ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Attraction to beauty is one of the most common and natural human features which often binds us together and even gives meaning to our lives. However, different people might perceive it to various extents, experience contradictory and complex feelings about it. In Confessions of a Mask , the main character Kochan appreciates beauty and is strongly drawn to it, but male and female beauty has very different effects on him because the male company was forbidden for him when he was a child, therefore it comes to possess his feeling and attracts him even against his will. The early years of Kochan’s life with his overprotective grandmother have significantly influenced and shaped his psyche. He grows to be a very sensitive, receptive, and mentally alert boy. His grandmother does not let him play with other boys fearing that they would spoil her grandson, so Kochan is mostly left to himself. This is what deprives him of the experience of human communication, interaction, watching others, and makes him find solace and entertainment within himself. Being exposed to no one but himself, he reaches such depths of his soul, which are uncommon for most of his peers. He feels deeper than an average boy of his age, and it eventually brings him to a painful perception of beauty that is inseparable from death and violence. He finds beauty in unreasonable violence, the implicit menace of soldiers, the contrast between their fit and strong bodies, and the potential destruction they carry. Moreover, he is excited to sense their sweaty odor, hear them marching, which he explains to himself as the desire to get “the forbidden cartridges from them” (Mishima 9). The dramatic contrast between pain, suffering, and beauty in the picture of St. Sebastian arouses him and gives food for his fantasies, which further defines his relationship with himself, his body, and society. Kochan’s attitude towards feminine beauty is rather controversial and changes throughout the novel. When he finds out that the picture of a knight in armor is not a man but Joan of Arc, he becomes infuriated and loses interest in it, as the fact of a woman wearing men’s clothes offends his feelings. However, he also idolizes the feminine beauty of Cleopatra from the American movie and the Japanese magician known as Shokyokusai Tonkatsu. They both look exotic in their stage attire and unfamiliar to the traditional Japanese culture. Their aesthetics urges him to borrow his mother’s clothes and try makeup to look like them, but when he shows his outfit, his mother and the maid react to it as something inappropriate, which only tangles his way to self-identity and acceptance of his nature. Gill (2015) concludes that “by shaming him for his innocent experimentations with gender presentation and discouraging femininity in males, his family unwittingly shoves him into his first closet, where he must conceal his true passions or risk painful rejection” (5). Women that surround Kochan are devoid of the inherent violence, destructive power, and filth that fascinate him in males. He can appreciate their beauty but is unable to feel anything close to passion, desire, or lust tow
Introduction The goal of the US authorities in the sphere of health care and medicine is to support the public’s health and well-being. That is why, the main objectives associated with the goal are presented in such national program as Healthy People which is revised regularly to respond to the most important issues related to the sphere of the nation’s health and lifestyle. More than ten topics are added to the recent Health People 2020 program to address the changes in the people’s health and attitudes to medicine ( HealthyPeople.gov , 2014). From this point, the task of the local communities is to achieve the nationally identified health goals and objectives with the help of developing the effective health care programs which can respond to such issues as the lack of the physical activity, smoking, development of different types of diabetes, and obesity among others. Thus, it is important to focus on the approach used by the federal, state, and local authorities to address the nationally identified health objectives and to cope with the issue of smoking with references to the population’s health analysis and epidemiologic systems. The Issue of Smoking and the Nationally Identified Health Objective Smoking and tobacco use in different forms are often discussed as the causes of many diseases including the lung and heart diseases, respiratory diseases, cancer, asthma attacks, and problematic pregnancies. As a result, about 445,000 Americans die each year because of the development of tobacco-related illnesses. Non-smokers also become the victims of tobacco use because of the negative effects of the cigarette smoke on the people’s health ( HealthyPeople.gov , 2014). From this point, the general issue of tobacco use is addressed in Healthy People 2020 because smoking and tobacco use can increase the risks of the cancer development, severe heart diseases, and such respiratory diseases as asthma significantly. That is why, the government is oriented to complete such objectives associated with the tobacco use within the nation as the reduction of tobacco use by adults and adolescents, reduction of initiation of tobacco use among the young population, increase of the percentage related to smoking cessation, increase of tobacco-free environments, and the development of tobacco control programs ( HealthyPeople.gov , 2014). Federal, State, and Local Agencies Tasked to Address the Issue The issue of tobacco use and smoking is addressed by the special agencies
In Hegemony and the language of contention , William Roseberry puts forth several crucial directions for comprehending hegemonic dynamics using Gramsci’s Notebook section. According to the last part of the entry, hegemony works in a specific way. The character suggests that people utilize the idea to understand conflict rather than agreement. Hegemony, therefore, establishes a common tangible and substantive foundation for living, criticizing, and responding to social arrangements marked by dominance. The notion’s significance for Gramsci in this specific moment, more specifically the collapse of northern-led Italian political development, is rooted in its illumination of vulnerability, of coalitions and class constituents unable to make their personal preferences be the interests of a larger community. My personal hegemonic experiences might include the observations of skyscrapers in the business centers of the cities. Thousands of companies compete with each other for a fair share of the market. As a result, among the ways to show their dominance and leadership is through their headquarters. Skyscrapers are especially preferred by many, and the higher the building, the better. Another example of hegemony can pertain to a modern political situation that involves one country trying to show dominance over others. For example, while reading the news, I found out about the invasion of one country by a neighboring country. Hence, according to Roseberry and his narration, Gramsci grasped and stressed, more explicitly than his interpreters, the intricate interdependence of force and agreement in contexts of control. In Gramsci’s use, hegemony was a much more material and political notion than it seems to have become. He recognized its instability, imperfection, dynamic aspects, and fluctuation. Hegemony, therefore, refers to strength and leadership, though it remains a complex subject.
Limitations which arise from diversifying an organization’s operations are numerous. A good example of expansion is geographic diversification which entails spreading the business activities far and wide on a wide geographical platform. Some companies would prefer to run their investment portfolio on a local scale so as to benefit from a monopoly whereby the local markets will not be competitive. Financial institutions in such monopolized markets argue that diversifying their operations might result in intensified competition leading to increased overheads. However, in this paper, the question of why a financial institution’s profitability can be limited by geographic expansion is discussed. This is evident from the fact that financial institutions which do not venture into external markets eventually miss out on the benefits accrued from economies of scale. According to Jiatao and Yue, economies of scale refer to the expenditure merits that a financial institution obtains as a result of expansion (2008). This is in fact the main advantage of expanding business activities beyond the local borders. Financial institutions which cannot execute or diversify their business volume lose out on the possibility of minimizing costs. There are parameters that lead to a producer’s cost per unit of production going down owing to the large scale. Economies of scale have been found to significantly reduce the cost of production (Kim & Mathur 2008). There are a variety of ways through which a financial institution can diversify its scale of production. The most common is through setting up more units of the same firm in different geographical locations. This translates to geographical diversification (Kim &Mathur 2008). On the other hand, diseconomies of scale would inflict those financial institutions which do not have access to external or expanded markets. Ravichandran et al (2009) argue that diversifying a firm’s activities will reduce the risk factors alongside boosting its volume of output. They add that the main rationale behind starting a financial institution is to make profit. Although local firms’ operations enjoy a monopoly, this cannot be equated to the returns that can be accrued from untapped markets. Any firm wishing to expand its scope of operation can engage in economies of scale. Geographical diversification of resource inputs of a financial institution is very important as far as its profitability is concerned (Driffield, Du & Girma, 2008). Companies that are not capable to expand usually record low profit margins. One of the key areas where they miss trade benefits is on bulk purchases of goods and services through agreements that are long term. Moreover, these institutions do not get trade discounts as a result of buying in bulk hence their profit m
While the power of the consumer is generally recognized as being a defining force in the media industry, the relationship between media, advertiser and consumer is a bit more complex. The consumer can indeed control the market if it can be brought together within a defining context. This is a big if as companies work to both prevent the outlets through which consumers can gain accurate but damaging information about companies as well as blocking legal means through which workers might be able to gain help. The companies are not entirely to blame, though, as they are merely taking advantage of a natural human tendency to collect, trade and consume. In doing so, though, they also help to define and shape society’s expectations. Thus, companies in fear of consumers seek to control them by taking advantage of natural human traits and providing the media with accepted definitions and standards. The power of the consumer is widely recognized as the only force capable of making or breaking a company. If a brand is considered to be ‘in-style’ or ‘hot’, it can do virtually anything and get away with it through the use of a catchy slogan or big-name endorsers. This is the case with brands such as Nike and Neiman Marcus, both of whom have been caught utilizing so-called ‘sweat shops’ as a means of maximizing their bottom line. Jesse Jackson reports on a case out of El Monte, California in which “government officials raided a sweatshop filled with immigrant Thai women laboring for as little as 59 cents per hour for 16 to 22 hours a day. Discipline was enforced by threats of rape and beatings. The women were locked up day and night as they produced garments for Neiman Marcus, J.C. Penney and other U.S. retailers and manufacturers” (389). However, increased media attention into these sweatshops has made these large brands nervous, knowing that once consumers understand the true nature of what is occurring and rejects the brand, the company is doomed. Their only chance of protection is to encourage further lobbying on the Republican side to block or change laws that protect workers’ rights and the company’s responsibilities when utilizing subcontractors. However, they have another weapon in their arsenal which is proving to be much more powerful – the power of the media itself. Through a variety of means, what we think is directed by the media and all of the media is supported by these very brands that are undermining the values on which we base our lives. Whether we care to admit it or not, there is a great deal of truth behind the statement that we are what the media tells us we are. “Much of what we share, and what we know, and even what we treasure, is carried to us each second in a plasma of electrons, pixels and ink, underwritten by multinational advertising agencies dedicated t
Abstract Previous studies have revealed quite an interesting phenomenon that occurs in the semi arid lands in western United States. Sagebrush steppe ( Artemisia tridentata ) is a foundation plant in the Great basin of USA (Inouye 606). This species is ill adapted to the environment is usually vulnerable to environmental effects such as wild fires and other human activities. The destruction of this species often leads to alteration in the ecosystem thus facilitating the proliferation of exotic species. This study sought to determine how the removal of herbs and increase in nitrogen affects the abundance herbaceous vegetation. The study was carried out in a designated area that had earlier been divided into different plots that were subjected to different treatments as follows; low nitrogen, high nitrogen, no sage brush and a control plot whose conditions were not altered. The results indicate that the removal of brush and increase in nitrogen deposition leads to increased herbaceous vegetation. Introduction Sagebrush steppe is traditionally associated with western United States (Bechtold and Inouye 74). However, change in the vegetation in those areas has been influence by growing of crops and grazing activities. In addition, the presence and movement of domestic livestock has increased the spread of plant species that were introduced to this area (Inouye 606). Cheatgrass ( Bromus tectorium ) is one of the annual grass species that were introduced and has now spread to vast areas of the intermountain west (Baker 179). This annual grass species spreads easily because of its ability to complete its “vegetative growth stage early in the summer, leaving behind dry materials that burn easily” (Baker 179, par. 2). Thus cheatgrass is significantly associated with the cases of wildfires as its litter provides fuel for the wildfires. Several species of shrubs that are found in the sage brush steppe communities and more specifically sagebrush ( Artemisia Tridentata ) are ill adapted to fire breakouts (Inouye 607 ). Usually after wildfire incidences, sagebrush often disappears leaving behind a plant community that is predominantly composed of herbaceous species (Inouye 607). Studies have indicated that in various plant communities there is always one or a few species that have more access to water or nutrient cycling compared to other species (Rein and Berendse 64). This species of plants are often referred to as foundation species. Some studies have assessed how the foundation species i
Outline This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of a federal system of government. It is thus divided into an introduction, advantages, disadvantages and finally, a reference list. Introduction Federalism is a political philosophy where a number of parties are conjugated together by an agreement (Pierre, 2003). Federalism is a type of public administration system where power is allocated between a national or central government and constituent or provincial political units. Both governments derive their powers from a constitution. A federal government can either be centralized where the central government has broad powers compared to state or provincial powers, or a decentralized one where the scope of authority for the provincial government is comprehensive. Advantages A federal system has a greater scope for diversity and experimentation. Some states are more advanced than others, and this offers a platform for the federal government to experiment different social policies that can later be adopted. It allows development for unique and innovative methods of eliminating social, economic and political problems (Shafritz et al., 2008). A good example is Australia where Victoria State was the first to introduce compulsory wearing of seatbelts, and Queensland State which introduced a very innovative hospital management system. Uniform currency system is easy to create and manage. Common currency saves minting and production cost through utilization of a common central bank. Uniform currency stimulates economic growth since it favors ease of trade. Trade increases since as a result of elimination of exchange rates that keep changing from time to time. Incase one state experiences some economic hardships, the effects are absorbed by the rest of the states, and this is advantageous since its currency value would have decreased significantly if it had a different currency. A good example is that of Canadian states, where they trade more with each other than with the United States (Shafritz et al., 2008). A federal system must consider the different ethnic or cultural groups. Federal system allows people to differ from one another but is united by common goals and benefits. It must protect the minority and special groups. Different groups are allowed to maintain their cultural diversity and individuality, for instance Massachusetts did not have to adopt the ways of South Carolina and vice versa. A good example was constitution enactment in Nig
Introduction Research and development, popular referred to as R & D, is a word used to refer to a number of things. In business, it refers to the stages that a product goes through in order to gain popularity in the market. In other words, it refers to a product’s conception. For a product to be taken to the marker, baseline research should be performed to determine the viability of the proposal. Development phase refers to implementing the proposal about the new product. In this paper, the new product to be developed in the market is fish care, which is a new phenomenon in business. To implement the proposal about introducing the product, a number of things are to be performed including research, testing the market, evaluation, and implementation of the proposal. Technology has redefined the way aquariums are structured. From water supply, aquarium design and building, to water treatment, aquatic plant care, algae treatment and fish treatment, the new inventions have come to dictate the way it should be restructured. New designs of aquariums are coming up with better means of managing fish under such environments. As a firm in this industry, the best way to manage competition would be to ensure that new innovations and inventions are embraced in order to remain competitive. New Product Development Procedure Aquariums have gained popularity in the near past as a way beautifying homes, offices and other places of social gatherings. As Bailey (1996, p. 42) notes, flowers have been popular for a long time but as things stand currently, aquariums are fast replacing flowers as means of beautifying places of social gatherings. This is because aquariums, unlike flowers, are safer when kept indoors. Fish inside them are also more fascinating to watch as they move smoothly inside glass containers. As a firm, it would be necessary that new designs of the aquariums are developed, which would facilitate improved fish care system. This would help to manage market competition. This would call for new product development procedures to enhance productivity. Financial Needs Aquarium is a system that is complex . It requires proper financing in order to produce a competitive product in the market. New products should be made based on the idea that the product did not exist before. This means it is new in the industry. The process of coming up with a new pro
Introduction Animated films are popular throughout the world and they enjoy the viewership of millions of people from all age groups. Feature-length animated films evolved from the short subject cartoons that were popular from the early 1930s. The individual credited with introducing animations to the public is the renowned entertainment and media figure, Walt Disney. Disney Studios created the first ever animation feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It debuted in 1937 and the film was so groundbreaking that it received a special award from the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences in 1938. It was recognized as a significant screen innovation that created a new entertainment field for millions of viewers. Whitley (2013) considers the move to feature length animations as Disney’s single most impressive achievement in the history of animated film. This move was an ambitious and risky step by Disney since no other studio had attempted to produce a feature-length film. The project was expensive and failure would have been catastrophic to the company. Inge (2004) reveals that before moving to animations, Disney producers had to be sure that their artists, who produced comic shorts of a few minutes duration, had the ability to stretch their talents to fill a screen for ninety minutes. In light of the significance of Disney’s creation of the first feature length animation, this paper will set out to investigate the steps Walt Disney Studio took to creating the revolutionary feature length animation. Steps taken to Create Disney’s Feature Length Animation Story Structure The first and most important component of the animated film was the story. Norman Rockwell Museum (2013) states that according to Disney Studios founder Walt Disney, the story was the central and most important part of the entire animated film. With this in mind, Disney devoted significant time and resources to the development of great stories. To create a feature length animation, Disney had to come up with themes and plotlines that could captivate and entertain the audience over a longer period of time. A defining characteristic of the feature length animation was that it was longer than the short cartoons previously produced by Disney. However, Whitley (2013) declares that moving from short cartoon to animation was not simply a matter of expansion in terms of running time. Retaining the audience attention was paramount to the success of the animation. Walt Disney’s detailed attention to the plot and character development contributed significantly to the success of feature animations. The Norman Rockwell Museum (2013) reveals that Walk Disney understood that the success of the feature animation would largely depend on the quality of the story. For this reason, Disney set out to create animations that had the plots that could sustain the audience’s interests until the end of the movie and that contained characters that made the audience care about them. The successful story had a number of key elements that included the setting, characters, a conflict, purpose, and a resolution. Disney writers were taxed with coming up