ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Executive Summary A new phenomenon emerged recently in which companies like Netflix and Blockbuster give DVDs on rentals to their customer on a monthly subscription basis. It seems quite appropriate to use the SWOT model for analyzing the potential of Netflix, Blockbuster, and Video-on-demand. Developing proprietary software technology by Netflix called Cinematic, enabling consumers to personalized movie recommendations. The marketing of DIRECTV system equipment by Blockbuster in its U.S. stores poses a threat to the market share of Netflix. Netflix has changed the video store rental industry forever and has shown no signs of slowing. Recently, Blockbuster has been in liquidation mode, they closed 131 stores. It helps bring online customers back into the store and offers Blockbuster an opportunity for their online subscribers. If Netflix wants to raise prices, Blockbuster would like to follow, but Netflix has hinted that they might go the other direction. Freeberg (2006) notes that Blockbuster had begun mailing DVDs from their retail stores, but Netflix also began work on their secret strategy. Netflix did indeed compete successfully on price. Blockbuster’s overhead is twice this amount, but the difference between Blockbuster’s overhead (around 50% of sales) and Netflix’s (around 35%) isn’t that great. If Blockbuster can increase store efficiency (smaller footprint), it becomes more competitive. Background The introduction of sound and color were two important technological developments for the film industry. Recent developments in technology – Imax, satellite transmission, fiber optic cable, VCRs, DVDs, pay-per-view systems, digital signal transmission and compression, interactive multimedia systems, Internet delivery, and high-definition television add alternative distribution mechanisms. These developments are lengthening the post-release earnings profile of a film while encouraging more varied production. The DVD represents a quantum leap over video technology in portability, capacity, robustness, and cost, and has resulted in a sequence of vertically differentiated releases. The DVD makes the alternative of marketing some films directly to the public even more attractive. Situations Analysis Organizations and contracts adapt to technology. As video rentals and sales increased in value, the video release window was split into two – a video rental window and then a video sell-through window. To encourage video rental stores to offer more copies during the rental window, a sharing contract was developed. Before these changes could be fully absorbed and exploited, aggressive DVD pricing increased the importance of sell-through and decreased the attraction of sharing for rental outlets. New developments may facilitate separating sell-through and rental audiences. A new phenomenon emerged recently in which companies like Netflix and
Introduction The World University Service of Canada (WUSC) held the 65 th Annual Assembly like it used to do every year, in the course of the convention of the International Forum. In attendance were the WUSC members who were made up of the Resident Committee, representatives from different organizations and institutions as well as former students who came from different states all over the country on the weekend of November 1 – 3, 2012 in Washington DC. The meeting was chaired by Chris (EatonFriends of the Selby Public Library, para 2). Organization History Established in the 1920s by scholars and instructors dedicated to realizing social change following the end of World War I, The World University Service of Canada, WUSC is a prominent Canadian development agency, whose main emphases are on human development and worldwide acceptance through improving and highlighting challenges faced in the education sector. The scope of members, whether institutional or individual, is built around the aspect of exchanging information and a wide range of expertise (George, para 1). Mission Statement “We believe in the potential of all people and we trust that with the right knowledge, skills and experience, people will find ways to provide for their families, build strong communities, and affect positive social change for future generations” (WUSC, para 1). WUSC main focus is on exploiting its efforts on harnessing the ways in which education can make a positive impact to the world. As such it looks out for the marginalized groups in society to provide support in the areas of health, education, economic and social growth. Approach Improving the living standards of the vulnerable in society is achieved through volunteerism, leadership training of the youth and partnering with the government, other institutions and organizations (Mansbridge, para 1). Values WUSC is built around a number of values; Integrity which focuses on being accountable for programs and projects runs under the institution. Inclusions where people are not marginalized because of their ethnicity, occupation or lifestyle but are wholly involved in the development acceptance, as their contributions are highly valued. Reciprocity is responsible for improving the education and expertise of staff, affiliates and members who will in turn contribute to developmental issues in their communities. Sustainability focuses on result oriented approach to whatever programs and projects are
The “plural executive” structure as practiced in Arizona is different from the national executive structure in that several officials, as opposed to one official, are in charge. In the national government, however, the president acts as the single elective head and is assisted by several appointed subordinates. Top on the list of the Arizona executive branch is the governor (Arizona State Legislature, n. d.). Then, we have the secretary of the state below the governor, followed by the attorney general. Below the attorney general is the treasurer, while the superintendent of public instruction is at the bottom of the ladder. The other two positions considered are a state mine inspector, as well as a commission made up of five people. The governor has the power to hire and fire departmental heads. In addition, the governor also influences the budget process of the state. This means that the governor also influences how the members of the state get access to public funds. The minimal requirements for executive branch members are that they are not less than 25 years of age. In addition, the members must have been citizens of the United States for 10 years, five of which are as a resident of Arizona, the members (Arizona State Legislature, n. d.). I believe that the current qualifications for members of the plural executive in Arizona are sufficient because they facilitate the election of a candidate who has the best interest of the state at heart. Historically, the executive powers were broadly dispersed and even today, this perspective is still valid and useful. This is because corruption can be reduced by having multiple elected officials. For example, territorial officials are widely known for abusing power. In the case of a plural executive branch, the multiple electe
Introduction The Italian Jesuits Movement is religious movement that was started by St. Ignatius in the sixteenth century. At the time of its start, it had few members who later invited more people to join them as they prepared to extend their mission of spreading the gospel. The recruits knew nothing in regard to the principles of the Jesuits; they were referred as brothers though some were elderly. They were later to become priests after gaining some experience in spreading the gospel and all that pertained to this movement. The Jesuit Movement According to McKevitt, the members of this group took vows of chastity, obedience and poverty. This was because they wanted to be Christ-like through imitating what Jesus Christ did in his time. In nineteenth century, there was a contradiction on how far the Jesuit could enjoy life and materials. The Italian Jesuits were not for the idea of fully denying themselves some of the materials, however they listened to John Henry one of their superiors when he visited them and explained to them why they were to enjoy life less. This movement also considered choosing not to marry as a higher step of choosing to serve God more as they had wished and they valued this despite the alternative advice they were given by the Protestants and non-believers. The Jesuits’ Contribution to America Education The Italian Jesuits contributed a lot while traversing America; they preached to Native Americans who later joined them to work as missionaries and were placed in responsibility positions over the parishes that were opened as a result of the large numbers of converts that were gained. The Italian Jesuit assisted in modifying the American culture through creating awareness on arts and related areas that the Americans did not know or knew very little about. This brought about a dramatic change not only in America but also in other parts of the world in the 1960s. Through music, theater, creative writing and visual arts, the Jesuits were able to increase the awareness of the Americans on the significance of art in the society. More to this, their actions were gaining popularity hence paving a way for them as they embarked on evangelism (Udias 1). According to Malley, the Jesuits started some primary and secondary schools and colleges; these were crucial in civilization at this period of time. The studies in these learning institutions became influential to the people since they addressed pertinent issues in the then society; one of the issues was the place of females in the society. These schools enrolled those who were willing to join the mission work and also those who were willing to develop other careers. The Jesuits were determined to educate the Native Americans and they spent most of their time in classes to fully assist those who were willing to learn (Malley 1). According to McKevitt, through getting involved in teaching colleges such as Georgetown College, the Jesuits had invented a way to educate the natives on what they believed in. This was a
The website Writing Assistance Inc. contains resources that are invaluable for established or aspiring technical writers. The available information is important and crucial in solving writing-related challenges in all professions that involve technical writing. These resources can equip technical writers with unique skills and competencies that are required for a professional to realize his/her goals swiftly. If these resources are used effectively, they could prove invaluable to the writing process as a whole. The resources are diversified to cater to the specific needs of technical writers. The perfection of technical writing as a tool used by professionals in communication can be realized if expert writers and writing bodies are used. Consulting experts makes it possible for a writer to equip him/herself with the required skills in specific areas such as business analysis and strategic planning. An example of a resource that provides succinct expert advice is the International Computer Consultants Association which was established in 1977. ICCA gives technical writers different approaches that could be used to create a great business relationship between a professional and his or her clients. Factors such as the format or manner in which documents are presented have a great role to play in ensuring that a person attains professional success. ICCA has software engineers and database specialists who maintain the communication systems. The site has information about the United States Legislation Systems. Technical documents should be well-organized and free from ethical errors and/or mistakes. This can be achieved if technical writers consider existing regulations or policies that govern technical writing. These policies can be accessed in resources such as the Trade Association Business Publications International. Error-free documents are crucial in business because they put a person ahead of the competition. This is because such documents portray a person as an established professional that takes his/her work seriously. Technical writing can also be used professionally as a source of income. According to the US Labor Handbook published in 2003, technical writing jobs constituted about 18.7% of all writing jobs in 2002. The number of technical writing jobs has been increasing steadily since 2002. There is, therefore, a good future for technical writers. All technical writings are affected by legal issues such as copyright. Technical writers need to be informed of the provisions in law about copyright issues. There are highly informative sites such as Copyright Basics, which are full of relevant legal information that would help a technical writer to face legal issues that may arise as a result of publishing technical documents. Copyright Basics has recently updated information. It was last updated on July 11, 2012. It has case studies that technical writers would find beneficial.
The Changing American Family Compared to the past, the recent American family has changed remarkably its attitude to married life. Women give birth at a mature age, and many adults now recorded to be single. The married couples also give birth to a few children, and single individuals both men and women get children out of marriage. Those family trends in the US, as well as increasing levels of divorces, confirm that marriage has lost meaning or value to citizens. This clearly shows that the government pays very little attention to marriage (DeSilver, 2013; Livingston & Cohn, 2013). Promoting Marriage by the US Government The US government should intervene and employ the most effective measures to promote the institution of marriage. The government should join hands with other think tanks to set laws, administrative regulations, and allocate budgetary financing to fund marriage promotions and parenthood programs. Thus, they should create awareness, inform, and influence the US citizens to value marriage. The funds can be used in public advertising campaigns and institutional education programs that promote the values of marriage. This can help in informing, creating awareness, and influencing the US citizens to appreciate marriage institution. Students and the young generation can be prepared for marriage and take it positively because of the value of marriage instilled in them through the educational programs in schools (Livingston & Cohn, 2013). The government funds can also be invested in marriage education for the non-married individuals. Most adults, particularly those who are not married, end up as single parents. The existence of marriage licenses in the US is impractical in protecting interpersonal relationships. Children born out of wedlock are denied inheritance rights, parental support, and legal support because their parents are not married (Coontz, 2007). In other words, the US government should find ways to ensure that prolonged inter-relationships of individuals are considered as marriage and not just mere relationships. This can ensure that people get into relationships that lead to marriage rather than taking advantage of each other without considering the security of their children when they separate. This can be achieved if the government formulates or enacts laws that favor married individuals compared to unmarried individuals. The US government should also fund premarital learning programs, and life skills training for couples intending to get married. The same should be extended to individuals who have an interest in getting married. The increase in divorce cases in the US is a result of people lacking skills in handling their married lives. The partners are likely to stay together for their entire lives if education and skills on how couples should treat each other is provided. The premarital education and marriage skills training must be designed in a manner that influences couples to value marriage. The funds should also go to married couples programs to enhance their marriage and gain marriage skills (Himmelfarb, 1996). This way
Introduction Information refers to a piece of data or a message that needs to be passed from one individual to another. A system is a combination of interrelated items that work together to achieve desired objectives (Peng, 2009). Information Systems refers to a combination of information, the people concerned and the technology that supports the operation. It also involves the management of information (storage, transfer, interpretation and consumption of the information) and the decision-making process. International Information System refers to the information system that is able to support the communication and coordination of persons at local and international levels. Information needs to be transferred from one individual to another for it to be meaningful. The process of passing information from one individual to another is referred to as communication. Communication is very important. Kaplan (2009) argues that communication is the only way that an individual can make known what is in his/her heart to another individual. In the business world, nothing can transpire without this vital component. The only link between a firm and its customers is communication. Through this, a firm will make known what it offers to the market. It will also need this business component to pass other pieces of information to the target market. The customer on the other hand needs communication in order to be aware of firms offering products that satisfy their needs in the best way possible (Muniz & Guinn, 2001). In the corporate world, information is the link among organizations in an environment where effective communication is the key to success. For this reason, there is need for organizations to understand the information system in totality and its relation to the global environment. Firms need to appreciate the need for information officers and the importance of their role towards the success of an organization in its operations. The senior management team, led by the chief information officer, must understand and be ready to tackle challenges that come with information technology. They need to be in a position where they can predict these challenges and design concrete measures that can respond to them as they come. Need for International Information System: Benefits Globalization has heightened the need for information system. Firms that operate in international markets cannot do without communication. They need the information system in order to understand and operate in the increasingly competitive market. Transportation technologies have incorporated information systems in such a manner that a firm is able to trace movements of products or raw materials from one location to another (Enns & Huff, 2000). When effectively structured, a firm will be in a position to trace the movement of these products and be alerted in case of any complications or inconveniences. This creates a situation where the firm will be moving along with the products, not physically but via information, and be in a position to determine the timeli
“Sonny’s Blues ” is a story that revolves around two brothers who seem to have different perceptions about life. While Sonny is shown to be a drug addict and uneducated, his brother is educated and teaches in a local high school. Although he is a teacher, he adopts a poor lifestyle that symbolizes the issues of poverty and racism in the US. Sonny is an introvert and it takes some time before his brother could understand his ways of living. In fact, it is at the end of the short story that his brother understands why he appears withdrawn from the family and society. The narrator was requested to look after Sonny by his mother before she died. He is married to Isabel and they have children. This essay aims at offering a literary analysis of the short story with an emphasis on the feelings of the narrator when his brother is performing at the club. The raconteur has unique feelings as he watches his brother play jazz music at the nightclub. The realization of the narrator with regard to his brother’s playing the piano begins when the duo are on their way to the club. He appears amazed about the location of the club, where his brother is going to perform. The surprise is obvious because the brothers have been living in “separate worlds”. The narrator describes it as “…the only nightclub on a short, dark street, downtown” (Kennedy and Gioia 73). He uses the description to imply the state of poor infrastructure in the neighborhood. In fact, if it was a neighborhood with wealthy people, it could not be located along a dark street. Further, the chronicler emphasizes on the poor state of the club by saying “…we squeezed through the narrow, chattering, jam-packed bar to the entrance of the big room…” (Kennedy and Gioia 75). In addition, it is termed as the only nightclub in the location. This implies that people in the area could not afford to go to clubs probably because of poverty. In areas where affluent people live, there are many nightclubs because citizens have extra cash to spend there. Thus, the description provides a clear feeling of the narrator that they are living in a locality with poor quality of living standards. In fact, the realization helps him to heal a culture problem, which he has been suffering from over a long time. While watching Sonny play at the nightclub, the storyteller realizes that he has played the role of a guardian in helping his brother achieve his goal in life. He was requested b