ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Nella Larsen was an American novelist of the 20 th century whose works have always amazed the readers with their high quality and modernity. Throughout her career as a writer she created two novels and several short stories. Of these works, “Passing” is one of her novels that attracted the audience’s special attention due to its touching upon the topic which will always be urgent- the racism. “Passing” presents a race-based conflict of two characters, Irene Renfield and Clare Kendry who both are women of mixed race; this being their only similarity, Irene can be considered a stronger character, while Clare is more submissive due to her agreeing to “pass” as a white woman. What should be mentioned above all is that Irene’s character is originally stronger than that of Clare’s. The author lets the readers know about this indirectly by stating that Irene was “a year or more older than Clare” (10). In addition, telling the story from Irene’s perspective makes this character more important. Irene’s character is contradictory by its nature and her values and beliefs change throughout the story. On the one hand, she does not hide her being black, like Clare does, and even marries a black man; on the other hand, however, she expresses certain racism towards white people, for instance, by criticizing Clare’s desire to be among white people. To be more exact, she is being judgmental about her denying her race and, what is even more disgracing from her point of view, letting to be controlled by a white man who does not value her sufficiently. Irene’s personality is absolutely opposite to Clare’s; this becomes especially clear when she opens Clare’s letter to her, a letter in the “long envelope of thin Italian paper … Foreign paper of extraordinary size” (9) in which Clare expresses her desire to see Irene again. Irene’s implacable refusal to do so shows resoluteness of her character. Therefore, Irene is a strong and determined character for who self-respect and personal values are the most important. As far as Clare’s character is concerned, it seems to be more submissive, though at this Clare’s personality is not weak. From the beginning of the story Larsen does not present Clare as a positive character, though she tries to soften her negative features to some extent: “She was selfish, and cold, and hard. And yet she had, too, a strange capacity of transforming warmth into passion, verging sometimes almost on theatrical heroics” (10). Since most of Clare’s characteristics are given by Irene, they can hardly be regarded as objective due to the fact that Irene often expresses her resentment and dissatisfaction with Clare and the way she chose to live her life. Nevertheless, this gives a perfect idea of how contrasting these two characters are and which attitude Irene has towards Clare (basing on the deeds of the latter): “Catlike. Certainly that was the word which best described Clare, if any single word could describe her” (10). The idea that Clare is a submis
Social networking Social networking has changed the way people communicate and interact. Studies have established that social networking has improved the efficiency of communication because all that one needs is internet enabled devices such as a phone or computer. Some of the commonly used social networking sites include Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Instagram, and Google Drive, among others. Social networking has given people a chance to make friends from various parts of the world, share information, as well as develop discussions about various issues. Experts argue that social networking has compelled people to be more open with their personal information. This has been attributed to the fact that on social networking sites, people do not need to meet physically to communicate. The concept of privacy Although social networking has impacted positively on people’s lives, experts believe that it compromises their privacy. The ability of users of social networking sites to share details of their lives through status updates and posting photos often compromises their privacy. Most critics of social networking sites believe that people cannot consider anything posted online as private. Over the years, some people have gone to the extent of losing their jobs because of the information they share on social networking sites. The fact that people can use vague names to create their social networking profiles further complicates this issue. Many people complain about cyber crimes such as bullying, money laundering, and impersonation. Such crimes are usually directed towards naive users who do not mind sharing their information with strangers. Diminishing privacy Studies have established that since the invention of the internet, the privacy of the global population has diminished at a high rate. Most people have created their profiles on various social networking sites. This has made it easier for others to see personal information such as education level, marital status, hometown, learning institutions attended, as well as the date of birth and hobbies, among others. With social networking sites, there is no need to meet up with someone to know them.
There are many environmental concerns faced by human race. These concerns are defined as the environmental problems that directly or indirectly affect human beings. There is need therefore to work on these environmental problems with an aim of reducing their impacts. Climate change is one of the major concern facing human beings globally. Ozone layer depletion and loss of biodiversity have also negatively affected human race thus calling for strategies to combat these environmental issues. Other environmental concerns are in reverence to land degradation, pollution among others. The following discussion is inclusive of the first three concerns. Ozone layer depletion occurring at the stratosphere which contains the ozone gas, has led to direct ultra-violet rays reaching the earth surface. Oxygen molecules present in the stratosphere absorbs ultraviolet waves which are harmful. The depletion of ozone layer occurs when the gas is broken down by increased chlorine compounds in the atmosphere which are man-made and also the bromine compounds. The direct reach of ultraviolet (UV) rays to human beings has increased diseases such skin cancer and eye problems. There has also been an increase in infectious diseases. Ultra violet rays also causes drying up plants which are the major primary source of food to humans (Díez & Dwivedi, 2008). UV rays affect the aquatic life such as fish which are also source of food to human beings. Climate change is the change in temperatures either by increase or decrease. The increase of temperature which has led to global warming is the major concern facing human beings on climate change. Anthropogenic activities are however the major cause of climate change on global warming out of increased deforestation by the increasing population, increased release of fossil fuel and the green house gases such as chlorofluorocarbons which increases green house effect. The further implications to human beings is the increase in sea levels wh
Globalism refers to the participation of countries or states in international affairs such as trade, science, and business. Countries participate in international alliances such as peace and trade agreements. Globalism is a concept that puts the interests of the world before the interests of individual nations. It has several advantages and disadvantages. Globalism has stimulated economic development in countries that have embraced it. However, it has affected the economies of developed countries. For example, it has led to loss of jobs and business opportunities in developed countries. Globalism explains the inter-connections and patterns that exist among countries in the modern world. It affects nations from social, economic, and environmental dimensions. One advantage of globalism is movement of ideas and knowledge from one country to another. An example is diffusion of scientific knowledge between nations. For example, due to globalism, many nations have successfully eradicated diseases such as polio and Small pox because of access to scientific knowledge. These countries manufacture drugs that cure those illnesses. Professionals from developed countries carry scientific knowledge to developing countries and as such contribute towards scientific development. On the other hand, people carry new cultures and lifestyles to other countries and thus bring change. For example, different religious beliefs are spread throughout the world because of globalism. Despite the benefits, globalism has drawbacks too. These include loss of jobs, deterioration of infrastructure, and transfer wealth, which have resulted in high rates of unemployment. The United States has lost its sovereignty as the most powerful economy in the world. Due to globalism, the U.S. has relinquished some of its economic powers to organizations such as World Trade Organization, World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. The economy has also suffered due to international alliances such as “the free trade agreement.” Globalism has led to mergers between the U.S. and other states that do not have a minimum wage limit. As a result, many Americans have lost jobs because workers in other countries are willing to work for very low wages. This has led to high rates of unemployment that have created a global labor pool in which workers who work for low wages are favored and get jobs more readily. Availability of jobs has improved the living standards of workers in foreign countries and worsened the living standards of American workers who cannot compete effectively. American corporations have also turned to cheap labor from foreign countries thus denying many Americans jobs. International industries have dominated in many areas and surpassed the U.S. Globalism has led to deterioration of the sovereignty of the U.S. as an economic superpower. Modernity has many benefits because it promotes equity amon
Description of Career Choice Different people pursue different careers in their lives. While some pursue certain careers in order to earn money and fame, others focus on careers that give them satisfaction. This is because being in a fulfilling career is more important than being in a different career because of money, regardless of whether there is fulfilment or not. I have chosen to become a mathematics teacher, and this is the career I would like to pursue. Teaching is the best career for me because it would give me an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students by assisting them to achieve their goals in life. A teacher basically assists students in learning and understanding different concepts in a subject. Since mathematics is a difficult subject to many students, my aim would be to help them to apply concepts that they learn in order to perform well in their examinations. A mathematics teacher is required to report to school every day and interact with students in their classes. Since mathematics is a core subject that every student should study, it is taught everyday, unlike other subjects that are not taught every day. As a mathematics teacher, I would be spending some time outside the classroom to assist students who need help in different topics. My career as a teacher would, therefore involve assisting students on a daily basis for them to perform well and pursue their goals in life. Reasons behind the Career Choice There are various reasons that have compelled me to choose teaching as the career that I would like to pursue. The first reason is that I have a passion for teaching. A teacher is responsible for transforming the lives of young people. Teachers play an important role in ensuring that students identify their strengths and weaknesses in order to pursue the right careers in life. Before individuals achieve their short- term and long- term goals in life, they must pass through the hands of teachers. Great people in the world among them presidents, famous scholars and many other professionals achieve their goals in life because of teachers. The fulfilment of teachers is to see students prosper and achieve great things in their lives. This is the fulfilment I would like to achieve as a mathematics teacher. The second reason why I have chosen teaching as my preferred career is that it is flexible. Teachers have flexible working hours, and this gives them an opportunity to relax and do important things that contribute to their well-being. This is usually not possible in other careers, which require people to work for long hours and even during the weekends. As a result, I would be able to teach and get involved in social and personal activities. Educational Requirements for the Career Different careers have specific educational qualifications that individuals must attain in order to work effectively. For one to become a mathematics teacher, the basic requirement is a bachelor’s degree, with mathematics as one of the teaching subjects studied. A qualified
Introduction Outsourcing is the process of seeking services from other external firms and is aimed at improving quality and efficiency, reducing cost, and taking advantage of new technology. At times it is cheaper to buy goods, and source services from businesses with comparative advantages (Bajec & Jakomin, 2010, pp. 285-291). This is due to high expertise as well as knowledge of operations exhibited by the company providing the services. However, a company needs to consider the benefits of buying over those of making. Outsourcing is characterized by merits such as reduced operating costs, better business focus, resource concentration to other functions, as well as reduced risks (Işıklar, Alptekin, & Büyüközkan, 2007, pp. 3701-3714). Decisions concerning outsourcing important operations are crucial to an organization because they affect the firm’s production methods, working capital, and competitiveness. Factors considered on a ‘buy-make’ decision Management accountants may find that some operations need to be outsourced to reap the benefits as well as utilize spare capacity more profitably. Factors that lead to a decision on whether to buy or make include:  1. The implication of outsourcing for the attainment of strategic goals: The decision to make or buy influences the company’s achievement of long-term objectives. In this view, it is important to consider the impact the decision will have on the organization’s structure in addition to strategies.  2. Business capabilities: These give the aspect of competitive advantage over other firms in the same industry. The decision-maker should assess how the choice will affect the company’s growth, development, as well as quality assurance. Manufacturing abilities and innovative technology are important in the process. Hence, a company well versed with these skills will opt to make instead of buying to utilize its own capacities (Jain & Natarajan, 2011, pp. 294-322).  3. Goal consideration: This is the determination of the reasons behind the company’s wish to outsource. The company needs to highlight the goals it wishes to accomplish from the decision in order to critically analyze the available choices and make the best decision.  4. Cost consideration: This is meant to give a detailed analysis of the monetary benefits that would accrue to the company for either deciding to make or buy. In this analysis, the management accountant needs to estimate opportunity cost foregone in each case (Holcomb & Hitt, 2007, pp. 464-481). Relevant costing is of great assistance to analyze what needs to be outsourced as well as the impact on the company’s revenues.  5. Current operations: This analysis gives a clear motive as to the need to outsource or continue operating as a present. If there is a need to improve performance, then outsourcing may be of assistance to the company. Importance of
Introduction Taxation can be described as ways that governments finance their expenses by imposing charges on individuals and business organizations. Most governments across the world use taxation to encourage or discourage certain economic decisions. It can also be described as the power vested in the government, to impose charges on persons and corporations in order to raise revenue for a public purpose. Governments levy taxes for resident individuals and corporations. They also levy taxes on non residents, which involve foreign individuals and corporations. In this case, we are going to discuss types of taxation imposed on foreign companies in Asia (Pender, 2005). Types of taxation in Asian markets Foreign enterprises in Asian market are subjected to various types of taxation. Corporate income tax is a form of taxation, which is imposed on organizations. It is charged to companies which derive their income from production, business operations and other sources. In Asian markets, foreign countries are supposed to pay corporate income tax. For instance, in China, foreign investments enterprises incorporated under the People’s Republic of China law and regulations are subjected to corporate tax. Foreign companies not incorporated in China, but have overall management and controls in China are obliged to pay this tax. In China, the corporate income tax is charged at 25% of taxable income. Foreign companies, which are not incorporated in China, but derive incomes from sources in China are subjected to a withholding tax of 10% on gross income (Pender, 2005). In Australia, foreign enterprises are subjected to corporate income tax with a foreign tax credit. Corporate income tax in Australia is currently at 30% of the taxable income. In Hong Kong, there is no difference between residents and non residents except in rare cases such as shipping and air transport companies. Foreign companies in Hong Kong are supposed to pay 16.5% of taxable income as corporate tax. Only profits derived from Hong Kong is taxed. Incomes derived from the sale of capital assets are not taxable in Hong Kong. In India, foreign companies with a total income exceeding Rs.1, 00, 00,000 are charged 41.20% of total income. In Indonesia, foreign enterprises are subjected to reduced tax rate of 12.5% on gross revenue. In Japan, foreign companies are charged a corporate tax of 30% for companies with a capital of more than JPY 100m. Corporate income tax is charged on the net income of each accounting period. A non resident company is deemed to have tax p
Poverty is a prevalent socio-economic issue in the US and worldwide, with an estimated 40 million people, or 12.3% of the population, classified as poor in the US in 2017 (ASPE, 2020). The official definition of poverty provided by the US Department of Health and Human Services considers families and individuals that do not have sufficient resources to “experience a minimal living standard” (2020). It, therefore, follows that these people are at a high risk of material hardships, such as an inability to provide adequate food and shelter for themselves and their dependents. However, it also means that they are likely to experience mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse (Walker et al., 2017). These issues are even more prevalent for poor and/or homeless single mothers, like in this scenario (Lu et al., 2019). Hence, it would be unethical to report the woman’s improved conditions – getting a job. Furthermore, simply because she is slightly above the requirement for subsidized housing does not give her a significant advantage, especially with three small children. To help prevent homelessness for the woman in question and her children, I think it would be essential to provide mental support for her not to turn to alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism. Furthermore, it would be crucial to educate her on her options to help her maintain a stable address if she gets evicted – such as shelters. This would allow her to receive the benefits she is entitled to, which would help her eventually get back on her feet. Furthermore, although this might be the last resort, it could be helpful to voluntarily allow the authorities to place her children in foster care until the mother can provide for them.
Introduction Edgar Poe’s The Murders in the Rue Morgue was first published in 1841 in Graham’s Magazine where Poe worked as an editor at the time and has widely been accredited as being the pioneering detective story in works of fiction. The story is centered on the solving of a crime involving the murder of a lady and her daughter in a fictional street in Paris called the Rue Morgue. The story is considered to have set the stage for future fictional detective stories and with them came other fictitious detective characters. Murders in the Rue Morgue the Story The “Murders in the Rue Morgue” is a story about the murders of Madame L’Espanaye and the daughter which took place at their home. What was baffling about the women’s murders is that there seemed to be no evidence regarding who committed them and the escape route since according to all the preliminary evidence and witness accounts, the room in which the daughter was found was locked from the inside and all possible escape routes such as windows and doors were shut or inaccessible. Madame L’Espanaye’s throat was badly cut so much so that the head fell off when those who found her tried to lift her from the ground. Her daughter on the other hand had been strangled and then stuffed in the chimney of the room in which she was found. The neighbors who heard the scuffle that ensued and went to the ladies house gave evidence to the police, and in as much as most of them agree on a great extent to the events of the day, they also give conflicting views regarding the voices they heard as they approached the room where the murders were committed, which was on the fourth floor of the ladies house. They all agree that they heard two voices, one of which they agreed was a Frenchman’s but they could not agree on the second, with each giving a different nationality from where they suspect the person originated from (Poe 122-124). Despite the obvious lack of evidence, a man named Le Bon was arrested for the murders. An unqualified detective by the name of Dupin, a friend of the narrator, became interested in the events of the murders and set out to find a solution. His drive may have been the fact that Le Bon had done him favor before for which he was grateful, besides the fact that the case generally interested him (Poe, Griswold, Willis & Lowell 194). He sought permission and was allowed to visit the crime scene and examine it, after which he sat down with his friend the narra