Question: The company originated in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) through the consolidation of The Tabulating Machine Company, the International Time Recording Company, the Computing Scale Company and the Bundy Manufacturing Company. CTR was renamed "International Business Machines" in 1924, a name which Thomas J. Watson first used for a CTR Canadian subsidiary. The initialism IBM followed. Securities analysts nicknamed the company Big Blue for its size and common use of the color in products, packaging and its logo. 

In 2012, Fortune ranked IBM the second largest U.S. firm in terms of number of employees (435,000 worldwide), the fourth largest in terms of market capitalization, the ninth most profitable, and the nineteenth largest firm in terms of revenue. Globally, the company was ranked the 31st largest in terms of revenue by Forbes for 2011. Other rankings for 2011/2012 include №1 company for leaders (Fortune), №1 green company in the United States (Newsweek), №2 best global brand (Interbrand), №2 most respected company (Barron's), №5 most admired company (Fortune), and №18 most innovative company (Fast Company). 1. How many people work for IBM?
2. Is that just in the US?
3. Where do they work?
4. What is their ranking among American employers?
5. According to whom?
6. When was this announced?
7. When did the business start?
8. What was it named then?
9. What was it lated called?
10. When was the name change?
11. Who was the first to call it by that name?
12. What was its nickname?
13. What was it also called?
14. Why?
15. What was its ranking for leadership?
16. What about innovation?
17. Did it get a high ranking for green energy?
18. By whom?
19. What was it ranked?
20. Who ranked it second in branding? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. 435,000
2. no
3. worldwide
4. second largest
5. Fortune
6. In 2012
7. 1911
8. Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company
9. International Business Machines
10. in 1924
11. Thomas J. Watson
12. IBM
13. Big Blue
14. for its size and common use of the color
15. №1
16. №18
17. yes
18. Newsweek
19. №1
20. Interbrand


Question: CHAPTER XI IN COMMAND OF A GALLEY 

William Neave, the governor of the prison, looked astonished indeed when, upon his opening the door, the grand master and the bailiff of the English langue, with the twelve knights behind them, entered. He had been puzzled when, four days before, he had received an order from the grand master that Ahmet, a servitor in the auberge of the English langue, should be permitted to pass the night in his house, with authority to move freely and without question, at any hour, in the courtyard of the gaol, and to depart at any hour, secretly and without observation, by the private gate. Still more had he been surprised when he received the message that the grand master would pay him a secret visit at eleven o'clock at night. 

"Let no word be spoken until we are in your apartments," D'Aubusson said in a low voice, as he entered. "But first lead four of these knights and post them so that none can enter the gaol from the house. If there are more than four doors or windows on that side, you must post a larger number. It is imperative that there shall be no communication whatever between your servants and the gaol." 

As soon as this was done, the rest of the party were taken to the governor's rooms. 

"I can now explain to you all," the grand master said, "the reason of our presence here. I have learned that at twelve tonight there will be a general rising of the slaves in this prison, and that, aided by treachery, they will free themselves from their fetters, overpower and slay such of the guards in their rooms as have not been bribed, throw open the gates, make their way down to the port, burn all the shipping there, and make off in the six galleys manned by them, having first overpowered the sentries in the three forts commanding the entrance, and spiked the guns."  1. who got a message that he would be visited by the grand master?
2. where did he work?
3. was he the governor there?
4. what he shocked when he opened his door?
5. how many days before that did he receive an order?
6. when was the grand master suppose to visit him?
7. what is his name?
8. did he tell neave to post four knights?
9. who was given authority to move around as they wished?
10. was he the bailiff?
11. what gate was he suppose to use?
12. who was going to start a riot in the prison?
13. were some of the guards bribed?
14. what would they burn at the port?
15. how would they leave?
16. were they going get by the sentries? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. William Neave
2. at the prison
3. yes
4. the grand master and the bailiff of the English langue, with the twelve knights behind them
5. four
6. eleven o'clock at night
7. D'Aubusson
8. yes
9. Ahmet
10. yes
11. the private gate
12. the slaves in this prison
13. no
14. all the shipping there
15. and make off in the six galleys manned by the shipping port
16. yes


Question: BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The trial of an Iraqi journalist charged with throwing his shoes at U.S. President George Bush has been postponed, Iraq's Council of Ministers and one of the journalist's lawyers said Tuesday. 

Amman protesters support Muntazer al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist held for throwing his shoes at President Bush. 

Muntadhir Al-Zaidi was due to go on trial Wednesday, but the Criminal Court postponed it pending an appeal filed by his lawyers with the Federal Court of Appeal, a spokesman for the Supreme Judicial Council, Abdul Sattar Bayrakdar, said. 

Dhiya al-Saadi, who leads Al-Zaidi's 25-member legal team, confirmed the postponement. 

Al-Zaidi threw both of his shoes at Bush two weeks ago during a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad. 

Neither shoe hit the president, and others in the room quickly knocked Al-Zaidi to the ground before security officials arrested him. 

Many Iraqis hail Al-Zaidi, who faces a prison term if convicted, as a hero. More than 1,000 lawyers have volunteered to defend him, al-Saadi said. 

The lawyers' appeal asked the Federal Court to change Al-Zaidi's case from assaulting Bush to insulting him. If Al-Zaidi is convicted of the former, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, al-Saadi said. 

The lawyers are trying to persuade the appeals court that Al-Zaidi did not want to harm Bush by throwing the shoes, but simply wanted to insult him. By tradition, throwing a shoe is the most insulting act in the Arab world. 

Al-Saadi said he met with his client several days ago but was having difficulty meeting with him again. He did not give the reason he was not allowed to see Al-Zaidi but said many lawyers have trouble meeting with detainees in Iraqi or U.S. custody.  1. Who was going to be on trial?
2. And what's his name?
3. But will he be in court on the original date?
4. Why not?
5. Who made that appeal?
6. And where'd they file it?
7. And how many legal representatives does the man have?
8. And who's leading them?
9. Is the man that was supposed to be tried in court well liked by people from his country?
10. And what do they call him?
11. And what did he do wrong in the first place?
12. When?
13. At what event?
14. In what city?
15. Was the man there touched by the foot wear?
16. And is it offensive to have those things thrown at you in that part of the world?
17. How offensive? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. an Iraqi journalist
2. Muntazer al-Zaidi
3. no
4. it is pending an appeal
5. his lawyers
6. the Federal Court of Appeal
7. unknown
8. Dhiya al-Saadi
9. yes
10. a hero
11. throwing his shoes at the president
12. two weeks ago
13. a news conference
14. Baghdad
15. no
16. yes
17. it  is the most insulting act