ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Maya Angelou’s novel I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings documents the trials and harrowing ordeals that she experienced growing up black, female and ostensibly orphaned in the southern United States in the 1930s. Though classified as an autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings reads as a larger historical record of 20 th century racial oppression in general. The novel harkens back to a time when the black community in the United States suffered brutal economic and social subjugation, not to mention unrestrained violence, with minimal access to basic education, justice or human rights. The following essay analyzes Chapter 19 of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. A pivotal moment in the book, the action follows the World Heavyweight Boxing match between the Joe Louis and Max Schmeling in New York in 1936. This particular match became a loaded symbol for both blacks and whites of the period. Louis held the hopes and dreams of every African American in the United States. Equally, Schmeling represented white supremacy; a decisive victory against Louis was necessary to prove the validity of the socio economic apartheid that African Americans endured under the Jim Crow segregation laws. Angelou’s chapter gives the reader access to a moment in American history when both the black and white communities engaged in a symbolic competition to determine who deserved to be in charge, and also details the ironic aftermath of Louis’ victory. It is vital to understand that at the time, the laws themselves viewed through modern eyes would appear unconscionably racist. These laws found their justification in the widespread belief of the period that African Americans constituted a lower expression of humanity. Joe Louis therefore became a symbol for all African Americans of the period. They instilled their hopes in him to prove their legitimacy as humans, and to expose the injustice of the political system that oppressed them on the basis of skin color. Thus, a loss by Louis signified much more than the outcome of a simple sporting contest; it essentially exonerated the whites and justified their behavior. In Angelou’s words, if the black boxer Louis lost the match to the white boxer Schmeling, “this might be the end of the world. If Joe lost we were back in slavery and beyond help. It would all be true, the accusations that we were lower types of human beings” (Angelou 135). Angelou even elevates the stakes of the match to the spiritual realm when Maya admits that if Louis surrendered, it was tantamount to holy wrath. Louis’s loss would mean that “God himself hated us and ordained us to be hewers of wood and drawers of water, forever and ever, world without end” (Angelou 135). Chapter 19 demonstrates the symbolic significance of a boxing match that embodied one of the first covert forms of black social activism and rebellion in the 20 th century. Chapter 19 portrays a community unified in a desi
Introduction Most of the fruits or vegetables that are famous and grown in most parts of the country are daily used by the people in the whole country and each has got its function that it plays in making people healthy. Onion is grown in many places and therefore it is used most of the time. This onion has got a duration that it has to take so that it can be ready fiord use thus after the time it is planted to the time it is ready one has to know that this plant requires care just like any other plant and therefore people have to provide care that is required so as to produce accordingly. Onion is widely used by people so that it can bring taste to people’s food. Physically onion has got several layers that include the outer layer and the inner layer. When it has achieved its maturity this vegetable has got reaction to the user mostly people who are allergic this means that it can be used as a cure to certain disease that affect people. Main body Therefore this vegetable can be used to make certain medicines for curing people. In cutting this onion into pieces I was eager to know more about its parts on basis of the parts that can be removed and be planted and also why it has a reaction to people when using them. In cutting it I experienced this reaction to my eyes and therefore I had first to wash them so that I can continue with my observation. This created a negative impression because I felt that it does not have any importance to me to know its parts but due to the pressure that I had to surrender the required information. People like this vegetable because they are of different types for example there are those that one can use its leaves and continue using them over a long time and there are others that one has to plant them in the nursery after which then it has to be taken to the prepared land, this type has got its maturity time and has to be waited until it reaches its time so that it can be harvested. To reach the stage of maturity one has to take care of it because if it is not well cared for it will not bring the expected harvest. It has to undergo several stages before it becomes ready for consumption and they are: one has to get the seeds from the seller, then plant the seeds in a Well prepared nursery bed, then ensure that they are watered frequently, then after the given duration that these seeds have to take so as to be ready for planting then one has to take them to the shamba where they require water until a time when they are near maturity then one can reduce the rate of watering and then it is harvested and taken to the users. In cutting the onion I had to first prepare the tools that I needed like knife, I made sure that this onion will not be used after my investigation because it will not be safe for use. Then after cutting it I discovered that it has many layers and each layer has got a certain function that it performs in enabling the growth of this vegetable. This discovery was of help because I used it in my class work where by our teacher required information that was to be based on this vegetable ther
Advances have been made in expounding and relating interest rates’ term structure and liquidity premium theory. Better and impressive returns are obtained from bonds that mature after a long period. However, it is crucial to mention that illiquidity is a form of risk in itself. There are also long term bonds that generate myriads of risks according to the key tenets of the liquidity premium theory. Case examples include inflation risk and interest rate risk (Mishkin & Eakins, 2012). As expected, bonds will suffer low demand whenever there are multiple risks spread across them. As a result, their yields will be increased substantially. Therefore, there is need to cater for the increased risk and subsequently cushion buyers against any increase in yields. As already hinted out, long-term bonds are prone to several risks. According to liquidity premium theory, marketability of a bond or any other service product released to consumers can assist in defining liquidity. This implies the degree at which a bond can be sold out to a buyer in a secondary marketplace is referred to as liquidity. Hence, liquidity risk can be lowered by selling more liquid bonds. It is also the same reason low yields are generated by long term treasuries. The liquidity premium theory also asserts that when demand is superseded by supply, or when bonds become riskier, it is possible for assists to be illiquid. Pricing assets of this nature is also a cumbersome task bearing in mind that prices that were embraced by consumers in the recent may not be applicable at the present moment (Fawley & Neely, 2014). Debt instruments and bonds have a specific time upon which they are supposed to attain maturity age. This explains why preferred maturities are common among buyers and sellers who deal with debts. If liabilities can coincide with maturities, then it can attract several buyers. On the other hand, the anticipated income streams that coincide with maturities are highly demanded by bond issuers. According to this theory, debt instruments of various types of maturities that go along with demand and supply usually determine the yield curve. When it comes to maturities, there are three major categories that define the debt market. These classifications include short, mid and long term categories. When the prices of bonds differ across different market segments, it is usually occasioned by variations in the market forces of demand and supply. The latter also affects the expected yields from different securities. The current interest rates may also affect the margin of demand of supply. A drop in future rates is inevitable especially if the present rates re
It is evident that no living being can survive without eating. However, when it comes to people, not only the very fact of consumption but also the foods we consume and the ways in which we consume them make an impact on our lives. For us, eating is a process that can be very sacred, and it has traditionally been accompanied by rituals varying from culture to culture all over the world. In order to expand on the topic, it is reasonable to try to take a deeper look at the notions of tradition and ritual. According to Cameron, traditions are objects, concepts, or patterns of behavior that continue to the present from the past (163). What motivates this continuation is people’s attachment “to a quality of pastness,” which enables them to want to preserve something and carry it forward (Cameron 163). There is no tradition without a person willing to hand it down. Consequently, if rituals have traditionally gone hand in hand with eating, that means that people have fixed affections upon them accompanying the process. In its turn, the term ritual seems to be a more complex one. Crittenden, in the Food as Ritual video, notes that the field dedicated to the study of rituals presents a number of conflicting definitions of what it is. However, when using it in a discussion about food, ritual is considered to be a meaningful activity performed by a person in a particular way – be it a sequence or an accompaniment for an event. Crittenden argues that people need more than simply fueling – they need nourishing. That means the process of eating should be going with self-respect and a sense of purpose – and this is what rituals help to accomplish. One example of rituals that we follow without thinking about it is the Easter activities we engage in every year. When my mom and I, alongside some other members of our extende
Introduction Ovarian cancer is a disease that starts in and affects the female reproductive organs, the ovaries. It is a very dangerous disease and common cancer among women that claims a lot of lives as compared to other kinds of cancer that affect the female reproductive system. This is especially due to the fact that in its early stages, it either shows minimal nonspecific signs or none at all making it difficult for its early diagnosis and intervention which worsens the condition (Buist et al., 1994). This report gives an in-depth discussion of ovarian cancer including a description of its pathology, the methods used in its diagnosis especially the imaging methods, how the pathology looks like on images, the effects of the pathology on procedures, and finally its treatment and prognosis. Description of Pathology Pathology entails a study of disease including everything that pertains to it for instance the causes, its development path, symptoms, and the effects, what affects its spread or curing process among other manifestations of the disease. It is also termed pathobiology. Here is the pathology of ovarian cancer. Although the effect of ovarian cancer especially in terms of the deaths caused is well known, the exact cause is not known. However, several factors have been deemed to contribute to the risk of developing ovarian cancer, for instance, the lesser children a woman has and the later in life she bears children, the higher the chances of developing ovarian cancer. Bearing children reduces the risk of developing ovarian cancer. BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are also responsible for causing this disease though they contribute a small percentage. An individual’s or family history may also boost ovarian cancer occurrences. Age is also an issue of concern as ovarian cancer tends to be suffered much by older women who are 55 years of age and above as opposed to the rate in the younger women. Its existence in women below the age of 40 years is minimal. Pills administered for birth control also reduce the risk of developing ovarian cancer (National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 2009). According to Fayed (2010), there are common known factors that tend to increase the risk of ovarian cancer. It is for example a disease that is common in women who have reached menopause, have a family history of either breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or colon cancer, or those who had suffered from breast cancer sometimes back, have not borne any children, suffer from obesity, have undergone a therapy that entails estrogen replacement, have used some fertility drugs for long periods among other factors. Although ovarian cancer originates from the ovary, it affects other parts of the body as it spreads out for instance to the pelvic region, the intestines, and the lower part of the back. The symptoms of ovarian cancer are usually hard to be identified durin
Introduction The decision by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in 1996 to cancel the debts of 26 heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) that were undertaking reforms outlined, under the HIPC initiative, to decrease their degrees of poverty which led to heated debates between experts in development policy around the world with some supporting it and encouraging other Western nations to follow the same steps while some criticized the move vehemently. The underlying principle behind the move was that heavily indebted poor countries that were making modest progress in lowering their poverty levels merited a cut in their debt burden so that they could have a temporary break to try to escape poverty while preventing them—once and for all—from restructuring their perpetual debt (Williamson, Nancy, and Deese, 34). The move by the IMF and World Bank was followed by Paris Club, a group of official lenders who met in Paris, which decided to take the terms laid down in Naples in 1994 one step further and give an 80 percent reduction in the net present value of their debt servicing. Since then, this initiative has gained momentum particularly after it had been taken up by the G7. In 1998, a consensus was reached to cut HIPC’s debt servicing by a further $50 billion; in return, these countries were to accelerate their domestic programs to fight poverty. This move led to a debt waiver of up to $40 billion by 2002 with more nations joining the program. Recently, the UK pledged to cancel hundreds of millions of pounds owed to it by a number of the nations that belong to the HIPC group. The move followed a similar one by the US (“Should more countries cancel the debt?”). Anti-poverty crusaders have welcomed both moves. Is this a positive step in th
The following procedure is provided to establish a clear direction for resolving problems concerning an employee’s substandard performance. A nurse, Susie, has shown the lack of acceptable work performance and chronically unsatisfactory results that prevent her from maintaining job standards. When necessary, our medical establishment reserves the right to charge a disciplinary action against employees who willingly violate established organizational rules (Traynor, Stone, Cook, Gould, & Maben, 2014). Disciplinary measures include:   * Initial counseling   * Oral warning for minor offenses   * Written warning for more severe violations   * Suspension without pay as a means to demonstrate the insufficiency of previous warnings   * Discharge Initial counseling was used as the first step in correcting the nurse’s unacceptable behavior. The supervisor nurse reviewed the pertinent facts with the employee and made a reprimand regarding Susie’s complaints about other workers and poor performance on September 14. The fact of ill performance was brought to the supervisor nurse’s attention on September 15 by Helen, a charge nurse. The occurrence of violations, however, did not stop at that stage. On September 16, two other employees, Fred and Cindy, brought another issue to the supervisor’s attention stating that Susie’s low performance was still evident. Based on their report, the second step was taken, and Susie was given an oral warning. Both the current unacceptable behavior and the employee’s past performance were considered and closely discussed. The case was documented by the supervisor in the employee’s file. Probation was postponed on the condition that there would be no further violations. A report provided by a charge nurse, Helen, on October 1 showed that Susie was still barely performing her work duties. A charge nurse insisted that Susie was not getting along with the team members and that stricter punishment procedure was therefore required. The supervisor then moved to the third step of disciplinary action: the written warning. The warning clearly stated the safety policy that was violated and the measures that the employee must take to return to standard performance. The procedure was documented following the existing standards of work for medical units. Another issue was observed on October 2, when two employees, Fred and Cindy, reported Susie had not been performing her tasks the night before. The issue led to an immediate reaction, and the nurse was subject to the fourth stage of disciplinary action: suspension without pay. The supervisor nurse, Helen, placed the employee on probationary status subject to dismissal. However, the measures that were taken still appeared to be insufficient to improve the nurse’s behavior. The occurrence that took place on October 10, when Susie quarreled with her teammate, Charlie, led the supervisor nurse to take the measure of last resort. Thus, the decision about the employee’s discharge was made on October 10, based on repeated misconduct, poor performance, and violation of the basic safety rules (Harcourt, Hannay, & Lam, 2013). The example above demonstrates that
The norm that I have broken for this assignment refers to going into the right bathroom. I chose it to keep track of men’s reactions to women in their restroom. Additionally, considering recent changes to society’s perspectives on gender and self-identity, it was interesting to see whether my use of the seemingly wrong bathroom would cause any questions. Sex-separated toilets have existed for many decades and in different societies. As per historians, multiple myths surround the very first account of sex-segregation in public restrooms, and gendered bathrooms existed long before 1739 (Carter, 2018). There are several reasons for this norm, including ensuring privacy and preventing sex crimes against women and girls (Carter, 2018). Before breaking the norm, I was a bit anxious and feared that my behaviors could result in others’ aggression. During the experiment, I was relatively calm, although the feeling of violating men’s privacy made me uncomfortable. After breaking the norm, I did not feel anything special because others thought it had been a mistake. Last week, I went to one local shopping mall to conduct the experiment and entered men’s bathrooms on three different floors just to wash my hands and brush my hair. All bathrooms were clean and neat, and there were not many people inside. There were large printed signs on the doors to indicate whether the bathroom was for men or women, and each toilet also had accommodations for those with disabilities. My appearance resulted in different but tactful reactions, mostly from men of the older age. During the first entrance, some men were obviously surprised by my behavior but said nothing, probably assuming that it had to deal with my identity. Thus, I was able to wash my hands in front of them and leave. During the next two attempts, bathroom visitors told me that I must have entered the wrong bathroom and asked me to leave
Introduction Being, perhaps, one of the most famous short stories written by Poe, “The Fall of the House of Usher” is often considered his crowning achievement in creating the realm of horror and insanity. The short story is praised for a number of reasons. However, it is the subtle line between the madness and the mundane of 19 th -century England that creates a surreal environment and builds up the tension that is finally resolved at the end of the short story. Analysis A closer look at the narrative shows that a range of literary devices is used to blur the line between what is real and what is unreal. For instance, the symbolism of the short story contributes to the unrealistic experience, whereas the passages that do not contain any symbolic messages create a juxtaposition that sets a very uncomfortable mood (Jones 11). In particular, the scene in which the narrator describes the interior of the house shows the twofold nature of its environment: the “Gothic archway of the hall” (Poe 3) contrasts sharply with the “vivacious warmth” (Poe 3) of the host and his, initially, joyful attitude. The scene mentioned above serves as the gateway to the insanity into which the lead character spirals as the horrendous story of a woman buried alive unfolds in front of him (Bloom 171). Similarly, the surreal realm of isolation in which the protagonist is trapped in the story contributes to the development of a mysterious environment in which reality is mixed with out-of-this-world elements. For instance, the description of the house interior also renders the feeling of crippling loneliness and isolation from the rest of the world, which becomes especially explicit in the following passage: “immensely long and rectangular vault or tunnel, with low walls, smooth, white, and without interruption or device” (Poe 3). The reference to Madeline being buried alive that shines through the description of the vault seems to serve as a thin barrier between the reality and the irrational emotions that overwhelm the lead character, making him eventually give in to his insanity (James and James 15). The way in which the author compares past and present can also be viewed as a means of drawing a line between the surreal environment of the house, and the elements of reality that work their way into the dark and gloomy realm of the House of Usher (Jackson 29). The author’s vivacity and curiosity are made explicit at the beginning of the short story, even though he is evidently wary of the house and its mysterious look: “I scanned more narrowly the real aspect of the building. Its principal feature seemed to be that of excessive antiquity” (Poe 2). However, as the story starts to unravel, the protagonist changes, gradually becoming depressed and obsessed with the horrific mystery of the house and its residents: “An intensity of intolerable awe” (Poe 5) both astonishes and frightens him. Thus, the lead character walks the road from sanity to madness throughout the short story (Punter 487). Conclusion Poe uses a wide range of tools to create an uncomfortabl