ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Symbolism is a style in the literature that enables an author to enrich the content of his or her work. They do this by bringing into the literary creation an issue that the readers can easily identify with and at the same time must look deeply to unravel the hidden meaning. These meanings are embodied in common features within one’s society. In the book “Comfort woman”, the author Keller has incorporated several symbols and motifs that symbolize various meanings and symbols. In this essay, the importance or significance of the River or water has been discussed as a symbolic feature. Water or the river can be used for some reasons. First, it can be perceived as a cleaning agent; for washing the dirtiest of linens, as a source of livelihood, a sign of peace and tranquility. The physical side can also be taken to provide peace and security for people especially soldiers in war as was the case in Korea. The course of a river and its characteristics in various stages of development can also find symbolic meaning from the novel. During the useful stage of the formation of a river, it flows violently sweeping everything in its wake. It also creates new routes where there are barriers. In the middle stage, it deposits much of what it had collected while in the old stage it loses its speed and strength and gains depth as it enters a lake, a new life. This book is set in the post-war period in Asia. It is the story of the life of Akiko, a former comfort girl for the Korean Soldiers, and her teenage daughter Beccah. It highlights the traumas the mother Akiko goes through as a mother teenage and her teenage girl. The hardships that Beccah too goes through are also explored in-depth and her feelings are near an “abnormal” mother. It is her journey to understand her where she also creates herself and finds more about her mother’s lifestyle and job. Ironically in a painfully realistic way she finds that she has so much from her mother than she would have ever thought possible. The symbol of the river and/or water can be applied to these issues. The physical setting does not come out in great detail, but it crosses one as authentic. We can therefore safely assume that it has wonderful sceneries with rivers and other physical features. These are relevant in the sense that during the war the landscape and its rivers aided the soldiers in the fighting. They could use it to hide from enemies and to diminish their trials. The lives of the Mother and daughter can be interpreted in terms of a river that has fully developed from the formation to the old stage. From the trappings of being a sex slave to the soldiers to the birth of her daughter, Akiko’s life has gone full circle. The book is interposed with her life in Korea, how she left Korea, married the daughter’s father, and her subsequent life in the US. She discovers the high cost of human degradation, rape, and the brutal loss of self. Beccah comes to learn so much about the mother and like a river that has met a barrier, she develops a sense of
Tragedy as a genre supposes conflict and the inevitable end of the main protagonists. Figures presented in drama literary pieces are often flawed and have numerous destructive characteristics that lead to severe consequences. It is a complicated task to distinguish heroes among such characters due to the overwhelming amount of negative traits they have. This essay examines female characters’ representation in two ancient Greek plays by Sophocles and a modern play by Rita Dove that follows a similar structure. Ancient Greek mythology has a surprisingly strong cast of female figures. Jocasta and Antigone are characters of Ancient Greek plays by Sophocles. Both characters are close relatives, with Jocasta being the mother of Antigone; they eventually meet similar fates by committing suicide by the end of the plays. However, their reasoning differs drastically since the former ends her life because of the overwhelming feeling of guilt for her past actions, while the latter dies for her values. Jocasta in Oedipus Rex is described as a stereotypical ancient Greek woman; however, her stand changes throughout the play. The character is portrayed as a supportive wife who is obeying her husband without resistance and does not do anything without his approval (Sophocles, 2012, p. 22, lines 1030-1031). However, once she learns the truth of the new king’s origins, she attempts to minimize the damage. The character decides to hide the facts from Oedipus, ashamed of the consequences (Sophocles, 2012, p. 28, lines 1263-1264). Once the information can no longer be avoided, she commits suicide, knowing that her husband/son has realized his guilt of patricide and incest (Sophocles, 2012, p. 33, lines 1507-1508). Jocasta’s tragic end did not depend on her actions, rather on the unforeseeable sequence of tragic events since she had no major opportunit
Introduction The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is tasked with keeping the United States safe from domestic and international security threats. It accomplishes this mission by “coordinating across 22 preexisting agencies, reporting to a multitude of congressional committees, and interacting with the U.S. public in a manner that constantly tests the balance between security and privacy” (Nelson & Wise, 2013, par. 1). For the last one decade since its creation in 2002, DHS has mainly dwelled in ways of dealing with Al-Qaeda and the possibility of terrorist attacks. However, security threats keep on evolving and as the department enters its second decade of operation, it will face emerging challenges. This paper explores the future challenges in homeland security and defense coupled with highlighting the changes that DHS will make in the near future to improve its performance. Ultimately, the paper will underline the future global issues that will influence the formulation of DHS strategies and policies. Future challenges in homeland security and defense The threat of security is an ever-evolving phenomenon, and thus the future challenges in DHS will be different from the conventional ones. Nelson and Wise (2013) warn that the future security threats “are complex and multidimensional problems against which no degree of U.S. technical superiority in stealth, fifth-generation air warfare, or night-vision is likely to suffice” (par. 5). The major future challenges facing DHS entail how to deal with emergent threats like biological weapons, nukes, cyber-attacks, climate change, and geopolitical risks. The other challenge is budgetary risks. Biological weapons may seem like a far-fetched idea, but it is a major future threat and a challenge to the DHS. For instance, the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa in the recent months highlights the seriousness that a bio-weapon can pose to the American society and the world at large. Currently, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not have a vaccine for the Ebola virus. The National Biosurveillance Integration Center director, Steve Bennet, cautions that prediction of the spread of deadly viruses or bioweapons is unsurmountable currently (Nelson & Wise, 2013). Therefore, the greatest challenge in dealing with bioweapons is gathering timely and precise information on potential attacks. Even though the Defense Threat Reduction Agency has initiated research programs to improve data gathering, the research is taking unnecessarily long time to come up with tangible results. Therefore, as the DHS grows and restructures to accommodate emerging threats, it needs to invest in research to counter the threat of bio-weapons. The threat of nuclear wea
Currently, the Nile Delta is one of the most populated areas of Egypt, but this was not always the case. In the earlier periods of Egyptian history, this part had smaller territories, and the soil was less suitable for agriculture. This area is located 20 kilometers north of Cairo, where the Nile is divided into two branches: Rosetta and Damietta (Ikram 11). Further, these main branches are divided into smaller ones and about 200 km further to the north flow into the Mediterranean Sea (Ikram 11). The tributaries form a triangular area, about 400 km wide from east to west, which is what explains its name (Ikram 11). The number of branches changed along with climatic transformations in different periods of Egypt’s existence. In earlier periods, the Delta was a salty marshland that can now only be found in coastal areas. Additionally, the modern ecosystem is represented by several salty lakes near the Mediterranean Sea. In earlier periods, agricultural opportunities in the area were limited, and living was possible only on the islands of sand and soil that were common in the eastern Delta. Due to the limited amount of dry soil, settlements during this period developed on one or more small islands called turtlebacks (Ikram 13). Agricultural opportunities were limited, but the ecosystems provided the inhabitants with fish and poultry for food. Gradually, the number of waterways and marshes decreased, which made the Delta more livable for more people. The Nile Delta greatly influenced the cultural and economic development of Egypt. First of all, this area belonged to Lower Egypt, the most suitable for the cultivation of the papyrus plant (Ikram 12). This plant has been used in many different ways, particularly for papermaking. The Nile Delta, and in particular the tributaries located there, were also an important communication channel between Egypt and the Mediterranean. This aspect stimulated the development of trade with Europe, as well as links with the Near East through the Sinai (Ikram 13). The use of the Delta contributed to the active development of the economy in Ancient Egypt. In turn, the rapid economic growth has positively influenced the historical development of Egypt. The agricultural resources of the Nile Delta, as well as the possibility of developing shipping, became key aspects in the formation of Lower Egypt. The Nile, in turn, provided a channel for transporting resources to Upper Egypt, which contributed to the growth and development of all of ancient Egypt. Thus, the Nile Delta became a link between Egypt and other civilizations, as well as an agricultural center. The Nile Delta eventually became an important agricultural center of Egypt, where a large population began to live. In particular, the cultivation of papyrus made possible rapid cultural development. The paper produced from this plant probably allowed t
Select a current event that relates to Communities and Social Change. Describe the current event and give your opinions about it Changes in the community are inevitable given the rapid rate of globalization. Almost every country in the world has contributed to the invention of new technologies and ideas that put them on the same level as the rest of the world. Among the noble ideas brought up are those that aid in community and social changes. These help in solving problems in the community that were a hindrance to development. For instance, the field of education has had tough problems that have barred developments in most nations. Thus, most of the technological advancements in the 21 st century have been geared towards education. In this paper, one of the most recent events relating to communities and social change in the education sector will be looked at. This is the innovation of K-12 learning. The increasing unprecedented challenges in the education system are what lead to the need for an efficient learning system that will shape the future of global education. K-12 learning innovation is a form of virtual learning that is bound to bring technological advancements to the education system. For instance, under this mode of learning, students are tutored in groups of few students to enable increase efficiency in learning. The chance of having one-on-one interaction between the tutor and the student is increased. As such, tutors are able to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each student thus working on the weaknesses to come up with an excellent performing student. In addition to this, K-12 learning innovation entails working with goal-based instructions to the students. This makes it easy for the tutors to track the progress of the students hence intervene in cases of deviation from the expected trend. Parents of the students are also able to get the progress of their children and help in areas they can. Another major characteristic of the K-12 learning innovation program is that it offers online learning especially to students outside America. This is in fact the greatest achievement of K-12 learning in the field of education. Virtual learning is a new option for people who are committed in regions where they cannot access valuable education. The only requirement for this is a computer connected to the internet. Thus, the students get notes and access classes online. In some cases, exams are also conducted online through video connections such as Skype. In my opinion, the invention of the K-12 learning innovation brings about community and social change as it transforms the lives of students in a positive way. Additionally, it simplifies the learning curriculum, which has been deemed difficult by most students in the past years. What three technological innovations during the past fifty years or so have most influenced changing social patterns, in your opinion? As technological innovations emerge in various fields like
Switzerland, commonly known as Swiss Confederation, was established as a defensive grouping among three cantons in 1291. The country is located in Central Europe. A distinct feature that identifies it with other countries in Central Europe is the mountainous terrain. The three distinct mountains in the region are the Jura Mountains in the northwest, central plateau, and the Alps in the south. Switzerland lies to the east of France, north of Italy, south of Germany, and west of Austria. The total area covered by the country is 41,277 square kilometers. Land takes 39,997 sq. Km, while water covers 1,280 sq. Km. The land boundaries stretch for a total of 1,852 kilometers (Central Intelligence Agency 1). Switzerland is a landlocked country. This implies that it does not have a coastline. The country has a temperate climate that often varies with the altitude. Due to the changing climate, there is a variety of vegetation that grows in different parts of the country. The most common ones are alpine flowers, forests, tomatoes, vine, apricots, and scrubs. The most common types of animals that are found in the region are marmots, wild ibex, sparrows, chamois, birds, and swallows (Central Intelligence Agency 1). The country is located at 470 North latitude and 80 East longitudes. The capital city of Switzerland is Bern. It is located 46’ 55 N and 7’ 28 E. The modern political history has resulted in the creation of administrative divisions that comprise of 26 cantons. “The total population of Switzerland is 8,061,516” (Central Intelligence Agency 1). “The population growth rate is 0.78%, the birth rate is 10.48 births/1000 population, the death rate is 8.1 deaths/1000 population, while the migration rate is 5.43 migrants/1000 population” (Central Intelligence Agency 1). The sex ratio of the population is 0.97 male/female. The population comprises of four main ethnic groups these are, “German (65%), French (18%), Italian (10%), Romansch (1%), and others (6%)” (Central Intelligence Agency 1). Further, the country has four official languages, these are, Italian (8.3%), French (22.6%), Romansch (0.5%), and German (64.9%). Some of the other languages are Serbo-Croatian (2.5%), Albanian (2.6%), and Portuguese (3.4%) among others (Central Intelligence Agency 1). The composition of the population is shaped by immigrants from the European Union countries. The largest number of immigrants comprises of Italians followed by Germans. A similar pattern of immigrants is observed in other European countries. The median age of the population is 42 years. 78.7% of the population are aged 25 years and above. The literacy level in Switzerland is 99%. This represents the proportion of the population that is aged 15 years and above who can read and write (European Commission 1). The unemployment rate in the country is 2.9%. The citizens heavily rely on the servic
Hyundai decided to build a new automobile assembly plant in Alabama Globalization and international trade have increased competition among different players in the automobile industry; different companies are innovating and inventing technologies to strengthen their competitiveness. The decision by Hyundai Motor Company to build an assembly plant and Alabama is a strategic decision by the company, which was triggered by several factors both internal and external. Hyundai targets the regional and international market for its products thus when choosing a location for an assembly, it must consider the available transport infrastructure; Alabama has good transport and communication network that links the region to the world through water, sea, and road transport; this is one reason that Hyundai considered. Alabama population is mixed with both highly learned and semi-educated population, the large population in the area will offer much needed skilled and non-skilled labor to the factory. On its own, the region population will offer the market to Hyundai products. The government of Alabama has enacted legislation that supports new ventures; such incentives include tax holidays on income and capital deductions. Who benefits and who loses from the new plant in Alabama? One of the obvious beneficiaries of the new development is the factory itself since it will have an additional facility to produce more commodities. The commodities will also get to international markets fast because of efficient transports and communication networks. The people of Alabama will benefit, as the plant will offer employment opportunities; the government also stands to benefit from taxes and facilitated trade by the company, which will earn the country foreign exchange. The environment is the main loser in the venture since when the factory is producing; some wastes will injure the environment; however, Alabama has efficient environmental policies to curb damage from production plants. Competitions in the automobile industry will also lose some of their customers to Hyundai. Is the firm’s decision to build the new plant consistent with Dunning’s eclectic theory? The expansion is consistent with Dunning’s eclectic theory since the company is targeting the market and aims at riding at its reputation and strong brand name. The expansion is likely to be successful since the market is aware of Hyundai products thus they are likely to accept the venture fast. This will lead to an advantage for the company. Why is inter-industry trade not predicted by country-based theories of trade? Inter-industry trade means
“The Rise of the Creative Class” is a bestselling book by Richard Florida. The book provides useful insights into urban policies and the creative economy. The book has a subtitle that reads “…and how it is transforming work, leisure, community, and everyday life” (Florida 1). This subtitle highlights book’s ability to transform the views of both readers and policy makers. Florida’s book utilizes research findings to highlight the importance of tolerance, good lifestyles, and diversity when attracting professionals in one place. The ability of a city to attract highly qualified and creative professionals has been referred to as the city’s ‘sticky’ ability. According to the author, economic considerations are not the only factors that determine why people prefer living in a certain area. Several aspects of the city life are explored in this book including how livable cities are likely to be economically successful. According to “The Rise of the Creative Class”, the model of creating a successful creative city should not only embrace the advanced economic aspects of a place but also the ‘sticky’ aspects of that place. Recently, there have been various attempts to maintain the momentum of cities as productive urban areas. These attempts have seen various policy changes when it comes to urban development. Previously, most policy changes involved using arts and culture to achieve urban transformation (Comunian 1159). The need to transform cities stems from the reversal of industrialization that took place in the twilight years of the 20 th century. Most city-reform efforts involved big city-themed festivals and cultural events. Examples of these efforts include branding of the city during Barcelona Olympics with a banner that read ‘European City of Culture’. In some instances, city centers have been developed with the aim of achieving transformation. This was the case in the cities of Manchester, Birm
Influence of the past on future workplace It has been observed in studies that the organizational man or woman is not just a conscious, highly focused machine, but a person subject to both conscious and unconscious stimuli (Kets De Vries, 2004).This fact has been identified following research that shows although the human brain is genetically hardwired with specific instinctual behavior patterns, that wiring is not irrevocably fixed. This is due to the fact that especially in the early years of human life experiences result in rewiring in response to environmental factors. This occurs by formation of an interface between the individual’s motivational needs and the dominant environmental factors to define an individual’s essential uniqueness (Kets De Vries, 2004). For each person therefore, the unique mixture of motivational needs determines the character and contributes t the triangle of mental life. The triangle of mental life is a tightly interlocked triangle that consists of behavior, affect and cognition (Kets De Vries, 2004). To understand the human being as complex as they are it is crucial to begin with their motivational needs system (Jurin, Roush and Danter, 2010). This system provides the operational code that drives personality. This position suggests to some degree that all individuals are prisoners of their past experiences to some extent. An individual’s needs system begin operation at birth and continues throughout their lives though it may be altered by forces of age, maturation and learning (Kets De Vries, 2004). Some of the motivational needs are responsible for individual physiological needs, other are for needs for sensual enjoyment and lastly they also cater for need to respond to different situations. It has been noted that when we go to work we carry with us those needs and project them to our peers. As a result many leaders are likely to end up in a self destructive cycle of repetition due to the fact that their followers deprive them of crucial feedback (Kets De Vries, 2004). Due to this situation the leader is likely to be in a dangerous position as he or she is not likely to learn from the past as they will not learn about their mistakes. The ability of past experiences to influence organizational performance can also be the result of unconscious childhood reactions such as those influenced by revenge. The case of revenge has been suggested to be among the main reasons why individuals who adapt to dealing with childhood problems by revenge to develop a destructive complex known as the Monte Cristo complex (Kets De Vries, 2010). This condition is characterized by an extremely strong urge to dominate other p