text:
(CNN) -- "Sesame Street" may not be a real place, but tell that to some of the people Michael Davis met when researching and talking about his new book, "Street Gang."

Bert, left, and Ernie have been mainstays of "Sesame Street" since the beginning.

"I met a lot of people who I worked with in New York or got to know in New York -- transplants -- who said to me, 'When I first arrived here in New York, I had this strange desire to find Sesame Street,' " he said.

Well, to paraphrase the famous theme song, who wouldn't want to get to "Sesame Street"?

For two generations, the fictional block of brownstones inhabited by curious children, friendly adults and some odd-looking Muppets has helped shape childhood education by offering exercises, games and life lessons all wrapped up in a television-friendly format. It's a model that's proved durable and influential, says Syracuse University pop culture professor Robert Thompson.

"If I were to make a list of the top 10 most significant American TV shows ... I'd put 'Sesame Street' on the list. The fact that it's still on the air attests to its [significance]," he said.  See "Sesame Street" in pictures Â»

"The idea they came up with was kind of radical: If you can sell kids sugared cereal and toys using Madison Avenue techniques, why couldn't you use the same techniques for teaching counting, the alphabet and basic social skills? And it works."

Indeed, as Davis notes in "Street Gang" (Viking), the genesis of "Sesame Street" was when the 3-year-old daughter of a Carnegie foundation executive was fascinated by television, waking up to watch the broadcast day begin and memorizing commercial jingles. He talked about his daughter with a friend, producer Joan Ganz Cooney. In the liberal ferment of the mid-'60s, both wondered whether educational TV could go beyond the staid classroom shows of the era.

Cooney became the driving force of "Sesame Street." She put together the plan, helped recruit talent, located financing and oversaw production. "Sesame Street" became the foundation for the Children's Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop), which created other educational shows such as "The Electric Company" and "3-2-1 Contact."

"She is just such an impressive woman," said Davis, adding that Cooney gave her blessing to his book project without any requirements but one: that he "get it right." "She's just one of those extraordinary public figures."

Cooney didn't hold much back in telling her story to Davis, and neither did others. From its debut on November 10, 1969, the show was a hit -- within a year, it was on the cover of Time magazine -- but it was not without its personality clashes.

The original Gordon, Matt Robinson, was a producer uncomfortable in the spotlight. Northern Calloway, who played David, struggled with mental illness. The show's primary songwriters, Joe Raposo and Jeff Moss, were constantly in competition; Raposo "fairly seethed with envy" when Moss' "Rubber Duckie" hit the Top 20, Davis writes. The book provides balanced biographies of a number of principals, including producer Jon Stone, whom Davis calls "the heart of the book."

"I wanted people to say, 'Wow, this guy Jon Stone, he really was the Orson Welles of "Sesame Street." ' Without him, the show wouldn't have been what it became," Davis said.

But for all the backstage machinations that affect any creative enterprise, "Sesame Street" stayed true to education, in all its forms. One show matter-of-factly included a breast-feeding Buffy Sainte-Marie; others featured a boy with Down syndrome, Jason Kingsley. EW: Stars who dropped by "Sesame Street"

Jim Henson, who was famous as creator of the Muppets when "Sesame Street" began, invented a world of (literally) colorful characters -- Oscar, Big Bird, the Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie -- and, with his puppeteering crew, gave them soul.

And when Mr. Hooper (Will Lee) died, the show dealt with his passing honestly.

Over the years, the show has taken its knocks. Critics from the left have complained about its merchandising; critics from the right disliked its avowed commitment to diversity. In the '90s, "Barney" stole its thunder, and cable drained its audience. As "Sesame Street" comes up on its 40th birthday, some critics wonder whether it's still necessary.

But for all that, says Thompson, the show remains important, both in its pioneering educational style and in its clever business model. And it takes its charges seriously, he points out.

"One thing I still like about 'Sesame Street' is that it's not artsy," he said.

For Davis' part, doing the book -- which succeeded a TV Guide article he did on the show's 35th anniversary -- gave him renewed respect for its creators' achievements. And he's found out through his Web site, http://www.streetgangbook.com/, that "Sesame Street" still has the magic to move children -- mothers of autistic children credit the show with helping the kids' development -- and adults.

"Somebody said, 'I was OK when my mom explained to me there was no Santa Claus,' " he recounts. " 'But I cried my eyes out the day I realized Kermit was a puppet.' Isn't that great?"

text: CNN

text: Sesame

text: Street

text: may

text: not

text: be

text: a

text: real

text: place

text: but

text: tell

text: that

text: to

text: some

text: of

text: the

text: people

text: Michael

text: Davis

text: met

text: when

text: researching

text: and

text: talking

text: about

text: his

text: new

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text: Street

text: Gang

text: Bert

text: left

text: and

text: Ernie

text: have

text: been

text: mainstays

text: of

text: Sesame

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text: since

text: the

text: beginning

text: I

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text: of

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text: or

text: got

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text: know

text: in

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text: transplants

text: who

text: said

text: to

text: me

text: When

text: I

text: first

text: arrived

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text: in

text: New

text: York

text: I

text: had

text: this

text: strange

text: desire

text: to

text: find

text: Sesame

text: Street

text: he

text: said

text: Well

text: to

text: paraphrase

text: the

text: famous

text: theme

text: song

text: who

text: would

text: n't

text: want

text: to

text: get

text: to

text: Sesame

text: Street

text: For

text: two

text: generations

text: the

text: fictional

text: block

text: of

text: brownstones

text: inhabited

text: by

text: curious

text: children

text: friendly

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text: and

text: some

text: odd

text: looking

text: Muppets

text: has

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text: shape

text: childhood

text: education

text: by

text: offering

text: exercises

text: games

text: and

text: life

text: lessons

text: all

text: wrapped

text: up

text: in

text: a

text: television

text: friendly

text: format

text: It

text: 's

text: a

text: model

text: that

text: 's

text: proved

text: durable

text: and

text: influential

text: says

text: Syracuse

text: University

text: pop

text: culture

text: professor

text: Robert

text: Thompson

text: If

text: I

text: were

text: to

text: make

text: a

text: list

text: of

text: the

text: top

text: most

text: significant

text: American

text: TV

text: shows

text: I

text: 'd

text: put

text: Sesame

text: Street

text: on

text: the

text: list

text: The

text: fact

text: that

text: it

text: 's

text: still

text: on

text: the

text: air

text: attests

text: to

text: its

text: significance

text: he

text: said

text: See

text: Sesame

text: Street

text: in

text: pictures

text: Â

text: The

text: idea

text: they

text: came

text: up

text: with

text: was

text: kind

text: of

text: radical

text: If

text: you

text: can

text: sell

text: kids

text: sugared

text: cereal

text: and

text: toys

text: using

text: Madison

text: Avenue

text: techniques

text: why

text: could

text: n't

text: you

text: use

text: the

text: same

text: techniques

text: for

text: teaching

text: counting

text: the

text: alphabet

text: and

text: basic

text: social

text: skills

text: And

text: it

text: works

text: Indeed

text: as

text: Davis

text: notes

text: in

text: Street

text: Gang

text: Viking

text: the

text: genesis

text: of

text: Sesame

text: Street

text: was

text: when

text: the

text: old

text: daughter

text: of

text: a

text: Carnegie

text: foundation

text: executive

text: was

text: fascinated

text: by

text: television

text: waking

text: up

text: to

text: watch

text: the

text: broadcast

text: day

text: begin

text: and

text: memorizing

text: commercial

text: jingles

text: He

text: talked

text: about

text: his

text: daughter

text: with

text: a

text: friend

text: producer

text: Joan

text: Ganz

text: Cooney

text: In

text: the

text: liberal

text: ferment

text: of

text: the

text: both

text: wondered

text: whether

text: educational

text: TV

text: could

text: go

text: beyond

text: the

text: staid

text: classroom

text: shows

text: of

text: the

text: era

text: Cooney

text: became

text: the

text: driving

text: force

text: of

text: Sesame

text: Street

text: She

text: put

text: together

text: the

text: plan

text: helped

text: recruit

text: talent

text: located

text: financing

text: and

text: oversaw

text: production

text: Sesame

text: Street

text: became

text: the

text: foundation

text: for

text: the

text: Children

text: 's

text: Television

text: Workshop

text: now

text: Sesame

text: Workshop

text: which

text: created

text: other

text: educational

text: shows

text: such

text: as

text: The

text: Electric

text: Company

text: and

text: Contact

text: She

text: is

text: just

text: such

text: an

text: impressive

text: woman

text: said

text: Davis

text: adding

text: that

text: Cooney

text: gave

text: her

text: blessing

text: to

text: his

text: book

text: project

text: without

text: any

text: requirements

text: but

text: one

text: that

text: he

text: get

text: it

text: right

text: She

text: 's

text: just

text: one

text: of

text: those

text: extraordinary

text: public

text: figures

text: Cooney

text: did

text: n't

text: hold

text: much

text: back

text: in

text: telling

text: her

text: story

text: to

text: Davis

text: and

text: neither

text: did

text: others

text: From

text: its

text: debut

text: on

text: November

text: the

text: show

text: was

text: a

text: hit

text: within

text: a

text: year

text: it

text: was

text: on

text: the

text: cover

text: of

text: Time

text: magazine

text: but

text: it

text: was

text: not

text: without

text: its

text: personality

text: clashes

text: The

text: original

text: Gordon

text: Matt

text: Robinson

text: was

text: a

text: producer

text: uncomfortable

text: in

text: the

text: spotlight

text: Northern

text: Calloway

text: who

text: played

text: David

text: struggled

text: with

text: mental

text: illness

text: The

text: show

text: 's

text: primary

text: songwriters

text: Joe

text: Raposo

text: and

text: Jeff

text: Moss

text: were

text: constantly

text: in

text: competition

text: Raposo

text: fairly

text: seethed

text: with

text: envy

text: when

text: Moss

text: Rubber

text: Duckie

text: hit

text: the

text: Top

text: Davis

text: writes

text: The

text: book

text: provides

text: balanced

text: biographies

text: of

text: a

text: number

text: of

text: principals

text: including

text: producer

text: Jon

text: Stone

text: whom

text: Davis

text: calls

text: the

text: heart

text: of

text: the

text: book

text: I

text: wanted

text: people

text: to

text: say

text: Wow

text: this

text: guy

text: Jon

text: Stone

text: he

text: really

text: was

text: the

text: Orson

text: Welles

text: of

text: Sesame

text: Street

text: Without

text: him

text: the

text: show

text: would

text: n't

text: have

text: been

text: what

text: it

text: became

text: Davis

text: said

text: But

text: for

text: all

text: the

text: backstage

text: machinations

text: that

text: affect

text: any

text: creative

text: enterprise

text: Sesame

text: Street

text: stayed

text: true

text: to

text: education

text: in

text: all

text: its

text: forms

text: One

text: show

text: matter

text: of

text: factly

text: included

text: a

text: breast

text: feeding

text: Buffy

text: Sainte

text: Marie

text: others

text: featured

text: a

text: boy

text: with

text: Down

text: syndrome

text: Jason

text: Kingsley

text: EW

text: Stars

text: who

text: dropped

text: by

text: Sesame

text: Street

text: Jim

text: Henson

text: who

text: was

text: famous

text: as

text: creator

text: of

text: the

text: Muppets

text: when

text: Sesame

text: Street

text: began

text: invented

text: a

text: world

text: of

text: literally

text: colorful

text: characters

text: Oscar

text: Big

text: Bird

text: the

text: Cookie

text: Monster

text: Bert

text: and

text: Ernie

text: and

text: with

text: his

text: puppeteering

text: crew

text: gave

text: them

text: soul

text: And

text: when

text: Mr.

text: Hooper

text: Will

text: Lee

text: died

text: the

text: show

text: dealt

text: with

text: his

text: passing

text: honestly

text: Over

text: the

text: years

text: the

text: show

text: has

text: taken

text: its

text: knocks

text: Critics

text: from

text: the

text: left

text: have

text: complained

text: about

text: its

text: merchandising

text: critics

text: from

text: the

text: right

text: disliked

text: its

text: avowed

text: commitment

text: to

text: diversity

text: In

text: the

text: Barney

text: stole

text: its

text: thunder

text: and

text: cable

text: drained

text: its

text: audience

text: As

text: Sesame

text: Street

text: comes

text: up

text: on

text: its

text: birthday

text: some

text: critics

text: wonder

text: whether

text: it

text: 's

text: still

text: necessary

text: But

text: for

text: all

text: that

text: says

text: Thompson

text: the

text: show

text: remains

text: important

text: both

text: in

text: its

text: pioneering

text: educational

text: style

text: and

text: in

text: its

text: clever

text: business

text: model

text: And

text: it

text: takes

text: its

text: charges

text: seriously

text: he

text: points

text: out

text: One

text: thing

text: I

text: still

text: like

text: about

text: Sesame

text: Street

text: is

text: that

text: it

text: 's

text: not

text: artsy

text: he

text: said

text: For

text: Davis

text: part

text: doing

text: the

text: book

text: which

text: succeeded

text: a

text: TV

text: Guide

text: article

text: he

text: did

text: on

text: the

text: show

text: 's

text: anniversary

text: gave

text: him

text: renewed

text: respect

text: for

text: its

text: creators

text: achievements

text: And

text: he

text: 's

text: found

text: out

text: through

text: his

text: Web

text: site

text: that

text: Sesame

text: Street

text: still

text: has

text: the

text: magic

text: to

text: move

text: children

text: mothers

text: of

text: autistic

text: children

text: credit

text: the

text: show

text: with

text: helping

text: the

text: kids

text: development

text: and

text: adults

text: Somebody

text: said

text: I

text: was

text: OK

text: when

text: my

text: mom

text: explained

text: to

text: me

text: there

text: was

text: no

text: Santa

text: Claus

text: he

text: recounts

text: But

text: I

text: cried

text: my

text: eyes

text: out

text: the

text: day

text: I

text: realized

text: Kermit

text: was

text: a

text: puppet

text: Is

text: n't

text: that

text: great

question: When did the show first go on air?

answer: November 10, 1969,

text: November 10, 1969,

question: What is the name of the new book?

answer: "Street Gang."

text: "Street Gang."

question: What is the name of the author?

answer: Michael Davis

text: Michael Davis

question: What's the new book called?

answer: "Street Gang."

text: "Street Gang."

question: Who has heard countless stories about "Street's" benefits?

answer: Michael Davis

text: Michael Davis

question: When did the show go on air in 1969?

answer: November 10,

text: November 10,

question: When did the show air?

answer: From its debut on November 10, 1969,

text: From its debut on November 10, 1969,

question: What did the show stay true to?

answer: education, in all its forms.

text: education, in all its forms.


text:
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Before heading out for a trio of well-publicized meetings with foreign dignitaries Tuesday, Sarah Palin received a briefing from the director of national security, Adm. Michael McConnell.

Gov. Sarah Palin is in New York to meet with leaders from around the world.

The appearances with world leaders, taking place on the sidelines of the United Nation's General Assembly meetings in New York, come as the campaign of Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain tries to convince voters that Palin is ready for the world stage.

Palin's top foreign policy adviser informed reporters of the meeting at a small briefing after Palin's visits with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

The adviser, Stephen Biegun, formerly a top member of the National Security Council under President Bush, characterized the intelligence briefing as "routine" and said it was the sort of meeting that "is standard for candidates for the vice president and president." Biegun said several officials were present to brief Palin.

Although Palin held photo-ops with the leaders, she refused to take questions from any reporters.

The Alaska governor initially said that no reporters would be allowed to sit in on her meeting with Karzai. She planned to allow in only photographers and one television crew, but she changed her position after at least five U.S. news networks protested.

CNN does not send cameras into candidate events where editorial presence is not allowed.

Nonetheless, Biegun said, "these are relationships that she intuitively understands are very important for the next president and vice president of the United States."

In those get-togethers, Palin kept the focus primarily on energy issues and the growing influence of Russia, according to Biegun.

Palin found Kissinger particularly engrossing; their meeting had been scheduled to last 30 minutes, but the two met for nearly an hour and a half.

"In talking to Dr. Kissinger," Biegun said, "she certainly had a lot of questions about how the United States can develop a cooperative relationship with Russia, what are some of the unique challenges to the current state of Russia's political development, and having been in particular, some of the recent developments we've seen with Russia: backsliding democracy, Russia's incursion into Georgia."

Asked about her meetings with Karzai and Uribe, Biegun said Palin "liked them very much" and "established a great personal rapport."

With Karzai, Palin chatted for half an hour about McCain's desire to send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan. With Uribe, she listened for about 20 minutes as the president discussed the country's security situation and its handling of guerrillas.

According to Biegun, "rather than make specific policy prescriptions, she was largely listening, having an exchange of views, and also very interested in forming a relationship with people she met with today."

Biegun is helping prepare Palin for her debate with Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Joseph Biden on October 2 in St. Louis, Missouri. He would not say what specific topics Palin was concentrating on in her study sessions.

James Hoge of the Council on Foreign Relations, said the Palin meetings are meant to "show, just as [Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack] Obama did when he went to Germany and gave a speech in Berlin, that she is comfortable on the international scene, that she can hold her own in conversations with foreign leaders.  Watch what's on Palin's agenda Â»

Democrats warn that Palin's carefully scripted photo-ops, some of which will include McCain, could backfire by bringing attention to the holes in her rÃ©sumÃ©.

"The big risk that they run with this strategy of having her meet with these leaders individually is that they end up with three days of stories about how she doesn't have foreign policy experience," said Hilary Rosen, a Democratic strategist and CNN contributor.

But Republicans point out that Palin is just following in the footsteps of other national candidates such as Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, former governors who needed to beef up their international policy credentials.

"The first thing you do is burnish their foreign policy credentials. You buy them a Rand-McNally, you meet with generals, you get a lot of flags on the stage, and you give a big speech on foreign policy to display you have some command of the world," said Alex Castellanos, a Republican strategist and CNN contributor.

As a 44-year-old governor who just got her passport last year, she has had to fend off accusations that she is not up to speed on foreign policy. In a recent interview with ABC, she admitted that she has never met with a head of state.

Asked last week for specific skills she could cite to rebut critics who question her grasp of international affairs, she replied, "I am prepared."

"I have that confidence. I have that readiness," Palin told voters at a town-hall meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan. "And if you want specifics with specific policies or countries, you can go ahead and ask me. You can play 'stump the candidate' if you want to. But we are ready to serve."

McCain stepped in, pointing out that as governor of a state that has plenty of oil and gas, Palin was familiar with energy. She knows it to be "one of our great national security challenges," he said.

He also cited her nearly two years as commander of Alaska's National Guard.

"I believe she is absolutely, totally qualified to address every challenge as the next vice president of the United States," McCain said.

CNN's Peter Hamby and Ed Henry contributed to this report.

text: NEW

text: YORK

text: CNN

text: Before

text: heading

text: out

text: for

text: a

text: trio

text: of

text: well

text: publicized

text: meetings

text: with

text: foreign

text: dignitaries

text: Tuesday

text: Sarah

text: Palin

text: received

text: a

text: briefing

text: from

text: the

text: director

text: of

text: national

text: security

text: Adm.

text: Michael

text: McConnell

text: Gov.

text: Sarah

text: Palin

text: is

text: in

text: New

text: York

text: to

text: meet

text: with

text: leaders

text: from

text: around

text: the

text: world

text: The

text: appearances

text: with

text: world

text: leaders

text: taking

text: place

text: on

text: the

text: sidelines

text: of

text: the

text: United

text: Nation

text: 's

text: General

text: Assembly

text: meetings

text: in

text: New

text: York

text: come

text: as

text: the

text: campaign

text: of

text: Republican

text: presidential

text: nominee

text: Sen.

text: John

text: McCain

text: tries

text: to

text: convince

text: voters

text: that

text: Palin

text: is

text: ready

text: for

text: the

text: world

text: stage

text: Palin

text: 's

text: top

text: foreign

text: policy

text: adviser

text: informed

text: reporters

text: of

text: the

text: meeting

text: at

text: a

text: small

text: briefing

text: after

text: Palin

text: 's

text: visits

text: with

text: Afghan

text: President

text: Hamid

text: Karzai

text: Colombian

text: President

text: Alvaro

text: Uribe

text: and

text: former

text: Secretary

text: of

text: State

text: Henry

text: Kissinger

text: The

text: adviser

text: Stephen

text: Biegun

text: formerly

text: a

text: top

text: member

text: of

text: the

text: National

text: Security

text: Council

text: under

text: President

text: Bush

text: characterized

text: the

text: intelligence

text: briefing

text: as

text: routine

text: and

text: said

text: it

text: was

text: the

text: sort

text: of

text: meeting

text: that

text: is

text: standard

text: for

text: candidates

text: for

text: the

text: vice

text: president

text: and

text: president

text: Biegun

text: said

text: several

text: officials

text: were

text: present

text: to

text: brief

text: Palin

text: Although

text: Palin

text: held

text: photo

text: ops

text: with

text: the

text: leaders

text: she

text: refused

text: to

text: take

text: questions

text: from

text: any

text: reporters

text: The

text: Alaska

text: governor

text: initially

text: said

text: that

text: no

text: reporters

text: would

text: be

text: allowed

text: to

text: sit

text: in

text: on

text: her

text: meeting

text: with

text: Karzai

text: She

text: planned

text: to

text: allow

text: in

text: only

text: photographers

text: and

text: one

text: television

text: crew

text: but

text: she

text: changed

text: her

text: position

text: after

text: at

text: least

text: five

text: U.S.

text: news

text: networks

text: protested

text: CNN

text: does

text: not

text: send

text: cameras

text: into

text: candidate

text: events

text: where

text: editorial

text: presence

text: is

text: not

text: allowed

text: Nonetheless

text: Biegun

text: said

text: these

text: are

text: relationships

text: that

text: she

text: intuitively

text: understands

text: are

text: very

text: important

text: for

text: the

text: next

text: president

text: and

text: vice

text: president

text: of

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: In

text: those

text: get

text: togethers

text: Palin

text: kept

text: the

text: focus

text: primarily

text: on

text: energy

text: issues

text: and

text: the

text: growing

text: influence

text: of

text: Russia

text: according

text: to

text: Biegun

text: Palin

text: found

text: Kissinger

text: particularly

text: engrossing

text: their

text: meeting

text: had

text: been

text: scheduled

text: to

text: last

text: minutes

text: but

text: the

text: two

text: met

text: for

text: nearly

text: an

text: hour

text: and

text: a

text: half

text: In

text: talking

text: to

text: Dr.

text: Kissinger

text: Biegun

text: said

text: she

text: certainly

text: had

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: questions

text: about

text: how

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: can

text: develop

text: a

text: cooperative

text: relationship

text: with

text: Russia

text: what

text: are

text: some

text: of

text: the

text: unique

text: challenges

text: to

text: the

text: current

text: state

text: of

text: Russia

text: 's

text: political

text: development

text: and

text: having

text: been

text: in

text: particular

text: some

text: of

text: the

text: recent

text: developments

text: we

text: 've

text: seen

text: with

text: Russia

text: backsliding

text: democracy

text: Russia

text: 's

text: incursion

text: into

text: Georgia

text: Asked

text: about

text: her

text: meetings

text: with

text: Karzai

text: and

text: Uribe

text: Biegun

text: said

text: Palin

text: liked

text: them

text: very

text: much

text: and

text: established

text: a

text: great

text: personal

text: rapport

text: With

text: Karzai

text: Palin

text: chatted

text: for

text: half

text: an

text: hour

text: about

text: McCain

text: 's

text: desire

text: to

text: send

text: more

text: U.S.

text: troops

text: to

text: Afghanistan

text: With

text: Uribe

text: she

text: listened

text: for

text: about

text: minutes

text: as

text: the

text: president

text: discussed

text: the

text: country

text: 's

text: security

text: situation

text: and

text: its

text: handling

text: of

text: guerrillas

text: According

text: to

text: Biegun

text: rather

text: than

text: make

text: specific

text: policy

text: prescriptions

text: she

text: was

text: largely

text: listening

text: having

text: an

text: exchange

text: of

text: views

text: and

text: also

text: very

text: interested

text: in

text: forming

text: a

text: relationship

text: with

text: people

text: she

text: met

text: with

text: today

text: Biegun

text: is

text: helping

text: prepare

text: Palin

text: for

text: her

text: debate

text: with

text: Democratic

text: vice

text: presidential

text: nominee

text: Sen.

text: Joseph

text: Biden

text: on

text: October

text: in

text: St.

text: Louis

text: Missouri

text: He

text: would

text: not

text: say

text: what

text: specific

text: topics

text: Palin

text: was

text: concentrating

text: on

text: in

text: her

text: study

text: sessions

text: James

text: Hoge

text: of

text: the

text: Council

text: on

text: Foreign

text: Relations

text: said

text: the

text: Palin

text: meetings

text: are

text: meant

text: to

text: show

text: just

text: as

text: Democratic

text: presidential

text: nominee

text: Sen.

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: did

text: when

text: he

text: went

text: to

text: Germany

text: and

text: gave

text: a

text: speech

text: in

text: Berlin

text: that

text: she

text: is

text: comfortable

text: on

text: the

text: international

text: scene

text: that

text: she

text: can

text: hold

text: her

text: own

text: in

text: conversations

text: with

text: foreign

text: leaders

text: Watch

text: what

text: 's

text: on

text: Palin

text: 's

text: agenda

text: Â

text: Democrats

text: warn

text: that

text: Palin

text: 's

text: carefully

text: scripted

text: photo

text: ops

text: some

text: of

text: which

text: will

text: include

text: McCain

text: could

text: backfire

text: by

text: bringing

text: attention

text: to

text: the

text: holes

text: in

text: her

text: rÃ

text: sumÃ

text: The

text: big

text: risk

text: that

text: they

text: run

text: with

text: this

text: strategy

text: of

text: having

text: her

text: meet

text: with

text: these

text: leaders

text: individually

text: is

text: that

text: they

text: end

text: up

text: with

text: three

text: days

text: of

text: stories

text: about

text: how

text: she

text: does

text: n't

text: have

text: foreign

text: policy

text: experience

text: said

text: Hilary

text: Rosen

text: a

text: Democratic

text: strategist

text: and

text: CNN

text: contributor

text: But

text: Republicans

text: point

text: out

text: that

text: Palin

text: is

text: just

text: following

text: in

text: the

text: footsteps

text: of

text: other

text: national

text: candidates

text: such

text: as

text: Ronald

text: Reagan

text: and

text: Bill

text: Clinton

text: former

text: governors

text: who

text: needed

text: to

text: beef

text: up

text: their

text: international

text: policy

text: credentials

text: The

text: first

text: thing

text: you

text: do

text: is

text: burnish

text: their

text: foreign

text: policy

text: credentials

text: You

text: buy

text: them

text: a

text: Rand

text: McNally

text: you

text: meet

text: with

text: generals

text: you

text: get

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: flags

text: on

text: the

text: stage

text: and

text: you

text: give

text: a

text: big

text: speech

text: on

text: foreign

text: policy

text: to

text: display

text: you

text: have

text: some

text: command

text: of

text: the

text: world

text: said

text: Alex

text: Castellanos

text: a

text: Republican

text: strategist

text: and

text: CNN

text: contributor

text: As

text: a

text: old

text: governor

text: who

text: just

text: got

text: her

text: passport

text: last

text: year

text: she

text: has

text: had

text: to

text: fend

text: off

text: accusations

text: that

text: she

text: is

text: not

text: up

text: to

text: speed

text: on

text: foreign

text: policy

text: In

text: a

text: recent

text: interview

text: with

text: ABC

text: she

text: admitted

text: that

text: she

text: has

text: never

text: met

text: with

text: a

text: head

text: of

text: state

text: Asked

text: last

text: week

text: for

text: specific

text: skills

text: she

text: could

text: cite

text: to

text: rebut

text: critics

text: who

text: question

text: her

text: grasp

text: of

text: international

text: affairs

text: she

text: replied

text: I

text: am

text: prepared

text: I

text: have

text: that

text: confidence

text: I

text: have

text: that

text: readiness

text: Palin

text: told

text: voters

text: at

text: a

text: town

text: hall

text: meeting

text: in

text: Grand

text: Rapids

text: Michigan

text: And

text: if

text: you

text: want

text: specifics

text: with

text: specific

text: policies

text: or

text: countries

text: you

text: can

text: go

text: ahead

text: and

text: ask

text: me

text: You

text: can

text: play

text: stump

text: the

text: candidate

text: if

text: you

text: want

text: to

text: But

text: we

text: are

text: ready

text: to

text: serve

text: McCain

text: stepped

text: in

text: pointing

text: out

text: that

text: as

text: governor

text: of

text: a

text: state

text: that

text: has

text: plenty

text: of

text: oil

text: and

text: gas

text: Palin

text: was

text: familiar

text: with

text: energy

text: She

text: knows

text: it

text: to

text: be

text: one

text: of

text: our

text: great

text: national

text: security

text: challenges

text: he

text: said

text: He

text: also

text: cited

text: her

text: nearly

text: two

text: years

text: as

text: commander

text: of

text: Alaska

text: 's

text: National

text: Guard

text: I

text: believe

text: she

text: is

text: absolutely

text: totally

text: qualified

text: to

text: address

text: every

text: challenge

text: as

text: the

text: next

text: vice

text: president

text: of

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: McCain

text: said

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Peter

text: Hamby

text: and

text: Ed

text: Henry

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: What state was Palan gorvernor of?

answer: Alaska

text: Alaska

question: What was the duration of the meeting with Kissinger?

answer: nearly an hour and a half.

text: nearly an hour and a half.

question: Who did she meet for an hour and a half?

answer: former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

text: former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

question: Who does Palin debate next week in St. Louis?

answer: Sen. Joseph Biden

text: Sen. Joseph Biden

question: who is kissinger?

answer: former Secretary of State

text: former Secretary of State

question: Who is Palin meeting on the sidelines?

answer: world leaders,

text: world leaders,

question: Where was Palin born?

answer: Alaska

text: Alaska

question: who palin debates?

answer: Sen. Joseph Biden

text: Sen. Joseph Biden

question: who palin meets with?

answer: leaders from around the world.

text: leaders from around the world.

question: Who will she debate with next week?

answer: Sen. Joseph Biden

text: Sen. Joseph Biden


text:
WASHINGTON (CNN)  -- It was the annual revving of the engines Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial as thousands of motorcyclists converged on Washington to honor those who have served the country.

Members of Rolling Thunder ride into Washington on Sunday.

Riders from Rolling Thunder, a group created to bring attention to soldiers listed as POW or MIA, rolled into the nation's capital, greeting crowds of supporters who lined the streets.

"It's a great tribute to people that have sacrificed everything, including their life," said rider Mick Smith.

He and fellow Vietnam veteran Juan Cruz rode their motorcycles from Pennsylvania.

"It's a brotherhood that we have, veterans of the foreign wars," Cruz said. "The camaraderie is so perfect that we don't need anything else. We forget about our problems."

Lyn Seidler was among the spectators who lined the motorcycle route in the hot and humid weather to greet the bikers as they passed over the Arlington Memorial Bridge into Washington.

"The servicemen made a sacrifice," Seidler said. For her, cheering on Rolling Thunder was a way to help celebrate troops, "and to say thank you," she said.

After completing their rides, the bikers gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

"I'm here today to honor our veterans, our fallen veterans, to help the living by supporting the dead," Cruz said.

The Defense Department says there are more than 88,000 soldiers still listed as missing in action from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War combined.

-CNN's Lauren Pratapas contributed to this report

text: WASHINGTON

text: CNN

text: It

text: was

text: the

text: annual

text: revving

text: of

text: the

text: engines

text: Sunday

text: at

text: the

text: Lincoln

text: Memorial

text: as

text: thousands

text: of

text: motorcyclists

text: converged

text: on

text: Washington

text: to

text: honor

text: those

text: who

text: have

text: served

text: the

text: country

text: Members

text: of

text: Rolling

text: Thunder

text: ride

text: into

text: Washington

text: on

text: Sunday

text: Riders

text: from

text: Rolling

text: Thunder

text: a

text: group

text: created

text: to

text: bring

text: attention

text: to

text: soldiers

text: listed

text: as

text: POW

text: or

text: MIA

text: rolled

text: into

text: the

text: nation

text: 's

text: capital

text: greeting

text: crowds

text: of

text: supporters

text: who

text: lined

text: the

text: streets

text: It

text: 's

text: a

text: great

text: tribute

text: to

text: people

text: that

text: have

text: sacrificed

text: everything

text: including

text: their

text: life

text: said

text: rider

text: Mick

text: Smith

text: He

text: and

text: fellow

text: Vietnam

text: veteran

text: Juan

text: Cruz

text: rode

text: their

text: motorcycles

text: from

text: Pennsylvania

text: It

text: 's

text: a

text: brotherhood

text: that

text: we

text: have

text: veterans

text: of

text: the

text: foreign

text: wars

text: Cruz

text: said

text: The

text: camaraderie

text: is

text: so

text: perfect

text: that

text: we

text: do

text: n't

text: need

text: anything

text: else

text: We

text: forget

text: about

text: our

text: problems

text: Lyn

text: Seidler

text: was

text: among

text: the

text: spectators

text: who

text: lined

text: the

text: motorcycle

text: route

text: in

text: the

text: hot

text: and

text: humid

text: weather

text: to

text: greet

text: the

text: bikers

text: as

text: they

text: passed

text: over

text: the

text: Arlington

text: Memorial

text: Bridge

text: into

text: Washington

text: The

text: servicemen

text: made

text: a

text: sacrifice

text: Seidler

text: said

text: For

text: her

text: cheering

text: on

text: Rolling

text: Thunder

text: was

text: a

text: way

text: to

text: help

text: celebrate

text: troops

text: and

text: to

text: say

text: thank

text: you

text: she

text: said

text: After

text: completing

text: their

text: rides

text: the

text: bikers

text: gathered

text: in

text: front

text: of

text: the

text: Lincoln

text: Memorial

text: I

text: 'm

text: here

text: today

text: to

text: honor

text: our

text: veterans

text: our

text: fallen

text: veterans

text: to

text: help

text: the

text: living

text: by

text: supporting

text: the

text: dead

text: Cruz

text: said

text: The

text: Defense

text: Department

text: says

text: there

text: are

text: more

text: than

text: soldiers

text: still

text: listed

text: as

text: missing

text: in

text: action

text: from

text: World

text: War

text: II

text: the

text: Korean

text: War

text: and

text: the

text: Vietnam

text: War

text: combined

text: -CNN

text: 's

text: Lauren

text: Pratapas

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: What is Rolling Thunder?

answer: a group created to bring attention to soldiers listed as POW or MIA,

text: a group created to bring attention to soldiers listed as POW or MIA,

question: How many are missing in action?

answer: 88,000

question: What does the rider call the Rolling Thunder?

answer: a great tribute to people that have sacrificed everything, including their life,"

text: a great tribute to people that have sacrificed everything, including their life,"

question: How many soldiers listed as missing in action?

answer: more than 88,000

text: more than 88,000

question: What does Rolling Thunder bring attention to?

answer: soldiers listed as POW or MIA,

text: soldiers listed as POW or MIA,

question: How many soldiers are listed as missing in action?

answer: more than 88,000

text: more than 88,000

question: What did Rolling Thunder create?

answer: bring attention to soldiers listed as POW or MIA,

text: bring attention to soldiers listed as POW or MIA,


text:
New Delhi, India (CNN) -- Seventeen people died after drinking a toxic, illegal home-brewed liquor over the New Years weekend in southern India, authorities said Monday.

At least 18 people were also poisoned by what authorities have described as contaminated moonshine in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district, P.V.S. Ramkrishna, the district police chief, said.

Police in India have been cracking down recently on businesses selling the illegally-made alcohol, Ramkrishna said.

In December, authorities arrested 10 people for making contaminated moonshine that left at least 168 people dead in the Indian state of West Bengal. Hundreds more were sickened by it, authorities said.

Moonshine is not uncommon in poverty-stricken communities in India because it is cheap to make.

text: New

text: Delhi

text: India

text: CNN

text: Seventeen

text: people

text: died

text: after

text: drinking

text: a

text: toxic

text: illegal

text: home

text: brewed

text: liquor

text: over

text: the

text: New

text: Years

text: weekend

text: in

text: southern

text: India

text: authorities

text: said

text: Monday

text: At

text: least

text: people

text: were

text: also

text: poisoned

text: by

text: what

text: authorities

text: have

text: described

text: as

text: contaminated

text: moonshine

text: in

text: Andhra

text: Pradesh

text: 's

text: Krishna

text: district

text: P.V.S.

text: Ramkrishna

text: the

text: district

text: police

text: chief

text: said

text: Police

text: in

text: India

text: have

text: been

text: cracking

text: down

text: recently

text: on

text: businesses

text: selling

text: the

text: illegally

text: made

text: alcohol

text: Ramkrishna

text: said

text: In

text: December

text: authorities

text: arrested

text: people

text: for

text: making

text: contaminated

text: moonshine

text: that

text: left

text: at

text: least

text: people

text: dead

text: in

text: the

text: Indian

text: state

text: of

text: West

text: Bengal

text: Hundreds

text: more

text: were

text: sickened

text: by

text: it

text: authorities

text: said

text: Moonshine

text: is

text: not

text: uncommon

text: in

text: poverty

text: stricken

text: communities

text: in

text: India

text: because

text: it

text: is

text: cheap

text: to

text: make

question: What is not uncommon in poverty-stricken India?

answer: Moonshine

text: Moonshine

question: What country is poverty-stricken?

answer: India

text: India

question: Who has been cracking down illegal sales of moonshine?

answer: Police in India

text: Police in India

question: Who has been cracking down on moonshine?

answer: Police in India

text: Police in India

question: What has the police been cracking down on?

answer: businesses selling the illegally-made alcohol,

text: businesses selling the illegally-made alcohol,

question: What is not uncommon?

answer: Moonshine

text: Moonshine

question: Where is moonshine not uncommon?

answer: in poverty-stricken communities in India

text: in poverty-stricken communities in India

question: What kind communities are they?

answer: poverty-stricken

text: poverty-stricken

question: What type of communities is moonshine found in?

answer: poverty-stricken

text: poverty-stricken


text:
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Hip hop is one U.S. commodity that has made it past the trade embargo to Cuba.

Cuban rap duo "Doble Filo" say hip hop allows them to embrace social issues.

Cuba has developed a homegrown rap movement, inspired by the sounds and fashions of U.S. hip hop. But what makes Cuban rappers different is that rather than celebrating bling, girls and guns, their lyrics address social issues in a country where free speech is tightly controlled.

Cuban rap began to surface in the 1990s, a grassroots affair, with songs recorded in rappers' bedrooms and distributed on cassette tapes.

The island's fledgling hip hop scene was given a boost in 1999, when it was endorsed by the government as "an authentic expression of Cuban Culture."

In the following years the government set up the Cuban Rap Agency (CRA) to promote the scene, as well as a record label, "Asere Productions," and a rap magazine called "Movimiento."

Government approval helped Cuban hip hop emerge from the underground, but some see that endorsement as a gilded cage. Formed in 1996, rap duo "Doble Filo" ("Double Edged") have been part of the Havana scene since the beginning and work with the Cuban Rap Agency. But rapper Irak Saenz admits there are contradictions in being part of the system.

"It does limit our creative freedom," he told CNN. "The CRA has an agenda that goes with the government's agenda. It doesn't limit me but it does force me to be creative in how I express my ideas."

Along with fellow Cuban rap duo "Los Aldeanos" ("The Villagers") "Doble Filo" work with U.S. hip hop audio/visual label, Emetrece Productions.

But "Los Aldeanos", who formed in 2003, are part of a younger generation of Cuban rappers. They don't belong the CRA, and nor do they want to. They are defiantly underground and outspoken.

"Hip hop is an art form speaks the truth about how people are living," says Aldo Rodriguez, one half of Los Aldeanos.

Their track "NiÃ±ito Cubano" is about a young boy growing up during Cuba's "special period", when the fall of the Soviet Union brought hardship to the island.

Their forthright lyrics about life in Cuba don't make them any friends among Cuba's authorities, and that limits their opportunities on the island.

"Our lyrics don't always go with the standard Cuban rhetoric and often that won't get airplay," says Rodriguez. "I can be famous in other countries, but here they won't let me play a concert in a theater."

Listen to Doble Filo and Los Aldeanos here Â»

Doble Filo's Saenz has performed the U.S. with fellow Cubans "Obsesion", a tour that included playing on the same bill as U.S. rap stars Kanye West and The Roots.

He says that where his generation of rappers was forced to limit the way it talked about the realities of daily life, the new generation is bolder with its lyrics.

Bian Rodriguez, also known as El B, the other member of "Los Aldeanos," says hip hop gives voice to the concerns of ordinary Cubans.

"People tell me they need this music, not just because they can identify with what we are saying, but because they feel that maybe we can say things they might be afraid to say publicly," he told CNN.

Like most other Cuban rap groups, "Los Aldeanos" aren't yet in a position to make a living from their music. El B has won Cuba's Red Bull freestyle rapping championship three years in a row, but he still has a day job as a primary school teacher.

A lack of funds and equipment means the island's hip hop producers have to use a certain amount of ingenuity when it comes to recording their music. Doble Filo's producer Edgaro explains that in the group's early days, he would make tracks by looping the last few bars of songs on cassette tapes.

These days, Edgaro produces songs on his PC, but the software is pirated from copies brought into the country and circulated on the streets. It simply isn't available in the stores.

More about Cuba's arts: Carlos Acosta takes CNN on a tour of Havana. Â»

As the scene develops the groups are getting more ambitious. Doble Filo are now incorporating live musicians into their sound, weaving in elements of traditional Cuban music, and they are set to release their debut album "Despierta" ("Wake up") through Emetrece Productions.

Emetrece is run by Melisa Riviere, a Ph.D. candidate in the Anthropology Department at the University of Minnesota. More than just promoting good music, she says Emetrece is trying to educate, and to challenge the U.S. embargo on Cuba.

Like Cuba's rappers, she sees hip hop as a tool for social change. As El B puts it, "I think one of the things people take from the music is the idea that we can do anything, we can change anything, we can be anything we want."

text: LONDON

text: England

text: CNN

text: Hip

text: hop

text: is

text: one

text: U.S.

text: commodity

text: that

text: has

text: made

text: it

text: past

text: the

text: trade

text: embargo

text: to

text: Cuba

text: Cuban

text: rap

text: duo

text: Doble

text: Filo

text: say

text: hip

text: hop

text: allows

text: them

text: to

text: embrace

text: social

text: issues

text: Cuba

text: has

text: developed

text: a

text: homegrown

text: rap

text: movement

text: inspired

text: by

text: the

text: sounds

text: and

text: fashions

text: of

text: U.S.

text: hip

text: hop

text: But

text: what

text: makes

text: Cuban

text: rappers

text: different

text: is

text: that

text: rather

text: than

text: celebrating

text: bling

text: girls

text: and

text: guns

text: their

text: lyrics

text: address

text: social

text: issues

text: in

text: a

text: country

text: where

text: free

text: speech

text: is

text: tightly

text: controlled

text: Cuban

text: rap

text: began

text: to

text: surface

text: in

text: the

text: a

text: grassroots

text: affair

text: with

text: songs

text: recorded

text: in

text: rappers

text: bedrooms

text: and

text: distributed

text: on

text: cassette

text: tapes

text: The

text: island

text: 's

text: fledgling

text: hip

text: hop

text: scene

text: was

text: given

text: a

text: boost

text: in

text: when

text: it

text: was

text: endorsed

text: by

text: the

text: government

text: as

text: an

text: authentic

text: expression

text: of

text: Cuban

text: Culture

text: In

text: the

text: following

text: years

text: the

text: government

text: set

text: up

text: the

text: Cuban

text: Rap

text: Agency

text: CRA

text: to

text: promote

text: the

text: scene

text: as

text: well

text: as

text: a

text: record

text: label

text: Asere

text: Productions

text: and

text: a

text: rap

text: magazine

text: called

text: Movimiento

text: Government

text: approval

text: helped

text: Cuban

text: hip

text: hop

text: emerge

text: from

text: the

text: underground

text: but

text: some

text: see

text: that

text: endorsement

text: as

text: a

text: gilded

text: cage

text: Formed

text: in

text: rap

text: duo

text: Doble

text: Filo

text: Double

text: Edged

text: have

text: been

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: Havana

text: scene

text: since

text: the

text: beginning

text: and

text: work

text: with

text: the

text: Cuban

text: Rap

text: Agency

text: But

text: rapper

text: Irak

text: Saenz

text: admits

text: there

text: are

text: contradictions

text: in

text: being

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: system

text: It

text: does

text: limit

text: our

text: creative

text: freedom

text: he

text: told

text: CNN

text: The

text: CRA

text: has

text: an

text: agenda

text: that

text: goes

text: with

text: the

text: government

text: 's

text: agenda

text: It

text: does

text: n't

text: limit

text: me

text: but

text: it

text: does

text: force

text: me

text: to

text: be

text: creative

text: in

text: how

text: I

text: express

text: my

text: ideas

text: Along

text: with

text: fellow

text: Cuban

text: rap

text: duo

text: Los

text: Aldeanos

text: The

text: Villagers

text: Doble

text: Filo

text: work

text: with

text: U.S.

text: hip

text: hop

text: audio

text: visual

text: label

text: Emetrece

text: Productions

text: But

text: Los

text: Aldeanos

text: who

text: formed

text: in

text: are

text: part

text: of

text: a

text: younger

text: generation

text: of

text: Cuban

text: rappers

text: They

text: do

text: n't

text: belong

text: the

text: CRA

text: and

text: nor

text: do

text: they

text: want

text: to

text: They

text: are

text: defiantly

text: underground

text: and

text: outspoken

text: Hip

text: hop

text: is

text: an

text: art

text: form

text: speaks

text: the

text: truth

text: about

text: how

text: people

text: are

text: living

text: says

text: Aldo

text: Rodriguez

text: one

text: half

text: of

text: Los

text: Aldeanos

text: Their

text: track

text: NiÃ±ito

text: Cubano

text: is

text: about

text: a

text: young

text: boy

text: growing

text: up

text: during

text: Cuba

text: 's

text: special

text: period

text: when

text: the

text: fall

text: of

text: the

text: Soviet

text: Union

text: brought

text: hardship

text: to

text: the

text: island

text: Their

text: forthright

text: lyrics

text: about

text: life

text: in

text: Cuba

text: do

text: n't

text: make

text: them

text: any

text: friends

text: among

text: Cuba

text: 's

text: authorities

text: and

text: that

text: limits

text: their

text: opportunities

text: on

text: the

text: island

text: Our

text: lyrics

text: do

text: n't

text: always

text: go

text: with

text: the

text: standard

text: Cuban

text: rhetoric

text: and

text: often

text: that

text: wo

text: n't

text: get

text: airplay

text: says

text: Rodriguez

text: I

text: can

text: be

text: famous

text: in

text: other

text: countries

text: but

text: here

text: they

text: wo

text: n't

text: let

text: me

text: play

text: a

text: concert

text: in

text: a

text: theater

text: Listen

text: to

text: Doble

text: Filo

text: and

text: Los

text: Aldeanos

text: here

text: Â

text: Doble

text: Filo

text: 's

text: Saenz

text: has

text: performed

text: the

text: U.S.

text: with

text: fellow

text: Cubans

text: Obsesion

text: a

text: tour

text: that

text: included

text: playing

text: on

text: the

text: same

text: bill

text: as

text: U.S.

text: rap

text: stars

text: Kanye

text: West

text: and

text: The

text: Roots

text: He

text: says

text: that

text: where

text: his

text: generation

text: of

text: rappers

text: was

text: forced

text: to

text: limit

text: the

text: way

text: it

text: talked

text: about

text: the

text: realities

text: of

text: daily

text: life

text: the

text: new

text: generation

text: is

text: bolder

text: with

text: its

text: lyrics

text: Bian

text: Rodriguez

text: also

text: known

text: as

text: El

text: B

text: the

text: other

text: member

text: of

text: Los

text: Aldeanos

text: says

text: hip

text: hop

text: gives

text: voice

text: to

text: the

text: concerns

text: of

text: ordinary

text: Cubans

text: People

text: tell

text: me

text: they

text: need

text: this

text: music

text: not

text: just

text: because

text: they

text: can

text: identify

text: with

text: what

text: we

text: are

text: saying

text: but

text: because

text: they

text: feel

text: that

text: maybe

text: we

text: can

text: say

text: things

text: they

text: might

text: be

text: afraid

text: to

text: say

text: publicly

text: he

text: told

text: CNN

text: Like

text: most

text: other

text: Cuban

text: rap

text: groups

text: Los

text: Aldeanos

text: are

text: n't

text: yet

text: in

text: a

text: position

text: to

text: make

text: a

text: living

text: from

text: their

text: music

text: El

text: B

text: has

text: won

text: Cuba

text: 's

text: Red

text: Bull

text: freestyle

text: rapping

text: championship

text: three

text: years

text: in

text: a

text: row

text: but

text: he

text: still

text: has

text: a

text: day

text: job

text: as

text: a

text: primary

text: school

text: teacher

text: A

text: lack

text: of

text: funds

text: and

text: equipment

text: means

text: the

text: island

text: 's

text: hip

text: hop

text: producers

text: have

text: to

text: use

text: a

text: certain

text: amount

text: of

text: ingenuity

text: when

text: it

text: comes

text: to

text: recording

text: their

text: music

text: Doble

text: Filo

text: 's

text: producer

text: Edgaro

text: explains

text: that

text: in

text: the

text: group

text: 's

text: early

text: days

text: he

text: would

text: make

text: tracks

text: by

text: looping

text: the

text: last

text: few

text: bars

text: of

text: songs

text: on

text: cassette

text: tapes

text: These

text: days

text: Edgaro

text: produces

text: songs

text: on

text: his

text: PC

text: but

text: the

text: software

text: is

text: pirated

text: from

text: copies

text: brought

text: into

text: the

text: country

text: and

text: circulated

text: on

text: the

text: streets

text: It

text: simply

text: is

text: n't

text: available

text: in

text: the

text: stores

text: More

text: about

text: Cuba

text: 's

text: arts

text: Carlos

text: Acosta

text: takes

text: CNN

text: on

text: a

text: tour

text: of

text: Havana

text: Â

text: As

text: the

text: scene

text: develops

text: the

text: groups

text: are

text: getting

text: more

text: ambitious

text: Doble

text: Filo

text: are

text: now

text: incorporating

text: live

text: musicians

text: into

text: their

text: sound

text: weaving

text: in

text: elements

text: of

text: traditional

text: Cuban

text: music

text: and

text: they

text: are

text: set

text: to

text: release

text: their

text: debut

text: album

text: Despierta

text: Wake

text: up

text: through

text: Emetrece

text: Productions

text: Emetrece

text: is

text: run

text: by

text: Melisa

text: Riviere

text: a

text: Ph.D.

text: candidate

text: in

text: the

text: Anthropology

text: Department

text: at

text: the

text: University

text: of

text: Minnesota

text: More

text: than

text: just

text: promoting

text: good

text: music

text: she

text: says

text: Emetrece

text: is

text: trying

text: to

text: educate

text: and

text: to

text: challenge

text: the

text: U.S.

text: embargo

text: on

text: Cuba

text: Like

text: Cuba

text: 's

text: rappers

text: she

text: sees

text: hip

text: hop

text: as

text: a

text: tool

text: for

text: social

text: change

text: As

text: El

text: B

text: puts

text: it

text: I

text: think

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: things

text: people

text: take

text: from

text: the

text: music

text: is

text: the

text: idea

text: that

text: we

text: can

text: do

text: anything

text: we

text: can

text: change

text: anything

text: we

text: can

text: be

text: anything

text: we

text: want

question: What is Cuba's homegrown rap scene known for?

answer: their lyrics address social issues

text: their lyrics address social issues

question: what lets them talk about issues ordinary Cubans cannot?

answer: hip hop

text: hip hop

question: Which rap groups speak out about life in Cuba?

answer: "Doble Filo"

text: "Doble Filo"

question: what does hip hop allow them to do what ordinary Cubans can't

answer: embrace social issues.

text: embrace social issues.

question: What did they say hip hop allows them to do?

answer: embrace social issues.

text: embrace social issues.

question: what do Rap groups speak out about

answer: how people are living,"

text: how people are living,"

question: "Doble Filo" and "Los Aldeanos" speak out about life in?

answer: Cuba.

text: Cuba.


text:
(CNN) -- Former President Alfonso Portillo of Guatemala faces money-laundering charges in the United States, according to a federal indictment unsealed Monday.

The indictment charges Portillo with embezzling tens of millions of dollars in public funds, "a portion of which he then laundered through bank accounts located, among other places, in the United States and Europe," the indictment says.

A grand jury indicted Portillo in U.S. District Court in New York.

Portillo engineered an embezzlement with co-conspirators that occurred from about 2000 through about 2003, the indictment says. Prosecutors allege the money-laundering took place through at least 2006.

Portillo was the president of Guatemala from 2000 to 2004.

Authorities in Guatemala started searching for him after the United States requested his extradition, a spokesman for the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala told CNN en EspaÃ±ol on Sunday.

They executed search warrants in four locations but had not found him as of Sunday night, officials said.

Portillo came into power promising to clean up corruption, but found his own government mired in the same accusations as his predecessors.

According to the indictment, in one instance in 2000, Portillo funneled $1.5 million worth of donations for a literacy project from Taiwan into accounts in Europe controlled by his ex-wife and daughter.

In that case, the indictment alleges, Portillo endorsed three $500,000 checks destined for a program to purchase books for libraries, but diverted the funds into a bank in Miami, Florida. That money was eventually laundered into his family's accounts in Europe, the court document states.

In short, "this money was diverted, in a series of transactions and transfers designed to conceal the sources and origin of the funds," the indictment states.

There was a second instance where Portillo allegedly embezzled money given to Guatemala by the Taiwanese, according to the document.

In addition, Portillo is accused of embezzling money from his defense ministry in 2001. With the help of others, Portillo made large cash transactions that ended up in accounts belonging to him and his co-conspirators, the document says.

Some of the money that Portillo took went to buy expensive watches and cars, the indictment says.

text: CNN

text: Former

text: President

text: Alfonso

text: Portillo

text: of

text: Guatemala

text: faces

text: money

text: laundering

text: charges

text: in

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: according

text: to

text: a

text: federal

text: indictment

text: unsealed

text: Monday

text: The

text: indictment

text: charges

text: Portillo

text: with

text: embezzling

text: tens

text: of

text: millions

text: of

text: dollars

text: in

text: public

text: funds

text: a

text: portion

text: of

text: which

text: he

text: then

text: laundered

text: through

text: bank

text: accounts

text: located

text: among

text: other

text: places

text: in

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: and

text: Europe

text: the

text: indictment

text: says

text: A

text: grand

text: jury

text: indicted

text: Portillo

text: in

text: U.S.

text: District

text: Court

text: in

text: New

text: York

text: Portillo

text: engineered

text: an

text: embezzlement

text: with

text: co

text: conspirators

text: that

text: occurred

text: from

text: about

text: through

text: about

text: the

text: indictment

text: says

text: Prosecutors

text: allege

text: the

text: money

text: laundering

text: took

text: place

text: through

text: at

text: least

text: Portillo

text: was

text: the

text: president

text: of

text: Guatemala

text: from

text: to

text: Authorities

text: in

text: Guatemala

text: started

text: searching

text: for

text: him

text: after

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: requested

text: his

text: extradition

text: a

text: spokesman

text: for

text: the

text: International

text: Commission

text: against

text: Impunity

text: in

text: Guatemala

text: told

text: CNN

text: en

text: EspaÃ±ol

text: on

text: Sunday

text: They

text: executed

text: search

text: warrants

text: in

text: four

text: locations

text: but

text: had

text: not

text: found

text: him

text: as

text: of

text: Sunday

text: night

text: officials

text: said

text: Portillo

text: came

text: into

text: power

text: promising

text: to

text: clean

text: up

text: corruption

text: but

text: found

text: his

text: own

text: government

text: mired

text: in

text: the

text: same

text: accusations

text: as

text: his

text: predecessors

text: According

text: to

text: the

text: indictment

text: in

text: one

text: instance

text: in

text: Portillo

text: funneled

text: million

text: worth

text: of

text: donations

text: for

text: a

text: literacy

text: project

text: from

text: Taiwan

text: into

text: accounts

text: in

text: Europe

text: controlled

text: by

text: his

text: ex

text: wife

text: and

text: daughter

text: In

text: that

text: case

text: the

text: indictment

text: alleges

text: Portillo

text: endorsed

text: three

text: checks

text: destined

text: for

text: a

text: program

text: to

text: purchase

text: books

text: for

text: libraries

text: but

text: diverted

text: the

text: funds

text: into

text: a

text: bank

text: in

text: Miami

text: Florida

text: That

text: money

text: was

text: eventually

text: laundered

text: into

text: his

text: family

text: 's

text: accounts

text: in

text: Europe

text: the

text: court

text: document

text: states

text: In

text: short

text: this

text: money

text: was

text: diverted

text: in

text: a

text: series

text: of

text: transactions

text: and

text: transfers

text: designed

text: to

text: conceal

text: the

text: sources

text: and

text: origin

text: of

text: the

text: funds

text: the

text: indictment

text: states

text: There

text: was

text: a

text: second

text: instance

text: where

text: Portillo

text: allegedly

text: embezzled

text: money

text: given

text: to

text: Guatemala

text: by

text: the

text: Taiwanese

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: document

text: In

text: addition

text: Portillo

text: is

text: accused

text: of

text: embezzling

text: money

text: from

text: his

text: defense

text: ministry

text: in

text: With

text: the

text: help

text: of

text: others

text: Portillo

text: made

text: large

text: cash

text: transactions

text: that

text: ended

text: up

text: in

text: accounts

text: belonging

text: to

text: him

text: and

text: his

text: co

text: conspirators

text: the

text: document

text: says

text: Some

text: of

text: the

text: money

text: that

text: Portillo

text: took

text: went

text: to

text: buy

text: expensive

text: watches

text: and

text: cars

text: the

text: indictment

text: says

question: what is his name?

answer: Alfonso Portillo

text: Alfonso Portillo

question: What is the name of the former Guatemalan president?

answer: Alfonso Portillo

text: Alfonso Portillo

question: who is accused in US courts?

answer: Alfonso Portillo

text: Alfonso Portillo

question: has he been found?

answer: locations but had not

text: locations but had not

question: what was the former Guatemalan president charged with?

answer: money-laundering charges

text: money-laundering charges


text:
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- George Lucas didn't get to be a billionaire by delegating.

George Lucas says he was "completely surprised" by "Star Wars in Concert."

Holding fast to his vision -- and his marketing rights -- for the "Star Wars" empire has made it the biggest franchise in history, and made Lucas one of the most powerful people in entertainment.

But while he's enthusiastic about the new touring show "Star Wars In Concert," it wasn't his idea, and when I talked with him before the first Los Angeles performance this week, he kept giving the credit to others.

"Star Wars In Concert" is built around John Williams' well-known scores from the films, performed by a symphony orchestra and choir, and accompanied by specially edited clips from all six movies, displayed on a mammoth LED screen.   Watch Lucas rave about the show Â»

Anthony Daniels, who has played and voiced the golden protocol droid "C3PO" in every film and most of the spinoffs, provides live narration -- and another reason for the "Star Wars" fans in the audience, especially those waving lightsabers and dressed as everything from sand people to Imperial stormtroopers, to cheer mightily, as they did the night I interviewed Lucas. iReporter praises the 'Force' of the show

George Lucas: I've seen some presentations of, you know, live orchestras with "Star Wars" clips, and that sort of thing. But this is so much more than that -- it's so much more emotional, because what they've done is taken the emotional content of the score ... one is obviously the Imperial March, one is obviously romantic ... and then they've cut all the pictures around that from all the movies, so that you get this really wide range of visuals going with the music, and it really is quite powerful when you see the depictions of all of the various Imperial shenanigans that were going on over the Imperial March.

CNN: Obviously, when John Williams did the music for the original film, neither of you could have guessed your association would last so long, or that you'd be so identified with each other. How did he get involved originally?

Lucas: What I did was, I was doing this space opera, and I was talking to Steve Spielberg and I said, "Look, I've got to get somebody who really knows the old-fashioned music score, I really am doing some giant romantic action adventure, you know, throwback to the '30s, and who do you know that can do that?" And he said, "Oh, there's only one person who can do that and that's John Williams -- he did 'Jaws' and he's perfect."

And I said OK, and I met him, and we hit it off, you know, perfectly, and doing the first film was such a great experience -- he's so wonderful to work with -- that, you know, I'll never let him go. And Steve won't let him go either!

CNN: How did this show come together?

Lucas: Howard! [Lucas calls over Howard Roffman, the president of Lucas Licensing.] You're the man who did the whole thing -- I've got nothing to do with it. ... We would kid him about how his concert was going and he had to get Johnny [Williams] to buy in and me to buy in.

Howard Roffman: Well, he always got it from the beginning, so he was an easy sell.

CNN: But what was it he "got"? How did you sell him on a new concept for his franchise?

Roffman: I think he understood that the music was so powerful and the images are so powerful that when you put that together with a live orchestra on a big venue, I mean, who would not be thrilled to see that?

CNN: It's a very different experience, being live.

Lucas: It's very powerful. I was completely surprised by it. And I've seen other live orchestra performances with "Star Wars" images, but nothing like this -- I mean this really works, because it was edited specifically to bring out the emotion.

text: LOS

text: ANGELES

text: California

text: CNN

text: George

text: Lucas

text: did

text: n't

text: get

text: to

text: be

text: a

text: billionaire

text: by

text: delegating

text: George

text: Lucas

text: says

text: he

text: was

text: completely

text: surprised

text: by

text: Star

text: Wars

text: in

text: Concert

text: Holding

text: fast

text: to

text: his

text: vision

text: and

text: his

text: marketing

text: rights

text: for

text: the

text: Star

text: Wars

text: empire

text: has

text: made

text: it

text: the

text: biggest

text: franchise

text: in

text: history

text: and

text: made

text: Lucas

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: most

text: powerful

text: people

text: in

text: entertainment

text: But

text: while

text: he

text: 's

text: enthusiastic

text: about

text: the

text: new

text: touring

text: show

text: Star

text: Wars

text: In

text: Concert

text: it

text: was

text: n't

text: his

text: idea

text: and

text: when

text: I

text: talked

text: with

text: him

text: before

text: the

text: first

text: Los

text: Angeles

text: performance

text: this

text: week

text: he

text: kept

text: giving

text: the

text: credit

text: to

text: others

text: Star

text: Wars

text: In

text: Concert

text: is

text: built

text: around

text: John

text: Williams

text: well

text: known

text: scores

text: from

text: the

text: films

text: performed

text: by

text: a

text: symphony

text: orchestra

text: and

text: choir

text: and

text: accompanied

text: by

text: specially

text: edited

text: clips

text: from

text: all

text: six

text: movies

text: displayed

text: on

text: a

text: mammoth

text: LED

text: screen

text: Watch

text: Lucas

text: rave

text: about

text: the

text: show

text: Â

text: Anthony

text: Daniels

text: who

text: has

text: played

text: and

text: voiced

text: the

text: golden

text: protocol

text: droid

text: in

text: every

text: film

text: and

text: most

text: of

text: the

text: spinoffs

text: provides

text: live

text: narration

text: and

text: another

text: reason

text: for

text: the

text: Star

text: Wars

text: fans

text: in

text: the

text: audience

text: especially

text: those

text: waving

text: lightsabers

text: and

text: dressed

text: as

text: everything

text: from

text: sand

text: people

text: to

text: Imperial

text: stormtroopers

text: to

text: cheer

text: mightily

text: as

text: they

text: did

text: the

text: night

text: I

text: interviewed

text: Lucas

text: iReporter

text: praises

text: the

text: Force

text: of

text: the

text: show

text: George

text: Lucas

text: I

text: 've

text: seen

text: some

text: presentations

text: of

text: you

text: know

text: live

text: orchestras

text: with

text: Star

text: Wars

text: clips

text: and

text: that

text: sort

text: of

text: thing

text: But

text: this

text: is

text: so

text: much

text: more

text: than

text: that

text: it

text: 's

text: so

text: much

text: more

text: emotional

text: because

text: what

text: they

text: 've

text: done

text: is

text: taken

text: the

text: emotional

text: content

text: of

text: the

text: score

text: one

text: is

text: obviously

text: the

text: Imperial

text: March

text: one

text: is

text: obviously

text: romantic

text: and

text: then

text: they

text: 've

text: cut

text: all

text: the

text: pictures

text: around

text: that

text: from

text: all

text: the

text: movies

text: so

text: that

text: you

text: get

text: this

text: really

text: wide

text: range

text: of

text: visuals

text: going

text: with

text: the

text: music

text: and

text: it

text: really

text: is

text: quite

text: powerful

text: when

text: you

text: see

text: the

text: depictions

text: of

text: all

text: of

text: the

text: various

text: Imperial

text: shenanigans

text: that

text: were

text: going

text: on

text: over

text: the

text: Imperial

text: March

text: CNN

text: Obviously

text: when

text: John

text: Williams

text: did

text: the

text: music

text: for

text: the

text: original

text: film

text: neither

text: of

text: you

text: could

text: have

text: guessed

text: your

text: association

text: would

text: last

text: so

text: long

text: or

text: that

text: you

text: 'd

text: be

text: so

text: identified

text: with

text: each

text: other

text: How

text: did

text: he

text: get

text: involved

text: originally

text: Lucas

text: What

text: I

text: did

text: was

text: I

text: was

text: doing

text: this

text: space

text: opera

text: and

text: I

text: was

text: talking

text: to

text: Steve

text: Spielberg

text: and

text: I

text: said

text: Look

text: I

text: 've

text: got

text: to

text: get

text: somebody

text: who

text: really

text: knows

text: the

text: old

text: fashioned

text: music

text: score

text: I

text: really

text: am

text: doing

text: some

text: giant

text: romantic

text: action

text: adventure

text: you

text: know

text: throwback

text: to

text: the

text: and

text: who

text: do

text: you

text: know

text: that

text: can

text: do

text: that

text: And

text: he

text: said

text: Oh

text: there

text: 's

text: only

text: one

text: person

text: who

text: can

text: do

text: that

text: and

text: that

text: 's

text: John

text: Williams

text: he

text: did

text: Jaws

text: and

text: he

text: 's

text: perfect

text: And

text: I

text: said

text: OK

text: and

text: I

text: met

text: him

text: and

text: we

text: hit

text: it

text: off

text: you

text: know

text: perfectly

text: and

text: doing

text: the

text: first

text: film

text: was

text: such

text: a

text: great

text: experience

text: he

text: 's

text: so

text: wonderful

text: to

text: work

text: with

text: that

text: you

text: know

text: I

text: 'll

text: never

text: let

text: him

text: go

text: And

text: Steve

text: wo

text: n't

text: let

text: him

text: go

text: either

text: CNN

text: How

text: did

text: this

text: show

text: come

text: together

text: Lucas

text: Howard

text: Lucas

text: calls

text: over

text: Howard

text: Roffman

text: the

text: president

text: of

text: Lucas

text: Licensing

text: You

text: 're

text: the

text: man

text: who

text: did

text: the

text: whole

text: thing

text: I

text: 've

text: got

text: nothing

text: to

text: do

text: with

text: it

text: We

text: would

text: kid

text: him

text: about

text: how

text: his

text: concert

text: was

text: going

text: and

text: he

text: had

text: to

text: get

text: Johnny

text: Williams

text: to

text: buy

text: in

text: and

text: me

text: to

text: buy

text: in

text: Howard

text: Roffman

text: Well

text: he

text: always

text: got

text: it

text: from

text: the

text: beginning

text: so

text: he

text: was

text: an

text: easy

text: sell

text: CNN

text: But

text: what

text: was

text: it

text: he

text: got

text: How

text: did

text: you

text: sell

text: him

text: on

text: a

text: new

text: concept

text: for

text: his

text: franchise

text: Roffman

text: I

text: think

text: he

text: understood

text: that

text: the

text: music

text: was

text: so

text: powerful

text: and

text: the

text: images

text: are

text: so

text: powerful

text: that

text: when

text: you

text: put

text: that

text: together

text: with

text: a

text: live

text: orchestra

text: on

text: a

text: big

text: venue

text: I

text: mean

text: who

text: would

text: not

text: be

text: thrilled

text: to

text: see

text: that

text: CNN

text: It

text: 's

text: a

text: very

text: different

text: experience

text: being

text: live

text: Lucas

text: It

text: 's

text: very

text: powerful

text: I

text: was

text: completely

text: surprised

text: by

text: it

text: And

text: I

text: 've

text: seen

text: other

text: live

text: orchestra

text: performances

text: with

text: Star

text: Wars

text: images

text: but

text: nothing

text: like

text: this

text: I

text: mean

text: this

text: really

text: works

text: because

text: it

text: was

text: edited

text: specifically

text: to

text: bring

text: out

text: the

text: emotion

question: Who supported the idea of the concert?

answer: George

text: George

question: Whose music will be featured in Star Wars in Concert?

answer: John Williams'

text: John Williams'

question: What is a successful franchise?

answer: "Star Wars"

text: "Star Wars"

question: What did Lucas have to say about it all?

answer: "completely surprised"

text: "completely surprised"


text:
(CNN) -- It will take NATO-led military forces "another 25 to 30 days to secure that which needs to be secured" in Afghanistan's Helmand province, and a further three months after that to be sure insurgents are being kept out of the area, British Maj. Gen. Nick Carter said Thursday.

But Operation Moshtarak has reached "the end of the beginning," he said in a briefing from Afghanistan broadcast by the Pentagon Channel. "The insurgent was entirely dislocated within 24 hours" of the insertion of troops by helicopter, he said.

The Nad Ali district is "broadly secure," he said, but there is still Taliban resistance in Marjah.

"It will be some days before we can be completely confident that Marjah is secure," he said.

Ten civilians were killed on the second day of the operation, he said. Reports at the time said 12 were killed.

More coverage on Afghanistan Crossroads blog

text: CNN

text: It

text: will

text: take

text: NATO

text: led

text: military

text: forces

text: another

text: to

text: days

text: to

text: secure

text: that

text: which

text: needs

text: to

text: be

text: secured

text: in

text: Afghanistan

text: 's

text: Helmand

text: province

text: and

text: a

text: further

text: three

text: months

text: after

text: that

text: to

text: be

text: sure

text: insurgents

text: are

text: being

text: kept

text: out

text: of

text: the

text: area

text: British

text: Maj

text: Gen.

text: Nick

text: Carter

text: said

text: Thursday

text: But

text: Operation

text: Moshtarak

text: has

text: reached

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: the

text: beginning

text: he

text: said

text: in

text: a

text: briefing

text: from

text: Afghanistan

text: broadcast

text: by

text: the

text: Pentagon

text: Channel

text: The

text: insurgent

text: was

text: entirely

text: dislocated

text: within

text: hours

text: of

text: the

text: insertion

text: of

text: troops

text: by

text: helicopter

text: he

text: said

text: The

text: Nad

text: Ali

text: district

text: is

text: broadly

text: secure

text: he

text: said

text: but

text: there

text: is

text: still

text: Taliban

text: resistance

text: in

text: Marjah

text: It

text: will

text: be

text: some

text: days

text: before

text: we

text: can

text: be

text: completely

text: confident

text: that

text: Marjah

text: is

text: secure

text: he

text: said

text: Ten

text: civilians

text: were

text: killed

text: on

text: the

text: second

text: day

text: of

text: the

text: operation

text: he

text: said

text: Reports

text: at

text: the

text: time

text: said

text: were

text: killed

text: More

text: coverage

text: on

text: Afghanistan

text: Crossroads

text: blog

question: how much need wait to be sure?

answer: a further three months

text: a further three months

question: What has  Afghan offensive reached?

answer: "the end of the beginning,"

text: "the end of the beginning,"

question: How many days do NATO troops need to secure areas in Helmand province?

answer: 30

question: What the Afghan offensive reached?

answer: "the end of the beginning,"

text: "the end of the beginning,"

question: What do they need three more months for?

answer: to be sure insurgents are being kept out of the area,

text: to be sure insurgents are being kept out of the area,

question: How long will it take to be sure insurgents stay out ?

answer: "another 25 to 30 days

text: "another 25 to 30 days