ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
“The History of God” by Karen Armstrong is a comprehensive overview of the history of the development of Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Armstrong shares her point of view on religious matters in the introduction, taking the reader on a journey throughout her life’s work. She emphasizes the aspect of the multiplicity of perceptions of God, and its significance throughout the ages. It is pointed out in the introduction that modern secular culture is an unprecedented phenomenon, the consequences of which we are yet to discover. Nonetheless, humanity’s ancient preoccupation with God should be studied since it might reveal various features of human cognition and spiritual dimension. Overall, Armstrong postulates that the notion of God has formed our culture and civilization and it is crucial for us to determine what does it mean for us today (Armstrong 10). Chapters 1 and 2 Armstrong describes the idea of God as present in human civilization since the dawn of time. However, our modern world seems not to need the spiritual dimension of life, as it is abundant in scientific aspects and driven by pragmatics. Armstrong provides examples of ancient Iran and Mesopotamia, where the connection to the divine was seen as essential to being human. Armstrong emphasizes that people were not only looking up to the divine but also strived to develop their divinity through creativity. Two biblical authors are mentioned, J and E, one of whom particularly piques the author’s interest, as he focuses not only on the divine and the prehistoric times but also on the ordinary chronology. Armstrong touches upon the subject of Yahwe and the ambiguous treatment of this notion in the Bible (15). She emphasizes that neither Abraham nor Moses saw God the way we do today and explains that it is likely that several gods were worshiped at the time, or perhaps several perceptions of the idea of God were valid. Vengeful God of the Exodus later transforms into a protector of the oppressed and becomes a sole God after the Ten Commandments. However, a cult of paganism persisted. In the minds of the Israelites, Yahwe differed from other gods by being in a separate realm, as opposed to other gods represented by the forces of nature. Eventually, two separate versions of monotheism emerged. The second chapter focuses on the transformation of the figure of God throughout the ages. The One God emerged as the source of justice and liberation. Moreover, Jewish culture was influenced by the Greeks, which led to conflict: wisdom was seen as a fear of Yahwe in the Middle-East but as a Greek cleverness in the Mediterranean. Armstrong emphasizes that the figure of God is not firmly determined to this day in the Jewish culture and remains privately perceived matters. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 The third chapter addresses issues related to Jesus and matters that led to tension between Christians and Jews. The conflict focused on the divine nature of Jesus, with Paul claiming that Jesus never maintained he was a divine being. Thus, Armstrong describes the huma
Introduction: Dry Air in the Workplace and What It May Lead to The recent researches on the key problems of most workplace environment types have shown that a range of employees suffer from extremely low humidity rates (Smith & Pitt, 2011). Though the issue might be seen as a minor problem compared to the rest of the issues that an ordinary employee faces on a regular basis in their workplace environment, it should be kept in mind that the problem in question may lead to rather serious diseases, including such disorders as stress, neurosis and even depression. Because of a seeming lack of the link between depression and low humidity rates in the place where a person spends 1/3 of their day, one may misinterpret the reasons for the depression developed and, therefore, make the process of recovery long and very complicated, with a very high chance for an instance of recidivism in the future. Occupational Health: Dry Air as a Hazard for Office Employees Though in a number of offices, local managers fall into the other extreme, and the office becomes oversaturated with humidity (OSHA, 2006), the problem of dry air is clearly the second worst factor that affects the staff’s health impressively. As a rule, the issue is triggered by a specific construction of the building (e.g., numerous ventilation holes, enhanced air conditioning, etc.), and specific rules, which lead to having little to no sources of water in the office (e.g., prohibition to drink tea or coffee in the workplace). Dry air poses a tangible threat to the health of the employees, especially to those, whose job is related to personal communication, i.e., requires an impressive strain of the throat muscles. The problem becomes especially evident when it comes to considering such jobs as a lecturer, a consultant, etc. According to the results of recent researches, an eight-hour exposal to a dry air environment may lead to such health issues, starting from heat stress and ending with neurosis (McCool, Reeder, Robinson, Petrie & Gorman, 2009). Environmental Health: Dry Air and Change of Climate Despite the on-coming climate change and a rapid increase in humidity rates triggered by the so-called greenhouse effect, the air in some cities, especially industrial ones, remains dry. According to what most sources say, the phenomenon of dry air in the era of global warming and, therefore, an impressive rise in humidity rates in most parts of the Earth ( Hurrica
“Catfish and Mandala” written by Andrew X. Pham is a famous autobiographical story about Andrew’s searches for his place under the sun. It is Pham’s memoir of the Vietnam War and its influence on his life. This novel is a panorama of late-twentieth-century Vietnam, a divided country that is suffering from the unrecoverable consequences of the war and languishing in poverty, trying to survive with the help of tourism and agriculture. Andrew’s life is also crumbled in search of his home. As far as, this book presents Andrew’s recollections and some fragments from his memory, the style of narration is notable for repetitions and interruptions. The novel is full of contradictions, binaries, and anomalies. Binaries and contradictions acquire great power in this novel. They are the carriers of the main idea. The most interesting in Pham’s narration is the use of hyphens in each chapter; this unusual literary pattern is used for a wide range of reasons. This method helps Pham to compare polarized and contradictory words. Hyphenation used in “Catfish and Mandala” is valid for expressing the main idea of the book. Each hyphenated title of the chapter carries a depth of the story within itself expressing a great sense of meaning in Pham’s journey. For example, the title of the chapter ‘Fallen-Leaves’ presents the story and the time of the chapter: “A missed sitting on his father’s lap for stories-a memory of beer breaths of which great voyages sailed” (Pham 212). Such kinds of titles carry a dual sense. This hyphenated title expresses Pham’s lost childhood and his attempts to find his home, being an adult man he feels like a fallen leave. The chapter under the title ‘Foreign-Asians ‘expresses the duality of Pham’s life. He is Asian himself and Vietnamese in particular, but he is treated as a foreigner in his native land. In this hyphenated expression, the word ‘foreign’ has more power than the word ‘Asians’ and stands out before the reader carries the main idea. Pham exists in America and Vietnam with a “hyphenated identity”. He is both Vietnamese and American and at the same time, he is neither this nor that. This hyphenated expression depicts his uneasy position between two places, two lives, and two or even more minds. It is expressed in the following words: “Forgive me. Let me digress. It’s much less interesting to read someone who’s trying to resolve that problem. The problem is interesting enough. This is something I’m trying to understand how to articulate. This is something I’m trying to avoid doing in my writing. It’s not that I distrust epiphanies (though I do, at least mine: they’re always temporary; they never stick.) But the resolution in a memoir is ultimately idiosyncratic. For some it’s food, for others it’s therapy, for some it’s God, and so on, but it’s not reproducible. It’s private” (Pham 334). Another binary that plays an important role in the novel is the binary of the present and the past. The past always penetrates the present, it infringes on the present. Vietnamese can’t live fully in the present without their memories of the past. The war alwa
Introduction The main role of management is categorized into four functions, i.e. Controlling, Leading, Organizing and planning. Many textbooks depict these functions as the simple, clear and unchanging guidelines to perfect management. However, the role of management is more than just following simple rules of procedure. These functions looks very ideal to work with and they lay out a god framework through which managers should work with, but they do not represent the day-to-day challenges that face a manager. This essay analyses various textbooks and how each of them depict the role of management. The role of management Role of management as depicted by the study book The text book paints the role of management as a rational and technical function. F.W. Taylor, for example, believed that “the way to create the most efficient division of labor could best be determined by scientific management techniques rather than intuitive of informal rule-of-thumb knowledge,” (Waddell et al 2007, P. 43). He further four principles of management as “developing a for each job element, scientifically selecting an training workers, formulating science principles to be followed and equal division of work and responsibilities between workers and management,” (Waddell et al 2007, P.44). This may be conclusively said to be his idea of management’s role of planning, leading, organizing, and controlling. The Gilbreth’s too, in “their goal to achieve maximum efficiency, undertook to develop efficiency principle of management to be applied in all areas,” (Waddell et al 2007, P. 47). To increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the administrative function, Max Weber developed “formalized rules, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and norms,” (Waddell et al 2007, P. 49), popularly known as principles of bureaucracy. To him bureaucracy was the gateway to achieving organizational goals by enabling effective directing and control of workers. Henri Fayol too believed that the only way “to achieve efficiency of management is by the use of some standard principles which he came up with, to be used by managers in their management role which he identified as planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating and controlling” (Waddell et al 2007, P. 52), which equate to the modern management functions as POLC. This stand was challenged by Parker Follet who disagreed with flow of authority from top to bottom and viewed that workers too should be included in the decision making, but Fayol’s principles have stood the test of time and are still very applicable to date. Management role by other writers Jackall maintains that scientific principles of management are crucial to management process when it comes to middle-managers. Well formulated principles outlines what a manager needs to do when and thus removes the constant fear that such managers feel of “being found
David Lodge’s novel ‘Author, Author’ is one of the most common novels used by many teachers and students of literature studies due to its unique presentation that moves it far from other literature pieces. The author has embraced the use of various styles to develop and advance several themes and any reader will not compromise his work for another author’s when given a chance to choose between the two. It should be noted that not all literature pieces have the ability of conveying their intended message in a precise yet rich manner the way ‘Author, Author’ exposes all its contents with ease. This essay analyses the relationship of Henry James and his personal secretary Theodora Bosanquet and how the author has portrayed the secretary’s personality. David Lodge has approached the relationship between James and Theodora through two main perspectives as depicted by the passage. The first perspective that the author has successfully used to portray a picture of their relationship is through their formal interaction. The author describes their relationship as being formal and that of an employer and an employee. The passage explains that Theodora did not just wake up one day and went looking for a job just like any other person. Instead the author tells us that Theodora did taught herself how to type and get used to the Remington machine in order to pass the interview that was ahead of her. This means that she was not going to be given the position of a secretary on a silver plate but had to work her way to get the job. This shows that James and Theodora have a formal relationship governed by professional ethics like offering vacancies to qualified candidates rather than on their appearances. This creates a possibility that there were several candidates interested for the job but only Theodora had the required skills and experience needed. This is illustrated by the phrase that explains how James had got used to the ticking sound of the keys of the typing machine to an extent that it had become necessary to his work while Theodora felt like it was a rhythmic session that was fascinating. The author describes how James tested Theodora’s typing speed and capability before giving her the opportunity to be his secretary. On the other hand their relationship is also portrayed as an informal association just like any casual encounter between a man and a woman. The way they think and feel about each other is prove enough that the
Moral considerations play a critical in determining the success of the organization in the modern organizational culture. The ethical codes determine the relationships between customers and the company in the sense that any organization willing to follow the established moral codes will increase its market share (Duska, 2007). In the case provided, Soybean Derivative Research Initiative has to observe moral codes in order to achieve its intended objectives. The organization stands to benefit in four major ways, as listed below if it observes ethics:  1. The company will attract potential investors, as well as keeping shares high. In this regard, the management will have protected the organization from a possible takeover.  2. Many excellent employees will be willing to join the organization since any person feels comfortable when associated with strong moral conducts. This will perhaps bring down the costs associated with recruitment. The talented workers will be retained, which is an advantage to the organization.  3. The productivity of the organization will be high, as labor turnover will be reduced tremendously.  4. A company with a good business name attracts many customers implying that the sales of the firm will always be high hence increasing profitability. The Financial Executive Issues related to finances are always important to the survival of any organization, including Soy- DRI. In particular, the issue of trust must be taken into consideration since it might bring down the performance of the finance unit. Due to the fact that organizations are constantly in violation of the financial fair play, a number of global bodies have been set up to ensure that ethical codes are observed when handling the financial matters of any firm. When drafting financial policies, the top executive has to be sensitive to the demands of clients regarding the environment and social issues. These issues must be resolved before moving on to make any financial policy. Based on this, the financial officer is advised to be an active owner by simply integrating the issues into the policies and practices of the organization. As a rule, any financial officer should disclose any unfair solicitation of funds since it would maintain the position of the organization in the ever-competitive market. For this to happen, the officer has to work hand in hand with other organizational units. Organizational investors are expected to carry out their fiduciary duties pertaining to environmental, social, and governance issues. In one of the studies conducted by the Asset Management Working Group of the UNEP Finance Initiative, it was established that stakeholders should stop concentrating on making profits and instead focus on following the law in order to preserve the env
Introduction Background Stress can be defined as a state of mental deprivation as a result of an adverse or demanding situation (Cotton, 2013). In most cases, stress is associated with unreasonable demands that wear and tear a person’s mental and physical wellbeing. Stress causes emotional and physical effects. If not managed early enough, stress can lead to psychological or medical complications. Severe stress leads to depression, anxiety, and cognitive disorders. Other than physical and emotional effects, stress can lead to relationship problems, poor work performance, suicide, criminal activities, and loss of work. Stress management refers to the techniques that are employed to control or reduce the tension that occurs as a result of stress. It aims at improving the emotional and physical wellbeing of stressed individuals. The individual stress management program is a commonly used method for stress management (Sawatzky et al. 2012). Problem statement Psychiatrists have over the years developed therapeutic treatment regimens, in an attempt to manage stress. A number of people have managed to overcome the stress and live a stress-free life, after participating in these treatment regimens. However, the number of stress recurrence and its effects are devastating. Little has been done to manage stress and eliminate its recurrence and effects. Objective The research project will focus on producing outcomes that will enable psychiatrists and counselors to design stress management therapies that improve the quality of life for their clients. In addition, the project findings will assist employees to develop strategies that minimize employee stress in the workplace. Report overview This project will explore the various societal definitions of stress. At the same time, it will evaluate the significance of stress in society. It will analyze the causes and effects of stress. The common stress phenomena such as stress-inducing thoughts, behaviors, and procrastination will be discussed further. In addition, the paper will seek to explore the traditional stress management programs. The traditional stress management programs will be compared to contemporary programs to evaluate critical similarities and differences. Working conceptual framework Stress will be explored by applying various behavioral theories in modern context and meaning. Previous research findings hold that stress is a product of certain historical happenings (Cotton, 2013). This will enhance the understanding of stress management in different contexts. The research will extensively rely on the stress of traditional literature from scholarly articles, to evaluate similarities and differences in the approaches used to manage stress. For instance, the Lazarus and transactio
The two models -crime control and due process- put forward by Hebert Parker have a major bearing on the criminal justice system greatly. The models have been useful in helping to deal with the complexities in the criminal process. The models make it easier to understand the workings of the justice system by simplifying the values underlying the process. The two modes have both similar and different values but the major difference between the two is that the due process model concerns itself with the protection of individual rights while the rime control model advocates for societal security as well as order. The focus of the paper will be on the overview and analysis of the two models. In addition, it shall look at which model serves American citizens better. Parker’s crime control model The crime control model has the following main assertions. The fundamental goal of the criminal process should be to repress crime. The police should have the authority to conduct arrests and do fact- finding. Suspects are guilty until proven otherwise. The mode suggests that the main aim of the justice system is protecting the rights of victims and not making the defendants and their rights a priority. The criminal process should operate smoothly and swiftly and the main goal of the criminal justice process should be uncovering the truth and establishing factual guilt of the arrestees (Packer, 1968). The main assumption of the crime control model is to repress crime in the criminal process. The model draws it authority from the legislature and not the courts. Crime control guarantees social freedom and helps to maintain law and order in the society. Applying the model helps to protect the people together with their property from harm. The model asserts that lack of proper law enforcement is tantamount to breakdown in the public order and consequently the loss of human freedom. If the laws are not reinforced and leads to a perception that there is a failure in apprehending and convicting criminals in the criminal process. Consequently, a disregard for legal control sets in and innocent citizens become victims of unwarranted invasions to their interests. The increased rate of crimes hinders the members of the society from enjoying their freedom thus limiting their liberty. The model fundamental value is guaranteeing social freedom to the members of the society through the criminal process (Packer, 1968). To guarantee social freedom the crime control model advocates for efficiency within the criminal process to identify criminal suspects, determine their guilt and take appropriate actions in terms of convictions. Packer was of the opinion that a strong police force could contain crime for t