ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Theater can be called a mirror of life. It is fascinating how events from the real world that are rarely pronounced can be so vividly surfaced in on the stage. It is the contemplation, satire, humor, and deep thought that make theater one of the most appreciated leisures across the globe. In Asian culture of the 20th century, there seemed to be an established trend for spoken plays. The modern Asian dramaturgy evolved under the banner of huaju (spoken drama), which was imbued with political, social and cultural perturbations in China, Japan, Taiwan and other Asian nations happening during that period (Wetmore 78). As traditions play a major part in the lives of many Asian peoples, so does theater, incorporating features of the previous epochs and mixing them into the entirely new concepts. To illustrate that phenomenon, the current study will focus on analyzing the dramaturgy and performance in the spoken play written by Lai Shengchuan in 1986 called Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land driving parallels with traditional chuanqi (marvel tales) genre in China. Background The play under analysis was originally written in 1986 by a Taiwanese playwright, Lai Shengchuan or Stan Lai. Lai is considered one of the greatest modern writer and director in Taiwan and China. Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land exists in several versions. The original was a true revelation and set a whole new level for Taiwanese theater, which, without the permission of the writer, was staged in China and had tremendous success to the point that it became classical. In 1991 it was reviewed and adapted for the screens. This version also seems to have found success and traveled around the world attracting positive reviews from critics and viewers. The play includes two stories Secret Love and Peach Blossom Land. The first is a melodrama, and the second is a farcical play. According to the plot, the Theater director scheduled the two theatrical performances for rehearsing on the same time, which forced the two theater groups to use the stage simultaneously. Secret Love tells the story of the young couple in love who got separated and met during the perturbations of the communist revolution in China in 1946-1949. The play setting covers the last two years. Both lovers after ten years of separation have a family of their own, and the male character still longs for the romantic period of their relationships that are long gone. Peach Blossom Land is a farcical adaptation of an old Chinese tale Peach Blossom Spring that narrates a story of a fisherman who found himself in an unrealistic dream world filled with blossoming peach trees. There he meets the two characters who look exactly like his wife, who is openly cheating on him and her new lover. Except in this world, they invite him to spend his life there, but he refuses, being unable to forget his reality. When he returns, he finds out that his wife married her lover, and in desperation, the fisherman returns to peach blos
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected all spheres of life, and the sex industry is not an exception. However, when many businesses can function even if their employees work remotely, sex workers suffer from the restrictions significantly. The pandemic has disproportionally impacted the sex industry because governments have implemented protocols and policies to support most citizens but ignored sex work, which is criminalized in most countries. Thus, governments developed “public health services, emergency legislation and economic relief” for all other industries except the sex industry (Lam, 2020, p. 778). Such disparity negatively affects migrant sex workers who are excluded from any social and health services and, for this reason, cannot stay at home to survive. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions increased discrimination, stigma, economic burden, and repressive policies and excluded sex workers from the global pandemic response. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sex Workers When the pandemic led to mass restrictions and lockdowns, many people were forced to stay at home and work remotely. However, sex workers were left without any opportunity to earn for living. A representative of this profession, Sam, reported that the physical space where he performed his sex work was shut down while client interest decreased (Callander et al., 2021, para. 5-6). Many sex workers had to discontinue their work, thus being left without income. Still, some people continued to work because it was their only source of income. As a result, they experienced various punitive crackdowns, including home and workplace raids, increased surveillance, fines, arrests, and harassment (Lam, 2020, p. 778). Sex workers had to choose between risking their health and safety and earning an income to support themselves and their families. The sex work community was left to their fate, and they had to react quickly to the government’s responses. Impact on Human Rights The human rights of sex workers are often violated, and the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the situation, implementing punitive crackdowns against the representatives of this profession. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) (2020) stated that in some countries, increased policing during the pandemic led to “home raids, compulsory COVID-19 testing and the arrest and threatened deportation of migrant sex workers” (para. 6). The citizens of underdeveloped countries suffer the most. For instance, the Alliance of Women Advocating for Change reported 117 claims of women who were arrested within 14 days, 71 of them were arrested within 24 hours “through raids in Lira, Wakiso, Masaka, Kampala, Oyamu, Mbale, Nakasongola and Kasese” (NSWP, 2020, para. 2). Police officers harassed, assaulted, and blackmailed sex workers, thus violating their human rights and forcing the
Grade Level : 1A Subject : Understanding Text Types and Purposes Lesson Aim/Objective : Teaching students when to differentiate between various text types and purposes. The students have to understand the goals that a text pursues and the audience for which it is intended. In addition, the learners will have to learn to state their opinion when writing. Materials : The teacher will use two types of materials based on their purpose. The ones for laying out the rules will include a poster with key guidelines outlined in it and six slides with examples on them. The materials for students to train their skills will include exercise papers in which different types of texts will be provided, a small text the type o which they will need to decide upon, and an exercise in which learners will have to create a unique text of their own based on a series of requirements and with a specific text type in mind (e.g., an explanatory text such as a note to a friend). Common Core Standards : The outlined lesson plan is compatible with the CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.1 common core standards (“English Language Arts Standards » Writing » Grade 1”). Motivation : The primary motivation behind the suggested lesson plan is to encourage learners to understand the importance of discourse, in general, and guide them to being able to differentiate between different purposes of writing a text. Thus, the students will be capable of navigating their writing process easier and lay out their ideas and thoughts more accurately and coherently. Instructions/Procedure : The lesson will start with asking learners why they think texts are created. Afterward, the theory will be provided to them in the form of slides. A summative poster will be presented afterward. As soon as the students understand the key theoretical premises, they will proceed to exercises, which will then be checked. Finally, each student will write a text-based on the task, with the following analysis and evaluation of their writing. The lesson will end with the teacher explaining the home assignment to the students. Assessment Activity : The assessment will involve writing a short text of a set type. The students will have to create a convincing piece of writing by using a restricted number of words (50 maximum) to develop an argument. The evaluation of learners’ understanding of the topic and the very notion of text types will be evaluated based on their use of signifiers of the said type of text. In addition, the purpose of the piece under analysis will have to be assessed and determined accurately. The students will need to describe the purpose of the writing in 2-4 words. Since there may be variations in the description of the text purpose, the use of synonyms to the keywords linked to the text purpose will be allowed (e.g., in the explanatory discourse, along with the word “explain,” the options of “clarify” will be possible). Follow Up : The students will read each other’s stories and discuss their efficacy as a text with a specific purpose. Notes/Reflections :
Identification of all of the elements of a contract in detail Offer and Acceptance – PrintCo offers to sell 15 printing presses for One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) per unit. An offer reflects the expression of the willingness to undertake a bargain offered by another party to justify the offer and show that the item for sale is invited and the offer will be concluded. In this case, the offer was made to Worldnews, a company based in New York. Worldnews agreed to the offer and decided on the last price of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000). It is imperative to note that acceptance of the item for the offer may take place in many ways. It reflects the Worldnews’ assent to the terms thereof made by the PrintCo of Germany in a way that is required or welcomed by both parties. It is noteworthy that acceptance must maintain the terms of the offer between Printco and Worldnews. That is, no changes in terms are expected and any such changes may lead to cancellation or rejection of the offer. Therefore, any change in the offer implies a counteroffer between PrintCo and Worldnews, which both parties must accept before they can proceed with the sale. Mutual Agreement – The parties agree to use the UN Convention for C
As distinct from spontaneous forms of cognition of psychological phenomena, developmental research involves scientific methodology. Depending on the research problem, objectives, hypothesis, and so forth, an investigator selects and applies research methodology (Duncan, Engel, Claessens, & Dowsett, 2014). This paper will focus on methods and techniques used in cross-sectional, longitudinal, and sequential developmental studies. Cross-sectional developmental research is the most frequently utilized study design aimed at determining age-associated peculiarities of mental development. This research type is implemented to examine and compare mental functions and processes, behavioral characteristics, or abilities, such as verbal skills or IQ scores, of individuals from different age categories at the same point of time (Feldman, 2017, p. 295). Within this methodological framework, various research methods are used, including observation, experiments, tests, and others (Henry, Foss, & Ahl, 2016). Collected data are statistically processed to identify changes that occur in psychological development over time intervals. The main advantage of cross-sectional developmental studies is the possibility of obtaining results in a short time. However, this methodology does not provide opportunities to conclude on the dynamics of the development process, as well as its continuity (Henry et al., 2016). Another significant limitation to such research credibility and generalizability is a birth-cohort effect (Bleidorn et al., 2016, p. 408). Feldman (2017) accentuates that a cohort should involve individuals “who grow up at similar times, in similar places, and in similar conditions” (p. 295) while these characteristics can significantly diverge in participants from different age groups. Therefore, the validity and reliability of findings can appear inappropriate. Developmental research that adopts a longitudinal approach focuses on the evolvement of behaviors or psychological characteristics of an individual or a group of persons over time. Numerous observations are carried out during a sufficiently long time (Feldman, 2017, p. 296). In addition, longitudinal research involves simultaneous employment of other methods, such as observation, testing, psychography, and others. This method allows examining interrelations between individual and contextual factors, estimating their impacts on human development, and eliciting developmental sequences and causation (Anderson, Steen, & Stavropoulos, 2017). For instance, longitudinal developmental studies shed light on intellectual development during adulthood, changes in addictive behaviors in adolescence, and so forth (Duncan et al., 2014; Anderson et al., 2017; Feldman, 2017). Drawbacks of this methodology are associated with the considerable duration of studies. Mental and behavioral changes can be induced by random or dramatic events. Over the years, the sample of researc
Company Overview Bank of America serves individual customers, small and medium enterprises, companies and governments by offering products that include banking services, investment consultancy, asset management as well as risk management of properties and services (Reuters, 2013). Incorporated in 1998, Bank of America has five corporate sections: client and corporate banking, client real estate services, International banking, international market, and international wealth management and an overall section known as other (Reuters, 2013). Client and corporate banking involve deposits, card business, and corporate banking. This section offers a variety of credit, banking, and asset products to individuals and corporations. Bank of America has a presence in thirty-two states in America as well as the District of Columbia (Reuters, 2013). Its network involves over five thousand banking points, over sixteen thousand automated teller machines, call centers, and mobile access (Reuters, 2013). International banking section contains several credit-based products and services, working finance management and treasury solutions to customers, underwriting and consultancy. Some products in this section include business loans, charters, commitment products, trade finance, real estate credit, asset-based financing, and direct client credit (Reuters, 2013). Bank of America offers sales and marketing services, research for clients involved in fixed finance, credit, and equity products, among other areas (Reuters, 2013). International wealth and asset management offer in-depth asset management solutions to a wide range of ultra-wealthy customers. Services in this section include capital and brokerage services, retirement benefit plans, charity management, and asset administration for individual and corporate clients (Reuters, 2013). Bank of America’s “mission is to offer lending and investment products that serve low and moderate income individuals and families, improve underserved low and moderate-income communities and ultimately create sustainable practices (Farfan, 2013).” Concerning ethics, the bank “is committed to the highest standards of ethical and profes
Introduction Patients need to consult healthcare specialists to improve their knowledge about various medical issues they are facing and how they can resolve them. Primary care physicians and medical consultants need to share information to ensure patients receive high-quality care. The Shift Outpatient Model encourages healthcare professionals to communicate and share ideas on various issues facing patients in a healthcare setting. This paper will discuss the impacts of that model on healthcare provision in Ontario, Canada. The paper focuses on the analysis of the article that researches the model’s application in healthcare systems, which reduces costs incurred by patients (p. 826). Additionally, the model allows physicians and consultants to register positive results because they rely on evidence-based solutions to make important decisions. Thus, they are able to conduct proper diagnosis, and as a result, they give patients accurate medical advice. More importantly, the model allows both the physicians and the specialist consultants to agree on suitable treatment interventions that need to be administered. This approach encourages health experts to use their skills effectively to ensure that patients get high-quality healthcare. Summary Frost, Toubassi, and Detsky (2012) examine relationships between primary care physicians and other specialist consultants in Canadian healthcare settings (p. 825). Their article reveals that consultation processes are poorly designed in many healthcare settings within Ontario, and as a result, the patients are denied quality care. Primary care physicians and specialist consultants do not collaborate with each other, and this makes it difficult for them to perform clinical procedures correctly. Moreover, healthcare professionals’ failure to share information may result in patients getting irrelevant medical advice from consultants. This leads to negative health outcomes, which may be detrimental to patients’ wellbeing in the long run. Additionally, consultants’ inability to collaborate with other physicians denies them an opportunity to go through medical records to find out their patients’ history. They propose the Shift Outpatient Model, which guides consultants and physicians to cooperate to attain positive outcomes in their duties. The model encourages them to get involved in formulating primary care interventions in order to understand important clinical and administrative procedures. Moreover, the model focuses on diverse primary healthcare programs that need to be streamlined to improve the quality of services offered to patients. Therefore, a patient-centered consultation process adds value to healthcare and reduces costs incurred by patients whenever they seek medical treatment (Frost, Toubassi & Detsky, 2012, p. 826). In the long run, physicians and consultants acquire new skills that increase their competence in their practice due to their willingne
Rationale The news item chosen for analysis is presidential candidate, Mitt Romney’s wealth. This was an ideal theme because the presidential nominations are an important part of the country’s current events. It is insightful to know about how Americans receive information from their media sources concerning various campaign issues. It may have been reasonable to consider other ‘typical’ themes like healthcare and education, but these do not reveal much about the American psyche. They are also not as controversial and divergent as the topic chosen. Most analysts acknowledge that American voters are some of the most well-informed in the world. Additionally, they pay attention to some of the most unlikely qualities of a particular candidate. This interest can be seen from the way comments about Romney’s wealth have been linked to his campaign efforts. One’s net worth is an important issue among the electorate in this country, so the analysis will reveal how the information is dispensed in various media sources. Method The research started with newspapers, blogs and other articles that covered the election. At this point no clear theme or focal point was evident. Any issue could prove to be useful in the analysis; some of the topics noted in the media sources include “Obama’s foreign policy apologies”, “Leading candidates in the Republican nominations”, “Candidates’ health care plans”, “Tax increases after the country’s general election.”, “Republican candidates’ economic plans”, “Oil subsidies and their effects on the consumer”, “Gay marriage law in Maryland”, “Tax decisions in congress and many more”. In order to decide on the right topic, it was necessary to settle on those issues that affected all American citizens; therefore, a topic such as the gay marriage law in Maryland was automatically scrapped off since it was geographically confined. The concerned topic also needed to
Unfortunately, it is no easy matter to be a parent and raise a child in a proper way. Parental negligence is a widespread phenomenon affecting thousands of children all other the world. The root of all evils may be the parents’ natural desire to have free time. They tend to lose their vigilance all the time, letting their children do what they want. Apparently, it can be a good opportunity for a child to learn more about the physical world. Still, if a child is neglected infrequently, it can lead to unpleasant repercussions in future. An adult is expected to be prone to an inferiority complex if they were ignored or mistreated in the past. The Research Details This research proved to be amazing in terms of its observational potential. It was more convenient to resort to an unobtrusive observation because, not being a parent, it is hard to foresee what is going to happen and make a checklist accordingly. A natural observation may serve as a great source of material for future evaluation (USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, 2008). There were three places under consideration where families with children usually gather: an adventure playground, a cafe, and a zoo. Three situations in different locations are to be thoroughly discussed to illustrate the issue of the research. The Description and Analysis of the Situations Indeed, the observation at the chosen playground seemed to be fruitful because of children of different ages. As far as babies are concerned some of them played with preschoolers without any instruction from their parents’ side. It was a pity to see older children dominating the smallest ones. There was a case when a ten-year-old slapped a baby girl in the face. She burst into tears immediately, but her parents just reprimanded the boy, not trying to find his parents. It is generally agreed by psychologists that equals should speak to equals in such a situation. The parents of both kids demonstrated negligence by not watching their kids properly and not trying to connect and discuss the problem. No surprise that “recent studies show that parental negligence impacts the narcissistic personality and aggression among young adults” (Kanishka & Pandey, 2018). These two children are likely to have problems with self-esteem and public behavior public in the future. The main problem is that nobody can predict in what direction it will swing. Another example of parental negligence was observed in the chosen cafe. Three families were summoned to celebrate one of the children’s birthday. There were also twins who obviously felt that the adults did not pay any attention to them. As everybody forgot about their presence, the girls started surfing the Internet upstairs. Occasionally, they blocked the way by sitting on the staircase. As somebody tried to kindly ask them to leave, the girls