ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
LGBTQ rights have advanced many positions in the last several decades. Increasing public support for issues like gay marriage indicates that the majority has become mild to this agenda. Even previously conservative groups of people are starting to express support (Bishin, Freebourn, & Teten, 2020). Despite this changing public opinion, the shift has not generated a significant impact on federal policy (Bishin et al., 2020). This situation designates that the political system is not producing outcomes consistent with people’s expectations. There is quantitative evidence regarding the increase in public support of gay rights. In 2004, only 31% of people had a favorable opinion about same-sex marriages (Bishin et al., 2020). This number exceeded 50% by 2014, and today, LGBTQ rights have achieved support from the majority (Bishin et al., 2020). Partially, this increase is related to activism and people taking the courage to make confessions about their sexual orientation (Garretson, 2018). However, many states discriminate against LGBTQ people on a legislative level. For instance, in some states, doctors have the right to deny service based on sexual orientation (Bishin et al., 2020). In some regions, child adoption by gay couples is prohibited (Bishin et al., 2020). In general, the Republican
Introduction With the ongoing privatization of airports in many countries, competition between different facilities is starting to intensify. The emergence of low-cost carriers contributes to this tendency, as they tend to actively seek the best offer and pressure airports to provide lower prices and higher savings opportunities than their neighbors. However, competition also takes place in terms of service quality, with airports trying to offer the best experience to the airlines and passengers. This essay will review the service quality goals set by airports, instruments used to measure relevant indicators, and improvement measures are taken. It posits that airports try to serve both airlines and customers, collecting objective and subjective metrics and addressing them. Discussion Objectives Privatization and the ensuing competition are the primary drivers of service quality improvement in airports. As Sengur and Vasigh (2018) note, firms that charge more than their product is worth will eventually be excluded from the competitive market. As such, it is essential to either lower the prices, which can make the airport less profitable, or increase the quality of the product offered so that it meets the demands of airlines and passengers. To that end, it is necessary to understand these customers, particularly those likely to consider competing airports. As Barrett (2004) confirms, these companies of interest are LCCs, which we’re willing to deviate from the hub-and-spoke model and move to secondary airports, unlike full-service carriers. The expectations of these airlines should be considered first and foremost when adjusting airport operations. With that said, airports still serve passengers and should take the needs of both groups into account. Kossmann (2017) integrates the needs of both categories and outlines five significant aspects of service: quality, speed, dependability, flexibility, and costs. The first is the ability to deliver offerings to expectations, with minimal mistakes. Speed can refer to short waiting times for customers but also overall operational efficiency, such as turnaround times. Dependability is the ability to perform well consistently, and flexibility refers to being able to adapt to changing circumstances. The last goal, cost, is self-explanatory, enabling increased margins or lower prices if it is reduced. These five items combine to form a picture of the airport’s attractiveness, but each needs to be evaluated first. Measurement To obtain an understanding of an airport’s performance, it is necessary to use a set of quantifiable indicators, but their meaning is limited without a benchmark. To circumvent this problem, agencies such as the IATA and the FAA start
Introduction “When it becomes possible for people to describe as “postmodern” the decor of a room, the design of a building… a proliferation of surfaces… the collapse of cultural hierarchies … then it’s clear we are in the presence of a buzzword” (quoted in Storey 181-182). With this bright and quite continuous quotation, John Storey illustrates the confusion that exists in point of the term “postmodernism”, and thus demonstrates significance of the discussion presented in the Chapter 9 of his (2009). Indeed, today the term “postmodernism” is actively used in different fields of our social, political and cultural life, and in many cases this use is spontaneous, confused and shallow. Thus, despite postmodernism is given a concrete definition in specialized literature, the occurring everywhere vagueness connected with it requires further discussion of this term. Having outlined the field of interest which is the notion of postmodernism in relation to popular culture, Storey observes the evolution of postmodernism from its origin to nowadays and makes the effort to define the “general aspects of postmodernism” (182). The discussion includes both alluding to other researchers’ works and providing the author’s own commentary. In turn, we will try to find the correspondence and points of agreement between different researchers’ views and thus approach to understanding of postmodernism. Origins of Postmodernism: Back from Museums and Academia It is impossible to discuss a theory in isolation from conditions of its origin. To help a reader to understand better the essence of postmodernism, Storey describes the cultural environment of the late 1950s and 1960s characterized by domination of modernism. Despite of its name, the modernist art did not seem “modern” any more; it became “a set of dead classics” (cited in Storey 182). The new generation challenged “canonization” of modernist art which was considered “high”, elitist, not comprehensible for an average viewer, listener or reader (182). The generation of 1960s brought a new view on the world and, particularly, culture, a so-called “new sensibility” (cited in Storey 182). On the one hand, young people did not wanted culture to be an issue for the select few and thus opposed to the modernist ap
Introduction The civil war in Algeria was fought between the secular government and Islamic rebels. The Muslims were aimed at overthrowing the secular government and establishing a Muslim one. The events of the war have raised question on whether such violence has paid off in Algeria or not. It is mostly concluded that war is not the best way of solving issues in the state. There are however few instances when terrorism may be justified in consideration of the aim of the attacks. The attacks may simply be because of the need to protect the rights of the majority. There are a number of factors that will determine the party that wins in war which is related to how their activities are funded. To engage in war, parties are supposed to have adequate funds to ensure a steady supply of fighting materials. The number of participants in the war will also influence the direction that the war takes. Mostly it is the party that has many supporters that will ultimately win the war. In looking at Algeria, we find that as the civil war began, both parties were equally strong considering their determination to be in power (Schalk & Herring, 87). The
Aim The aim of this project is to conduct a detailed discussion on Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and available sustainable drainage techniques that can be made integral to the design and construction of a large capacity shopping complex and car park in the area of Salford scheduled for completion by 2012. Definition of sustainable system (SUDS) Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) are cost effective and superior drainage techniques that are characteristically defined by social and environmental factors in sustainably dealing with surface water runoffs not inherent in traditional drainage systems. It thus follows that “Sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) are a natural approach to managing drainage in and around properties and other developments” (Business Link, 2011). “SUDS work by slowing and holding back the water that runs off from a site, allowing natural processes to break down pollutants” (Business Link, 2011). That in effect provides a means of protecting the environment from the destructive effects of runoff wastes (European Water Framework Directive. 2000). It is important to note that runoff water from construction sites, car parks, and other structures can be treated using SUDS. The cleaning effect of runoff water comes with a range of benefits such as minimizing the potential effect of flooding at construction sites, protecting and ensuring ground water is of desirable quality, and mitigating and minimizing on the destructive effect on the environment. That leads to the efficient utilization of rain water eventually saving on portable water. The table below provides a summary of the benefits typical of SUDS.  1. Ensures diffuse water does not built up in specific areas.                        1. Minimizing any chance of flooding by reducing the speed of runoff surface water.  1. Minimizing the potential impact of risks due to floods from heavy rains.          1. Minimizing the risk of droughts by recharging ground water.                       1. Ensuring that habitats that are valuable are provided for wildlife. s             1. Ensure that green spaces are created for urban dwellers.                          It is important to provide a detailed view of the SUDS triangle to be better informed about objectives that define the system. The triangle provides an overview of three variables that synergistically aggregate to achieve system objectives. That is further reinforced by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (n.d) that asserts that the three functions should be integrated to provide “adequate and well designed systems that offer water quality treatment through natural process inherent in the system, encourage infilt
Introduction The conclusion of the Second World War brought many changes to the world. In the United States, President Truman spearhead programs that would rehabilitate the society through economic policies that would help the citizens in the United States recover from the war. The trauma experienced by the Americans was unimaginable for their fear of bombs and war devices grew at the same time the government was also on constant alert by ideologies that differ from the Western version of democracy. The United States continued to support wars of other democratic nations against communists thus domestic policies suffered for budgets were mostly allocated to national security and funding of wars. The growing racism of the 1950s contributed to the birth of civil rights groups where white youths protest to equalize the system. As the United States government aggressively supports foreign wars against communism, a chunk of the federal budget is allocated to national defense and security programs. Domestic programs suffer thus the American population suffer for the number of poor people increased during the 1950s to 1960s. America’s intervention in the Vietnam War cost constrains where a civil war almost broke out. The citizens grew weary and angry of the government’s decisions and actions to aid the French in controlling communist Vietnam. People suspected that the United States government’s ulterior motive in financially supporting the French in the war is because the former wanted to colonize the country. American families lost allot of their family members in the Vietnam War. This paper aims to evaluate and analyze the social, political and economic conditions of the 1950s in the United States. It aims to provide an explanation by discussing factors that lead to the social upheaval of the 1960s. Chosen events after the World War II will be the subject of the study in order to fully understand the development of the American society in the 1960s. Social Aspect After the Second World War, Americans experienced a tremendous personal fear which was a result of bombs during the war (Henriksen). Government social programs resulted in large –scale suburban housing resulted in the more suburban than urban American in the 1960s. The fairly new suburban architecture after the war necessitated new social relations with the emphasis on immediate family more than extended family. The American suburban life exaggerated the traditional male and female roles and relations. In the suburban identity there is a lack of traditional ethnic and religious diversity which are found in city life. In the 1950s femininity required conformity, passivity and deference especially in the suburbs. Suburbs were once described by Betty Friedan in The Feminine Mystique as comfortable concentration camps (Friedan). Suburban is ideally characterized in the form of domesticity, cooperation, conformity
These are two epochal films from the late 1970s and early 1980s. Both are about boxing, the popularity of the genre being explained by the fact that the legendary Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali had marked new highs in his career in that decade and brought the curtains down with a 1980 World Boxing Association heavyweight championship. For their respective lead stars, the two films meant vastly different things. Sylvester Stallone had had a dozen-odd, largely-uncredited bit roles before hitting pay dirt with Rocky I. The script that Stallone wrote himself (after watching an Ali-Chuck Wepner bout) became a breakthrough box office and critical success, launching three sequels and the five-film Rambo series as well. To date, Stallone remains fourth in the all-time actor rankings for money earned. Robert de Niro was also prime mover for “Raging Bull” since he and director Martin Scorsese initiated scriptwriting after the former had gone through the memoirs of 1949-51 World Middleweight champion Jake Lamotta. And there the comparison ends. For De Niro, “Raging Bull” was just one more achievement in a stellar career that had started with getting noticed in “Bang the Drum Slowly” (1973), followed during that decade by “Mean Streets”, an award-winning supporting role in “The Godfather: Part II”, “Taxi Driver”, and “The Deer Hunter”. Though both films are about boxing heroes, their treatment of violence is very distinct. Violence inside the ring is central to “Rocky I” and its sequels because the film is, after all, an inspiring saga of how the downtrodden and disadvantaged in society are handed a once-in-a-lifetime chance at vanquishing their betters. If proving his mettle means stoically enduring cuts in a recreational boxing gym (as at the start of the movie), undergoing a Spartan training regimen, running the gauntlet of lower-ranked fighters, landing body blows and drawing blood all the way and finally absorbing brutal punishment in the championship, then so be it. This is theme of Everyman enduring to win in the end and finally earning the respect and admiration of family and friends. In “Raging Bull,” boxing is simply the job LaMotta did during a decade-long career in the ring. The sport is merely a backdrop to the champion’s biography, albeit LaMotta did compile a devastating record of 30 knockouts and 53 more wins between 1941 and 1951. Noteworthy, too, is the “Raging Bull” nickname springing from LaMotta’s “bullying” style of staying close to his opponents and rolling with the blows j
Introduction Israel’s Palestinian Challenge by Efraim Inbar presents a discussion on the continued problems that Israel faced with Palestine and terrorism that had been bred in the Palestinian soil against Israel (Inbar, 2006 ). The article is focused on Israel’s policies to counter the “Palestinian challenge”. The article first embarks on a discussion of the faint future of the Palestinian Authority (PA), and the threat that PA poses to Israeli security, especially after the electoral victory of Islamic Hamas in January 2006. The article ends with an examination of Israel’s alternatives in dealing with the challenges emanating from a Hamas-ruled PA. The author expresses his skepticism regarding a policy of a “dominant two-state paradigm” and suggests the adoption of an “open-ended conflict management strategy” (Inbar, 2006 ). Description of problems Inbar provides a brief description of the nature of the political and violent conflict between Israel and Palestine. It describes the past efforts that the Israeli authorities had embarked on with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) led by Yasser Arafat but to no avail. Even an opportunity that was provided to PLO to establish an independent state for Palestinians had been marked by an era of authoritarian governing, reckless corruption, and anarchy. Arafat also allowed violent and suicidal attacks on Israel. Arafat’s successor, Mahmoud Abbas, had far less political standing in Palestine and was soon overthrown by Hamas in 2006. Hamas’ military wing has a history of active participation in violent terrorist attacks against Israel. Inbar states that “For Israel, the enhanced role of Hamas in the PA primarily means the continuation of the conflict.” (2006, p. 825) The author argues that there is no reason to believe that the radical Hamas will accept Israel. The only reason it supports a ceasefire against Israel is to get a grip back on the home ground. A potent threat that the author identifies in the Hamas led government in Palestine that poses a threat to Israel is the group’s hold on the state’s education system: Hamas will do its best to educate additional generations of Palestinians to regard Jews as those who stole their land and attribute them characteristics taken from the standard crude anti-Semitic motifs. The Shaheed (martyr) will continue to serve as the role model for Palestinian children in kindergartens and schools. (Inbar, 2006, p. 826). The author believes that the Hamas-led government will enhance the problem of terrorism in Israel and become a bottleneck in the almost non-existent Arab-Israel peace process. The main impediments in Israel’s case are the depletion of Israel’s legitimacy in the Arab world, increasing acts of terrorism in Israel and Palestine being the haven on terrorist groups, support and coordination with the regional powers due to Palestine provoked military coup by Israel has been a major deterrent, and international involvement supporting the traditionally weaker Palestinian side has been a major problem for Israel (Inbar, 2006). These problems have led the author to think regarding the policy that Israel can opt-in terms of Palestine. One
When a person is asked about what can actually make him or her happy, it is usually hard to give a quick answer because a number of thoughts and conditions may come to mind. Regarding recent psychological studies by David G. Myers or the hierarchy of needs developed by Abraham Maslow, the causes and effects of personal happiness usually vary in individuals. In my opinion, the major requirements for happiness should be objective, like the possibility to be involved in activities that help disclose personal skills, be spiritually rich, and give priority to relationships and actions. Only when a person does what he/she wants and enjoys, the happiness of the outcome can be achieved. No one else has the right to judge these actions or develop perspectives on emotions that do not belong themselves. As a result, special attention should be paid to the differences that people may have while developing their viewpoints about happiness and other forms of emotions. I believe that everyone can easily say he/she is happy as soon as we start comparing our achievements with those of other people. It is impossible to make every person happy, but whether it is really crucial to achieve such a serious goal. At the same time, happiness should be distinguished from egoism. Personal happiness, as well as personal perspectives on emotions, depends on the environment that is familiar and close. Satisfaction with the food eaten, a possibility to organize time and relax, an opportunity to promote self-development, or the involvement in activities that please the soul are the components of happiness and positive emotions. They cannot be controlled or imposed, and a person should be able to make free choices in order to never regret any step taken.
Introduction War and peace are the two central concepts that determine the existence of mankind on Earth. These concepts have always attracted the attention of numerous scholars who tried to define war and piece and state reasons that lead to them. It goes without saying that there was no need to examine peace as it is a positive phenomenon. Consequently, war, as the most terrible evil that human beings can do to each other, demanded thorough consideration. Nowadays, numerous theories of conflicts and of war exist in the scientific world, including the theories by Parsons, Webber, and Stoessinger. The latter theory is exactly the topic of the current paper, and the following paragraphs will explore it so that to see why people go to war and how they can be made not to (Stoessinger, 2007, xvi). Stoessinger’s Theory To start with, let me take a brief look at John G. Stoessinger’s background. It is necessary because it may allow understanding his views on war and peace and analyze his theory more properly. John Stoessinger was born in Austria and as a child experienced the invasion of the Nazi Army to his motherland. He had to escape from Austria with his family and lived in Russia and China till the end of the war. Nowadays he is a successful statesman and scientist delivering lectures to students in a lot of