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question:By . Simon Murphy . Former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown received tens of thousands of pounds giving speeches at lavish conferences for AlphaMetrix, the firm now accused of misappropriating £1.7million worth of funds. Mr Brown speech earned over £60,000, including accommodation and flight costs, for three hours’ work. He gave a keynote speech in Monaco in September, weeks before court papers were filed in the US alleging the firm issued false or misleading account statements to conceal its fraud. A spokesman said the fee went to charity and towards Mr Brown's own charity and public service work. Mr Blair reportedly earned £183,000 for a speech at an AlphaMetrix event in Miami in January.Chicago-based AlphaMetrix is a commodity pool operator which acts as a middle-man for hedge-fund managers and investors. Mr Blair reportedly earned £183,000 for a speech at an AlphaMetrix event in Miami in January . It holds lavish conferences in Monaco and Miami each year that attract investors from around the world. Mr Brown's speech earned over £60,000, including accommodation and flights, for three hours' work . Mr Brown made his gala dinner speech at the Monaco event. One guest said: ‘There were easily 1,500 people there – it was very elaborate. There were four courses and champagne. 'Mr Brown’s comments had nothing to do with anything related to the event – he was just espousing his view of globalisation and how countries need to collaborate. AlphaMetrix get prestigious speakers to attract people to the event.’ Last night, Tory MP Henry Smith said: ‘Blair and Brown should do the decent thing and return the extraordinary sums they received for making speeches to this company.’ Industry regulator, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, is seeking to freeze the firm’s assets, arguing in legal papers unless it is ‘immediately restrained and enjoined by this court, AlphaMetrix is likely to continue engaging in the acts and practices alleged in this complaint’. AlphaMetrix denies the allegations. Mr Blair’s office did not respond to requests for comment, and a spokesman for Mr Brown would not comment, although he has said he does not personally benefit from the profits which go to charity and help to run his office.

answer:Former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown received substantial fees for speaking at events hosted by AlphaMetrix, a Chicago-based commodity pool operator now accused of misappropriating £1.7 million. Blair reportedly earned £183,000 for a speech at an AlphaMetrix event in Miami in January, while Brown earned over £60,000, including accommodation and flight costs, for a three-hour keynote speech in Monaco in September. The Monaco event, which attracted around 1,500 attendees, was described as lavish, featuring a four-course meal and champagne. Brown's speech focused on global collaboration and had no direct relation to the event's content. The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission has filed a lawsuit against AlphaMetrix, alleging the firm issued false or misleading account statements to conceal its fraud and seeking to freeze its assets. AlphaMetrix denies these allegations. A spokesman for Brown stated that the fees went to charity and supported his public service work, while Blair's office did not respond to requests for comment. Tory MP Henry Smith called on both former PMs to return the fees they received.

question:I'm trying to create an enchanting fantasy world with magical creatures. I want it to feel realistic and detailed. Can you help me get started?

answer:Building a fantasy world from scratch can be a thrilling adventure. To create a world that feels realistic and detailed, let's start by considering the fundamental elements that will shape your world's identity. Think about the geography, climate, and the delicate balance of nature within your world. Imagine the landscape of your world. Are there towering mountain ranges, sprawling forests, or vast oceans? Perhaps there are unique features like floating islands, mystical swamps, or iridescent waterfalls. The geography will influence the types of creatures that inhabit your world, as well as the cultures and civilizations that develop. Consider the climate, too. Are there harsh winters, scorching deserts, or regions of eternal twilight? The climate will impact the way your magical creatures adapt and evolve, and it will also shape the daily lives of your world's inhabitants. Now, let's think about the magical creatures themselves. What kind of creatures would you like to inhabit your world? Are they humanoid, like elves or dwarves, or are they more fantastical, like dragons or phoenixes? Perhaps they're creatures that blend elements of different animals, or ones that can shapeshift at will. To make your creatures feel realistic, consider their habitats, diets, and social structures. How do they interact with one another, and with the world around them? Are they fiercely territorial, or do they roam freely? Do they have their own languages, customs, and mythologies? As you begin to flesh out your world, remember that the key to making it feel realistic is to create a sense of depth and history. Think about the ancient events that shaped your world, the myths and legends that have been passed down through generations, and the cultures that have risen and fallen over time. Lastly, consider the magical forces that govern your world. Is magic a powerful, elemental force that can be wielded by certain individuals, or is it a subtle, ambient energy that permeates every aspect of life? Are there magical creatures that can manipulate the elements, or ones that can heal or harm with a touch? By answering these questions and continuing to build upon your ideas, you'll start to see your fantasy world take shape. It's a process that takes time and patience, but with dedication and imagination, you can create a world that's rich, vibrant, and full of life. What would you like to focus on next? The geography, the creatures, or perhaps the magical forces that govern your world?

question:To help get started on world-building, can you suggest a specific geographical feature? I'd like something that can serve as a focal point for my fantasy world and shape its development over time.

answer:Let me suggest a geographical feature that could serve as a fascinating focal point for your fantasy world: a massive, sprawling crystal archipelago. Imagine a collection of islands, each one a towering crystal formation that rises from the sea like a shard of glass. The crystals are infused with a gentle, ethereal light that pulses with a soft, blue-green glow, illuminating the surrounding waters and casting an otherworldly radiance across the landscape. The islands themselves are covered in lush, tropical vegetation, with vines and creepers snaking up the crystal spires and waterfalls cascading down into the sea. This crystal archipelago, which we can call the Aetherspire Isles, could be the heart of your fantasy world. The unique properties of the crystals could have a profound impact on the environment, the creatures that inhabit the islands, and the cultures that develop around them. Perhaps the crystals have a magical property that allows them to amplify and manipulate the forces of nature, making the Aetherspire Isles a hub of powerful magic. Maybe the crystals are sentient, and they communicate with the creatures that live among them, imparting ancient wisdom and guiding the course of history. The Aetherspire Isles could also be a crossroads of cultures, with different civilizations and species drawn to the islands for their magical properties, their beauty, or their strategic location. You could have pirate cities hidden among the crystal formations, ancient ruins covered in vines and moss, or sprawling metropolises built into the sides of the crystal spires. As you build your world around the Aetherspire Isles, you could explore the mythology and history of the crystals, the creatures that inhabit the islands, and the cultures that have risen and fallen over time. You could delve into the secrets of the crystals, and the mysteries that lie at the heart of the archipelago. The Aetherspire Isles offer a wealth of possibilities for world-building, from the intricate details of the crystal formations to the epic stories that unfold across the islands. What do you think? Would you like to start exploring the mythology of the crystals, the creatures that inhabit the islands, or perhaps the cultures that have developed around the Aetherspire Isles?

question:Would you like me to guide the direction from this starting point.

answer:I'd love for you to take the reins and guide the direction of your world-building from here. The Aetherspire Isles are a starting point, and now it's up to you to decide how to develop your world further. Feel free to ask me questions, pose problems or challenges you'd like to overcome, or simply share your ideas and see how I can help you build upon them. You can explore the mythology of the crystals, the geography of the surrounding lands, the cultures and creatures that inhabit the islands, or anything else that sparks your imagination. I'll respond with suggestions, ideas, and inspiration to help you flesh out your world and bring it to life. I'm here to support your creative vision and help you navigate the world-building process. So, what's your next step? Would you like to delve into the history of the Aetherspire Isles, explore the magical properties of the crystals, or introduce a new element to your world? The direction is yours to choose.