Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(Budget Travel) -- Looking for cheap airfares for your big trip abroad but suffering from search fatigue? When all else fails, try one of these tested strategies.

Even if you've packed your bags, being flexible on departure dates could save you money.

Strategy No.1: Start your search at Kayak.com

We find that meta-search site Kayak is the all-time best place for scoring the cheapest plane tickets. Our biggest beef with Kayak's competitors is that, when you click to book a fare, you're typically directed to a new page. Sometimes it's only then that you find out your actual departure time. Or worse, you're forced to plug in your dates and departure cities all over again, only to discover more-expensive fares.

Kayak stands apart. Once you've found a good flight, click on the price and you'll be sent directly to the airline's Web site, where the exact price for the exact flight you selected unfailingly appears.

Strategy No. 2: Use fare-history charts

It's the classic dilemma: Should you buy the best fare you see today or wait because the price might go down? Here's how to come up with an educated guess. Use Kayak to fetch fares for your itinerary and then click on "Show chart of fare history," which is a link near the top left-hand corner of the search results. If the chart says that the average fare for your route is much higher than the fare you're seeing today, then you should probably book the ticket because it's cheap relative to historic prices.

Strategy No. 3: Monitor fares and be ready to jump

Plug in your dates and routes, as well as a price threshold, at a fare-tracking service, such as Yapta or Hotwire's TripWatcher. Each site will ask you to join (free), and then will do several price searches per day. You'll receive an e-mail alert as soon as the flight drops to your specified price. To name your "trigger" price, look at Kayak's fare-history chart to see the lowest fare recorded for this route, and use an amount close to that as your baseline.

Yapta is the industry leader for tracking fares -- even Google incorporates Yapta's data in its search results. Hotwire's TripWatcher is also excellent, allowing you to program automatic searches of your chosen route over a 60-day window (which is a nice perk and increases the chances you'll find a bargain fare as long as you can be flexible in your travel dates). There is a catch, though: While both sites cover popular routes, neither covers the entire world.

Strategy No. 4: Run a flexible-date search

You may save hundreds of dollars by moving your departure or arrival dates by a day or two, either earlier or later. To see how much you might save, we recommend you take Kayak's flexible-date search tool for a spin -- it covers the broadest range of routes and airports of the competing tools we tested.

In our trials, Expedia's flexible search came up with only the most popular routes, so your route may not qualify. Orbitz's flexible-date calendar gave a nice overview of fares on various days, but departure times were not initially shown. Travelocity provided a few different ways to search flexibly -- either within a few days of a selected date, or over selected months -- but like Orbitz it failed to show dates and departure times right away. Finally, relative newcomer Trax.com's flexible search tool lacked a "search nearby airports" feature, which meant it gave you fares from major airports, but missed cheaper fares departing nearby. In short, Kayak is your best bet for a flexible-date search.

Strategy No. 5: Book two tickets instead of one

You may save hundreds of dollars if you split your international journey into different legs and buy separate tickets for each leg. For example, rather than buy a single ticket for direct flights between Chicago and Barcelona for $1,000, you may be able to buy two tickets -- one for a round-trip ticket between Chicago and New York City for $200 and another for a round-trip ticket between New York City and Barcelona for $600 -- and save about $200.

The quickest way to figure out if you can save by booking two tickets is to figure out if there is a hub airport that funnels most American travelers to your overseas destination. Then, look into reserving separate tickets to and from that hub.

For instance, Miami is the hub for flights to most destinations in South America and the Caribbean, meaning that a majority of Americans flying southward internationally pass through Miami's airport instead of, say, either Houston or Atlanta. Another hub airport is Los Angeles' LAX, which is the main funnel for people heading to Australia, the South Pacific, and Asia. New York City's airports are common layover spots for most of the planes crossing the Atlantic to Europe and points beyond.

We recently tested this approach for a round-trip between Houston and Sydney. Our initial searches on a few travel Web sites didn't turn up any nonstop flights between the two cities, but we did find multi-stop tickets. Delta's best fare between Houston and Sydney in November was $1,012, with a stop in Los Angeles. That caught our eye. If there's a large number of flights to Australia passing through L.A., then the City of Angels might offer bargain direct flights to Down Under -- because the greater volume of flights often prompts a greater number of fare sales. So we checked out fares between L.A. and Sydney. It turns out they started at $652.

Next, we did a quick search for round-trip airfares on flights between Houston and Los Angeles. We found flights for $252, bringing our two-flight total to $904 -- for a savings of 11 percent over Delta's flight for $1,012.

If you decide to book two tickets on two different airlines, be sure to allow extra time to make your connections, and consider buying good travel insurance to make sure you're covered in the event of a problem. You can save money on insurance policies by buying them directly from an insurer, such as industry giant TravelGuard, rather than through a middleman, who will charge a marked-up price.

Strategy No. 6: Shift your trip to another month

When all else fails and you just can't get the fare you want, think about off-season travel. In a guidebook, look up your destination's high (or peak) season, low season, and in-between (or "shoulder") season. Then travel at a time when your destination is less crowded -- and travel costs are correspondingly lower. But don't get rained on: before you opt for a cheaper season, you'll want to know about the average weather, so search your guidebook (or a site like weather.com) for monthly trends.

Web searches on sample itineraries will also reveal which months are cheaper to visit your destination. For instance, we recently discovered that fares from Houston to Australia were as much as $800 lower in November than in January.

Get the best travel deals and tips emailed to you and enter to win a free trip - CLICK HERE!

Copyright © 2009 Newsweek Budget Travel, Inc., all rights reserved.

Response: There are several ways to search for flights to find cheaper fares. Use the fare-history chart on Kayak.com to see how a given fare rates. Run a flexible date search to find out if you can save a lot at different times. Separate trip into different legs and buy separate tickets.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- What do Conan O'Brien, Etsy.com and the Smurfs all have in common?

They are part of the hottest craft trends for 2011, according to organizations like craftster.org, that track the $29.2 billion dollar craft and hobby industry in the U.S.

An increase in handmade technology accessories and vintage patterns for clothes are popular, too, as art and craft enthusiasts find new ways to develop their creative talents.

Hot trend: Conan

Conan O'Brien is more than a late night talk show host, these days. He's credited with exposing a new and younger audience to artwork.

Fans of the comedian have been inspired to create illustrations, paintings, mixed media, digital art and edibles that look like the late night star - and this work is sometimes showcased on his TBS television show and on his website.

"While we had never actively solicited artwork or crafts from fans, we were seeing so much incredible stuff posted across the web, and were inspired to build 'Coco MoCA - The Museum Of Conan Art' -- an internet gallery to celebrate these fantastic artists' talent," said John A. Wooden, General Manager and Executive Producer of Team Coco Digital.

Wooden says the team has been pleased with the new museum of art and routinely display pieces of  its work on Conan's TV show.

Hot trend: Etsy.com

Etsy.com is popular, as it is a money making venue for artists and crafters.

Etsy is a U.S.-based website that describes itself as an "online crafts fair." But unlike your local art fair show, Etsy is a growing business where its sellers made a combined $314.3 million last year in gross merchandise sales and more than $146 million so far, this year. The site has grown from about 200,000 active sellers in 2008 to 800,000 sellers, today, in 150 countries around the world.

"There is an added value for the buyer that comes from having a real interaction with the real human being that created each handmade object," said Etsy spokesperson, Adam Brown. "You won't find this at a shopping mall."

Husband and wife team, Stephen and Betsy Carr, of Asheville, North Carolina, said they quit their day jobs to pursue their dream job of selling handmade jewelry on Etsy and couldn't be happier.

"We're creative people and it feels incredibly satisfying to have made this creative life for ourselves," said Betsy.

Etsy makes money by charging sellers a listing fee of 20 cents for each item and receives 3.5% commission on the price of each sale. It is free to become a member and sell items on Etsy.

Hot trend: Pop culture

Pop culture is always popular in the arts and crafts world.

Indie crafters are expected to be influenced by 2011 film releases like "The Smurfs," and "Red Riding Hood" and fan favorites "Twilight" and Harry Potter. This, according to data and trends collected from the 1.3 million visitors a month who visit the craftster.org website.

Consumers who can't get enough of these pop culture icons have plenty of artistic options to choose from this year, both online and at art and craft shows.

"Fantasy of any sort is perfect for inspiration and getting creative juices flowing," said Talia Roselli, a spokesperson for Craftster.org. "When crafters can't find products in the marketplace that represent their love for their favorite characters and fantasy film narratives, they make them."

Hot trend: Modern technology

Blending traditional crafts with modern technology is "hot," in 2011.

Crafters will be inspired throughout the year, according to Roselli, to make cases for items like smartphones, iPads and Kindles, to name a few.

"We attribute this demand for unique tech accessories in large part to the highly personalized experience of using today's mobile technology," said Roselli. "People want their devices to have a look and feel that reflects their personality."

Rich and Brenna Neeley of Orange County, California, are among the artists on Etsy.com that cater to this niche of craft items. They selliPhone and iPod chargers that look like new and vintage books.

Brenna says her personal iPhone charger is a small book of poems that has sentimental value for her.

"Everytime I plug in my device, it makes me smile," said Brenna. "It's more about how it makes me feel than what it does, the charging function is just a necessity of life these days."

Hot trend: Fashion

In fashion, pleating, smocking and detailed embellishments in a style that mixes the 1940s and 1970s will be trendy for crafters throughout 2011.

As fashion designers experiment with advanced techniques, material combinations, and modern finishes, they're drawing more and more inspiration from vintage patterns and designs, said Roselli.

"It's a beautiful blend of old and new that we're seeing," noted Roselli.

Color choices reflect this mix of old and new, too.

Roselli says what's trending with indie clothes makers is an aged natural color like a dusty brown or grey, complemented by a bold, rich color like honeysuckle, plum, or yellow to brighten and modernize a garment or accessory.

Response: Conan O'Brien, Etsy.com part of hottest trends in crafting right now. In 2010, the U.S. craft and hobby industry was at $29.2 billion. 56% of U.S. households craft at least once a year.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- For over half a century, Formula One has been a man's game.

But maybe no more as the sport's glass ceiling suffered a further fracture on Wednesday.

Monisha Kaltenborn became the sport's first female team principal when she was handed the reins at Sauber in October and now Williams has followed suit after appointing Claire Williams to a similar key role.

The daughter of team founder Frank Williams, the 36-year-old will work alongside her father as deputy team principal.

The British team is the only constructor which currently employs a female driver with Susie Wolff testing for the marque.

"I'm truly honored to be taking on the role of deputy team principal and look forward to working alongside Frank to help run the team this season and beyond," Claire told Williams' official website.

"I have grown up in the sport and have learned the ropes from one of Formula One's legendary team principals and as a result I feel well equipped for this new challenge.

"I understand the commitment that every person within the team gives each day to see our car out on the track and I am determined to see us back at the top."

Williams are one of the most successful teams in F1 history, winning nine constructors' championships and seven drivers' titles since making their debut at the 1978 Argentine Grand Prix.

But in recent times the team has floundered, although Venezuelan driver Pastor Maldonado did pick up Williams' first race win since 2004 at last year's Spanish Grand Prix.

Frank Williams, who is tetraplegic and has been confined to a wheelchair since a car accident in 1986, is confident the future of the team is in safe hands.

"Over the past decade Claire has worked tirelessly for Williams," said the 70-year-old.

"Her knowledge of the sport and passion for the team is unquestionable and I'm proud to say that during her time here she has proven herself to be one of our most valuable assets.

"With Claire being appointed Deputy Team Principal, I know the future of Williams is in extremely safe hands.

"This appointment also had Ginny's blessing who I know would have been incredibly proud to have seen Claire taking on this position by my side," added Williams, referring to his wife Virginia, who died earlier this month of cancer.

Williams' driver pairing of Maldonado and rookie Valtteri Bottas will both be on the grid for the Chinese Grand Prix on April 14.

Response: Claire Williams appointed deputy team principal at William F1 team. Claire will be working beneath her father and team principal Frank Williams. Monisha Kaltenborn became the sport's first female team principal at Sauber last year. Williams' test driver Suzie Wolff is the only female driver currently employed in the sport.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:A decorated U.S. soldier who died while unsuccessfully trying to rescue his daughters from their burning North Carolina home was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday.

The funeral took place, as scheduled, in the early morning, said cemetery spokeswoman Jennifer Lynch.

Chief Warrant Officer II Edward Duane Cantrell, 36, was a member of the 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg. The Green Beret had returned in August from his latest overseas deployment.

His wife, Louise, told officials the family was upstairs when the fire broke out just before 2 a.m. March 5 in Hope Mills, a suburb of Fayetteville.

She jumped from a second-floor window and ran next door to call for help while her husband went to get  6-year-old Isabella and 4-year-old Natalia, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office said.

"They never made it out," said Debbie Tanna, spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office.

Officials believe the family's century-old home had tinderbox conditions that led to "a very intense fire."

Military officials said the Fort Bragg soldier had completed six deployments, including one to Iraq and five to Afghanistan.

He had four Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart for his service, according to the Army Special Operations Command.

Cantrell was honored with a military funeral at the cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

"That was his wishes," said Lt. April Olsen of U.S. Army Special Forces Command.

His two daughters will lie beside him.

Response: Edward Duane Cantrell returned in August from his latest overseas deployment. The Green Beret, 36, had four Bronze stars and a Purple Heart. It was his wish to be buried at Arlington, the Army says.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- Manchester City crashed out of European competition following a 1-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund.

Julian Schieber scored the only goal of the game to claim victory for the Germans and kill off any hopes City had of reaching the Europa League.

City has endured a dismal Champions League campaign and knew its hopes of reaching the last-16 had already faded before the trip to Dortmund.

But it had hoped to at least pick up the consolation of making it through to the Europa League, especially with Ajax facing Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

English Premier League's hidden costs revealed

But that dream was left shattered as the English Premier League champions were given a reality check.

Boss Roberto Mancini will now look ahead to Sunday's Manchester derby after his team became the first from England to not win a single group game in the competition.

"We lost our qualification tonight," he told reporters. "We lost it before tonight, we tried (to qualify) but we're missing more players. We had the chance to score but if in these moments you don't score it's difficult to win.

"We are not in the Europa League, and for this we should be disappointed."

Elsewhere in Group D, Kaka scored the 28th Champions League goal of his career to become the all-time leading Brazilian goalscorer in the competition.

The Real Madrid star was on target during his side's 4-1 win over Ajax with Cristiano Ronaldo and a brace from Jose Callejon completing the rout.

Kaka's strike takes him past former Barcelona star Rivaldo, who had led the way with 27 goals to his name.

Messi and Ronaldo battle for Ballon d'Or

Ronaldo's effort was his 61st goal of 2012, one more than last year, and his seventh against Ajax in the Champions League.

The win means Real qualify in second place behind Borussia Dortmund.

In Group A, Paris Saint-Germain claimed a 2-1 victory and top spot against Porto with both teams already having qualified for the next stage.

Thiago Silva and Ezequiel Lavezzi were on target for the home side with Jackson Martinez netting for Porto, which finishes second in the group.

Dynamo Kiev was forced to play through a snow storm during its 1-1 draw at Dinamo Zagreb.

Both teams were led off the field with just 11 minutes on the clock as a blizzard forced the game to be halted.

After a 17 minute delay, it was Kiev which looked like emerging victorious thanks to Andriy Yarmolenko's strike on the stroke of halftime.

But a 90th minute penalty by Ivan Krstanović, Dinamo's first goal of the competition, rescued a point for his side.

Fans cemetery: From the cradle to the grave service provided by Schalke

Schalke topped Group B following a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Montpellier.

The German side took a 56th minute lead through Benedikt Höwedes only for Emanuel Herrera to grab an equalizer.

Olympiakos will play in the Europa League following its 2-1 win against an Arsenal side, which had already qualified for the last-16.

The visitors had taken the lead through Tomas Rosicky but goals from Giannis Maniatis and Kostas Mitroglou gave the Greek side victory.

Mexes wonder goal lifts Milan into knockout stages

In Group C, Zenit St.Petersburg pulled off a shock 1-0 win at AC Milan.

Captain Danny scored the only goal of the game after 35 minutes to ensure the Russian side's place in the Europa League.

Milan finish second in the group, four points behind winners Malaga.

The La Liga club, which was held 2-2 by Anderlecht, became the first side from Spain to start a Champions League game with just one Spanish player.

Duda scored both goals for Malaga with Anderlecht's strikes coming from Milan Jovanovic and Dieumerci Mbokani.

Response: Manchester City crashes out of Europe following 1-0 defeat in Dortmund. Kaka becomes the all-time leading Brazilian goalscorer in the Champions League. Zenit records shock 1-0 win at AC Milan to secure Europa League berth. Olympiakos defeats Arsenal 2-1 to qualify for Europa League.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(EW.com) -- "Game of Thrones" may have broken the Internet with Sunday's episode, but it didn't break its ratings record.

"The Rains of Castamere" delivered 5.2 million viewers, down slightly from the show's all-time high set earlier this season of 5.5 million.

EW: 'Game of Thrones' Red wedding recap

The performance isn't surprising.

EW: 'Game of Thrones' - Rounding up 'The Red Wedding' reactions

The episode aired after the show took a one-week break for Memorial Day weekend. And even though it was a highly anticipated hour among hardcore fans, most casual viewers had no idea the episode contained a shockingly violent wedding sequence as HBO intentionally did not promote the episode as anything out of the ordinary to help preserve the surprise. Expect the ratings to rise for next week's finale, however, possibly to an all-time high.

See the original story at EW.com.

CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly

© 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.

Response: Sunday's "Game of Thrones" had a shocking ending. Die hard fans knew what was coming, but HBO didn't promote. The episode did not break records.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(Mental Floss) -- 1. Backgammon

Other than chess -- the history of which is well-covered elsewhere -- the most enduring table game of the last few centuries is backgammon, also known as "tables" early in its history. Backgammon itself is a descendant, at least in spirit if not in direct lineage, of the games of Senet and Ur.

The missing link may be the Middle Eastern game Nard or Nardshir, with rules nearly identical to backgammon's and appearances in Babylonian and Persian literature between 300 and 850 A.D.; when the Arabs conquered Persia in the 6th century, the game spread throughout the Muslim world, moving up the Caucasus and into Central Asia as well as Spain, from which it headed further into Europe.

Mental Floss: 5,000 years of boardgames (Part I)

Willard Fiske, author of the misnamed Chess in Iceland (which includes histories of many table games beyond chess), argues for Nard as the connection between tables/backgammon and the table games of antiquity, while David Parlett identifies its entry into Europe as Table, later Tabula, by way of the Byzantine Empire and then Greece.

Tabula first appears in literature through an epigram written by the Byzantine Emperor Zeno, who lamented a particularly unfortunate throw of the dice in verse that was reproduced several decades later by the Greek poet Agathias.

An early variant of Tables, called Tick-Tack (derived from the game tric-trac, where the goal was achieving certain scores or positions rather than bearing off all of one's pieces), even earns mention in Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure", as Lucio says to Claudius in response to the latter's plea for Lucio to talk to Claudius' nunnery-bound sister: "I pray she may; as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition, as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her."

The term "backgammon" itself first appears in 1645, spelled "baggammon," in a letter that also referred to Irish, a simpler predecessor that didn't include doubles or the levels of winning found in the modern game.

Mental Floss: 5,000 years of boardgames (Part II)

2. Othello

Popular today under the trademarked name Othello, the game previously called Reversi predates the Othello brand name by more than a half-century, but the name Reversi fell into the public domain several decades after its invention and publication.

The inventor of Reversi remains in dispute; the original patent went to Briton Lewis Waterman in 1888, but he was later accused of theft by James Mollett, whose Annexation game purportedly dated to 1870.

Othello differs from Reversi only in name, in starting placement (in Reversi the first four pieces go in the center, but not necessarily in the familiar diagonal pattern), and in origin myth, as Othello was "invented" in Japan in the 1960s by Goro Hasegawa.

3. Risk

Risk was first published in France in 1957 as La Conquete du Monde, or "World Conquest," the name under which Parker Brothers first published it in the United States. The game was invented by Oscar- and Palme d'Or-winning film director Albert Lamorisse, who was also the author of the children's book "The Red Balloon," adapted from his Academy Award-winning short film of that name.

Game historian Bruce Whitehill has written that the choice of the Risk name reflected the first initials of the four grandchildren of the company salesman who suggested the name, although the story seems to be apocryphal.

Mental Floss: Settlers of Catan: Monopoly Killer?

4. Diplomacy

Diplomacy, tabbed by one gamer friend of mine as "Risk for grown-ups," was developed by Allan Calhamer in the early 1950s but was not published until 1959, when Calhamer decided to print it himself after existing game houses weren't interested.

A favorite of John F. Kennedy, Henry Kissinger, and Walter Cronkite, the game has sold over 300,000 copies since its 1960 publication by Games Research, and the game has endured the vicissitudes of the game-publishing industry, going to 3M, Avalon Hill, and now Hasbro. Calhamer, a Harvard graduate, drifted through law school and a few other jobs before settling on a career as a postal worker. He never published another game.

Mental Floss: Card Game World Domination: The Rise of 'Dominion'

Part of the brilliance of Diplomacy is that it involves no luck whatsoever. Seven players (no more, no fewer) represent seven great powers in Europe at 1900. They must form and break alliances with each other to try to be the one player left at the end who controls the majority of the 34 spaces on the map of the continent.

The game relies entirely on negotiations and player strategy, with numerous strategy guides abounding online, including an entire Wikipedia article on a popular opening sequence for Italy called the Lepanto opening. One of a handful of games (with Risk) in both the GAMES Magazine and Origin Awards Halls of Fame, Diplomacy is an excellent choice if you enjoy knife fights with your friends and holding grudges that last well beyond the final move.

Mental Floss: The story behind settlers of Catan

5. Checkers

The game known today as checkers or draughts likely traces back to Alquerque, a game that first appears in a 1283 treatise by Alfonso the Wise, summarizing the state of dice, table, and board games in that era. The "de doze" variety of Alquerque, where each player began with twelve pieces, was played on a five-by-five grid, with only the central space unoccupied at the opening.

A player moves by sliding any piece horizontally, vertically, or diagonally to an adjacent, vacant space, or by jumping over an opponent's piece to a vacant space, thereby capturing the piece he jumped. The game could, and arguably should, end in a draw, as there is no luck involved and the second player can always simply counter the first's moves. Alquerque was found throughout southwestern Europe from Sicily to France to Catalonia.

Alquerque itself was related to the games known collectively as "merels," from the Latin merellus meaning a token or game piece. Parlett asserts that merels were viewed on par with chess and tables by the aristocracy of the Middle Ages, where the wealthy could afford the specially-designed boards required for these games, often owning two-sided boards to allow for the play of two of the three games.

Merels were two-player games where each player is trying to line up three of his pieces in a row, a style of game largely fallen into disuse but recognizable in Tic-Tac-Toe (also known as "noughts and crosses" in the U.K.) and the 1970s staple Connect Four.

6. Scrabble

In 1938, architect Alfred M. Butts revised his own word-tile game, Lexiko, calling the new version Criss-Cross Words and -- stop me if you've heard this before -- found his idea rejected by the game-publishing establishment. (Among those rejecting it: Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers, and Simon & Schuster.)

When early demand proved more than he could handle while holding down a full-time government job and some freelance work as an architect, Butts sought a publisher, eventually selling the rights to James Brunot, executive director of the President's War Relief Council, in exchange for a royalty on future game sales; Brunot tweaked the board, retitled the game Scrabble, and lost money for three years before his fortunes turned.

For reasons lost to history, sales started to increase radically in the summer of 1952, led by a large order from Macy's. From sales of just 1632 units in 1950 -- a drop of about 33 percent from 1949 -- Scrabble moved just under 3.8 million copies in 1954, by which point Brunot had licensed the game to Selchow & Righter.

If you're interested in Scrabble, I highly recommend Stefan Fatsis' entertaining history of both the game and his own obsessive efforts in the world of competitive Scrabble players, Word Freak.

Mental Floss: 10 words that will help you win at Scrabble

7. Hex

One entire class of games that has largely disappeared since its heyday in the 1960s and 1970s is connection games -- largely abstract games where players would try to capture areas or block opponents' paths by connecting disparate points on a board of lines or pegs.

The best-known example is Hex, invented independently in the 1940s by two mathematicians: Piet Hein of Denmark, and John Nash of the United States and "A Beautiful Mind" fame. (Parlett actually gets this one wrong, referring to Hein as "a Princeton University student," conflating the two men.)

First commercialized in 1952 by Parker Brothers, who gave it the name "Hex," the underlying game is played on a board of variable size but equal length and width where the game spaces are hexagonal, thus each bordering six adjacent spaces. The players play at perpendicular angles to each other, and each player's goal is to connect from his side to the opposite side.

Nash proved that the game is a determined game: There can be no tie or draw, as the only conclusion is when one player completes a path between two opposite sides of the board.

8. TwixT

TwixT, now out of print, was invented by Alex Randolph in 1962 and published by 3M as part of its "bookshelf games" series a decade later.

TwixT's board is a 24×24 grid of holes, where each player places pegs to connect to his pegs already on the board. The only permitted placement mimics that of a chess player's knight -- two holes in one direction, then a 90-degree turn and shift of one more hole.

The goal of TwixT, as in Hex, is to connect from one side to the other, but in TwixT the chain would be a series of pegs and connectors. TwixT, unlike Hex, is in GAMES Magazine's Hall of Fame, but is not commercially available, as the rights went to Hasbro when the company purchased legendary board game publisher Avalon Hill.

For more mental_floss articles, visit mentalfloss.com

Entire contents of this article copyright, Mental Floss LLC. All rights reserved.

Response: Backgammon is the most enduring table game, other than chess. Risk may have been named after the first initials of a company salesman's grandchildren. Checkers can be traced back to Alquerque, a game that first appeared in 1283.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- South African fast bowler Dale Steyn took a career-best five for 34 as the Proteas took a tight grip on the first test against New Zealand in Johannesburg.

Steyn's career-best 5-34 was his fourth five-wicket haul in 14 tests.

New Zealand were bowled out for 118 in reply to South Africa's 226 and the home side piled on the agony by reaching 179 for two in their second innings.

Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis shared an unbeaten stand of 159 as South Africa stretched their lead to 287.

South Africa's bowlers excelled to bring their side back into the game after their disappointing first innings.

They snapped up five wickets in the morning session when the Kiwis could only muster 56 runs.

Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming made 40 but the next best score was new cap Ross Taylor's 15.

Fleming was struck on the right forearm by Steyn and did not field during the afternoon. Coach John Bracewell said he had gone for precautionary X-rays but there was only bruising.

New Zealand, 41 for two overnight, lost nightwatchman Shane Bond, bowled by a Steyn yorker, before Makhaya Ntini claimed the crucial wicket of Fleming, who was well caught by AB de Villiers diving to his left at third slip.

Scott Styris and Taylor scraped 19 runs in 10 overs before more wickets tumbled.

Steyn's figures bettered his previous best of five for 47 against the same opponents at Centurion two seasons ago. It was his fourth five-wicket haul in 14 tests.

Ntini took three for 47 and Kallis two for 11.

South Africa made an uncertain start to their second innings with openers Herschelle Gibbs and captain Graeme Smith out cheaply, but Amla and Kallis blunted the attack and then took charge.

They batted together for 205 minutes, Amla facing 230 balls and hitting 13 boundaries in his 85 while Kallis hit 12 fours off 122 deliveries in reaching 76.

The Kiwis were left to regret  Brendon McCullum's failure to hold a chance from Amla off Shane Bond, when the batsman had only scored two.

"The ball was hard and new and we were trying to get momentum. It cost us a lot," said coach John Bracewell. E-mail to a friend

Response: South Africa lead New Zealand by 287 with 8 wickets standing in the 1st test. The Proteas reach 179-2 in their second innings after the Kiwis are 118 all out. South African paceman Dale Steyn takes a career-best 5-34..


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- A journalist who has criticized NBC's coverage of the London Olympics has been suspended from Twitter after using the site to publish a network executive's private e-mail address and urge followers to message him.

Guy Adams, the Los Angeles correspondent for London's Independent newspaper, said he was tossed from the site Sunday after a series of posts, beginning Friday, that were critical of NBC's decision to delay airing the Games' Opening Ceremony and other events.

"The man responsible for NBC pretending the Olympics haven't started yet is Gary Zenkel," read one post from Friday referring to the network, which has exclusive broadcast rights to the London Olympics in the United States. "Tell him what u think!" That post then listed Zenkel's e-mail address.

Adams didn't notice any repercussions until he checked his account Sunday, he said.

"When I logged on, I was presented with a message saying it had been 'suspended,' " Adams wrote in a post for the Independent. "If I had any questions, I was asked to click on a link and fill in an online form.

"[Monday] morning, I heard back from Twitter. In what was apparently an automated e-mail, I was told that: 'Your Twitter account has been suspended for posting an individual's private information such as private e-mail address.' It then contained a copy of my tweet regarding Mr. Zenkel."

Twitter spokeswoman Rachael Horowitz said the company doesn't "comment on individual users for privacy reasons." Twitter's terms of use forbid posting other people's personal information. The site says it doesn't monitor tweets but investigates if a user complains that they've been affected.

NBC Sports has confirmed that it complained about the post.

"We filed a complaint with Twitter because a user tweeted the personal information of one of our executives," the company said in a written statement. "According to Twitter, this is a violation of their privacy policy. Twitter alone levies discipline."

Opinion: Is it really #NBCfail?

Twitter does say that posting information that's already been published online doesn't violate its terms. Some people critical of the move say that should have saved Adams, because a Web search for Zenkel's e-mail address will turn it up. As Mashable's Chris Taylor writes, however, it's not easily found, and it is featured most prominently on an anti-NBC petition.

Twitter and NBC Universal have a partnership during the Olympics through which the social media service is collecting tweets from athletes and fans and displaying them all on one page.

Adams has used Twitter and his articles to fire withering criticism at NBC over how it has handled Olympic coverage.

In tweets that have since been deleted, he accused NBC of "disgusting money grabbing" and called the company "utter, utter bastards."

Live or later: What's your ideal Olympics coverage?

Many users have taken to Twitter to speak against his suspension, saying it appears linked to his critiques.

"The Guy Adams Twitter ban illustrates three tendencies of hegemonic power; 1) hates criticism, 2) takes itself seriously 3) no sense of fun," posted Scottish novelist Irvine Welsh, the author of "Trainspotting."

Others, though, noted that the posting of Zenkel's e-mail makes it a somewhat murkier question.

"If criticizing NBC over how it's handled the Olympic coverage were cause for suspension Twitter would pretty much be empty right about now," wrote tech industry analyst Michael Gartenberg.

Response: Critic of NBC's Olympic coverage is suspended from Twitter. Guy Adams of London's Independent tweeted an NBC executive's e-mail address. NBC complained and Twitter says that's against its rules. Adams had criticized NBC's decision to not air events live.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was treated with blood thinners on Monday at a New York hospital to help dissolve a blood clot in her head and doctors were confident she would make a full recovery.

Clinton was admitted to New York Presbyterian Hospital on Sunday due to the clot that was discovered during a follow-up exam related to a concussion she suffered this month, her spokesman, Philippe Reines, said.

The clot was located in the vein between the brain and and the skull behind Clinton's right ear and did not result in any stroke or neurological damage, her doctors said in a statement.

Clinton was treated with blood thinners to help dissolve the clot and would be released once the medication dose had been established, they said.

"In all other aspects of her recovery, the secretary is making excellent progress and we are confident she will make a full recovery. She is in good spirits, engaging with her doctors, her family, and her staff," Clinton's doctors said.

Blood clots: 4 things you need to know

Clinton, 65, was suffering from a stomach virus earlier this month when she fainted because of dehydration, causing the concussion.

Blood clots "are clumps that occur when blood hardens from a liquid to a solid," according to the National Institutes for Health.

Clots can form inside veins or arteries or even the heart, the NIH says. "A blockage in the vein will usually cause fluid buildup and swelling," the NIH website says. Among the possible threats: Sometimes, a "clot can break loose and travel from one location in the body to another."

Read more: Hillary Clinton fast facts

Clinton spent the holidays with her family last week after working from home.

She was scheduled to return to work at the State Department this week after being sidelined for most of the past month.

Her illness forced her to bow out of testifying on December 20 before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the deadly September attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.

Clinton, a one-time presidential candidate who is the source of constant speculation she might run again in 2016, plans to step down from the State Department once a replacement is confirmed by the Senate.

President Barack Obama has nominated Sen. John Kerry to succeed her.

Report blames poor security, inadequate response in Benghazi attack

Response: The clot was found in the vein between the brain and the skull behind her right ear. It did not result in a stroke or neurological damage, Clinton's doctors said. Clinton's doctors expect her to make a full recovery.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- The state visit of the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins to Britain this week is the culmination of a series of contacts at head of state level over 21 years, the most important of which was the successful State visit by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to Ireland in May 2011.

I had been surprised to learn, in the spring of 1991, that as the seventh President of Ireland I would become the first to visit Britain as president. It is difficult to believe now but no previous Irish president in the history of the state had traveled to "mainland" Britain for official business. There was a problem, for example, with how to describe me. Because of Northern Ireland, the British would not agree to call me "president of Ireland"!

The occasion of my visit was to accept an honorary degree from Cambridge University, conferred by its chancellor, the Duke of Edinburgh and join President Vaclav Havel in London to decide on the logo and values for the Bank for Reconstruction of Eastern Europe. This was one illustration of the fact that relations between the two countries were not normal because of the disputed claims at the time by Britain and Ireland over Northern Ireland.

My first meeting with Queen Elizabeth II occurred in May 1993 when she invited my husband Nick and me to take tea in Buckingham Palace. This was neither a "state visit" or an "official visit"; it was a sui generis, carefully orchestrated meeting at head-of-state level between two countries with a troubled past seeking, in a symbolic way, to begin reconciling. We both understood the symbolism of that moment, captured in photographs of the two women heads of state smiling side by side.

In 1995 I joined the Queen for an event in St. James Palace, London, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Queen's Colleges which had been established in Belfast, Cork and Galway (although only Belfast retains that name and original structure). In June 1996 I was honored to be invited on an official visit to Britain by Prime Minister John Major, which included a lunch with Queen and Prince Edward, preceded by an inspection of the guard of honor at Buckingham Palace. That was the most emotional moment for me, standing beside the Queen and hearing the Irish national anthem played.

President Mary McAleese had a number of opportunities to strengthen the personal relationship in meetings with Queen Elizabeth during her 14 years as president and ultimately was her host for that memorable state visit in 2011. There is understandable anticipation on both sides of the Irish Sea for the return state visit of Higgins to Britain next week.

During and since my presidency of Ireland, a difficult peace process was undertaken and came to fruition. I remember hosting a lunch in my official residence in 1995 for Senator George Mitchell, who had been asked by U.S. President Bill Clinton to help organize an economic conference in Belfast, so that those still fighting in the streets there might begin to think of a future peace dividend.

Later Mitchell's role changed to that of an effective mediator at the beginning of the peace process. The Good Friday Agreement was signed during the first year of McAleese's presidency and, being from Northern Ireland, she was able to support in symbolic and diplomatic ways the further progress in establishing peace and shared political power in Northern Ireland.

Trade and cultural relations between the two countries intensified during this period, helped by the fact that both countries are members of the European Union and share many common interests. Important amendments were made to the Irish constitution, which requires a referendum of the people, that both permitted the State to comply with the Belfast Agreement and provided for the removal of the "territorial claim" contained in Articles 2 and 3.

The Northern Ireland referendum, to approve the agreement was held on the same day as the Irish referendum thereby symbolizing that the citizens of the land had the power to realize a change. As the relationships at all levels improved there was a growing pressure for this to be recognized at the highest state level, and we are about to witness the final act in that formal process.

In my current work as U.N. special envoy to the Great Lakes in Africa, I am required to be in Rwanda at the time of the state visit next week, marking the 20th anniversary of the terrible genocide in that country. When I can, I will be glued to a television set, hoping to see coverage of a state visit that will evoke many memories and bring about the full normalization of the relations between two close and historic neighbors.

READ: Queen welcomes Irish president -- and the thaw continues

Response: Michael D. Higgins makes state visit to Britain this week, first ever by Irish President. Understandable anticipation on both sides of the Irish Sea, says former President Mary Robinson. Robinson: Visit means full normalization of relations between two close and historic neighbors.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:When Barack Obama was a newbie president, there was no shortage of ambition or lack of confidence in the government he was about to lead. Government should be seen as a force for good, not evil. Sure, he told us, it needed to be "smarter and better," but that could—and would—happen under his watch.

Never mind that Bill Clinton spent years "reinventing government" with mixed success. Or that only 2% of the American public believes that government can be trusted to do the right thing all the time. President Obama was convinced he could change all that with programs that would deliver for America—such as health care reform—and the public would be grateful.

Instead, the President is living his own version of "Alice Through the Looking Glass": staring down a rabbit hole of government bureaucracy and inefficiency. The government he has studiously tried to grow, manage and change has become his own personal nemesis. All of which makes you wonder: Does the President himself trust government anymore?

The scandal at the Department of Veterans Affairs is just the latest in a slew of bureaucratic messes that strike at the core power point of the Obama presidency: Making government work. Consider the disastrous health care website rollout. The IRS controversy. Even the question of NSA surveillance raises questions about the role of government: Did the civil libertarian Obama allow spies to run amok?

The President is clearly having a running debate with himself over all this. About a year ago, after the NSA program was revealed and Democrats and libertarians started squawking, Obama seemed more than a tad defensive on government spying.  "If people can't trust not only the executive branch but also don't trust Congress ... to make sure that we're abiding by the Constitution ..." he said, "then we're going to have some problems here."

Indeed.

These are not trivial matters. Health care is the signature legislative achievement of the administration, and a botched rollout made it smell bad at the start. Fixing the VA—and aiding veterans—is a cornerstone of the Obama presidency. And yet, it all looks as if somehow the bureaucracy has beaten the boss.

It's a management issue. So far as I can tell, the governing style of this administration has two extremes: issues singled out for micromanagement (as in, foreign policy, from the West Wing) and issues completely delegated (as in, VA management). What seems to be  missing is the in-between: the continual monitoring and early warning system that avoids presidential blindsiding. That's the area in which most of the business of government actually gets done.

And it can get done. The apparatus to do the nation's business in a competent way is there. Use it, and manage it. That's what chief executives are hired to do.

Government is unwieldy and difficult and hard to tame, sure. But if your presidency is based, in large part, on telling Americans that government can work for them--which it can--you need to make it work.

It's not that the President is a hopeless manager. He does very well when he leads a hierarchical organization with a single goal, like a presidential bid. He's top dog, he's not negotiating with anybody, and he's not trying to get people to do things they don't want to do. In a campaign, for instance, they all want to elect the same person: him.

But when you have to negotiate—or lead—people not related to you, or not indebted to you or who don't agree with you, it's a different story. Managing or negotiating with people with mixed motives (Congress, anyone?) is not an Obama strong point.

By nature, bureaucracies are hard to trust and even harder to tame.  And if a chief executive isn't careful, it's an energy-sapping (and legacy endangering) vortex that sucks you right in. Just ask Obama, who was government's best friend.

Does he still feel that way today? Hard to know. But my guess is he's a bit like Alice in Wonderland. "I can't go back to yesterday," she said, "because I was a different person then."

Opinion: Obama is responsible for VA mess, but it may not be entirely his fault

Response: Obama's plan was for a "smarter and better" government with demonstrable benefits. Gloria Borger says President is instead staring down rabbit hole of government incompetence. She says the VA scandal, after the health care website woes, highlights the problem. Borger: Obama can be effective in managing but needs to grab control of bureaucracy.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Longtime entertainment columnist Army Archerd, who was one of the first writers to reveal that actor Rock Hudson was being treated for AIDS, has died at age 87, according to the industry publication Daily Variety.

Army Archerd wrote a column for Variety for 52 years and was one of the first hosts of "Entertainment Tonight."

Archerd, who began his journalism career at The Associated Press, wrote a show business column for Variety for 52 years, four years of that online.

Archerd died Tuesday at Los Angeles Medical Center of a rare form of mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer thought to be the result of his exposure to asbestos in the Navy during World War II.

Archerd, Variety said, had an ongoing role in the Academy Awards, where he was the official greeter, and interviewed stars on the red carpet.

Archerd's biggest scoop came in 1985 when he reported -- despite denials from managers and publicists -- that Hudson had AIDS. It was the first time it was publicly revealed that a Hollywood actor had the disease.

Archerd's wife of 39 years, Selma, told Variety, "He didn't expose secrets about other people -- he wrote news. He was a loving, quiet person. He was always working -- when we went on vacation, we went to visit movie sets."

Although much of Archerd's work was nonconfrontational, when film director Elia Kazan was to be given a honorary Oscar in 1999 for his work, Archerd wrote, "I, for one, will not be giving him a standing ovation."

Kazan had provided testimony in 1952 to the House Un-American Activities Committee, admitted past membership in the Communist party and named others from his group.

"Army's finest hour was his courageous stand against the blacklist at a time when almost all other Hollywood columnists were red-hunting," said Peter Bart, vice president and editorial director of Variety. "He really was a passionate reporter and a champion of causes he believed in."

Archerd was the first journalist honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and won numerous other awards. He also was one of the first hosts of "Entertainment Tonight."

Archerd was born January 13, 1922, in the Bronx, New York. He attended City College of New York for two years. When his family moved to Los Angeles, Archerd transferred to UCLA and, after graduation in 1941, he began work in the mailroom at Paramount Studios.

After serving in the Navy, Archerd met AP reporter Bob Thomas, who introduced him to bureau chief Hubbard Keavy. Thomas and Archerd opened the AP bureau in the Hollywood Citizen News on Wilcox Avenue in 1945.

In 1953, Daily Variety editor Joe Schoenfeld hired Archerd to replace columnist Sheilah Graham. Archerd began penning the daily "Just for Variety" column. His 900-word column ran on page 2 of Daily Variety five days a week until the 1990s, when it went to four days a week.

Archerd often used his power to support his favorite causes, including the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Holocaust awareness.

"When Michael Jackson's 'HIStory' album was released in 1995, Archerd chastised Jackson for a song in which he used the phrases 'Jew me/Sue me' and 'Kike me,' " Variety said. "A few days later, Jackson called the columnist to disclose that he would re-record the song."

Archerd was president and founder of the Hollywood Press Club and received honors from that group and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, as well as Newsman of the Year from the Publicists Association.

Archerd is survived by his wife, Selma; his son, Evan; and stepsons Richard and James Rosenblum. A daughter, Amanda, died in 2008.

Response: Army Archerd died of a rare form of mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer. He was the first journalist honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Archerd was president and founder of the Hollywood Press Club. He began writing for Daily Variety in 1953.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- Could England be the team which comes from nowhere to win the European Championship finals in 2016?

No, probably not. But this 2-0 win over Switzerland should not be scoffed at, especially by those who would have considered England escaping unscathed with a giant bar of Toblerone as an achievement in itself.

Chocolate aside, this result will be far more palatable for those who have endured a difficult time following Roy Hodgson's side.

England has not had much to smile about in recent months but perhaps it will allow itself time to enjoy a rare moment of success.

The World Cup was an unmitigated disaster as England failed to qualify from the group stage for the first time since 1950.

Beaten by Italy and Uruguay, it returned home following a goalless draw with Costa Rica and faced a barrage of criticism.

As is always the case with England, a period of national introspection followed where every single facet of the game was questioned from the grassroots coaching to the number of English players being able to ply their trade in the Premier League.

For Hodgson, the man charged with transforming England's fortunes, this success will at least give him some breathing space.

Danny Welbeck, who recently signed for Arsenal after completing a move from Manchester United, scored both goals as England produced an encouraging performance.

Hodgson, who has been under pressure ever since the World Cup failure, even managed a smile -- no mean feat given the level of criticism he has endured in recent weeks.

"I thought the way we approached the game from the first minute was exactly what we wanted and we got our reward," Hodgson told ITV.

"We pressurized the ball well, but you need that first goal to get people to come out and attack you.

"From then I thought we looked dangerous and we had several chances to aggravate the scoreline before Danny Welbeck's second.

"I think we can improve on how we see out the game, but you have to expect that some players will show a little naivety in that area."

Both goals came as a result of counter attacks with Welbeck finishing off Raheem Sterling's cross on 58 minutes after England had caught Switzerland short in defense.

The second owed much to Welbeck's pace and power as he held off his opponent before firing the ball into the corner.

Wayne Rooney, the new England captain, said the pace of England's front three was key to his side's success.

"We defended well as a team and took our chances, catching them on the break with the speed we had been hoping to show," Rooney told ITV.

"I think we knew the game against Norway was going to be difficult, but tonight was always going to be more important and we were focusing on that. We have worked on springing from defense to attack which you saw tonight. It was a happy performance from us."

After making the Swiss roll, England face San Marino and Estonia in its next round of qualifiers in October.

Spain success

Elsewhere, Spain began the defense of its European title with a 5-1 home victory over Macedonia in Valencia.

Sergio Ramos opened the scoring from the penalty spot before further goals from Paco Alcacer, Sergio Busquets, David Silva and Pedro sealed the win.

"This team has a lot of quality and excellent players and it was just a matter of time before we scored," Valencia's Alcacer told TVE.

"I am very pleased with the match, above all for my competitive debut here at home in Valencia, and the goal and victory."

In Kiev, Ukraine suffered a 1-0 home defeat by Slovakia in with Robert Mak scoring the only goal of the game for the visitors.

In Group G, Russia benefited from two own goals as it overcame Liechtenstein 4-0 in Khimki.

Response: England edges past Switzerland in European Championship qualifier. Spain thrashes Macedonia in opening game. Ukraine beaten at home by Slovakia.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- Veteran Spanish striker Raul has completed his move to German club Schalke after ending his record-breaking stay at Real Madrid.

The 33-year-old agreed a deal until mid-2012 with the Bundesliga runners-up, joining on a free transfer after a trophy-laden 15 seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu.

He had hinted on Monday that he might join an English club, having been linked with Tottenham among others.

"It's great news for FC Schalke 04," coach Felix Magath told the club's website on Wednesday. "I'm delighted we've been able to inspire such an exceptional footballer and world-class striker to move to the Bundesliga and Schalke.

"Raul's qualities will help us move forward. His signing marks a decisive step in our efforts to strengthen and restructure our squad for the tasks ahead, and I look forward to working with such a likeable pro."

Raul bids farewell to Real

Raul is Real's all-time top scorer with 323 goals in 741 competitive appearances, having won three Champions League titles and six Spanish league crowns after coming through the club's youth ranks.

He is also Spain's record goalscorer with 44 from 102 appearances, though his last outing came in 2006 before his country's breakthrough triumphs at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup.

The player, whose full name is Raul Gonzalez Blanco, has yet to receive a red card since making his first-team debut for Real in October 1994.

Guti ends 24-year Real Madrid career

He is the third member of Real's squad to be released since Jose Mourinho took over as coach, with veteran midfielder Guti having joined Turkish club Besiktas and young defender Marcos Alonso sold to English side Bolton.

Meanwhile, former England defender Sol Campbell has joined newly-promoted English Premier League side Newcastle on a one-year contract following the expiry of his short-term deal at Arsenal.

The 35-year-old's new wife is also from the North-East area, where Campbell will be reunited with manager Chris Hughton -- who worked with him as a youth coach when both were at Tottenham.

Arsenal's Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner will miss the start of the new season due to a groin problem that troubled him at the World Cup.

The 22-year-old had surgery on the injury last November, but it has not been successful.

Response: Raul has completed his move to German club Schalke after leaving Real Madrid. The 33-year-old had hinted he might move to England at his farewell on Monday. But the former Spain star has agreed a two-year contract with the Bundesliga side. Former England defender Sol Campbell signs one-year deal with promoted Newcastle.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- British police are investigating the death of a man who was found unconscious at a soccer match on Saturday.

A 30-year-old, who has not yet been named, died in hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning following Stoke City's Premier League match at home to Blackburn Rovers.

He was treated at the Britannia Stadium for a head injury and cardiac arrest before being taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, Stoke's Web site reported.

"A 30-year-old man was pronounced dead at 1.55 a.m. this morning," Staffordshire Police said in a statement on Sunday.

"The circumstances are being fully investigated and a 25-year-old man remains in custody and is helping police with their inquiries."

Stoke's Web site reported that the dead man was one of 1,300 Blackburn supporters to attend the match, which City won 3-0.

He was found on the concourse of the stadium's SEAT stand at about 4 p.m. during the halftime break.

"This is the tragic loss of a young man. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go to his family," Stoke's chief executive Tony Scholes said.

Blackburn also released a statement of condolence to the man's family.

Response: British police investigating death of man who found unconscious at a soccer match. A 30-year-old man died in hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning. He was found collapsed in a stand at halftime in match between Stoke and Blackburn. Stoke report that he was treated at the scene for a head injury and cardiac arrest.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- When I first arrived in Rwanda's capital in 2012, I deliberately did not visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I did not want that experience to influence how I approached the country and its people.

In my mind, Rwanda was going to be this country that was still on the brink of economic disaster. It would be very poorly set up, with a bad road system and difficult telecommunications. Frankly, I despaired of working with the government, thinking it would be extremely challenging to work with.

I remember 1994 well. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa and the Rwandan genocide, right on the heels of Nelson Mandela's election in South Africa, was big news across the continent.

The child-run household I met after the genocide

When I was assigned to Rwanda 18 years later, my first thought was the genocide -- this is probably true for most people. But when I asked friends and colleagues who had lived there for advice, they spoke highly of the country and her people. I started seeing this as another adventure on this continent that I love, though I had visions of the film "Hotel Rwanda" resounding in my mind.

Those preconceptions were quickly dispelled once I got there.

When you get to Rwanda, you are hit by the incongruity that strikes so many: How could such a horrible thing have happened in such a beautiful country? The nickname Land of a Thousand Hills is not an exaggeration. Rwanda's countryside is dotted with what appear to be literally a thousand hills that are a mixture of mountains, volcanoes and hillocks. The beauty is reflected in the people: Rwandans are incredibly friendly and hospitable. But just as you cannot see the other side of a mountain, you cannot always tell what is going on behind those eyes.

Rwandans obey their country's many rules. I love that, to reduce pollution, plastic bags are forbidden and even taken from you when you arrive at the airport! For anyone who has spent time in Africa, it's incredible to see people actually wearing helmets on motorcycles, drivers and passengers alike, both in Kigali and in the countryside.

National pride and a commitment to the idea that Rwandans should lead the development of their country are strong. From them came the concept of Umuganda, or community service. During the last Saturday of each month, citizens do some type of community work in their neighborhood, like picking up garbage or cutting the grass. If they do not show up, they're fined an amount determined by the neighborhood leader. (These days the neighborhoods are like anywhere else: Some are made up of different tribes and ethnicities and others are homogenous.)

Amid the beautiful parks and tea plantations are the somber genocide memorials found in virtually every community. They serve as a daily reminder to never forget the atrocities. At the same time, they allow for personal reflection on mankind's capacity for both evil and resilience.

Four months after my arrival, I was ready to see the Kigali Genocide Memorial. I was glad I had waited. You walk alongside slabs of cement: a mass grave where over 250,000 people killed in Kigali are buried. At the end of one of the cement tombs is a wall with names, an attempt to identify some of the souls lost during the tragic 100 days of the genocide. You almost weep when you realize they will never identify them all.

One room tells the tale of other genocides or "cleansing" events in history around the world, reminding us that the international community has not been diligent about the oft-quoted pledge, "Never again." And in the room dedicated to children who were killed -- you see their names, what they enjoyed doing and who was their best friend -- your heart starts to tear. I was never able to actually read all the remembrances to these children. Though I have always considered myself a pretty tough and realistic humanitarian worker, I had never seen anything like this.

A single visit ensures that the memorial realizes its purpose -- you will never forget.

It's an experience that makes you wonder how any society can come back together after something that tears so deeply. But I know from what I had seen, and from my organization's work, that it is possible. Many genocide survivors and perpetrators have since been able to seek and grant forgiveness and now live peacefully, side by side.

I watched a woman tear up and embrace a man who had killed her family.

Witnessing these scenes is almost surreal, but deeply moving and humbling. Could I ever forgive? Could I ever confess and ask for forgiveness?

Looking at Rwandans today with a certainty that such an atrocity can never happen again, you wonder "How did this ever happen in the first place?" When Rwandans say "never again," I believe them. But when I look at the international community, those words don't have the same meaning. Are we really a community in which most of us watched this suffering and death from the sidelines?

It will happen again somewhere else. We've seen it in history.

In March of this year, I was asked to head our program in the Central African Republic. The lessons from Rwanda still echoing in my head, I was compelled to say "yes" to a country being torn apart by intercommunal fighting, just as Rwanda had been. My time in Rwanda has shown me the limitations of what the international community will do in situations like this, but also taught me lessons and given me hope.

Just 20 years ago, Rwandans went through genocide, but they came back and they came back quickly. I attribute a lot of that to the strong will, the leadership and most importantly, to the resiliency of the Rwandan people.

Peace is possible. Reconciliation is possible. I pray that we can realize the same here in Central African Republic. And we can, with a little influence and a lot of political will.

Response: April 7 marks 20 years since the start of the Rwanda genocide. LeAnn Hager, an aid worker, spent 2012-2014 in Rwanda. When she heard Rwanda, she thought of genocide, until she got there. Have a personal essay to share with the world? Submit at CNN iReport.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- Perhaps money can't buy happiness. A recent Gallup report shows that Singapore's wealthy population is the unhappiest -- less happy than the populations of Iraq, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Syria.

Singaporeans were least likely to report having positive emotions-- despite the fact that they enjoy one of the highest per capita GDP values in the world.

The international pollster measured "positive emotions." Carried out last year in 148 countries, the survey asked around 1,000 persons in each country five questions about what positive experiences people had had the day before: if they had been well-rested, treated with respect, if they smiled or laughed a lot, and whether they'd done or learnt something interesting.

In Singapore, only 46% of the interviewed answered "yes" to these questions, compared with 55% reported from people in Haiti and Afghanistan. Even in Syria, where the uprisings that later developed into a civil war took place in 2011, 60% of the people asked answered yes to the survey's questions.

Economists in the United States have found that domestically, income only affects daily happiness when earning up to $75,000 annually. A higher income than that doesn't make much of a difference for American citizens' well-being, Gallup wrote.

The population that reported the most positive emotions was Panama, a country with a per capita GDP ranking 90th in the world. In fact, eight out of the 10 happiest countries in the survey are located in Latin America.

As for Singapore, this is not the first time it has come in last in a Gallup poll.

Last month, Singapore ranked as the least emotional country, which measured the daily emotions of people in 150 countries during a three-year period.

Top 10 happy countries

Panama (85%)

Paraguay (85%)

El Salvador (84%)

Venezuela (84%)

Trinidad and Tobago (83%)

Thailand (83%)

Guatemala (82%)

Philippines (82%)

Ecuador (81%)

Costa Rica (81%)

10 least happy countries

Singapore (46%)

Armenia (49%)

Iraq (50%)

Georgia (52%)

Yemen (52%)

Serbia (52%)

Belarus (53%)

Lithuania (54%)

Madagascar (54%)

Afghanistan (55%)

Read more: Urban farming looking up in Singapore

Read more: Best place to buy property in Asia

Response: A Gallup survey shows that Singaporeans are least likely to report positive emotions. Singapore has one of the highest per capita GDPs globally. U.S. economists have found that income only affects happiness up to a certain amount. Panama is the world's happiest place.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- As Mitt Romney prepares to make the case for a first term, give a thought to what we can expect from a Barack Obama second term.

It's probably going to look a lot like the second terms of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, and Richard Nixon -- driven not by his own agenda, but by events beyond his control. Bush's second term was defined by the after-effects of the Iraq decision he made in his first term; Clinton's by impeachment and the Internet boom; Reagan's by deficits and Gorbachev; Nixon's by Watergate.

And what will define Obama's?

1) Republicans will hold at least one House of Congress, maybe two.

2) The U.S. economy will continue to mend, as the financial crisis recedes into the past.

3) Unless forcibly prevented, Iran will enrich enough uranium for multiple nuclear weapons sometime before 2017.

4) Natural gas production will continue to surge.

Prediction 1 implies that there will be no bold Obama legislative agenda in a second term. The votes just won't be there. The second-term Obama agenda will have to be executed through agency action and executive order. And he'll have lots of opportunities via the big laws passed in his first term: the Affordable Care Act, Dodd-Frank, and so on.

Critics often talk about how long these laws are. Yet however long the enactment, the text of a complex modern statute is only the very roughest guide to its future operation. The crucial operating decisions are made by presidential appointees, supervised by the courts. Congress drafts, but the administrators fill in the details - and the details, as the saying goes, are where the devil lurks.

A re-elected President Obama will have large powers to reshape the health industry and financial services -- not with some dramatic law, but with a thousand undramatic lower-level edicts that cumulatively can redefine a law in ways never imagined by its authors.

Politics: Reggie Love -- Obama leads like he plays

But there is one agreement that the president and Congress will have to reach: over future taxes and budgets. The Bush tax cuts of 2001, extended in 2010, will expire at the end of 2012. The president has said he would allow those tax cuts to lapse, at least for high income levels. Republicans are determined to preserve them. Who'll blink? On past precedent, you might guess that the president will. But the president knows that people expect him to blink -- which may inspire him to hang much, much tougher.

2) Recovery comes much more slowly from recessions caused by financial crises, according to the authors of the best study of the subject, Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff.

Yet if recovery comes slowly, it does come eventually. By 2015, the U.S. economy should be reaching normal growth and fuller employment. Deficits will begin to shrink; the country's present desperate mood will abate. And Republicans and Democrats will furiously argue over who deserves the credit, as they still argue over who deserves credit for the 1990s boom.

We also saw in the 2000s, however, that employment can grow strongly without generating very much in the way of wage increases for most working people. The U.S. economy added almost 2 million jobs in 2004, more than 2 million in 2005, about 1.7 million in 2006, and more than 700,000 in 2007. Yet the median wage as of the end of 2007 still had not caught up to its 2000 peak, adjusting for inflation.

In the post-2009 recovery, almost all the income growth has been captured by the most affluent few. President Obama may deplore that trend, but he seems to have no very clear idea of how to alter it.

3) U.S.-led sanctions and Israeli-led sabotage have slowed the Iranian nuclear program. Few experts expect that these non-belligerent means will work indefinitely.

What then? Israel could attack Iran. The United States could hit even harder. But suppose -- as seems most likely -- that both allies flinch from war. Then the U.S. and Israel will confront a radically reshaped Middle East, one in which America's friends will be weaker and more fearful and Iran will be more assertive and intransigent.

The president's hopes of reconciling the Islamic and Western worlds -- of midwifing a Palestinian state -- and of finishing off jihadist terrorism will all bump into the reality of an emboldened Iran and depleted American prestige.

4) Second terms tend to bring disappointments, but one huge success seems to be gathering for whoever happens to occupy the White House over the next four years: the advent of that long promised goal, energy independence.

The surge in natural gas production in the United States, the full development of the massive oil sand resource in Canada, could make North America the world's fastest-growing energy region in the years ahead and put the continent on the way to self-sufficiency by 2020. It won't have quite happened yet by 2017, but the achievement will at least be visible on the near horizon.

It will be a strange irony of history if the president of hope and change left office as the president who presided over the greatest surge in domestic fossil fuel production since the 1930s.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of David Frum.

Response: David Frum: A second term for Barack Obama would have a different shape. He says Dems likely won't control both houses, giving him little chance for major legislation. Frum: Obama would likely benefit from an improving economy but would face challenges overseas. U.S. energy production boom would bring U.S. closer to energy independence, he says.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:Fort Calhoun, Nebraska (CNN) -- Tim Nellenbach is on a mission as he shows a small group of journalists around his workplace. The manager of the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Plant and his colleagues are bent on dispelling rumors about the condition of their facility: rumors about a meltdown, about a loss of power. The rumors are patently false, they say, and it's frustrating to have to deal with them while also battling a genuine crisis.

These officials are also acutely aware of comparisons to the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March, which crippled a nuclear power plant there, leading to the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986.

"There's no likelihood of a Fukushima-like incident here," Nellenbach says.

So does Gary Gates, CEO of the Fort Calhoun plant.

"It is not another Fukushima. The difference is the rapid flooding that occurred at Fukushima. This was a predicted event, to a degree, from the Corps of Engineers. The floodwaters at Fort Calhoun are outside the plant. There is no water inside the plant. The reactor is covered with borated water. The spent fuel is covered with borated water, which we want it to be. That's intentional. That's where it should be. The floodwaters are outside Fort Calhoun, not inside," Gates explains.

Still, there is a genuine crisis at the plant. Floodwaters from the swollen Missouri River have engulfed this facility. The parking lots are underwater. The river's fast-paced currents are swirling against several buildings in this compound. Catwalks had to be constructed to allow workers to move from one building to the next. The buildings housing the reactor core, the spent fuel rods and other crucial components are protected by small levees and aqua-berms. But outside those barriers, the water is at least 2 feet above ground level.

Officials are keeping a close eye on the network of power transformers here. The transformers are surrounded by floodwater and high-velocity pumps are continually pumping water away from them. The transformers power internal pumps, which operate cooling systems keeping the reactor core and the spent fuel rods from overheating.

"Maintaining electrical power, operating the pumps, is our biggest concern for the station, and we're able to fully do that at this time," Nellenbach says. Officials say the plant went off the power grid temporarily on Sunday and was powered by backup generators, but they say it is now back on the grid.

The Fort Calhoun plant has been offline since early April for a re-fueling operation. It was scheduled to be back online in mid-June, according to officials here, but the flooding has delayed that. Now, they anticipate the plant will remain offline through the month of August, until the floodwaters completely recede.

"What's keeping me up at night is making sure that we're going to have electricity for everybody," says Gates. "Electricity is so important to... the mitigation efforts of our whole community. Fort Calhoun's safe. It'll continue to be safe."

Gates and his colleagues say the water has not breached the buildings housing the reactor core and the spent fuel rods, and they're confident it won't. Those buildings and the barriers protecting them are designed to withstand flooding extending 1,014 feet above sea level. The water is now at about 1,006 feet, and they say they do not expect it to exceed 1,008 feet.

Officials did not allow journalists directly into the rooms housing the reactor core and the spent fuel rods, but did allow them to view those rooms via closed-circuit cameras. The rooms did not appear to be damaged by floodwater.

Gates says the Nuclear Regulatory Commission cited the Fort Calhoun plant in 2009 for not being adequately prepared for a flooding event. Since that time, he says, they've taken steps to upgrade safeguards for the facility, and he says NRC officials were satisfied with the handling of the current flooding. Still, NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko had solemn words for the staff of Fort Calhoun after touring the plant on Monday.

"In the end," Jaczko said, "this challenge is yours."

Response: The Fort Calhoun nuclear plant is surrounded by floodwaters. Unlike the Fukushima nuclear plant, the water hasn't breached vital buildings. Fort Calhoun officials say the situation is under control.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(Parenting.com) -- A dad looks at how long it really takes a kid to sleep alone:

Getting the baby to sleep is a challenge for many parents.

1:28 a.m. Every couple of hours, Jack (2 weeks) cries. My wife feeds him, then hands him to me to change his diaper. It's an equitable division of labor, but I wish I could sleep.

2:15 a.m. Jack (1 month) is sleeping between me and my wife because this way she can nurse while she dozes. I'm happy, but so tired. He's on his back, and there are no pillows or blankets around him, but I'm wide-awake, thinking about SIDS. He's like a little hot-water bottle. His breath is sweet and milky against my face.

10 p.m. I'm lying on a tiny crib mattress on the floor next to the crib. We're trying to get Jack (9 months) to sleep through the night. His mother and I take turns lying next to him on the floor and holding his hand through the slats. I miss my wife.

1:36 a.m. Jack (12 months) is sleeping in between us, again. Lying next to his crib didn't work -- Jack kept crying, waking both of us. This way, we all get some sleep. Parenting.com: Dad's in charge? Uh oh.

4:27 a.m. I'm wide-awake because Jack (15 months) kicked me in the groin. I have to get up to drive my wife to New York, then turn around and drive back home with Jack, all on about three hours of sleep. I decide that while his mother is gone, I will Ferberize him. Parenting.com: Ferberizing is not what you think it is

9:13 p.m. Jack (15 months and a day) is in his crib, crying, crying, crying.

10:11 p.m. Jack (15 months and a week) is in his crib, alone and asleep. Ferberizing worked. Suddenly I have a great idea -- let's have another baby! But this would require that my wife and I stay awake for longer than ten seconds once our heads hit the pillows.

12:02 a.m. In bed with my wife, I'm feeling romantic, but then Jack (18 months) cries out. He has a fever. We give him kids' Motrin and bring him back into bed with us. He's burning up.

11:21 p.m. Jack (18 months and a week) is no longer sick, but now he's back in our bed, every night. It's once again the only way he'll go down.

7 a.m. I realize that for the first time, Jack (22 months) has finally slept through the night. Now we have to get him out of diapers and back in his own room.

11:41 p.m. We are lying in an H formation. Jack (2 years) is nestled into his mother's chest, perpendicular to us, with his feet lodged against my throat, trying to push me off the bed. Freud was right about Oedipus. Parenting.com: Why good dads make moms jealous

4:25 a.m. Jack (3 years) has kicked the covers off me again and I wake up, shivering. I pull the covers up. He kicks them off. I pull them up. He kicks them off. I go downstairs, turn on the TV, and fall asleep on the couch.

2:15 p.m. I'm sound asleep, dreaming. Unfortunately, I'm at work. Tomorrow is Jack's fourth birthday. Last night in bed, he said, "Hey, why do I have to sleep in the middle?"

7:30 p.m. I am lying in the new twin bed we bought Jack (4 1/4 years), to show him how it works. We made a big deal of it, his very own Big Boy Bed, and we let him pick out the dinosaur sheets and the dinosaur comforter. All is ready.

12:05 a.m. I'm in this big empty bed, alone. We told Jack that on his fifth birthday he'd have to sleep in his own bed, because that's what big boys do, and he agreed. He wants very much to be a big boy. On his birthday, my wife lay down with him at 8:30 and fell sound asleep.

5:02 a.m. I get up and peek in on Jack (5 1/2). He's been sleeping alone in his room for almost a month now. I get back into bed with my wife and snuggle up next to her. At least I think it's her -- it's been a while. She feels good against my skin, but now I miss Jack. I miss getting kicked in the throat. I miss getting the covers pulled off of me. Where's my little boy? How did he grow up so fast?

9:42 p.m. Hearing a noise, my wife and I go upstairs to check on Jack (6). He says he was having a bad dream. We lie down with him, three of us in a twin bed. It's crowded, but if we brought him into our bed again, we'd never get him out. His breath is still sweet and milky on my cheek. How could this not be okay? This is my family.

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Response: Dad recalls stages of son's sleep -- and his own not sleeping. Infant son's crying or dad's fear of smothering kept him awake. Child has fever, parents put him in their bed. Child refuses to sleep in crib. Dad misses boy who now sleeps alone in his big boy bed.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- To control costs and increase flexibility, more and more U.S. mobile users are choosing no-contract plans (month-to-month or prepaid) for cell phone service.

How happy are consumers with no-contract phones and service? J.D. Power and Associates recently released the results of its 2011 U.S. Wireless Non-Contract Customer Satisfaction Index Study. The no-contract carriers studied were: AT&T Gophone, Boost Mobile, Cricket, MetroPCS, Net10, T-Mobile, Tracfone, Verizon Wireless and Virgin Mobile.

This year, the overall winner was Boost Mobile, which scored top marks for its cost of service, account management practices, initial activation process and offers/promotions. However, Boost scored only a middling grade on performance and reliability, the characteristic that survey participants rated as most important.

Net10, Tracfone, and Verizon Wireless received consumers' highest ratings for performance and reliability; while AT&T Gophone, Cricket and MetroPCS fared worst on this front.

AT&T Gophone received the overall worst customer satisfaction rating this year, with poor to middling marks in all categories.

According to Valassis, a media and marketing services company, as of October of last year, 28% of all U.S. cell phone service plans did not have contracts (up from 21% in 2008). Meanwhile, J.D. Powers reports that this year, about half of of all no-contract customers have month-to-month plans, rather than prepaid ones. In 2008, only 30% of no-contract plans were monthly.

The increase in attractive monthly no-contract offers might start stealing customers away from contracts. J.D. Powers notes: "Among customers currently under [a regular carrier contract of a year or more] and who say they are likely to switch their carrier during the next year, nearly 40 percent are likely to choose non-contract service."

Monthly contracts are generally cheaper. According to J.D. Powers: "Monthly non-contract customers spend an average of $32 less per month than do customers with contracts. Monthly non-contract customers spend $60 per month, compared with an average monthly service cost of $92 for customers with service contracts."

Some smartphones are now available on no-contract plans. Most no-contract carriers offer some smartphone deals -- usually for BlackBerry phones, but increasingly for Android and some Windows Phone models, too.

These smartphones still cost substantially more to buy up front than the simpler, cheaper "feature phones" these carriers mostly offer, and they generally don't have the latest or most robust technology or operating system versions. Whether these offerings will entice many first-time smartphone buyers remains to be seen.

For example, MetroPCS currently offers a no-contract Huawei Ascend touchscreen phone running Android 2.1 for $129 after a $50 instant discount and $30 mail-in rebate; the month-to-month plan cost is $50. Similarly, Virgin Mobile is currently offering the LG Optimus (running Android 2.2) and Samsung Intercept (running Android 2.1) for $199.99, with month-to-month plans starting at $25.

Right now, the major U.S. wireless carriers are making considerable revenue off of smartphone customers under two-year contracts. And so far, it's pretty hard to get a higher-end smartphone without a two-year contract in the U.S.

But lower-end smartphones might suffice for many mobile users. That's why offers such as these could alter the U.S. wireless competitive landscape over the next few years.

The opinions expressed in this post are solely those of Amy Gahran.

Response: Boost Mobile scored top marks overall among owners of no-contract phones. Among no-contract carriers, AT&T Gophone got the lowest customer satisfaction rating. A few smartphones are now available on no-contract plans.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The IRS says it's still trying to reach some 5 million Americans -- primarily seniors and veterans -- who have not filed the tax returns needed to qualify for their stimulus checks.

The IRS is trying to reach people who do not normally file tax returns so they can apply for stimulus checks.

"This hasn't been the easiest undertaking for the IRS," Commissioner Doug Shulman told the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight on Thursday.

Shulman explained that the IRS had sent out information packages to 20.5 million recipients of Social Security or veterans benefits who did not file 2006 tax returns to explain how to claim their payments.

Around 15 million responded.

The commissioner says the agency will soon send a second notice to the remaining 5.2 million and launch an aggressive public relations campaign titled, "It's Not Too Late to File!"

In all, the IRS has sent out more than 76 million stimulus checks, in amounts up to $600 for individuals, $1,200 for married couples and $300 per child for families.

The checks mailed nationwide so far total $63.8 billion, Shulman said. He predicted the total by the end of the calendar year would reach $100 billion.

IRS phone banks have been inundated with questions about the stimulus payments, which began going out in April.

The commissioner said the IRS received 72 million calls in May this year, compared with 19 million in May 2007.

"The numbers are staggering," he said.

Shulman apologized for the now 13-minute average wait time to get an IRS employee on the phone, saying, "It's where we'd not like to be, but it's a fact of doing stimulus."

Nina Olson, the IRS' national taxpayer advocate, said only a few glitches had developed in the stimulus effort. One occurred when the Social Security numbers of approximately 1,500 taxpayers were inadvertently disclosed when the IRS routed the stimulus payments to the wrong bank accounts.

Olson also blamed the lack of participation of more than 5 million seniors and veterans on their lack of access to and experience with computers and the Internet, as well as a belief by some that the filing process is too cumbersome and complicated.

"I think there are some natural barriers to getting some folks to want to file a return again," she explained.

To receive a stimulus check, people had to file a 2007 return. The notices sent to those who didn't file an income tax return in 2006 told them they should file a 1040A tax form for 2007 even if they had no tax liability.

Response: 5 million people, mostly seniors and vets, haven't filed papers for stimulus check. IRS has sent out more than 76 million stimulus checks so far. IRS sent information to Social Security recipients, vets about how to apply. Agency launching public relations campaign titled, "It's Not Too Late to File!".


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- He is a towering figure in the history of cinema, a colossus who has frightened and thrilled audiences in equal measure. Now King Kong, the famous silverback from the silver screen, is roaring and pounding his way onto the theatrical stage.

Merian C. Cooper's 1933 classic fantasy tale of a giant gorilla has become a musical reality at the Regent Theatre, in Melbourne, Australia -- thanks to a six-meter high robotic puppet, and the pioneering work of puppeteer Sonny Tilders.

"It's been amazing. They're not just praising the puppet, they are praising the character. That is so rewarding," Tilders told CNN.

The animatronics expert leads a 35-strong team at The Creature Technology Company in west Melbourne and has an impressive track record in both film and theater.

The 46-year-old has more than two decades' experience making high-tech puppets and counts "Stars Wars -- Revenge of the Sith" and "The Chronicles of Narnia" among his many movie credits.

He was also the robotic brains behind the hugely successful "Walking with Dinosaurs -- The Arena Spectacular" stage show, but the scale of King Kong was unlike anything he had attempted before.

The rubber and rabbit fur model seen hanging off the Empire State Building swatting bi-planes in the original film was 24 inches tall. The modern stage incarnation of Kong stands six meters high and weighs more than a ton.

Read this: Yoda, E.T. and the greatest movie puppets

When the multi-million dollar project started five years ago, Tilders originally set out to create a fully animatronic creature but ended up combining old-fashioned puppetry with modern robotics.

"We were considering having two versions. We were developing other technologies that we would need for animatronic limbs to move," he said.

"But to cut a long story short, we were so impressed by what the manned puppet could do that we had a change of heart and said we should do the whole show with marionette puppets. It made much more sense."

Suspended from the ceiling, Kong's limbs are manipulated on stage by 10 specially trained stage circus artists who scurry over and around the puppet, shifting his arms and legs by hand or using ropes.

Clad in black from head to toe, these shadowy figures called the "King's Men," work in tandem with three off-stage puppeteers -- the "voodoo" operators -- who control the mechanical functions inside Kong.

Around 300 meters of electrical wiring are crammed inside the puppet's steel and aluminum shell powering 16 microprocessors and 15 servo motors which move Kong's eyes, eyebrows and eyelids, nose, lips, jaw, neck and shoulders. He also makes sounds -- a vital part of making his movements appear realistic, says Tilders.

Marrying the mechanical functions of interior with the organic-looking Lycra and latex exterior is one of the big challenges of animatronics, Tilders says.

"We wanted to create a puppet that was really dynamic on stage. One of the ways to solve that and not kill anyone or destroy the puppet or the stage itself was to make his extremities -- his arms and fists -- in a way that has as little steel as possible."

Read this: Huge mechanical beasts stalk French theme park

From the elbow down, Kong's arms are filled with air, allowing him to furiously pound the floor without causing a minor earthquake.

Overlaying the air bags are a series of sculptured muscle bags made from a stretchy nylon material that expands and contracts to mimic the sinewy movements of the real thing.

He might not be the largest marionette in the world - that record is held by France's street theater company Royal de Luxe -- but he is, says Tilders, the most articulated.

"Often (big puppets) are quite simple and slow, but what we've developed is a hybrid technology enabling us to do some powerful and specific moves."

The Creature Technology Company's ambitions were aided by UK-based stage automation experts Stage Technologies who provided the four-ton track-and-trolley system suspended above the stage.

"It's a machine that allows Kong to both move around the stage and be raised up and down but also take different positions," said Stage Technologies' Group CEO Mark Ager.

"We move his torso with eight winches and that allows us to change the aspect of it. So, for instance, when he walks, his shoulders can roll from side to side. It's basically a big boys version of a wooden cross you see on smaller puppets."

The company, which is currently helping pop star Pink fly around stage on her world tour, has previously assisted Tilders with the Walking with Dinosaurs project, helping create a flying prehistoric bird called an Ornithocheirus.

But the complexity of Kong surpassed anything they have previously built, leading to a few nerves as opening night approached.

"Given (Kong) is the main actor it was quite a concern, but it is incredible," he said.

"There's an awful lot of engineering that goes into something that looks so effortless. He feels real. I think you have to see inferior robotic incarnations to see quite how clever (Kong) is."

Overall, it's been an extraordinary collaboration of engineering and software expertise with sculptors, artists, musicians and actors creating a unique spectacle.

The critics like it too. Many have warmed to the show itself since it opened in June and almost all have heaped lavish praise on Kong himself. It's only a matter of time before audiences worldwide get their chance to feel the towering stage presence of Kong, said Tilders.

"It's definitely going overseas," he said. "The financial model can't rely on 20 million people in Australia. Obviously, we would love to go to Broadway because that's the natural home for the story."

Response: Giant marionette/animatronic King Kong takes to stage in Melbourne-based musical. Puppet created by same company who created Walking with Dinosaurs arena tour. Merian C. Cooper's classic 1993 adventure adapted for stage with a six-meter tall Kong. Team of puppeteers on and off stage control Kong's movements.