ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
The average American individual now derives most of his self-worth from his ability to outperform others. We are ceaselessly encouraged to “have it all”: perfect body, perfect grades/career, perfect social life. It, therefore, comes as no surprise that psycho-stimulant medications are gaining popularity amongst all sectors of the American public trying to maximize their productivity. Amphetamines are now being abused by everyone, from students cramming for their next exam to NFL players and overachieving housewives. Amphetamines were originally sold as a prescription medication to clear sinuses in the 1930s. Yet, it was abused by people who recognized its performance-enhancing capabilities even back then (Klayman). Until the 1970s, it could be easily requested from a family practitioner and freely used by Beat writers, jazz musicians, and even JFK. After decades of abuse and public backlash against the “speed” epidemic, it became a controlled substance, and production was strictly limited (Klayman). Today, it is available as prescription medicine for children and adults diagnosed with ADHD. Amphetamines improve the ability to concentrate and restrain impulsivity but may cause issues with sleep, sociability, appetite, and addiction. There is a thriving black market for stimulants among students and white-collar workers. Adderall is so ubiquitous on campuses that most students forget it is even illegal. I believe that amphetamine abuse is only a symptom of the productivity cult currently gripping our country. People are obsessed with results and attaining faux machine-like productivity to impress others, effacing the significance of inner transformation and meaningful human experiences. College is meant to cultivate discipline and dedication — what exactly is the purpose of writing 2000-word essays if you had to take a psycho-stimulant to do it? The point is to overcome procrastination, commit and do the work. However, Americans are using chemicals to hijack their brains and attain the results of hard work without actually putting in the effort. The most effective way to prevent abuse is not criminalizing amphetamines but facing the hypercompetitive cultural environment that causes it. Works Cited Klayman, A. (Director). (2018). Take Your Pills [Video file]. Web.
Introduction Over the last 30 years, it was infrequent to find adolescents experiencing complications related to overweight and obesity. However, in the last two decades, the prevalence rates of overweight and obese adolescents have increased significantly in both the developed and developing countries [1, 2]. However, the rates are notably higher in the developed countries compared to the developing countries. These insidious rates of overweight and obesity among the adolescents all the world call for the active involvement of clinicians, patients, and their family members in fighting the epidemic [1]. According to the BMI-based measurements of body weight, overweight individuals are referred to as those persons with a BMI of 25-30kg/m 2 while obese individuals are those with a BMI exceeding 30kg/m 2 [3]. Conventionally, obesity is also defined as the occurrence of excessive body fat in the adipose layer of an individual. Obesity holds a variety of complications, which affect both the physical and the psychosocial health of adolescents [2]. Moreover, the obesity-related complications may extend into adulthood whereby they lower the quality of life, give rise to other dangerous diseases, and lead to incapacitation and death [3]. However, a number of preventive and management strategies are in place, which aids the clinicians, patients and their family members in managing obesity and influencing positive dietary in-takes and lifestyles among the populations with the highest risk of obesity [2]. The obesity-related management strategies include lessening of high energy dietary in-takes, increased physical activity, avoiding sedentary lifestyles in addition to other pharmacological and surgical procedures aimed at reducing excessive body fats. This essay presents an in-depth analysis of the current literature concerning the issue of overweight and obesity in adolescents. In this age-group, the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity have increased significantly in the last two decades due to the increased number of individuals leading sedentary lifestyles, lack of physical activity, and increased intake of high-energy foods and drinks among others. In addition, a thorough examination o
Introduction America’s involvement in the Middle East has always been of great relevance to American leaders and has resulted in a great deal of controversy. America’s close involvement with and support for Israel has always been a sore issue with America’s other Middle-eastern allies such as Saudi Arabia and this involvement is also believed to have contributed considerably to the Anti-American sentiment in the Muslim world. George Bush nearly at the end of his tenure visited the Middle-East to make another attempt to resolve the issues there. Very recently when Barack Obama declared himself the Democratic nominee, he spoke about Israel, how the sanctity of Jerusalem is to be maintained and how Hamas needs to be alienated if we are to go forward in resolving the Middle East issue. Analysis The two articles I have chosen as relevant to this issue are ‘American Jews and the Middle East’ and ‘America and the Holocaust’. The former articles analyze the role of American Jews in policy-making. It analyzes the issue of why American leaders support Israel. A number of critics from all over the world have attributed American support of Israel to the powerful American Jewish lobby. However the author of this article explains ‘While various lunatics contend that this agreement between the major American political parties has occurred because the omni-competent Jews control both of them, a more plausible explanation is that both Democrats and Republicans have seen the long-term future as a two-state solution, which means there will eventually be an Israeli state and a Palestinians state living alongside one another’. (American Heritage 5 th June 2008 ‘American Jews and the Middle East’ )The author claims that America is viewed as more supportive of Israel because Israel also supports the Two-nation theory while the Palestinians do not support a two-nation solution. The other article analyzes the role of America during the Holocaust. The article discusses the question of whether America ignored the Jews during the Holocaust. This question is important because a number of critics specially from the Muslim world believe that there is Western sympathy for Israel, because it failed to do enough for the German and Central European Jews during the terrible years of the Holocaust. However this article questions this claim and says that America did to what it could to help the German Jews keeping in
The novel From the Earth to the Moon , by Jules Verne is considered to be among the first in the genre of scientific fiction. In this novel Jules Verne described successful attempt of flight to the Moon by means of projectile fired from gun, which remained to be a fantasy. Yet, the estimations, research and accuracy of data in the novel surprises modern reader, as most of Verne’s predictions were close to reality. Jule Verne’s calculations and engineering estimations, even though were not scientifically accurate, but were made by methods used by scientists today. In a general scope we can consider, that this novel is the first which is based on realistic research and scientific knowledge, which wasn’t typical for earlier writings of that time, as earlier authors mainly relied on their imagination and fantasy, but not on scientific knowledge. Another quite important detail is the place which is mentioned in the novel where the projectile was launched – Florida. In the novel “ From the Earth to the Moon” Jules Verne depicted science and basically applied science as an only engine of progress and social balance, which filled moral and ethical vacuum of individual of a new age, who often belonged to mercantile and narrow-minded people. In a wide scope Jules Verne pictured members of the gun club as fanatics, whose only way of life is creating new artillery devices and guns. War was perceived as a mean for club plans’ realization, as it subsidized their projects and allowed to test their new weapons on battlefield. Moral side of this issue was of no use to members of gun club. Most of them had disablement, due to serious war injures, yet nothing could stop them from creating new weapons: “Pitcairn that throughout the Gun Club there was not quite one arm between four persons and two legs between six.” It is described quite clear, that applied science turned into a religion for them, with easy success as their supreme pagan. It gave them chance for self-realization, made them equal in society of adherents, gave them change to be honored in case of success and satisfy their vanity: “Nevertheless, these valiant art
Introduction Text messaging is a general way of communicating electronic messages using mobile phones and other forms of portable devices. With time, using Short Message service (SMS) in text messaging has become convenient to use. With the modern text messaging electronic devices, people are able to communicate by sharing images, video and sound contents. Text messaging has significantly been applied for several reasons that are now both beneficial and detrimental to users and the society. Text messaging will be an electronic communication medium that will continue to exist for a long time. Describing the different categories of text messaging is critical in understanding the significance of text messaging. Categories of text messaging As indicated earlier, SMS is the mode of communication that text messaging utilizes. In this respect, mobile phone users are able to send abbreviated words like a message. SMS text messaging allows sending of images and video content. Apparently, SMS is the easiest method of text messaging through mobile phones. In most cases, an SMS has a limitation of not more than 160 characters. Multimedia Message Service (MMS) is another category of text messaging similar to SMS. However, MMS is only limited to attaching pictures and videos to text messages. Micro-blogging is a text messaging application available for mobile phone and computer gadget users. In recent times, computer tablets have made text messaging easier. Social sites like Facebook and Twitter promote text messaging through mobile-based applications. Premium text messages are text messaging where the user is required to sign-up for a text messaging service. Premium-text services are normally done through mobile subscription services. An example of premium text messaging is when a user requests for a mobile ringtone, music or rights to television voting. Premium text messaging always has a charging fee attached to it. In most cases, premium text messaging involves a two step subscription process. The sign-up process involves input of the mobile number and opt-out information processes. Free texting applications are the newest technological developments in text messaging. The free text applications are usually downloaded on a smartphone. The applications allow the user to text message for free. Although these services are done at no cost, an internet connection charge is accrued since the applica
Abstract This report provides an overview of Pablo Escobar as an archetype of Robin Hood. Specifically, the paper focuses on (i) Pablo Escobar as a noble bandit who retaliates against the Colombian and American government through his involvement in the trafficking of cocaine and how he uses his wealth to benefit the poor popular population in Colombia, (ii) a focus on Pablo Escobar as a hero of the popular class in Colombia through his civic development projects, and (iii) the pursuit of Pablo Escobar leading to his death. The information contained in this report was obtained from sources such as The World Today, Foreign Affairs, Penguin Books, Simon and Schuster, Duke University Press and Journal of Folklore Research. Introduction Pablo Escobar is considered the biggest cocaine trafficker that the world has ever seen. Despite his death in 1993, the impact that he had on Colombia and the world at large is still being felt up to the present day. By the time of his death, it was estimated that Escobar controlled around 80% of the cocaine industry in the world (Abel 123). To enjoy this success, he had influence over the local police, government officials, and most importantly he enjoyed huge support from the public. As asserted by Abel (1993), “The individuals who supported his activities were considered his allies and greatly benefited from the trade” (124). However, those who tried to pose any form of resistance were eliminated in one way or the other. Due to this fact, the United States of America and many other developed nations from the West considered Mr. Escobar as a criminal and put a lot of effort to see him behind bars. However, Mr. Escobar was considered as a legend by majority of people in Colombia due to his generosity. This paper will thus critically analyze the two different sides of Pablo Escobar to have a clear understanding of the biggest drug lord of all times. Pablo Escobar “The Godfather” of the medellin colombian drug cartel The level of crime in Medellin had always been high all through the 20 th century. However, the intensity of crime in this city increased during the 1970s as a result of the growth of organized crime. As Seal (2008) asserted, “Medellin was considered the home of gangs and organized crime in the whole of Columbia as a result of increase in the trade of narcotics and smuggling of drugs and other contraband into and outside Columbia”j (57). During this era, the most common type of drug in Medellin was marijuana. Its trade within the city is considered as being the main source of gang activity. Cocaine, on the other hand, was not a common drug during this era not only in Medellin but in Columbia as a whole. This is due to the fact that the drug was manufactured in Chile using coca leaves that were smuggled from either Bolivia or Peru (Gugliotta 31). Another critical factor that made cocaine not to
The question of whether advances in technology empower humankind or weaken it from a sociological perspective has become particularly complicated after the Industrial Revolution. Since the latter not only cemented the role of technology in people’s daily and workplace routine but also reinstated the status quo relationships between social classes, it can also be seen as the force for promoting progress. The postulates of Darwinism, while being quite sensible., appear to skew the social relationships significantly when applied without regard for the needs of those that have been wronged by the dominant class and, thus, placed in a disadvantaged position (Chung 43). In other words, minority groups, including racial and ethnic minorities, people from underserviced and impoverished communities, and other marginalized groups have been suffering from the outcomes of the Darwinist ideas implemented with no concern for those in need. In addition, technology has shaped the current perception of human beings. Nowadays, a human would be defined not only as a species of Homo sapiens but also as the dominant species on the planet. Moreover, humankind should also be defined according to the impact that it produces. Therefore, the ability to work and create innovations should be seen as the defining characteristic of a human being. In this context, the influence of conservativism on the modern global community could be interpreted as the power that has a moderating effect and does not allow going too far in the application of technological innovations to the point where they could conflict with the existing ethics. In turn, liberalism, along with the Industrial Revolution, has spurred the development of humankind, adding the idea of innovativeness to the definition of a human being (Chung 44). Finally, nationalism has defined the sense of identity and led to the exploration of how an individual can contribute to the state and the community’s well-being, which has led to innovative solutions. Thus, it is important to note that, at their core, technological innovations are only tools that can be used for bettering the lives of people or for promoting a hurtful agenda. Moreover, since technology can be utilized in more ways than one, it has contributed both to the evolution of social relationships by improving the quality of life and simultaneously aggravated them by reinforcing the social hierarchy. Work Cited Chung, Paul S. Critical Theory and Political Theology: The Aftermath of the Enlightenment . Springer, 2019.
Introduction Immigration has always been a part of human culture and for millenniums, people have moved from one geographical region to the other often in search of better opportunities or to run away from adverse conditions in their indigenous land. By definition, immigration is the movement of people from their native land to a new land with the intention of permanently living in the host country. Immigration has gained significant attention in the 21st century due to the frequency with which this phenomenon occurs and its impacts on host country. In an attempt to control immigration, many countries have come up with restrictive immigration policies aimed at discouraging people from moving into the country. This has led to the growth in illegal immigration, a phenomenon characterized by moving into a foreign country without the consent of the authorities of the destination country. The US has experienced the largest influx of illegal immigrants over the past decade with the figure projected to be at 11.7 Million (CBS par.2). These immigrants are often from low-income countries and their main motivation for immigrating Immigration is to look for better employment opportunities. The issue of illegal immigration has elicited different reactions from Americans. Opponents of Illegal immigrants assert that this group has caused many negative outcomes to the country while proponents state that the illegal immigrants provide valuable services to the country. This paper will argue that illegal immigration is harmful to the country and measures that are more stringent should be taken to deter it. The paper will show how illegal immigrants reduce the earning power of Americans, cause a strain on the country’s resources, and cause insecurity in the country. Arguments against Illegal Immigration Illegal immigrants have led to a reduction in the earning power of citizens in the unskilled labor market. Most immigrants work in areas that do not require high levels of specialization. These include the construction industry, agricultural sector, the service industry and fast food sector. The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) declares that while illegal immigrants mostly take up low-skilled jobs, which are not competitive, there are still US citizens who work in those job sectors (par.4). Illegal immigrants are willing to provide their labor cheaply and the quality of their work is sometimes higher than that of the local population. On the other hand, the local population is only willing to provide services in this secondary labor market for a reasonable wages, which is higher than the amount that illegal immigrants work for. Many employers are therefore likely to pick the illegal immigrant since his/her payment is lower than that of the native-born citizen. According to estimates by FAIR, illegal immigrants lead to depression of wages by up to 30% and accept poor working conditions therefore placing the native workers at a disadvantage
Introduction The development of any community needs to work continuously on increasing the skills of all contributing members. This statement is especially important in healthcare, as sharing and accumulating medical knowledge is a crucial part of human society. This essay summarizes the article “Leadership development of rehabilitation professionals in a low-resource country: A transformational leadership, project-based model.” by Pascal et al. and discusses how the knowledge from the article can be applied in practice. Main text The article describes a successful implementation of the transformational leadership approach in Rwandan healthcare facilities that provide rehabilitation services. In this article, the authors overview the outcomes of the leadership development course on the skills and performance of Rwandan physiotherapists. The program included 25% of all physiotherapists in the country and had a positive impact on their level of professionalism (Pascal et al., 2017). The project had contributed to leadership initiatives and promoted continuous education. In my practice setting, this approach can be used to share knowledge regarding rehabilitation methods and techniques, to combine efforts of multiple physiotherapists on resolving a complex issue, and to optimize skill development and application. By using this management style, healthcare organizations can boost the quality of care, reduce turnover rates, and achieve more preferable outcomes. It is vital for a nurse who works in a rehabilitation facility not only to be knowledgeable but to encourage others and provide support for their betterment. Conclusion In conclusion, transformational leaders aim to create an atmosphere that will nurture both personal and teamwork skills development, foster future leaders and empower employees to take action. This approach enables efficient team-based care and encourages innovation. The increased involvement and sharing of leadership responsibilities is one of the most prominent benefits of this approach (Pascal et al., 2017). This paper clearly shows the effects of transformational leadership on the overall performance of medical personnel.