ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Case This case involves Coleen Colombo, an underwriter who joined BNC Company in the year 2003. She has been doing very well during the first two working years and in fact, she performed beyond the company’s expectations. However, things changed when Colombo met a male wholesaler who wanted a loan. This wholesaler had filled incorrect home values, salaries, and even occupations. According to a lawsuit in a California Court, this made the loan questionable. The wholesaler even attempted to bribe her so that she could allow his loan to go through, yet it showed fraudulent signs. Sylvia Vega, a former wholesaler admitted that such bribes at BNC branch were a common practice. Sylvia left the company in the year 2005. She added that she used to make a lot of money each month following booms. This woman further added that underwriters demanded one thousand dollars when a client applied for the first 10 loans, and two thousand five hundred dollars, following the next 20 loans. The underwriter did not care whether the mortgages would be approved or not. Vega said that her commission was reduced the moment she refused to pay such mortgages. The loan files, which she had used began disappearing, and she would use it as an example whenever other employees complaining. Colombo said that when she informed the operation’s vice president about the wholesaler who offered her a bribe, the vice president did not take any action. Instead, he brushed her off while at a meeting. The senior underwriter felt offended, and she left in tears. She later went for a leave, and when she came back, she realized that some colleagues wanted her to be fired for complaining. After a short while, the same wholesaler began harassing Colombo sexually. As such, she was afraid, and she felt quite uncomfortable while at the work place. Another underwriter also admits that the company was an uncomfortable place to work. The case remains on hold to date since the company was filed for bankruptcy in 2008. The company’s spokesperson, however, denies the claims made by the former employees. The subprime credit went sour following stiffen principles of lending, increased credit lines, and the lenders had to purchase uncertain credit, which they had already utilized. The wholesalers had to look for new markets, following this unfortunate incidence. Case Facts  1. A wholesaler presented questionable loans to Colombo, the company’s senior underwriter, but lucky enough, Colombo realized that the occupations, salaries, and home values were incorrect.  2. The same wholesaler attempted bribing Colombo so that she could make the loans go through, and when she informed the vice president, he ignored the issue. She later realized that the loan files disappeared one after the other.  3. He also started harassing Colombo sexually, making her feel uncomfortable while at the work place making her feel as if she had become a prostitute. Justification/ recommendations Fact 1 It would be un
“Century upon century and only in the present do things happen” According to the story, Borges Luis Jorge lived in two different centuries. The narrator spent most of his time writing philosophical scripts. However, during these two centuries, Borges only saw perpetual political failures in his last century that was marked with different realities, occasions, and spaces. Based on Borges’s accounts, all these features depicted various realms and possibilities. Borges claims that the present century proved that life does not follow a single path neither is it a linear process. Unlike in the past centuries, the narrator observed that the current century had various recurring decisions and choices that he had to make to continue living. However, each decision presented potential consequences, which could make the future mysterious while the history to be immeasurable. The narrator implied that, unlike the previous century, the present century taught him how to make life-related decisions that could help him accumulate and discover the survival techniques in a world that constantly changed. In the present century, people have to test and generate both imaginative and real ideas to avoid facing challenges in life. Besides, the current generation values aesthetics and they will do everything possible to achieve the aesthetical values irrespective of the circumstances and costs. For instance, by examining the ancestral legacies, people living in the present century are able to discover various future possibilities through imagination, but they are threatened by death. The narrator means that time and space are incorporated in the current decision-making processes and the truth that generated the historical actions is revealed in the present century. The entire story explains this phrase because the present century has mysteries relating to the meaning of diversity and time. Nev
Short Case Analysis Nike is a multinational corporation that is headquartered in the United States and that specializes in producing athletic apparel, footwear, and equipment. Nike’s athletic shoes can be discussed as the most popular product offered by the company. The reason is that its market share in the United States is more about 50%. Nike invests in developing innovative designs for athletic shoes with the focus on such properties as appearance (or fashion), comfort, performance, and quality. As a result, the two main reasons why people buy Nike’s athletic shoes are their appearance and comfort which are based on the applied innovations and improved qualities. It is important to pay attention to the fact that Nike is a well-known manufacturer of sports footwear and apparel; therefore, the brand recognition and customer loyalty can be discussed as high. From this point, when consumers plan to buy Nike’s athletic footwear, they expect to receive fashionable and innovative shoes which have a remarkable design. As a result, buyers also expect that this product will satisfy their needs regarding the purchase of the most popular or trendy shoes. Furthermore, it is important to note that, in most cases, consumers also want to experience the level of comfort which is associated with the professional footwear produced for famous athletes. In this context, Nike positions itself as manufacturing footwear that can improve athletes’ performance because of its comfort. Thus, this footwear is valued by athletes, but it is also available for other consumers. Reason
Introduction Most coral diseases and syndromes happen as a result of stress. The stresses that affect coral reefs can include changes in water temperature, differences in the amount of ultraviolet radiation they are exposed to and the amount of sedimentation and pollutants that settle in and around the reefs. These issues have increased dramatically in the past decade, causing many scientists to be concerned as they attempt to determine the set of causes that are killing off the world’s coral reefs (Peters, 1997). Two of the more common types of coral disease are black band disease and coral bleaching. Main body Black band disease is noticeable on corals as it forms a black circular or crescent shaped band on the coral itself, killing the tissue underneath it. According to Richardson (et al, 1997), the disease is caused by a cyanobacteria working on concert with nematodes, ciliate protozoans, flatwords and fungal filaments. However, it is the cyanobacteria that gives the illness its black band characteristic. The disease is relatively common. After having been discovered in 1972 in Florida and Belize, it has since been found in Fiji, Australia, the Philippines and 23 other countries throughout the world (Green & Bruckner, 2000). As the disease progresses, coral tissue not touched by the black band appears healthy and normal, but tissue passed over by the black band, which moves as much as two centimeters in a given day, is left dead and skeletal, leaving room for other organisms to move in and begin infecting the rest of the coral tissue (McCarty & Peters, 2000). This form of coral disease typically attacks massive reef-building corals, but has also been observed attacking stony corals, sea fans and acroporid corals. Two corals that seem to be relatively immune to the disease include Caribbean staghorn and elkhorn corals (NMFS, 2001). Black band disease is usually more active when temperatures rise toward the end of the summer and when corals are stressed by pollution and sedimentation (Richardson, 1998). Coral bleaching is another coral illness that is typically caused by rising temperatures and coral stresses and typically occurs in stony corals. In this process, a stressed coral begins to loose its coloration, usually a yellow or brownish color, allowing the white skeleton of the coral to show through. This is, again, a disease that has seen dramatic increase in recent years as it has become prevalent in a number of different coral species (Glynn, 1996). Like Black Band Disease, coral bleaching does not usually affect the entire coral, but manifests itself in patches and rings throughout the community. It is believed to be caused by increased exposure to higher light levels, greater amounts of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, changes in temperature and salinity or high turbidity (Glynn, 1996). Bleaching affects the coral adversely by reducing the rate of skeletal growth, dec
The speech was delivered by Martin Luther King during the march in Washington in 1963. Dr. King’s performance is considered to be one of the most famous speeches in American history. Martin Luther King used commonly known universal topics to display the injustice black people faced in the US as well as to show their struggle for freedom, independence, and equality. Dr King begins almost every sentence in his talk with the phrase “I have a dream” (Rare Facts, n.d.). Repeating this phrase, the speaker expressed hope that one day black and white American people will have equal rights, and all children will have the opportunities to study and become respectful people. Apart from that, Martin Luther King stressed that only when all Americans are treated with respect despite the color of their skin, the US society will thrive and prosper. Summary of Alice Garza’s Speech on the Black Lives Matter Movement Alice Garza is a founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, and she knows everything about the discrimination black people face in American society. She starts her speech by providing some statistics, such as the number of black people imprisoned, murdered by law enforcement forces or the ratio of black women’s salaries compared with the ones of white people (Center for Constitutional Rights, 2021). Throughout the talk, Alice Garza displays the challenges and injustice black people face, proving that the Black Lives Matter Movement is extremely important for eliminating inequality. Alice Garza’s talk shows that black people still face discrimination in the US and throughout the whole world, in general. She gives examples of mostly black women who are forced to work as domestic workers, often without their consent. The video also addresses the fact that black people’s children are often regarded by the police and government officials as further criminals (Center for Constitutional Rights, 2021). The speech stresses the importance of acknowledging black people’s rights and claims that the Black Lives Matter movement is a demand for all people to value humanity and treat all people equally and respectfully despite the color of their skin. The Speakers’ Manner of Delivering the Talk Both speeches address the same issue that concerns the inequality that exists in the US society when it comes to the rights of black and white people. Martin Luther King’s speech was delivered more than fifty years ago, but Alicia Garza’s one proves that not much has changed since the twentieth century. When speaking about the similarities of the speakers’ manners of explaining their points of view, it is worth mentioning that both of them speak slowly and passionately in order to let the audience feel what they say. Though the speeches share the topic, the speakers’ manners of del
Federal Reserve controls financial activities in USA in order to safe guard interests of American citizens. This means that they control businesses to make sure that their citizens are given the first priority in investments. Then foreigners get considered after the locals have established their businesses. The author of this article explains how the Federal Reserve has cleared a Chinese bank to run its operations in USA. In fact, this has been the first foreign bank in history be allowed to take over an American bank. The industrial and commercial bank of China were allowed to buy high percentage stake in a bank which was a subsidiary of the bank of East Asia. There were other banks from China which were allowed by the central bank to open branches in Chicago and New York. These banks are bank of China and the Agricultural bank of China. These changes have been achieved due to the fact that American leaders have realized that they can trust investors from other countries to save some of their dying institution. Some readers term these as great achievements in American history. For instance, in 2009 the American government declined to allow a Chinese bank to buy a falling united commercial bank (Kurtzleben 24). This was due to strict policies put forward by the federal government leaders who believed that America can solve its problems solely. Current American leaders are considering allowing foreign investors into their country in order to get access to external market for their products. This can be achieved by first ensuring that the relationship is enhanced between target countries and USA. Many people were shocked because it was unusual for a bank from a communist country to take over U.S banks and their branches. Moreover, the central bank scrutinized Chinese banks before approving them to carry out their operations in American market. In fact, China had to maintain international standards in order to have its banks allowed to operate in America. This means that the IMF had to approve banking standards in China. Americans are bowing down to pressure brought about by globalization hence allowing foreign investors into their economy. C
Abstract The concept at the core of the poster is hate speech, and the example is the precise representation of various aspects of this concept. Although “The Office” is a mockumentary, which presupposes that the plot is fictional and intended to make the audience laugh, the episode bears some significant value being a lesson of how one should not behave towards others. The video can be used as powerful educational material if it is accompanied by the pre-watch instruction, questions for consideration, and a post-watch discussion. The following questions might be included in the pre-watch section “What do you consider to be polite speech and what would you call impolite communication?”, “Do you think the tone of the voice and the attitude of the speaker can have a great effect on the interlocutor?”, “Do you think adults can humiliate young people merely on the basis of having more experience?”, “In what ways, do you think, people can explain their dissatisfaction?”, “How would you explain to someone that you are unhappy about something without hurting their feelings?” A Detailed Rationale The reason for selecting the topic of hate speech is associated with the growing concern of this issue in the society. Scholars note that minorities and indigenous peoples are affected by negative remarks addressed to them either verbally or through other means of communication (Benesch, 2014; Gelber
Introduction Is the huge spending in the U.S military ethical and warranted? The justification of an act is based on whether or not the act in question adheres to the moral laws and the common good of all the concerned parties. The doctrine of military justice and the just war theory dictates that military spending and acts should not only safeguard the common good but rather enhance societal wellbeing, ethos and values of all interested parties. U.S military spending is ethical and fully justified since it aims to enforce law and order by ensuring that the military forces are well equipped to safeguard the common good of citizens. Military spending has in the recent past been a critical issue to most governments. Economic scholars argue that a lot of money is invested into the military to make it look more important than other key sectors of the economies of many states. The general view of the citizens of the U.S. is that a lot of funds need to be channelled to other sectors of the economy such as education, research, health care and clean energy. In this study, we shall evaluate the impact of spending on the military as measured against other sectors of the economy of the U.S. Background The United States government has over the years increased its national security budget even when it does not seem to have any external threats from its neighbours. Its military spending is equal to no other country with economic figures showing that the spending on its military by the U.S. is half of the total spent on national security around the world. Ethical argument on military spending The U.S. government is said to have spent 689 billion on military budget in the year 2010(Lamothe, 45). The mentioned figure has been on the rise for the last 7 years. The figure rose marginally in the year 2001. Other countries also respond to security threats in the same manner as the U.S when faced with situations of insecurity to their well being. It is worth noting that every other state can also be faced with threats to its security but the manner in which the national budget of every country is harmonized to meet security challenges is what is most important. Evidence based on figures The U.S military budget may seem insignificant since it is around 4.9 percent of the country’s GDP (Thompson, 26). Compared to other countries, the U.S. may seem to be using less than what it earlier spent on the “hot and cold war” times. However, by absolute standards, these are huge amounts since they constitute 5000 dollars per family. Compared to expenses on others sectors of the economy, the federal government expenditures in 2004 were 14billion for energy, 1.8billion for transit and railroad networks an
Corporate social responsibility is essential in this age of intense globalization and competition – essential for firms to survive in the competition and also important for firms, particularly banks, as major players in economic development. Industries have to respond to the call of environmental preservation and help in reducing environmental impact. CSR programs should include social and environmental activities, along with sustainability features. Sustainability includes motivation and encouragement in enhancing CSR activities. There are various programs promoting CSR. Firms have to choose which one enhances customer trust because trust will improve depending on the type of CSR being engaged (Pérez and del Bosque, 2013). Problem Statement   * A study indicates that banks and stock market actors are not interested in CSR (Arvidsson, 2014);   * Banks should implement their respective CSR programs;   * Banks are key players in sustainable economic development. Banks have to promote sustainable development which is defined as development that should consider the present and future generations. This was emphasized by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) (Scholtens, 2009), which formulated sustainability principles for businesses and organisations. The problem seems puzzling at the start. We cannot think effectively because we try to ignore our responsibility and focus on other organizational functions, profit for instance. If we do not plan collectively, we may not know what is going on. Each member and major stakeholder must recognize that there is something missing in the programs, objectives, and plans. We have to talk it out and be transparent with the stakeholders. A simple discussion of the organizational mission and goals can help us find possible clues in finding the problem that needs immediate solutions, or questions that need answers. We have to tell our stakeholders of the responsibility of the industry to the community and humanity as a whole – that CSR is part of our mission and goals. Nature of the study: Meta-analysis This research will use meta-analysis, which is similar to research reviews. These two tend to integrate knowledge on certain issues. Secondary analysis is also related to meta-analysis as it depends on existing information. Several authors use a combination of research review and meta-analysis (Hakim, 2005). Meta-analys
Introduction During the course of doing business, many organizations are often under much pressure to increase their performance levels as well as their productivity. This is evident in today’s business environment which is rife with aggressive behavior and rampant competition. Such situations force businesses to look for innovative means to give them a competitive advantage thereby assuring that they are not forced out of the market. However, in a bid to stay afloat, some businesses have been accused of conducting business practices that are not morally, legally or ethically right. Ethical behavior has always been assumed to be the foundation of a productive and well functional society. Despite this, business ethics have not been given much consideration and businesses have been subjected to little criticism for their ethical behavior so long as they did not break the law (Hendry 23). Ethics can loosely be defined as a system of moral principles by which social conduct is judged as either “right” or “wrong”. In business terms, ethics are moral principles which dictate what legitimate behavior is in varied business dealings (Hendry 15). While the public and government previously demonstrated little concern for business ethics, recent economic events have called for a more critical look at business ethics. With this in mind, this paper shall set out to explore ethical issues surrounding the Levi Strauss garment manufacturing company. The main focus shall evolve around business practices conducted both at home and abroad. To facilitate this analysis, ethical theories and schools of thought shall be applied to evaluate whether the actions undertaken by the company were ethical or not. Recommendations on how best the situations could have been handled shall be provided in a bid to correct the unethical practice uncovered throughout the case. Levi Strauss Case analysis An interesting concept when dealing with ethics is that there is no standardized approach to dealing with ethical issues as they all spring from very unique legal, political, social and economic backgrounds (Fernando 16). As such, there are no “uniform” ethical practices though there may be those practices that are generally accepted by the society. This vague interpretation of the word ethics is what makes ethical issues in business dealings especially hard to determine (Fernando 13). The case in point had numerous ethical dilemmas regarding employee’s stakeholders and rights to entry or exit. Considering the fact that the company envisioned a bigger market share and reduced costs of production through globalization of its operations, business analysts and ethics enthusiasts have differentiated views regarding the course of action taken by the company. By using the deontology theory, we shall analyze whether the company acted ethically or not both at home and abroad. Human right debates Ethical theories are the criteria that we use to make judgment as to the fairness or unfairness of actions undertaken regarding problems (Melden 9). The theories provide support to decision ma