Question: I often write about the bad state of television these days, but recently my mom told me about a story she saw on 60 Minutesthat was inspiring, educational, and entertaining for the whole family. I went to the show's website to see for myself. My mom was right. At a time when even Barbara Walters says she's really bored with celebrities interviews, this one will not disappoint.

It's the story of Derek Paravicini, a 30-year-old who was born three months early, physically disabled (he can't button his own shirt), blind, and severely autistic .

Yet, through total luck and coincidence, his family discovered that Derek had a remarkable musical talent when he was three.

Derek can hear any musical composition one time and play it perfectly on the piano.

That's right. He only has to hear it once.

Even more unbelievable, his brain, like a computer, can keep many songs that he can immediately repeat when asked. But his talent isn't limited to just learning things by heart. Derek is a true musical genius and artist who plays beautifully in a wide range of styles and can make his own music.

With his talent, Derek has raised millions of dollars putting on charity concerts. He also donates his time to senior centers where he acts as a human jukebox machine, taking requests from senior citizens who haven't heard their favorite songs for decades.

As it turns out, Derek loves people and his extraordinary talent has been the key to unlocking his personality and social development.

If you want to inspire your family, pop some popcorn and sit everyone down to watch this excellent piece of journalism. If your kids are like mine, it will cause a great family discussion about the definition of "disability" and the extraordinary ability of the human brain and spirit. It may even give you the perfect answer the next time your child says he or she "can't" do something. Now that's priceless.

Who says there's nothing good on TV? 1. What is Derek's unique skill?
2. When did his parents discover this?
3. Does he have a typical brain?
4. What is different about him?
5. What are his disabilities?
6. What is his age?
7. Did the author uncover his story on Good Morning America?
8. How did his family discover his talent?
9. How many times does he need to listen to a song to memorize it?
10. Does Derek avoid all communication with people? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. He can hear any musical composition one time and play it perfectly on the piano.
2. When he was three.
3. No.
4. His brain is like a computer.
5. He's blind.and severely autistic.
6. 30.
7. No.
8. Through total luck and coincidence.
9. Once.
10. No.

Question: The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite statistic of life expectancy, education, and income per capita indicators, which are used to rank countries into four tiers of human development. A country scores higher HDI when the life expectancy at birth is longer, the education period is longer, and the income per capita is higher. The HDI was developed by the Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq, often framed in terms of whether people are able to "be" and "do" desirable things in their life, and was published by the United Nations Development Programme.

The 2010 Human Development Report introduced an Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI). While the simple HDI remains useful, it stated that "the IHDI is the actual level of human development (accounting for inequality)," and "the HDI can be viewed as an index of 'potential' human development (or the maximum IHDI that could be achieved if there were no inequality)." 1. Who developed the HDI?
2. what does it stand for?
3. what was one of the data points it looked at?
4. and another?
5. is there another one?
6. what is it?
7. which is a better score, high or low?
8. how many levels are there?
9. did this help describe undesirable things?
10. what did it describe?
11. who did the publication of it?
12. what came out in 2010?
13. what did it present?
14. why is it better according to this?
15. what helps make a place get a higher score?
16. is it better if people are expected to live longer?
17. what is another thing that results in a top score?
18. anything else?
19. What does the HDR say the HDI can be seen as?
20. or? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq,
2. Human Development Index
3. life expectancy,
4. income per capita
5. yes
6. education,
7. high
8. Four
9. no
10. if people can "be" and "do" good things
11. UN Development Programme
12. Human Development Report
13. Inequality-adjusted HDI
14. IHDI is actual develoment, HDI is potential
15. If there were no inequality)."
16. yes
17. education period is longer,
18. income per capita is higher
19. index of potential human development
20. max IHDI if there's no inequality

Question: (CNN) -- In 1984, in the midst of Lebanon's civil war, Naji Gebran started hosting regular gatherings at his Beirut beachfront apartment for the purpose of "musical therapy."

Weary and traumatized from the conflict that had divided their city -- and would claim some 150,000 lives over its 15 years -- people would come to his apartment to lose themselves in a night of jazz, blues, funk, soul, classical and Arabic music.

"They used to come because of the music, to forget the war," said Gebran. "We used to do this for peace."

The party nights were an important outlet, he said, as during the war years there were few other options.

"My friends had nowhere to go," he said. There were two or three clubs in Christian east Beirut, the same in the city's Muslim west.

"But they were very constipated. Very good dress, the same music all the time," he said. "It was very commercial, easy listening, everywhere you go."

Beirut has come a long way since then.

After dark, the city comes alive: A balmy playground of chic nightclubs, rough and ready dives, stylish rooftop bars.

The hip, hedonistic scenes in the fashionable neighborhoods of Gemmayze or Hamra are unlike anything to be found elsewhere in the Arab world -- and can be an unexpected find in a country in which austere Islamic militant group Hezbollah forms part of the government.

"It is the nightlife capital of the region," said Naomi Sargeant, managing director of city guide Time Out Beirut. "It's cosmopolitan and has this East-meets-West feel. I don't think there's anything on par." 1. what is the nightlife capital of the region?
2. how many people died over 15 years in the conflict?
3. during what?
4. when was that?
5. who started hosting parties at his own home?
6. did his friends have anywhere else to go?
7. were there other clubs?
8. which part of beirut is the Christian area?
9. and the Muslim area?
10. how is the nightlife in beirut now?
11. what was the purpose of Gebran's gatherings?
12. was there specific name that he used for his gatherings?
13. what kinds of music were featured?
14. who said that they don't think there is anything on par with beirut's night life?
15. what does she do for a living? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. Beirut
2. 150,000
3. Lebanon's civil war
4. 1984
5. Naji Gebran
6. No
7. two or three
8. east Beirut
9. west.
10. It is the nightlife capital of the region
11. to forget the war
12. musical therapy
13. azz, blues, funk, soul, classical and Arabic music.
14. Naomi Sargeant,
15. managing director of city