can’t even toss out the furniture without having to pay a bulk disposal fee from a trash company. But the company won’t budge. Maybe you can change their mind.

Amen. Now, another guy with another problem. Q. I ordered a lamp from Wayfair, <hl> an online furniture store <hl>, which the company insisted on delivering to my office. When the package arrived, FedEx also dropped off two huge boxes that I insisted were not part of my order. The deliveryman insisted otherwise and left them. Inside were two huge pieces of patio furniture. I don’t have a patio. And after getting home with the box containing my lamp, I discovered that it was a shambles of oversize toothpicks. I called Wayfair. The company promised a refund on the lamp but refused to pick up the patio furniture because I didn’t keep the boxes for them. The boxes didn’t fit in my office because it was crowded with patio furniture. Their solution is for me to keep the furniture, sell it on Craigslist or donate it to charity. I don’t like any of these options. I can’t even toss out the furniture without having to pay a bulk disposal fee from a trash company. But the company won’t budge. Maybe you can change their mind.

Q. I ordered a lamp from Wayfair, <hl> an online furniture store <hl> , which the company insisted on delivering to my office.


Question: What did I order?

Answer: a lamp

Amen. Now, another guy with another problem. <hl> Q. I ordered a lamp from Wayfair, an online furniture store, which the company insisted on delivering to my office. <hl> When the package arrived, FedEx also dropped off two huge boxes that I insisted were not part of my order. The deliveryman insisted otherwise and left them. Inside were two huge pieces of patio furniture. I don’t have a patio. And after getting home with the box containing my lamp, I discovered that it was a shambles of oversize toothpicks. I called Wayfair. The company promised a refund on the lamp but refused to pick up the patio furniture because I didn’t keep the boxes for them. The boxes didn’t fit in my office because it was crowded with patio furniture. Their solution is for me to keep the furniture, sell it on Craigslist or donate it to charity. I don’t like any of these options. I can’t even toss out the furniture without having to pay a bulk disposal fee from a trash company. But the company won’t budge. Maybe you can change their mind.

Amen. Now, another guy with another problem. Q. I ordered <hl> a lamp <hl> from Wayfair, an online furniture store, which the company insisted on delivering to my office. When the package arrived, FedEx also dropped off two huge boxes that I insisted were not part of my order. The deliveryman insisted otherwise and left them. Inside were two huge pieces of patio furniture. I don’t have a patio. And after getting home with the box containing my lamp, I discovered that it was a shambles of oversize toothpicks. I called Wayfair. The company promised a refund on the lamp but refused to pick up the patio furniture because I didn’t keep the boxes for them. The boxes didn’t fit in my office because it was crowded with patio furniture. Their solution is for me to keep the furniture, sell it on Craigslist or donate it to charity. I don’t like any of these options. I can’t even toss out the furniture without having to pay a bulk disposal fee from a trash company. But the company won’t budge. Maybe you can change their mind.


Question: What company delivered my order?

Answer: FedEx

Amen. Now, another guy with another problem. Q. I ordered a lamp from Wayfair, an online furniture store, which the company insisted on delivering to my office. <hl> When the package arrived, FedEx also dropped off two huge boxes that I insisted were not part of my order. <hl> The deliveryman insisted otherwise and left them. Inside were two huge pieces of patio furniture. I don’t have a patio. And after getting home with the box containing my lamp, I discovered that it was a shambles of oversize toothpicks. I called Wayfair. The company promised a refund on the lamp but refused to pick up the patio furniture because I didn’t keep the boxes for them. The boxes didn’t fit in my office because it was crowded with patio furniture. Their solution is for me to keep the furniture, sell it on Craigslist or donate it to charity. I don’t like any of these options. I can’t even toss out the furniture without having to pay a bulk disposal fee from a trash company. But the company won’t budge. Maybe you can change their mind.

Amen. Now, another guy with another problem. Q. I ordered a lamp from Wayfair, an online furniture store, which the company insisted on delivering to my office. When the package arrived, <hl> FedEx <hl> also dropped off two huge boxes that I insisted were not part of my order. The deliveryman insisted otherwise and left them. Inside were two huge pieces of patio furniture. I don’t have a patio. And after getting home with the box containing my lamp, I discovered that it was a shambles of oversize toothpicks. I called Wayfair. The company promised a refund on the lamp but refused to pick up the patio furniture because I didn’t keep the boxes for them. The boxes didn’t fit in my office because it was crowded with patio furniture. Their solution is for me to keep the furniture, sell it on Craigslist or donate it to charity. I don’t like any of these options. I can’t even toss out the furniture without having to pay a bulk disposal fee from a trash company. But the company won’t budge. Maybe you can change their mind.


Question: What were inside the two huge boxes?

Answer: patio furniture

Amen. Now, another guy with another problem. Q. I ordered a lamp from Wayfair, an online furniture store, which the company insisted on delivering to my office. When the package arrived, FedEx also dropped off two huge boxes that I insisted were not part of my order. The deliveryman insisted otherwise and left them. <hl> Inside were two huge pieces of patio furniture . <hl> I don’t have a patio. And after getting home with the box containing my lamp, I discovered that it was a shambles of oversize toothpicks. I called Wayfair. The company promised a refund on the lamp but refused to pick up the patio furniture because I didn’t keep the boxes for them. The boxes didn’t fit in my office because it was crowded with patio furniture. Their solution is for me to keep the furniture, sell it on Craigslist or donate it to charity. I don’t like any of these options. I can’t even toss out the furniture without having to pay a bulk disposal fee from a trash company. But the company won’t budge. Maybe you can change their mind.

Amen. Now, another guy with another problem. Q. I ordered a lamp from Wayfair, an online furniture store, which the company insisted on delivering to my office. When the package arrived, FedEx also dropped off two huge boxes that I insisted were not part of my order. The deliveryman insisted otherwise and left them. Inside were two huge pieces of <hl> patio furniture <hl>. I don’t have a patio. And after getting home with the box containing my lamp, I discovered that it was a shambles of oversize toothpicks. I called Wayfair. The company promised a refund on the lamp but refused to pick up the patio furniture because I didn’t keep the boxes for them. The boxes didn’t fit in my office because it was crowded with patio furniture. Their solution is for me to keep the furniture, sell it on Craigslist or donate it to charity. I don’t like any of these options. I can’t even toss out the furniture without having to pay a bulk disposal fee from a trash company. But the company won’t budge. Maybe you can change their mind.

Inside were two huge pieces of <hl> patio furniture <hl> .


Question: What was inside the box that should have the lamp inside?

Answer: toothpicks

Amen. Now, another guy with another problem. Q. I ordered a lamp from Wayfair, an online furniture store, which the company insisted on delivering to my office. When the package arrived, FedEx also dropped off two huge boxes that I insisted were not part of my order. The deliveryman insisted otherwise and left them. Inside were two huge pieces of patio furniture. I don’t have a patio. <hl> And after getting home with the box containing my lamp, I discovered that it was a shambles of oversize toothpicks . <hl> I called Wayfair. The company promised a refund on the lamp but refused to pick up the patio furniture because I didn’t keep the boxes for them. The boxes didn’t fit in my office because it was crowded with patio furniture. Their solution is for me to keep the furniture, sell it on Craigslist or donate it to charity. I don’t like any of these options. I can’t even toss out the furniture without having to pay a bulk disposal fee from a trash company. But the company won’t budge. Maybe you can change their mind.

Amen. Now, another guy with another problem. Q. I ordered a lamp from Wayfair, an online furniture store, which the company insisted on delivering to my office. When the package arrived, FedEx also dropped off two huge boxes that I insisted were not part of my order. The deliveryman insisted otherwise and left them. Inside were two huge pieces of patio furniture. I don’t have a patio. And after getting home with the box containing my lamp, I discovered that it was a shambles of oversize <hl> toothpicks <hl>. I called Wayfair. The company promised a refund on the lamp but refused to pick up the patio furniture because I didn’t keep the boxes for them. The boxes didn’t fit in my office because it was crowded with patio furniture. Their solution is for me to keep the furniture, sell it on Craigslist or donate it to charity. I don’t like any of these options. I can’t even toss out the furniture without having to pay a bulk disposal fee from a trash company. But the company won’t budge. Maybe you can change their mind.

And after getting home with the box containing my lamp, I discovered that it was a shambles of oversize <hl> toothpicks <hl> .


Question: Who is the spokeswoman of Wayfair?

Wayfair thinks so. “We are highly focused on delivering an exceptional shopping experience to all of our customers,” wrote a company spokeswoman, Jane Carpenter. “Unfortunately, in this particular case, there was a mix-up in our delivery process and we did not meet our high standards in terms of experience and service.” The company quickly arranged to pick up that patio furniture and sent Mr. Fisher a $250 coupon for future use. “We hope he will give us another chance,” Ms. Carpenter wrote, “to show him the top-notch shopping experience that more accurately represents Wayfair.” Something you would consider, Mr. Fisher? “I can’t imagine buying anything more complicated than rugs from Wayfair at this point,” he wrote — unaware, apparently, that to Wayfair, rugs are pretty complicated.

Answer: Jane Carpenter

Wayfair thinks so. <hl> “We are highly focused on delivering an exceptional shopping experience to all of our customers,” wrote a company spokeswoman, Jane Carpenter . <hl> “Unfortunately, in this particular case, there was a mix-up in our delivery process and we did not meet our high standards in terms of experience and service.” The company quickly arranged to pick up that patio furniture and sent Mr. Fisher a $250 coupon for future use. “We hope he will give us another chance,” Ms. Carpenter wrote, “to show him the top-notch shopping experience that more accurately represents Wayfair.” Something you would consider, Mr. Fisher? “I can’t imagine buying anything more complicated than rugs from Wayfair at this point,” he wrote — unaware, apparently, that to Wayfair, rugs are pretty complicated.

Wayfair thinks so. “We are highly focused on delivering an exceptional shopping experience to all of our customers,” wrote a company spokeswoman, <hl> Jane Carpenter <hl>. “Unfortunately, in this particular case, there was a mix-up in our delivery process and we did not meet our high standards in terms of experience and service.” The company quickly arranged to pick up that patio furniture and sent Mr. Fisher a $250 coupon for future use. “We hope he will give us another chance,” Ms. Carpenter wrote, “to show him the top-notch shopping experience that more accurately represents Wayfair.” Something you would consider, Mr. Fisher? “I can’t imagine buying anything more complicated than rugs from Wayfair at this point,” he wrote — unaware, apparently, that to Wayfair, rugs are pretty complicated.

“We are highly focused on delivering an exceptional shopping experience to all of our customers,” wrote a company spokeswoman, <hl> Jane Carpenter <hl> .


Question: How much was the coupon Wayfair sent to Mr, Fisher?

Answer: $250

a $250 coupon for future use.

Wayfair thinks so. “We are highly focused on delivering an exceptional shopping experience to all of our customers,” wrote a company spokeswoman, Jane Carpenter. “Unfortunately, in this particular case, there was a mix-up in our delivery process and we did not meet our high standards in terms of experience and service.” The company quickly arranged to pick up that patio furniture and sent Mr. Fisher <hl> a $250 coupon for future use. <hl> “We hope he will give us another chance,” Ms. Carpenter wrote, “to show him the top-notch shopping experience that more accurately represents Wayfair.” Something you would consider, Mr. Fisher? “I can’t imagine buying anything more complicated than rugs from Wayfair at this point,” he wrote — unaware, apparently, that to Wayfair, rugs are pretty complicated.

Wayfair thinks so. “We are highly focused on delivering an exceptional shopping experience to all of our customers,” wrote a company spokeswoman, Jane Carpenter. “Unfortunately, in this particular case, there was a mix-up in our delivery process and we did not meet our high standards in terms of experience and service.” The company quickly arranged to pick up that patio furniture and sent Mr. Fisher a <hl> $250 <hl> coupon for future use. “We hope he will give us another chance,” Ms. Carpenter wrote, “to show him the top-notch shopping experience that more accurately represents Wayfair.” Something you would consider, Mr. Fisher? “I can’t imagine buying anything more complicated than rugs from Wayfair at this point,” he wrote — unaware, apparently, that to Wayfair, rugs are pretty complicated.


Question: Who received a $250 coupon from WayFair?

Answer: Ms. Carpenter

Wayfair thinks so. “We are highly focused on delivering an exceptional shopping experience to all of our customers,” wrote a company spokeswoman, Jane Carpenter. “Unfortunately, in this particular case, there was a mix-up in our delivery process and we did not meet our high standards in terms of experience and service.” The company quickly arranged to pick up that patio furniture and sent Mr. Fisher a $250 coupon for future use. <hl> “We hope he will give us another chance,” Ms. Carpenter wrote, “to show him the top-notch shopping experience that more accurately represents Wayfair.” <hl> Something you would consider, Mr. Fisher? “I can’t imagine buying anything more complicated than rugs from Wayfair at this point,” he wrote — unaware, apparently, that to Wayfair, rugs are pretty complicated.

Wayfair thinks so. “We are highly focused on delivering an exceptional shopping experience to all of our customers,” wrote a company spokeswoman, Jane Carpenter. “Unfortunately, in this particular case, there was a mix-up in our delivery process and we did not meet our high standards in terms of experience and service.” The company quickly arranged to pick up that patio furniture and sent Mr. Fisher a $250 coupon for future use. “We hope he will give us another chance,” <hl> Ms. Carpenter <hl> wrote, “to show him the top-notch shopping experience that more accurately represents Wayfair.” Something you would consider, Mr. Fisher? “I can’t imagine buying anything more complicated than rugs from Wayfair at this point,” he wrote — unaware, apparently, that to Wayfair, rugs are pretty complicated.


Question: Who is Jane Carpenter?

Answer: a company spokeswoman

Wayfair thinks so. <hl> “We are highly focused on delivering an exceptional shopping experience to all of our customers,” wrote a company spokeswoman , Jane Carpenter. <hl> “Unfortunately, in this particular case, there was a mix-up in our delivery process and we did not meet our high standards in terms of experience and service.” The company quickly arranged to pick up that patio furniture and sent Mr. Fisher a $250 coupon for future use. “We hope he will give us another chance,” Ms. Carpenter wrote, “to show him the top-notch shopping experience that more accurately represents Wayfair.” Something you would consider, Mr. Fisher? “I can’t imagine buying anything more complicated than rugs from Wayfair at this point,” he wrote — unaware, apparently, that to Wayfair, rugs are pretty complicated.

Wayfair thinks so. “We are highly focused on delivering an exceptional shopping experience to all of our customers,” wrote <hl> a company spokeswoman <hl>, Jane Carpenter. “Unfortunately, in this particular case, there was a mix-up in our delivery process and we did not meet our high standards in terms of experience and service.” The company quickly arranged to pick up that patio furniture and sent Mr. Fisher a $250 coupon for future use. “We hope he will give us another chance,” Ms. Carpenter wrote, “to show him the top-notch shopping experience that more accurately represents Wayfair.” Something you would consider, Mr. Fisher? “I can’t imagine buying anything more complicated than rugs from Wayfair at this point,” he wrote — unaware, apparently, that to Wayfair, rugs are pretty complicated.

“We are highly focused on delivering an exceptional shopping experience to all of our customers,” wrote <hl> a company spokeswoman <hl> , Jane Carpenter.


Question: What did the company pick up?

Answer: patio furniture

Wayfair thinks so. “We are highly focused on delivering an exceptional shopping experience to all of our customers,” wrote a company spokeswoman, Jane Carpenter. “Unfortunately, in this particular case, there was a mix-up in our delivery process and we did not meet our high standards in terms of experience and service.” <hl> The company quickly arranged to pick up that patio furniture and sent Mr. Fisher a $250 coupon for future use. <hl> “We hope he will give us another chance,” Ms. Carpenter wrote, “to show him the top-notch shopping experience that more accurately represents Wayfair.” Something you would consider, Mr. Fisher? “I can’t imagine buying anything more complicated than rugs from Wayfair at this point,” he wrote — unaware, apparently, that to Wayfair, rugs are pretty complicated.

Wayfair thinks so. “We are highly focused on delivering an exceptional shopping experience to all of our customers,” wrote a company spokeswoman, Jane Carpenter. “Unfortunately, in this particular case, there was a mix-up in our delivery process and we did not meet our high standards in terms of experience and service.” The company quickly arranged to pick up that <hl> patio furniture <hl> and sent Mr. Fisher a $250 coupon for future use. “We hope he will give us another chance,” Ms. Carpenter wrote, “to show him the top-notch shopping experience that more accurately represents Wayfair.” Something you would consider, Mr. Fisher? “I can’t imagine buying anything more complicated than rugs from Wayfair at this point,” he wrote — unaware, apparently, that to Wayfair, rugs are pretty complicated.


Question: Where did Cam Talbot get his second straight start?

Cam Talbot got his second straight start in net for the Rangers, with Henrik Lundqvist out for at least three weeks with a vascular injury after a puck hit his throat on Jan. 31. Talbot had a shutout win last season in his last game at Nashville, 90 miles from where he played college hockey in Huntsville, Ala. The Rangers had performed well against Western Conference teams this season, especially on the road; they were 7-1-0 in away games against the West entering Saturday. They had also won four straight in Nashville.

Answer: Rangers

<hl> Cam Talbot got his second straight start in net for the Rangers , with Henrik Lundqvist out for at least three weeks with a vascular injury after a puck hit his throat on Jan. 31. <hl> Talbot had a shutout win last season in his last game at Nashville, 90 miles from where he played college hockey in Huntsville, Ala. The Rangers had performed well against Western Conference teams this season, especially on the road; they were 7-1-0 in away games against the West entering Saturday. They had also won four straight in Nashville.

Cam Talbot got his second straight start in net for the <hl> Rangers <hl>, with Henrik Lundqvist out for at least three weeks with a vascular injury after a puck hit his throat on Jan. 31. Talbot had a shutout win last season in his last game at Nashville, 90 miles from where he played college hockey in Huntsville, Ala. The Rangers had performed well against Western Conference teams this season, especially on the road; they were 7-1-0 in away games against the West entering Saturday. They had also won four straight in Nashville.

Cam Talbot got his second straight start in net for the <hl> Rangers <hl> , with Henrik Lundqvist out for at least three weeks with a vascular injury after a puck hit his throat on Jan. 31.


Question: Where did Talbot get his last game?

Answer: Nashville

Cam Talbot got his second straight start in net for the Rangers, with Henrik Lundqvist out for at least three weeks with a vascular injury after a puck hit his throat on Jan. 31. <hl> Talbot had a shutout win last season in his last game at Nashville , 90 miles from where he played college hockey in Huntsville, Ala. <hl> The Rangers had performed well against Western Conference teams this season, especially on the road; they were 7-1-0 in away games against the West entering Saturday. They had also won four straight in Nashville.

Cam Talbot got his second straight start in net for the Rangers, with Henrik Lundqvist out for at least three weeks with a vascular injury after a puck hit his throat on Jan. 31. Talbot had a shutout win last season in his last game at <hl> Nashville <hl>, 90 miles from where he played college hockey in Huntsville, Ala. The Rangers had performed well against Western Conference teams this season, especially on the road; they were 7-1-0 in away games against the West entering Saturday. They had also won four straight in Nashville.

Talbot had a shutout win last season in his last game at <hl> Nashville <hl> , 90 miles from where he played college hockey in Huntsville, Ala.


Question: What is the Rangers score against the west?

Answer: 7-1-0

Cam Talbot got his second straight start in net for the Rangers, with Henrik Lundqvist out for at least three weeks with a vascular injury after a puck hit his throat on Jan. 31. Talbot had a shutout win last season in his last game at Nashville, 90 miles from where he played college hockey in Huntsville, Ala. <hl> The Rangers had performed well against Western Conference teams this season, especially on the road; they were 7-1-0 in away games against the West entering Saturday. <hl> They had also won four straight in Nashville.

Cam Talbot got his second straight start in net for the Rangers, with Henrik Lundqvist out for at least three weeks with a vascular injury after a puck hit his throat on Jan. 31. Talbot had a shutout win last season in his last game at Nashville, 90 miles from where he played college hockey in Huntsville, Ala. The Rangers had performed well against Western Conference teams this season, especially on the road; they were <hl> 7-1-0 <hl> in away games against the West entering Saturday. They had also won four straight in Nashville.


Question: When did Henrik have a vascular injury?

Answer: Jan. 31

<hl> Cam Talbot got his second straight start in net for the Rangers, with Henrik Lundqvist out for at least three weeks with a vascular injury after a puck hit his throat on Jan. 31 . <hl> Talbot had a shutout win last season in his last game at Nashville, 90 miles from where he played college hockey in Huntsville, Ala. The Rangers had performed well against Western Conference teams this season, especially on the road; they were 7-1-0 in away games against the West entering Saturday. They had also won four straight in Nashville.

Cam Talbot got his second straight start in net for the Rangers, with Henrik Lundqvist out for at least three weeks with a vascular injury after a puck hit his throat on <hl> Jan. 31 <hl>. Talbot had a shutout win last season in his last game at Nashville, 90 miles from where he played college hockey in Huntsville, Ala. The Rangers had performed well against Western Conference teams this season, especially on the road; they were 7-1-0 in away games against the West entering Saturday. They had also won four straight in Nashville.

Cam Talbot got his second straight start in net for the Rangers, with Henrik Lundqvist out for at least three weeks with a vascular injury after a puck hit his throat on <hl> Jan. 31 <hl> .


Question: Where is Huntsville located?

Answer: Ala

Cam Talbot got his second straight start in net for the Rangers, with Henrik Lundqvist out for at least three weeks with a vascular injury after a puck hit his throat on Jan. 31. <hl> Talbot had a shutout win last season in his last game at Nashville, 90 miles from where he played college hockey in Huntsville, Ala . <hl> The Rangers had performed well against Western Conference teams this season, especially on the road; they were 7-1-0 in away games against the West entering Saturday. They had also won four straight in Nashville.

Cam Talbot got his second straight start in net for the Rangers, with Henrik Lundqvist out for at least three weeks with a vascular injury after a puck hit his throat on Jan. 31. Talbot had a shutout win last season in his last game at Nashville, 90 miles from where he played college hockey in Huntsville, <hl> Ala <hl>. The Rangers had performed well against Western Conference teams this season, especially on the road; they were 7-1-0 in away games against the West entering Saturday. They had also won four straight in Nashville.

Talbot had a shutout win last season in his last game at Nashville, 90 miles from where he played college hockey in Huntsville, <hl> Ala <hl> .


Question: What's the value of securities issued by Greek banks in last year?

As was the case in Cyprus during its banking crisis, when a financial system implodes, finding acceptable collateral to swap for desperately needed loans can be difficult. The solution has been for the banks to manufacture and issue billions of euros of short-term bonds, which — because they carry the guarantee of the Greek government — can be used as collateral to secure much-needed cash from the European Central Bank. As long as the bank’s problem is access to short-term funds and not solvency, such machinations can work. In the last year or so, Greek banks have issued more than €50 billion worth of these securities at artificially high interest rates (the higher the rate, the more valuable the collateral becomes in securing loans).

Answer: €50 billion

As was the case in Cyprus during its banking crisis, when a financial system implodes, finding acceptable collateral to swap for desperately needed loans can be difficult. The solution has been for the banks to manufacture and issue billions of euros of short-term bonds, which — because they carry the guarantee of the Greek government — can be used as collateral to secure much-needed cash from the European Central Bank. As long as the bank’s problem is access to short-term funds and not solvency, such machinations can work. <hl> In the last year or so, Greek banks have issued more than €50 billion worth of these securities at artificially high interest rates (the higher the rate, the more valuable the collateral becomes in securing loans). <hl>

As was the case in Cyprus during its banking crisis, when a financial system implodes, finding acceptable collateral to swap for desperately needed loans can be difficult. The solution has been for the banks to manufacture and issue billions of euros of short-term bonds, which — because they carry the guarantee of the Greek government — can be used as collateral to secure much-needed cash from the European Central Bank. As long as the bank’s problem is access to short-term funds and not solvency, such machinations can work. In the last year or so, Greek banks have issued more than <hl> €50 billion <hl> worth of these securities at artificially high interest rates (the higher the rate, the more valuable the collateral becomes in securing loans).


Question: What is difficult to find when a financial system implodes?

Answer: acceptable collateral

<hl> As was the case in Cyprus during its banking crisis, when a financial system implodes, finding acceptable collateral to swap for desperately needed loans can be difficult. <hl> The solution has been for the banks to manufacture and issue billions of euros of short-term bonds, which — because they carry the guarantee of the Greek government — can be used as collateral to secure much-needed cash from the European Central Bank. As long as the bank’s problem is access to short-term funds and not solvency, such machinations can work. In the last year or so, Greek banks have issued more than €50 billion worth of these securities at artificially high interest rates (the higher the rate, the more valuable the collateral becomes in securing loans).

As was the case in Cyprus during its banking crisis, when a financial system implodes, finding <hl> acceptable collateral <hl> to swap for desperately needed loans can be difficult. The solution has been for the banks to manufacture and issue billions of euros of short-term bonds, which — because they carry the guarantee of the Greek government — can be used as collateral to secure much-needed cash from the European Central Bank. As long as the bank’s problem is access to short-term funds and not solvency, such machinations can work. In the last year or so, Greek banks have issued more than €50 billion worth of these securities at artificially high interest rates (the higher the rate, the more valuable the collateral becomes in securing loans).


Question: What solution did the banks come up with when they can't find acceptable collateral?

Answer: manufacture and issue billions of euros of short-term bonds

As was the case in Cyprus during its banking crisis, when a financial system implodes, finding acceptable collateral to swap for desperately needed loans can be difficult. <hl> The solution has been for the banks to manufacture and issue billions of euros of short-term bonds , which — because they carry the guarantee of the Greek government — can be used as collateral to secure much-needed cash from the European Central Bank. <hl> As long as the bank’s problem is access to short-term funds and not solvency, such machinations can work. In the last year or so, Greek banks have issued more than €50 billion worth of these securities at artificially high interest rates (the higher the rate, the more valuable the collateral becomes in securing loans).

As was the case in Cyprus during its banking crisis, when a financial system implodes, finding acceptable collateral to swap for desperately needed loans can be difficult. The solution has been for the banks to <hl> manufacture and issue billions of euros of short-term bonds <hl>, which — because they carry the guarantee of the Greek government — can be used as collateral to secure much-needed cash from the European Central Bank. As long as the bank’s problem is access to short-term funds and not solvency, such machinations can work. In the last year or so, Greek banks have issued more than €50 billion worth of these securities at artificially high interest rates (the higher the rate, the more valuable the collateral becomes in securing loans).

The solution has been for the banks to <hl> manufacture and issue billions of euros of short-term bonds <hl> , which — because they carry the guarantee of the Greek government — can be used as collateral to secure much-needed cash from the European Central Bank.


Question: Why do the banks manufacture and issue short term bonds?

Answer: because they carry the guarantee of the Greek government

As was the case in Cyprus during its banking crisis, when a financial system implodes, finding acceptable collateral to swap for desperately needed loans can be difficult. <hl> The solution has been for the banks to manufacture and issue billions of euros of short-term bonds, which — because they carry the guarantee of the Greek government — can be used as collateral to secure much-needed cash from the European Central Bank. <hl> As long as the bank’s problem is access to short-term funds and not solvency, such machinations can work. In the last year or so, Greek banks have issued more than €50 billion worth of these securities at artificially high interest rates (the higher the rate, the more valuable the collateral becomes in securing loans).

As was the case in Cyprus during its banking crisis, when a financial system implodes, finding acceptable collateral to swap for desperately needed loans can be difficult. The solution has been for the banks to manufacture and issue billions of euros of short-term bonds, which — <hl> because they carry the guarantee of the Greek government <hl> — can be used as collateral to secure much-needed cash from the European Central Bank. As long as the bank’s problem is access to short-term funds and not solvency, such machinations can work. In the last year or so, Greek banks have issued more than €50 billion worth of these securities at artificially high interest rates (the higher the rate, the more valuable the collateral becomes in securing loans).


Question: Who is the Greek finance minister?

But the strategy has been controversial, and it was criticized by none other than Yanis Varoufakis, the Greek finance minister, who, a year ago described the practice as a “hidden bailout from European taxpayers.”  Mr. Varoufakis, then a relatively unknown economist, argued that the loans were a potent risk for Greece, which would have to assume responsibility for them if the banks failed. The practice has also been flagged by two German economists as a questionable way for troubled eurozone economies to extract funding from the central bank.

Answer: Yanis Varoufakis

<hl> But the strategy has been controversial, and it was criticized by none other than Yanis Varoufakis , the Greek finance minister, who, a year ago described the practice as a “hidden bailout from European taxpayers.” <hl> Mr. Varoufakis, then a relatively unknown economist, argued that the loans were a potent risk for Greece, which would have to assume responsibility for them if the banks failed. The practice has also been flagged by two German economists as a questionable way for troubled eurozone economies to extract funding from the central bank.

But the strategy has been controversial, and it was criticized by none other than <hl> Yanis Varoufakis <hl>, the Greek finance minister, who, a year ago described the practice as a “hidden bailout from European taxpayers.” Mr. Varoufakis, then a relatively unknown economist, argued that the loans were a potent risk for Greece, which would have to assume responsibility for them if the banks failed. The practice has also been flagged by two German economists as a questionable way for troubled eurozone economies to extract funding from the central bank.

But the strategy has been controversial, and it was criticized by none other than <hl> Yanis Varoufakis <hl> , the Greek finance minister, who, a year ago described the practice as a “hidden bailout from European taxpayers.”


Question: Why was the strategy criticized?

Answer: hidden bailout from European taxpayers

<hl> But the strategy has been controversial, and it was criticized by none other than Yanis Varoufakis, the Greek finance minister, who, a year ago described the practice as a “ hidden bailout from European taxpayers .” <hl> Mr. Varoufakis, then a relatively unknown economist, argued that the loans were a potent risk for Greece, which would have to assume responsibility for them if the banks failed. The practice has also been flagged by two German economists as a questionable way for troubled eurozone economies to extract funding from the central bank.

But the strategy has been controversial, and it was criticized by none other than Yanis Varoufakis, the Greek finance minister, who, a year ago described the practice as a “<hl> hidden bailout from European taxpayers <hl>.” Mr. Varoufakis, then a relatively unknown economist, argued that the loans were a potent risk for Greece, which would have to assume responsibility for them if the banks failed. The practice has also been flagged by two German economists as a questionable way for troubled eurozone economies to extract funding from the central bank.

But the strategy has been controversial, and it was criticized by none other than Yanis Varoufakis, the Greek finance minister, who, a year ago described the practice as a “ <hl> hidden bailout from European taxpayers <hl> .”


Question: Who would assume responsibility for the loans if the banks failed?

Answer: Greece,

But the strategy has been controversial, and it was criticized by none other than Yanis Varoufakis, the Greek finance minister, who, a year ago described the practice as a “hidden bailout from European taxpayers.” <hl> Mr. Varoufakis, then a relatively unknown economist, argued that the loans were a potent risk for Greece, which would have to assume responsibility for them if the banks failed. <hl> The practice has also been flagged by two German economists as a questionable way for troubled eurozone economies to extract funding from the central bank.

But the strategy has been controversial, and it was criticized by none other than Yanis Varoufakis, the Greek finance minister, who, a year ago described the practice as a “hidden bailout from European taxpayers.” Mr. Varoufakis, then a relatively unknown economist, argued that the loans were a potent risk for <hl> Greece, <hl> which would have to assume responsibility for them if the banks failed. The practice has also been flagged by two German economists as a questionable way for troubled eurozone economies to extract funding from the central bank.


Question: Who else said the practice was a bad idea?

Answer: two German economists

But the strategy has been controversial, and it was criticized by none other than Yanis Varoufakis, the Greek finance minister, who, a year ago described the practice as a “hidden bailout from European taxpayers.” Mr. Varoufakis, then a relatively unknown economist, argued that the loans were a potent risk for Greece, which would have to assume responsibility for them if the banks failed. <hl> The practice has also been flagged by two German economists as a questionable way for troubled eurozone economies to extract funding from the central bank. <hl>

But the strategy has been controversial, and it was criticized by none other than Yanis Varoufakis, the Greek finance minister, who, a year ago described the practice as a “hidden bailout from European taxpayers.” Mr. Varoufakis, then a relatively unknown economist, argued that the loans were a potent risk for Greece, which would have to assume responsibility for them if the banks failed. The practice has also been flagged by <hl> two German economists <hl> as a questionable way for troubled eurozone economies to extract funding from the central bank.


Question: How many classes are provided by the United States Army?

For a moment, he twirled the rope in his hands like a lasso, then threw the hook over the wire, and tugged hard, testing for explosives. When nothing happened he signaled two comrades, who ran up and started snipping the wire with cutters. Although this was a typical training exercise for raw recruits in an elemental soldierly skill, there was nothing typical about the scene. Far from enlistees, these soldiers were regulars in the Ukrainian National Guard, presumably battle-hardened after months on the front lines in eastern Ukraine. And the trainer was an American military instructor, drilling troops for battle with the United States’ former Cold War foe, Russia, and Russian-backed separatists. “It’s been a long time since I heard a target called an Ivan,” First Sgt. David Dzwik, one of the trainers, said in an interview out in the sunny forest, while observing the Ukrainians run through drills. “Now, I’m hearing it again.” The course on cutting wire is one of 63 classes of remedial military instruction being provided by 300 United States Army trainers in three consecutive two-month courses. Here in western Ukraine, they are far from the fighting, and their job is to instill some basic military know-how in Ukrainian soldiers, who the trainers have discovered are woefully unprepared. The largely unschooled troops are learning such basic skills as how to use an encrypted walkie-talkie; how to break open a door with a sledgehammer and a crowbar; and how to drag a wounded colleague across a field while holding a rifle at the ready. When the war began a year ago, the Ukrainian Army was all but worthless — rife with corruption and Russian spies, and made up largely of “skeleton” battalions of officers with just a few men. About 1 percent of the equipment was manufactured in the past decade.

Answer: 63

For a moment, he twirled the rope in his hands like a lasso, then threw the hook over the wire, and tugged hard, testing for explosives. When nothing happened he signaled two comrades, who ran up and started snipping the wire with cutters. Although this was a typical training exercise for raw recruits in an elemental soldierly skill, there was nothing typical about the scene. Far from enlistees, these soldiers were regulars in the Ukrainian National Guard, presumably battle-hardened after months on the front lines in eastern Ukraine. And the trainer was an American military instructor, drilling troops for battle with the United States’ former Cold War foe, Russia, and Russian-backed separatists. “It’s been a long time since I heard a target called an Ivan,” First Sgt. David Dzwik, one of the trainers, said in an interview out in the sunny forest, while observing the Ukrainians run through drills. “Now, I’m hearing it again.” <hl> The course on cutting wire is one of 63 classes of remedial military instruction being provided by 300 United States Army trainers in three consecutive two-month courses. <hl> Here in western Ukraine, they are far from the fighting, and their job is to instill some basic military know-how in Ukrainian soldiers, who the trainers have discovered are woefully unprepared. The largely unschooled troops are learning such basic skills as how to use an encrypted walkie-talkie; how to break open a door with a sledgehammer and a crowbar; and how to drag a wounded colleague across a field while holding a rifle at the ready. When the war began a year ago, the Ukrainian Army was all but worthless — rife with corruption and Russian spies, and made up largely of “skeleton” battalions of officers with just a few men. About 1 percent of the equipment was manufactured in the past decade.

For a moment, he twirled the rope in his hands like a lasso, then threw the hook over the wire, and tugged hard, testing for explosives. When nothing happened he signaled two comrades, who ran up and started snipping the wire with cutters. Although this was a typical training exercise for raw recruits in an elemental soldierly skill, there was nothing typical about the scene. Far from enlistees, these soldiers were regulars in the Ukrainian National Guard, presumably battle-hardened after months on the front lines in eastern Ukraine. And the trainer was an American military instructor, drilling troops for battle with the United States’ former Cold War foe, Russia, and Russian-backed separatists. “It’s been a long time since I heard a target called an Ivan,” First Sgt. David Dzwik, one of the trainers, said in an interview out in the sunny forest, while observing the Ukrainians run through drills. “Now, I’m hearing it again.” The course on cutting wire is one of <hl> 63 <hl> classes of remedial military instruction being provided by 300 United States Army trainers in three consecutive two-month courses. Here in western Ukraine, they are far from the fighting, and their job is to instill some basic military know-how in Ukrainian soldiers, who the trainers have discovered are woefully unprepared. The largely unschooled troops are learning such basic skills as how to use an encrypted walkie-talkie; how to break open a door with a sledgehammer and a crowbar; and how to drag a wounded colleague across a field while holding a rifle at the ready. When the war began a year ago, the Ukrainian Army was all but worthless — rife with corruption and Russian spies, and made up largely of “skeleton” battalions of officers with just a few men. About 1 percent of the equipment was manufactured in the past decade.


Question: How many US military trained the Ukrainian in remedial military instructions?

Answer: 300

For a moment, he twirled the rope in his hands like a lasso, then threw the hook over the wire, and tugged hard, testing for explosives. When nothing happened he signaled two comrades, who ran up and started snipping the wire with cutters. Although this was a typical training exercise for raw recruits in an elemental soldierly skill, there was nothing typical about the scene. Far from enlistees, these soldiers were regulars in the Ukrainian National Guard, presumably battle-hardened after months on the front lines in eastern Ukraine. And the trainer was an American military instructor, drilling troops for battle with the United States’ former Cold War foe, Russia, and Russian-backed separatists. “It’s been a long time since I heard a target called an Ivan,” First Sgt. David Dzwik, one of the trainers, said in an interview out in the sunny forest, while observing the Ukrainians run through drills. “Now, I’m hearing it again.” <hl> The course on cutting wire is one of 63 classes of remedial military instruction being provided by 300 United States Army trainers in three consecutive two-month courses. <hl> Here in western Ukraine, they are far from the fighting, and their job is to instill some basic military know-how in Ukrainian soldiers, who the trainers have discovered are woefully unprepared. The largely unschooled troops are learning such basic skills as how to use an encrypted walkie-talkie; how to break open a door with a sledgehammer and a crowbar; and how to drag a wounded colleague across a field while holding a rifle at the ready. When the war began a year ago, the Ukrainian Army was all but worthless — rife with corruption and Russian spies, and made up largely of “skeleton” battalions of officers with just a few men. About 1 percent of the equipment was manufactured in the past decade.

For a moment, he twirled the rope in his hands like a lasso, then threw the hook over the wire, and tugged hard, testing for explosives. When nothing happened he signaled two comrades, who ran up and started snipping the wire with cutters. Although this was a typical training exercise for raw recruits in an elemental soldierly skill, there was nothing typical about the scene. Far from enlistees, these soldiers were regulars in the Ukrainian National Guard, presumably battle-hardened after months on the front lines in eastern Ukraine. And the trainer was an American military instructor, drilling troops for battle with the United States’ former Cold War foe, Russia, and Russian-backed separatists. “It’s been a long time since I heard a target called an Ivan,” First Sgt. David Dzwik, one of the trainers, said in an interview out in the sunny forest, while observing the Ukrainians run through drills. “Now, I’m hearing it again.” The course on cutting wire is one of 63 classes of remedial military instruction being provided by <hl> 300 <hl> United States Army trainers in three consecutive two-month courses. Here in western Ukraine, they are far from the fighting, and their job is to instill some basic military know-how in Ukrainian soldiers, who the trainers have discovered are woefully unprepared. The largely unschooled troops are learning such basic skills as how to use an encrypted walkie-talkie; how to break open a door with a sledgehammer and a crowbar; and how to drag a wounded colleague across a field while holding a rifle at the ready. When the war began a year ago, the Ukrainian Army was all but worthless — rife with corruption and Russian spies, and made up largely of “skeleton” battalions of officers with just a few men. About 1 percent of the equipment was manufactured in the past decade.


Question: What percentage of the equipment was manufactured in the past decade?

Answer: 1 percent

For a moment, he twirled the rope in his hands like a lasso, then threw the hook over the wire, and tugged hard, testing for explosives. When nothing happened he signaled two comrades, who ran up and started snipping the wire with cutters. Although this was a typical training exercise for raw recruits in an elemental soldierly skill, there was nothing typical about the scene. Far from enlistees, these soldiers were regulars in the Ukrainian National Guard, presumably battle-hardened after months on the front lines in eastern Ukraine. And the trainer was an American military instructor, drilling troops for battle with the United States’ former Cold War foe, Russia, and Russian-backed separatists. “It’s been a long time since I heard a target called an Ivan,” First Sgt. David Dzwik, one of the trainers, said in an interview out in the sunny forest, while observing the Ukrainians run through drills. “Now, I’m hearing it again.” The course on cutting wire is one of 63 classes of remedial military instruction being provided by 300 United States Army trainers in three consecutive two-month courses. Here in western Ukraine, they are far from the fighting, and their job is to instill some basic military know-how in Ukrainian soldiers, who the trainers have discovered are woefully unprepared. The largely unschooled troops are learning such basic skills as how to use an encrypted walkie-talkie; how to break open a door with a sledgehammer and a crowbar; and how to drag a wounded colleague across a field while holding a rifle at the ready. When the war began a year ago, the Ukrainian Army was all but worthless — rife with corruption and Russian spies, and made up largely of “skeleton” battalions of officers with just a few men. <hl> About 1 percent of the equipment was manufactured in the past decade. <hl>

For a moment, he twirled the rope in his hands like a lasso, then threw the hook over the wire, and tugged hard, testing for explosives. When nothing happened he signaled two comrades, who ran up and started snipping the wire with cutters. Although this was a typical training exercise for raw recruits in an elemental soldierly skill, there was nothing typical about the scene. Far from enlistees, these soldiers were regulars in the Ukrainian National Guard, presumably battle-hardened after months on the front lines in eastern Ukraine. And the trainer was an American military instructor, drilling troops for battle with the United States’ former Cold War foe, Russia, and Russian-backed separatists. “It’s been a long time since I heard a target called an Ivan,” First Sgt. David Dzwik, one of the trainers, said in an interview out in the sunny forest, while observing the Ukrainians run through drills. “Now, I’m hearing it again.” The course on cutting wire is one of 63 classes of remedial military instruction being provided by 300 United States Army trainers in three consecutive two-month courses. Here in western Ukraine, they are far from the fighting, and their job is to instill some basic military know-how in Ukrainian soldiers, who the trainers have discovered are woefully unprepared. The largely unschooled troops are learning such basic skills as how to use an encrypted walkie-talkie; how to break open a door with a sledgehammer and a crowbar; and how to drag a wounded colleague across a field while holding a rifle at the ready. When the war began a year ago, the Ukrainian Army was all but worthless — rife with corruption and Russian spies, and made up largely of “skeleton” battalions of officers with just a few men. About <hl> 1 percent <hl> of the equipment was manufactured in the past decade.


Question: What kind of talking device for communication was the unschool troops learned?

Answer: encrypted walkie-talkie

For a moment, he twirled the rope in his hands like a lasso, then threw the hook over the wire, and tugged hard, testing for explosives. When nothing happened he signaled two comrades, who ran up and started snipping the wire with cutters. Although this was a typical training exercise for raw recruits in an elemental soldierly skill, there was nothing typical about the scene. Far from enlistees, these soldiers were regulars in the Ukrainian National Guard, presumably battle-hardened after months on the front lines in eastern Ukraine. And the trainer was an American military instructor, drilling troops for battle with the United States’ former Cold War foe, Russia, and Russian-backed separatists. “It’s been a long time since I heard a target called an Ivan,” First Sgt. David Dzwik, one of the trainers, said in an interview out in the sunny forest, while observing the Ukrainians run through drills. “Now, I’m hearing it again.” The course on cutting wire is one of 63 classes of remedial military instruction being provided by 300 United States Army trainers in three consecutive two-month courses. Here in western Ukraine, they are far from the fighting, and their job is to instill some basic military know-how in Ukrainian soldiers, who the trainers have discovered are woefully unprepared. <hl> The largely unschooled troops are learning such basic skills as how to use an encrypted walkie-talkie ; how to break open a door with a sledgehammer and a crowbar; and how to drag a wounded colleague across a field while holding a rifle at the ready. <hl> When the war began a year ago, the Ukrainian Army was all but worthless — rife with corruption and Russian spies, and made up largely of “skeleton” battalions of officers with just a few men. About 1 percent of the equipment was manufactured in the past decade.

For a moment, he twirled the rope in his hands like a lasso, then threw the hook over the wire, and tugged hard, testing for explosives. When nothing happened he signaled two comrades, who ran up and started snipping the wire with cutters. Although this was a typical training exercise for raw recruits in an elemental soldierly skill, there was nothing typical about the scene. Far from enlistees, these soldiers were regulars in the Ukrainian National Guard, presumably battle-hardened after months on the front lines in eastern Ukraine. And the trainer was an American military instructor, drilling troops for battle with the United States’ former Cold War foe, Russia, and Russian-backed separatists. “It’s been a long time since I heard a target called an Ivan,” First Sgt. David Dzwik, one of the trainers, said in an interview out in the sunny forest, while observing the Ukrainians run through drills. “Now, I’m hearing it again.” The course on cutting wire is one of 63 classes of remedial military instruction being provided by 300 United States Army trainers in three consecutive two-month courses. Here in western Ukraine, they are far from the fighting, and their job is to instill some basic military know-how in Ukrainian soldiers, who the trainers have discovered are woefully unprepared. The largely unschooled troops are learning such basic skills as how to use an <hl> encrypted walkie-talkie <hl>; how to break open a door with a sledgehammer and a crowbar; and how to drag a wounded colleague across a field while holding a rifle at the ready. When the war began a year ago, the Ukrainian Army was all but worthless — rife with corruption and Russian spies, and made up largely of “skeleton” battalions of officers with just a few men. About 1 percent of the equipment was manufactured in the past decade.

The largely unschooled troops are learning such basic skills as how to use an <hl> encrypted walkie-talkie <hl> ; how to break open a door with a sledgehammer and a crowbar; and how to drag a wounded colleague across a field while holding a rifle at the ready.


Question: What two weapons was used to break down a door?

Answer: sledgehammer and a crowbar

For a moment, he twirled the rope in his hands like a lasso, then threw the hook over the wire, and tugged hard, testing for explosives. When nothing happened he signaled two comrades, who ran up and started snipping the wire with cutters. Although this was a typical training exercise for raw recruits in an elemental soldierly skill, there was nothing typical about the scene. Far from enlistees, these soldiers were regulars in the Ukrainian National Guard, presumably battle-hardened after months on the front lines in eastern Ukraine. And the trainer was an American military instructor, drilling troops for battle with the United States’ former Cold War foe, Russia, and Russian-backed separatists. “It’s been a long time since I heard a target called an Ivan,” First Sgt. David Dzwik, one of the trainers, said in an interview out in the sunny forest, while observing the Ukrainians run through drills. “Now, I’m hearing it again.” The course on cutting wire is one of 63 classes of remedial military instruction being provided by 300 United States Army trainers in three consecutive two-month courses. Here in western Ukraine, they are far from the fighting, and their job is to instill some basic military know-how in Ukrainian soldiers, who the trainers have discovered are woefully unprepared. <hl> The largely unschooled troops are learning such basic skills as how to use an encrypted walkie-talkie; how to break open a door with a sledgehammer and a crowbar ; and how to drag a wounded colleague across a field while holding a rifle at the ready. <hl> When the war began a year ago, the Ukrainian Army was all but worthless — rife with corruption and Russian spies, and made up largely of “skeleton” battalions of officers with just a few men. About 1 percent of the equipment was manufactured in the past decade.

For a moment, he twirled the rope in his hands like a lasso, then threw the hook over the wire, and tugged hard, testing for explosives. When nothing happened he signaled two comrades, who ran up and started snipping the wire with cutters. Although this was a typical training exercise for raw recruits in an elemental soldierly skill, there was nothing typical about the scene. Far from enlistees, these soldiers were regulars in the Ukrainian National Guard, presumably battle-hardened after months on the front lines in eastern Ukraine. And the trainer was an American military instructor, drilling troops for battle with the United States’ former Cold War foe, Russia, and Russian-backed separatists. “It’s been a long time since I heard a target called an Ivan,” First Sgt. David Dzwik, one of the trainers, said in an interview out in the sunny forest, while observing the Ukrainians run through drills. “Now, I’m hearing it again.” The course on cutting wire is one of 63 classes of remedial military instruction being provided by 300 United States Army trainers in three consecutive two-month courses. Here in western Ukraine, they are far from the fighting, and their job is to instill some basic military know-how in Ukrainian soldiers, who the trainers have discovered are woefully unprepared. The largely unschooled troops are learning such basic skills as how to use an encrypted walkie-talkie; how to break open a door with a <hl> sledgehammer and a crowbar <hl>; and how to drag a wounded colleague across a field while holding a rifle at the ready. When the war began a year ago, the Ukrainian Army was all but worthless — rife with corruption and Russian spies, and made up largely of “skeleton” battalions of officers with just a few men. About 1 percent of the equipment was manufactured in the past decade.

The largely unschooled troops are learning such basic skills as how to use an encrypted walkie-talkie; how to break open a door with a <hl> sledgehammer and a crowbar <hl> ; and how to drag a wounded colleague across a field while holding a rifle at the ready.


Question: How many classes are provided by the United States Army?

Answer: 63

For a moment, he twirled the rope in his hands like a lasso, then threw the hook over the wire, and tugged hard, testing for explosives. When nothing happened he signaled two comrades, who ran up and started snipping the wire with cutters. Although this was a typical training exercise for raw recruits in an elemental soldierly skill, there was nothing typical about the scene. Far from enlistees, these soldiers were regulars in the Ukrainian National Guard, presumably battle-hardened after months on the front lines in eastern Ukraine. And the trainer was an American military instructor, drilling troops for battle with the United States’ former Cold War foe, Russia, and Russian-backed separatists. “It’s been a long time since I heard a target called an Ivan,” First Sgt. David Dzwik, one of the trainers, said in an interview out in the sunny forest, while observing the Ukrainians run through drills. “Now, I’m hearing it again.” <hl> The course on cutting wire is one of 63 classes of remedial military instruction being provided by 300 United States Army trainers in three consecutive two-month courses. <hl> Here in western Ukraine, they are far from the fighting, and their job is to instill some basic military know-how in Ukrainian soldiers, who the trainers have discovered are woefully unprepared. The largely unschooled troops are learning such basic skills as how to use an encrypted walkie-talkie; how to break open a door with a sledgehammer and a crowbar; and how to drag a wounded colleague across a field while holding a rifle at the ready. When the war began a year ago, the Ukrainian Army was all but worthless — rife with corruption and Russian spies, and made up largely of “skeleton” battalions of officers with just a few men. About 1 percent of the equipment was manufactured in the past decade.

For a moment, he twirled the rope in his hands like a lasso, then threw the hook over the wire, and tugged hard, testing for explosives. When nothing happened he signaled two comrades, who ran up and started snipping the wire with cutters. Although this was a typical training exercise for raw recruits in an elemental soldierly skill, there was nothing typical about the scene. Far from enlistees, these soldiers were regulars in the Ukrainian National Guard, presumably battle-hardened after months on the front lines in eastern Ukraine. And the trainer was an American military instructor, drilling troops for battle with the United States’ former Cold War foe, Russia, and Russian-backed separatists. “It’s been a long time since I heard a target called an Ivan,” First Sgt. David Dzwik, one of the trainers, said in an interview out in the sunny forest, while observing the Ukrainians run through drills. “Now, I’m hearing it again.” The course on cutting wire is one of <hl> 63 <hl> classes of remedial military instruction being provided by 300 United States Army trainers in three consecutive two-month courses. Here in western Ukraine, they are far from the fighting, and their job is to instill some basic military know-how in Ukrainian soldiers, who the trainers have discovered are woefully unprepared. The largely unschooled troops are learning such basic skills as how to use an encrypted walkie-talkie; how to break open a door with a sledgehammer and a crowbar; and how to drag a wounded colleague across a field while holding a rifle at the ready. When the war began a year ago, the Ukrainian Army was all but worthless — rife with corruption and Russian spies, and made up largely of “skeleton” battalions of officers with just a few men. About 1 percent of the equipment was manufactured in the past decade.


Question: How many US military trained the Ukrainian in remedial military instructions?

Answer: 300

For a moment, he twirled the rope in his hands like a lasso, then threw the hook over the wire, and tugged hard, testing for explosives. When nothing happened he signaled two comrades, who ran up and started snipping the wire with cutters. Although this was a typical training exercise for raw recruits in an elemental soldierly skill, there was nothing typical about the scene. Far from enlistees, these soldiers were regulars in the Ukrainian National Guard, presumably battle-hardened after months on the front lines in eastern Ukraine. And the trainer was an American military instructor, drilling troops for battle with the United States’ former Cold War foe, Russia, and Russian-backed separatists. “It’s been a long time since I heard a target called an Ivan,” First Sgt. David Dzwik, one of the trainers, said in an interview out in the sunny forest, while observing the Ukrainians run through drills. “Now, I’m hearing it again.” <hl> The course on cutting wire is one of 63 classes of remedial military instruction being provided by 300 United States Army trainers in three consecutive two-month courses. <hl> Here in western Ukraine, they are far from the fighting, and their job is to instill some basic military know-how in Ukrainian soldiers, who the trainers have discovered are woefully unprepared. The largely unschooled troops are learning such basic skills as how to use an encrypted walkie-talkie; how to break open a door with a sledgehammer and a crowbar; and how to drag a wounded colleague across a field while holding a rifle at the ready. When the war began a year ago, the Ukrainian Army was all but worthless — rife with corruption and Russian spies, and made up largely of “skeleton” battalions of officers with just a few men. About 1 percent of the equipment was manufactured in the past decade.

For a moment, he twirled the rope in his hands like a lasso, then threw the hook over the wire, and tugged hard, testing for explosives. When nothing happened he signaled two comrades, who ran up and started snipping the wire with cutters. Although this was a typical training exercise for raw recruits in an elemental soldierly skill, there was nothing typical about the scene. Far from enlistees, these soldiers were regulars in the Ukrainian National Guard, presumably battle-hardened after months on the front lines in eastern Ukraine. And the trainer was an American military instructor, drilling troops for battle with the United States’ former Cold War foe, Russia, and Russian-backed separatists. “It’s been a long time since I heard a target called an Ivan,” First Sgt. David Dzwik, one of the trainers, said in an interview out in the sunny forest, while observing the Ukrainians run through drills. “Now, I’m hearing it again.” The course on cutting wire is one of 63 classes of remedial military instruction being provided by <hl> 300 <hl> United States Army trainers in three consecutive two-month courses. Here in western Ukraine, they are far from the fighting, and their job is to instill some basic military know-how in Ukrainian soldiers, who the trainers have discovered are woefully unprepared. The largely unschooled troops are learning such basic skills as how to use an encrypted walkie-talkie; how to break open a door with a sledgehammer and a crowbar; and how to drag a wounded colleague across a field while holding a rifle at the ready. When the war began a year ago, the Ukrainian Army was all but worthless — rife with corruption and Russian spies, and made up largely of “skeleton” battalions of officers with just a few men. About 1 percent of the equipment was manufactured in the past decade.