"The material," he said, and Silence handed him the square of plastic, not sure if that was what he wanted.

"This is your first assignment," said R, making a sweeping gesture that took in all the material on the desk.

The materials and labor for the house, Mr. Lewis said, cost about $130,000.

But the biographical material also says that at some point he returned to Afghanistan.

"The oversized new material, that was revolution," Brody said by phone last week.

His promotional materials say students have seen annual incomes soar by an average of 80 percent during the program's two years.

The material says that condoms, if used correctly, reduce the risk of infection but provide nothing like complete protection.

The promotional materials say: "Come be a part of the history of this landmark."

The promotional material even says it can create "instant ambiance anywhere."

That's what the material we'd been given said to me.