ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Between 1996 and 2015, the perception of gay marriage evolved from being a fringe concept with relatively little social acceptance and exposure to an idea that has become widely accepted and deemed as a fundamental right (Sepper 704). Initially, gay marriage was considered as being immoral, socially damaging, and against religious doctrine (Fish 32; Saad 1). In fact, social acceptance of gay marriage during the early 90s was so small that the decision of Bill Clinton (a long time supporter of gay rights) to support the Defense of Marriage Act was not surprising. His support of the act was considered to be a form of political pandering to religious and conservative groups who, at the time, held considerable sway among voters as well as Congress. However, from 1996 onwards, substantial changes have occurred in how the government and ordinary Americans viewed gay marriage (Schulman 24; Lewis 1202). For example, Justice Anthony Kennedy stated that marriage is a fundamental right of a person and, as such, if the government were to take steps to prevent it, this would be a form of discrimination that would go against the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. This helps to explain the constitutional basis behind the legalization of gay marriage, but Justice Kennedy also stated that the power and endurance of the Constitution are based on its ability to evolve along with the consciousness of the nation. Justice Kennedy, in effect, acknowledges in this statement how society in general within the U.S. has changed from its initial negative attitude towards gay marriage to one that is more accepting. Such changes are, in part, due to social activism, cases such as Obergefell versus Hodges, as well as the clearing up of misconceptions that gay marriage is socially damaging or that gay parents cannot raise kids properly. If the 1996 article “The Message From Hawaii” is any indication, the ability of gay men or women to raise children or contribute to society is not less than their heterosexual counterparts. It is due to this greater level of social acceptance as well as government support of gay marriage that Clinton changed his position in 2013 regarding his support of the Defense of Marriage Act by stating that it was done in error and was a low point in his career. Works Cited Fish, Eric. “The Road To Recognition.” Harvard International Review 27.2 (2005): 32. Lewis, Nathaniel M. “Community Cleavages: Gay And Bisexual Men’S Perceptions Of Gay And Mainstream Community Acceptance In The Post-AIDS, Post-Rights Era.” Journal Of Homosexuality 62.9 (2015): 1201-1227. Print Saad, Lydia. “Americans’ Acceptance Of Gay Relations Crosses 50% Threshold.” Gallup Poll Briefing (2010): 1. Print Schulman, Sam. “The Worst Thing About Gay Marriage.” Weekly Standard 14.35 (2009): 24. Print Sepper, Elizabeth. “Doctoring Discrimination In The Same-Sex Marriage Debates.” Indiana Law Journal 89.2 (2014): 703-762. Print Smith, Patricia, Adam Liptak, and Erik Eckholm. “Who Should Be Allowed To Marry?.” New Yor
Introduction The story ‘Where are you Going, Where have you been’ that is found in the Album of Retellings is a must-read fascinating chef-d’oeuvre that opens by presenting the picture of Connie the protagonist. Connie is a young girl of about fifteen years who is full of life. She has the drive to explore the adult part of life, which she yearns so much to get into. However, her age does not allow her. The author has strategically used characters like Connie and Arnold Friend to develop various morals like the theme of pride and irresponsibility in children. For instance, Connie’s character is indicative of irresponsible children. Irresponsibility in Children Although Connie is a likeable character in the sense that she has packaged herself in a manner that creates curiosity to the reader, she is an epitome of irresponsible children. She is likeable based on her habit of “checking other people’s faces to make sure that her own was alright” (Oates 186). However, Connie has two sides of her life that come out when she is either indoors or outdoors. When she is indoors, she talks and behaves in a manner that will get her mother’s approval by dissociating herself with any characters that she knows her mother does not approve. In fact, while June does everything in the house, “Connie cannot do a thing…her mind is filled with trashy drydreams” (Oates 186). Connie is the ‘difference line’ between her and her older sister June. She represents an outgoing modern girl who embraces fashion and modernity as it comes when compared to her sister who is remarkably conservative and boring in the way she does her things. She hates any of her mother’s advice. In fact, “she wished her mother was dead” (Oates 186). Connie’s character makes the end of the story look tragic because she is portrayed simply as a fun loving girl living her age fully by going out to have fun and doing the things her age allows her to do. The tragic bit of the story is when she attracts the wrong attention that overwhelms her at the end when Arnold Friend comes in to take her out by force. This exposes the vulnerability of the little girl when she becomes so helpless to get into Arnold’s arms. Oates says, “Connie wouldn’t help, but let her eyes wander” (187). The words are indicative of her loose character of giving in despite the repercussions. Though she believed she should have freedom and that she should be able to attract boys, this notion was just for her self-esteem as a growing young girl, but not for the realities of life as exposed by Arnold Friend’s intrusion and forceful takeover. When she refuses to go to the barbeque, she is simply putting into command her ability to decide what she wants to do and what she does not w
Introduction The word is an extremely unequal place, and this is evidenced by the latest trends in social and economic inequality. Today, the richest part of the world’s population own approximately 40 percent of the total global assets, and this is just a top of the iceberg. The richest 10 percent own more than 85 percent of the world’s wealth while the poorest 50 percent own just about 1 percent of the global wealth. This implies that the world’s top richest 150 persons possess more than what 50 percent of the world’s poorest, which are approximately 3.3 billion people, have. The greatest source of this global inequality has been attributed to the huge gap among countries in levels of economic development. Disparities between developed and developing nations are enormous: the mean per capita income in developed nations is seven times more than it is in developed countries. Growing levels of global economic inequality in the world has led to another form of inequality which is called social inequality. Today, societies and/or nations that are ranked low on economic aspects continue to face a number of social problems; millions of the world’s poorest people live without access to clean water, electricity, adequate housing, education and healthcare. This implies that their ability to contribute productively to their nation/societies’ prosperity is limited. It worsens economic inequality among countries. Besides, social inequality has been linked with major political conflicts as it is seen in many countries, such as Sri Lanka, Uganda, the Congo Basin, and so on. It is important to note that countries that rank low on economic indices also have the highest levels economic and social inequalities. Although nearly all the systems of moral belief challenge those of us who live in comfortable apartments to devote at least some resources to improve the conditions of those who live in poverty. Thus, economic and social inequality still remains high globally. Although there is no universal accord on the causes of social and economic inequalities, many studies have pointed to societal structural changes as the main cause of the problem. Loosely defined, structural changes refer to a long-term and extensive change of basic structures that have drastic effects on societal norms. Structural change can work to both reducing or increasing inequality levels as it is seen in the China and India case study. In 1981, nearly 64 percent of the Chinese population lived in absolute poverty, today, the figure has dropped to 15 percent. In India, the drop was less significant, but still a noteworthy because the level reduced from 55 percent to 35 percent. Economic growth in China and India was the result of structural changes i
When studying the earliest years of American history, many difficulties arise for the modern student. One of the first problems is the period since then, America having been settled in the first few decades of the 1600s. It is often difficult for works to survive several centuries, due to disintegration, fires, and so on. Secondly, very few of the early settlers and travelers into the Plymouth area kept a record of their experiences. That being noted, modern historians do have some documentation of what the early settlement was like, thanks to the writing of John Pory, Emmanuel Altham, John Smith, and Isaac de Rasieres. When reading a section (focusing on the aforementioned writers’ discussion on Plymouth) from James and Patricia Scott Deetz’s The Times of Their Lives: Life, Love, and Death in Plymouth Colony, today’s historian gets a look at what the first settlements in Plymouth looked like. Edward Winslow and William Bradford wrote in 1620/21 about the process of building the first houses in the colony. “So in the afternoon we went to measure out the grounds… and so lots were cast where every man should lie, which was done, and staked out” (Deetz). Winslow later notes, in a letter to George Morton in 1621, that, “The town is seated on the ascent of a hill.” In reading the description of American times long past, of people hewing out of the land a small village seated on the slope of a hill by the sea, it may be difficult to avoid experiencing longing nostalgia for a simpler time. The words of these long-dead writers evoke images of the sullenly cold of winter and the terror of Native American attacks; in their downtime, they surely prayed as a family in reverence and honor to God. For the modern reader living in today’s modernized, “sophisticated” America, such times might appear glamorously pure. The modern adventure fan can read of the small fort in the “upper end of the town” that is continually at “watch so that no Indian can come near thereabouts but he is presently seen” (Deetz). It is easy to picture bloody battles between Pilgrims and Native Americans and feel the pulse rise. Sadly, it also evokes the image of displaced tribes whose land was taken from the new settlers. Apart from the pleasure that a reader can derive from these sections, a great deal of history can be gleaned, as well. A humorous section
Introduction This paper deals with the subject of Methadone Maintenance Treatment. It aims at enlightening the reader about the reasons, impacts and other issues associated with the same. It is significantly important to shed some light on the related issues in order to facilitate better understanding of the issue at hand. Thus, the paper first explains a few related concepts before going deep into the matter of Methadone Maintenance Treatment. (Jacobs, 2002) Background An opioid refers to a chemical material, which affects the body in way similar to morphine. It is primarily used for providing respite from extreme pain. These substances function by combining with opioid receptors located predominantly in the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. The use of opioids fosters both the valuable as well as adverse consequences. Opioids are classified under different categories among which the most common are natural, semi-synthetic, synthetic and finally endogenous opioid peptides. (Jacobs, 2002) Natural opiates are the alkaloids present in the resin of the opium poppy, which include morphine, codeine and thebaine. Papaverine and noscapine, which demonstrate a dissimilar action mechanism, are not considered natural opiates. Semi-synthetic opiates are prepared by using the natural opioids. Examples of semi-synthetic opiates are hydromorphone, hydrocodone, oxycodone, oxymorphone, desomorphine, diacetylmorphine (Heroin), nicomorphine, dipropanoylmorphine, benzylmorphine and ethylmorphine. Examples of fully synthetic opioids are fentanyl, pethidine, methadone, tramadol and propoxyphene. Lastly, endogenous opioid peptides are the ones, which are produced naturally in the body. For example, endorphins, enkephalins, dynorphins, and endomorphins are endogenous opioids. In order to comprehensively understand Methadone Maintenance Treatment, one needs to understand the concept underlying the terms opioid dependence, which in turn requires knowledge about substance dependence. Thus, the paper makes an effort to provide a brief explanation of these terminologies. (Strike, 2007) American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) points out that the central aspect relating to substance dependence can be considered as “ a cluster of cognitive, behavioral and physiological symptoms indicating that the individual continues use of the substance despite significant substance related problems…a pattern of repeated self-administration that usually results in tolerance, withdrawal, and compulsive drug-taking behavior ”. (Turner, 2005) In this context, it should be observes that due to the inherent ambiguity of the term “abuse” in addition to the different perspectives of different people it is difficult to separately define “use” and “abuse”. Further, one should also note that the word “addiction” is increasingly being replaced by the expression “drug or substance dependence” ac
Introduction Technological innovations have made it easy for a man to live. Technology has made acquiring of goods very quick and easy. From the barter trade system to credit card system that we enjoy at present, it is clear that technology has made it life enjoyable. This essay examines credit card processes nowadays and tries to predicate the future of the credit card system. One of the latest innovations related to credit cards is briefly examined. Credit Card System Popularity Credit cards are very popular in developed countries. Statistics show that in the United States of America credit cards are extremely popular: As reported for 2008, there were an estimated 176.8 million credit card users in the United States. Estimated 576.4 million credit cards and 507 million debit cards were in the hands of the United States consumers at the end of 2009. (Credit Card Processing 1) Why it is so popular So, one may ask, what makes these credit cards to be so popular? The cornerstone of the answer to this question is convenience. As a matter of fact, time is becoming more precious with each passing day. Time waits for no man and there is no minute to waste; anything that will help in saving time is more than welcome. Credit cards have been revolutionary in time management. Online shopping has become a current trend whereby products can be sold and bought at any time from all over the world. Both customers and sellers are comfortable with the credit card system. For the sellers it credit cards make the “business more efficient, more cost effective, and more profitable” (Credit Card processing 1). The process of acquiring a credit card is very easy for individual users. Businesses need to set up merchant accounts which equally do not take longer. With the merchant accounts, money can be deposited into the business accounts at any time in different places. Credit card processing ensures that the retailing business goes on 24 hours without stopping for the online retailers. To the advantage of the sellers, customers transacting using credit cards are more likely to make more sales compared to when they use cash. The Future if Credit Cards One of the latest innovations in the payment space is the use of square. Suchman described it as a “well-funded startup allows anyone with an iPhone to take credit cards for surprisingly modest fees (2.75% for swiped cards, 3.5% + 15¢ for keyed in cards) with, get this, no setup fees, no annual fees, and no hidden fees” (Suchman 1). The innovation sounds great and very convenient for users. Though some users have viewed it as disruptive when it is real
Singapore Airlines (SIA) is one of the most thriving and influential companies in the global aviation industry with tremendous potential for further growth. Although the company has a substantial international presence, it can expand its service to new geographic regions. This primarily concerns North America, where demand for traveling is steadily rising. To achieve this aim, like Thai airlines, the company should implement efficient ultra-long-haul services to avert the hassle of connecting flights (Qin, 2020). Such a service will entail extra expenditure on installing advanced equipment and even purchasing new aircraft. The additional problem is related to the exchange rate fluctuation, which can cause issues while converting currencies. The company should also aim at catering to domestic traveling within Singapore by introducing a carrier that provides internal flights at premium pricing. In this regard, the airline can use promotional strategies, including digital and traditional media, to target the customers. For instance, Singapore Airlines should deliver its service by allowing customers to book tickets through social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (Pramitha et al., 2018). This method should also be applied in all other countries. It is worth noting that the main challenge is that before visiting the new foreign market, SIA should understand the need and values of regional culture. This also requires hiring and training the appropriate staff that is aware of the cultural aspects of customer behavior profoundly. SIA offers comparatively expensive full-service carriers for the population insensitive to pricing, especially from the upper and middle-class. Nevertheless, the middle eastern competitors have started to consider price sensitivity and provide the economy product (Qin, 2020). Thus, the company should segregate the full-service carriers into two categories, namely, carriers delivering luxurious premium products and lower-cost carriers containing compulsory business amenities (Qin, 2020). The primary risk associated with this plan is that customers may not appreciate such options adequately, which resulted in an insignificant increase in revenue.
When referring to an alliance, in the context of business, usually, the term refers to agreements made between a company and another one, in order to combine resources for the benefit of both parties. The aforementioned explanation is related to strategic alliances, where the main purpose is creating opportunities for both companies, while maintaining their individuality. The aforementioned explanation of the alliance can be seen limited to other companies. However, a common practice stemming from the same term is the alliance between the organization and its stakeholders, a practice which sufficiently expands the meaning of partnership originally put into the term alliance. In that regard, this paper analyzes the concept of alliance, based on a virtual company “Baderman Island”, providing a recommendation on the strategy of creating an alliance between the company and its networked stakeholders. Stakeholder alliance can be defined as “formal and informal relationships with stakeholders that involve two-way communication” (Raucher & AWWA Research Foundation., 2001, p. 5), where no single stakeholder has enough resources, authority of knowledge to resolve particular issues. The formations of alliance are expected from stakeholders with “a high potential for threat along with high potential for cooperation” (Friedman & Miles, 2006, p. 205) In the case of “Baderman Island”, an all-inclusive resort, such stakeholders, from the external side, might include the Kelsey community, a town 12 miles west of Baderman, environmental NGOs, water protection groups and others. Additionally, the internal stakeholders might include the various departments of the company such as the hotel, the convention center, the employees, suppliers and the shareholders. It can be seen that the main area of threat and cooperation can be witnessed in terms of the cooperation between the company and the environmentalists groups, where the nature of the business corresponds to the interests, which the companies and environmental NGOs pursue. The factors influencing such cooperation might include the financial resources, environmental responsibility, consumer concerns, staff values, legislation threats and others (Friedman & Miles, 2006). The strategy of the alliance can be seen through outlining the objectives of each group of stakeholders, the resources used, and accordingly, the controversial issues that prevent each group from reaching their interest. In that regard, the strategy in forming the al
Summary People admire living a healthy and happy life despite the challenges that experience. They work hard to achieve their dreams, even though sometimes it becomes difficult to meet some targets. The desire to accomplish personal and professional goals pushes people to invest their time and money in various issues like education, training, health and research (Driessen and Tartwijk 196). This paper outlines my personal and professional development plan. Strengths and Weaknesses I am hardworking and believe in the possibility of achieving my dreams. I aspire to be a nurse leader and invest my time, money, body and skills to benefit all nursing stakeholders. Moreover, I plan my schedule properly to avoid lateness and ensure work is delivered before the deadline expiry. I do not postpone my responsibilities and believe that all work should be done at the correct time and place. My team leading skills, teamwork and cooperation enables me to work in diverse environments with partners from different backgrounds. I believe that research and additional training are necessary to expand my knowledge regarding leadership in nursing and that is why online and physical libraries have become my companions. However, I am very impatient and like things being done as soon as possible. I do not believe any person can outdo me in anything. Corrections and reprimands discourage me from doing my work properly. It is not easy to persuade me to change my mind once I am set to achieve a goal. Sometimes I overwork and this reduces my efficiency. Identification and explanation of Resources to Be Used to Achieve My Plans I have registered for personality development part-time classes to learn how to work with others without feeling offended when reprimanded. These classes are