ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction The Middle East has been a source of many political situations, religious conflicts, and regional confrontations that represent illustrative cases for studying international relations. The leadership struggles between Saudi Arabia and Iran are a serious and topical problem that the world faces in the 21st century. Nowadays, it is complicated to find the origins for all the conflicts: some of the researchers propose the idea that the deterioration of the situation started during the Cold War (Cerioli, 2018). At the same time, other specialists put forward the hypothesis that the main cause is the intervention of the United States troops in Iraq, in 2003 (Fathollah-Nejad, 2017). However, the only thesis that does not need to be proved is that the battle for hegemony in the Persian Gulf is a global issue (Dizboni & Omar, 2018). As a result of the research, it is possible to provide a new way of understanding the situation. All the examined articles are related to one topic that is investigated. Nevertheless, they are notably diverse because of the variety of points of view that are presented there. A new perspective on the role models used by the analyzed countries is expected to be one of the main implications of this paper. This research aims to describe the geopolitical positions of the countries of the Middle East, outline the main conflicts occurring in the region, and provide an analysis considering the international relations theories. Saudi-Iranian Rivalry in Bahrain’s and Yemen’s Arab Spring Saudi Arabia and Iran struggle for power over the rest part of the Middle East. From the point of view of international relations, it is essential to investigate the role conceptions, that governments choose for their states. The examined countries had different strategies during the Arab Spring. Saudi Arabia “presents itself as a stable monarchy, wealthy and charitable” (Cerioli, 2018, p. 310). It provides the image of the moderator of all the conflicts in the Middle East (Kurdistan, 2018). The state decided to control the situation by using military forces and collaborating with the European authorities. During the events in Bahrain and Yemen, Saudi Arabia played the part of the protector of ordinary people (Wilf, 2017). All military actions were discussed with the gover
“Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street” is a story of American literature classic Herman Melville, first published in 1853 in Putnam’s Magazine. The work’s plot revolves around a modest employee named Bartleby who, initially performing his work assiduously, begins resisting any changes and refuses to do any tasks in his professional and personal life. The problem of rebellious nature and interaction between the narrator, an elderly lawyer, and Bartleby takes the central place in the story. This paper aims to provide reflection on how this piece of literature can be used to convey core Christian ideas. Under a superficial glance, it seems that the novel only narrates the tragic life of an individual who gradually starts to slide into a deep depression or acquire some mental disorder such as schizophrenia. The main character Bartleby becomes inactive, reserved, and difficult, giving a single answer to all requests: “I would prefer not to.” He totally stops performing his daily duties and caring for himself, thereby manifesting a specific protest against society. Even when the lawyer tries to encourage Bartleby to work, he resolutely refuses, without the clarification of his passivity. However, if the readers dive deeper into the work, they reveal that Melville’s central ptoblem implicitly concerns human indifference. In particular, the narration was written in the period marked as the dawn of Capitalism that ultimately changed attitude toward people. Under this concept, persons have become perceived as instruments in the productive working system, not as the supreme creation of God, with his or her talents, soul, and uniqueness. Despite the narrator’s sympathy for Bartleby and efforts to incentivize him, he is not interested in Bartleby’s life and problems. The lawyer does not attempt to investigate the reasons for the scrivener’s depression and seclusion. The narrator only leaves him on his own and even moves to another office because the weird man thwarts his business by his presence. Eventually, although Bartleby does commit nothing criminal, he is placed in prison. In Scripture, Jesus especially condemns coldness and indifference to other people, indicating that without sacrificial love, even insignificant, individuals cannot be genuinely happy.
Product Positioning is a marketing technique, aimed at finding best ways to introduce the target audiences to the products, and involves figuring out a message that will most likely reach them and stay with them. (Ries, Al, and Jack Trout 2). Two brands of products will be assessed for their competition and attributes to better understand and refine positioning. The chosen products are Old Spice and Mountain Dew. Old Spice, owned by Procter & Gamble, is an American brand of personal care products for men (“Old Spice SWOT Analysis, USP & Competitors”). Its products include shaving soaps, aftershave lotions, deodorants, body washes and body sprays. In the past, its target audience was 40-60 years old men, but it has shifted to younger men of 12 to 34 years old. Its competitors are Axe (a fast-growing newcomer to the market), Right Guard and Gillette (also brands owned by Procter & Gamble) (Newman). Male grooming products are evaluated based on such attributes as brand familiarity, scent, functionality and advertising campaign. Brand familiarity is one of the main factors affecting product sales, as buyers are more likely to purchase familiar goods. Scent plays an important role, as it makes a product more recognizable and is what causes people to stick to a brand. Functionality covers how well the product protects from body odor, how pleasant it is on the skin, etc. And the advertising campaign is what introduces new audiences to the brands, raising their interest. Mountain Dew is a carbonated soft drink, part of the PepsiCo’s array of products (“Mountain Dew SWOT Analysis, USP & Competitors”). Its target market is young people from 18 to 24. It competes with The Coca-Cola Company’s Sprite, its Mello Yello and Surge (introduced in response to Mountain Dew), and Sun Drop, produced by Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (Stanford and Duane). Four important attributes can be distinguished with soft drinks: brand recognition, taste, nutritional value and advertising campaign. While brand recognition and ad campaign carry over from the male grooming products’ attributes, taste is one of the major parts of what defines a drink and distinguishes it from its competitors, and nutritional value determines the healthiness of the product. Two-dimensional perceptual maps will be drawn up for both studied brands and their competitors to study product positioning, based on two of their attributes. Old Spice and its competitors will be examined based on brand familiarity and advertising campaign. For the target market of 12 to 34 years old young men, Old Spice is the best advertised among male grooming products. Old Spice has recently had a successful advertising campaign that has brought it into the spotlight, but it is still a less known brand than Gillette. Axe has burst into the public view with their new ad campaign, but received criticism and backlash over it, and is still behind Gillette and Old Spice. Right Guard is the least known of the four and lacks a strong advertising campaign. Mountain Dew and its competitors will be evaluated based on brand rec
Introduction Islamic thought and practice has been greatly influenced by al-Ghazali, a representative of conciliatory Islam, for almost one millennium. There has been a new wave of combative Islam in the last few decades that has been perceived differently by people, as a danger and cause of destabilization, and as a new revival movement. The new movement is hostile in its objections of modern society, advocating for change in social lifestyles and violent eradication of current regimes. The new movement is fueled by the teachings of al-Maududi and others, as well as their followers. This movement is due to the belief that Islam holds the solution to all aspects of problems facing the Islamic world and the world. The future of the Arab and Islamic world is dependent on the results of the battle between the teachings of al-Maududi and those of al-Ghazali. In spite of the new movement and the conflict of teachings, al-Ghazali was one of the most dominant philosophers on education in the history of Islam. Philosophy of Al-Ghazali The philosophy of al-Ghazali was focused on the relationship between God and his creation. He followed the traditional Sunnite in unfolding the essence and power of God. He also followed the Sufi undercurrents in understanding the association between God and humans. In understanding the mainstream of Islamic fiqh, he proposed his own ideas of the essence, characteristics and deeds of God. Al-Ghazali divided the universe into two parts, just like the other philosophers, namely the transitory world and the everlasting after this life. According to him, the transitory world was not dependent on science, but by the will of God, who is in control of all events, regardless of its magnitude or timing. According to al-Ghazali, mankind lives in a society that is so evil that it would be best if man isolated himself from it. At the same time, he acknowledged that an individual was no match to a group, since societies were split into two groups, the elite rulers and the masses, and it was the elite who controlled the society. He also believed that the role of societies was to maintain the religion of God since he was the provider. The most vital attributes in a person according to al-Ghazali are knowledge and awareness, which are obtained from the reason and inspiration or revelation by God. A virtuous man would be expected to isolate himself from the company of people and all evil, and refocus his life to eternity, in the afterlife. A man of virtue would be expected to rely on God and give up the struggle to achieve dominance i . Principles of education Al-Ghazali was a philosopher of religion and ethics, though he ended up teaching his philosophy, which was focused on stabi
Students enter college, assuming that every course they take is beneficial to their future career. To our disadvantage, the intent of courses like first-year composition FYC is to teach a “universal language” that does not exist. Requiring students to take the same structured course causes negative results on professors and students. Therefore, the course should be reconstructed so that its curriculum benefits the student in his or her choice of major. If students obtain writing skill that can be applied to their major, it would be beneficial and worth taking. In today’s English composition course, the goals are to “acquire basic professional skills in writing, editing, and proofreading, to learn the fundamentals of linguistics, and to gain a thorough knowledge of literature written in English” (Lehman College website). The English department gives students one year/ two semesters to obtain these skills. Since English composition is separated into two sections, students generally take English Composition I first, and then upon successful completion, enroll in English Composition II. Usually English I is taught on a fundamental level of general English like grammar, citation, and understanding the basic writing formats, whereas English II develops our analyzing skills for literature. “…The required introductory course teaches grammar, spelling, punctuation, and organization; they view composition faculty as literacy gatekeepers rather than as intellectuals and teachers” (Crowley). Crowley states that because of boundaries, professors are not able to teach to their full potential. For every major, there is a different style of writing; this very fact is what inhibits professors from teaching something beneficial to the students. This then leaves students unprepared for what is to come. English composition professors and students face the greatest challenges. Students enter the classroom, thinking negatively, and the sizes of these classes are large. The material taught often makes students feel like high school scholars again. “The required status of the introductory composition course causes resentment on the part of some of its students. The required course feels like high school, and so students employ high-school resistance tactics on their professors” (Crowley). English composition courses reinforce high-school material, and many students may feel that their wasting time and money. Also, the writing style taught may or may not help students write for their preferred major. “… A one-year-academic writing course will not prepare students to write in all fields, and evidence suggests limitations on the transfer of skills ”(Miles et al. 503). Different majors require different styles of writing; this “basic format” of writing is not transferable to all majors, and style cannot be taught i
Aimed at reinforcing state security and protecting people against terrorism, the USA PATRIOT Act was created by Congress and signed by George W. Bush (U.S. Government Publishing Office 1). Although inspired by the best intentions of protecting U.S. citizens from the terrorist threat, the PATRIOT Act has its disadvantages. Therefore, amendments should be made to it so that it could meet the needs of the American population better. The increased control over people’s lives executed by the state government can be considered one of the greatest problems of the PATRIOT Act. Since any person can be investigated by the state officials on the ground of security reasons, the current postulates of the PATRIOT Act might be in discord with the Fourth Amendment, which guarantees the right to privacy (Cornell University Law School para. 3). Therefore, there is a consistent threat to the psychological comfort of American citizens. Nonetheless, one must admit that the regulation serves its purpose impeccably. The PATRIOT Act does help improve the security rates in the United States, therefore, preventing instances of terrorism. Furthermore, the speed of responses to emergent threats has been increased significantly. Works Cited Cornell University Law School. n. d. Fourth Amendment . Web. U.S. Government Publishing Office. USA PATRIOT Act . 2001. Web.
The Olympic Games significantly contribute to the development of sports and promotion of a healthy lifestyle of residents in the country where they are hosted, boost the development of international relations, strengthen peace and mutual understanding between peoples of various nations. Olympic Games give the host city many benefits and opportunities — and require careful multi-year planning. It has a considerable influence on the operating of all sectors of the state economy of the host country. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the social and economic effects of the Olympic Games on Asian host countries. At the pre-Olympic stage, the need to improve the infrastructure and to build new sports facilities will provide people with jobs and encourage new investment in the state economy. The country will gain profit from the Olympic Games by selling the rights to broadcast the event on television, on the Internet, selling tickets and souvenir products, commercials, licenses, and accreditations. During the Olympics, the number of tourists coming to the Games increases significantly, which, in turn, contributes to the influx of currency into the country. This period of the Olympic business cycle is the most short-term, but nevertheless, it is crucial, because all actions of the state, business, and the international Olympic movement at the pre-Olympic stage are aimed at it. At the post-Olympic stage, the use of infrastructure built for the games will show the effectiveness of investment. In terms of revenue, the post-Olympic stage is the most significant. Researchers note that “Olympics in China have contributed to the increase of GDP by 2.5 % since 2002.” (Muller et al., 2016, p. 87). The long-term economic impact is the most considerable, and it is expressed in creating jobs and new training programs, promoting trade, strengthening infrastructure, protecting the environment, etc. The holding of the Olympic Games exercises a significant influence on the business growth and expansion in the host city, especially its sports sphere. The building of necessary sports venues, improvement of city infrastructure, growth in the quantities of tourists, in essence, all these factors attract foreign direct investment. Thanks to the great number of sports constructions and related infrastructure, new jobs are created, which consequently results in a significant decrease in the rate of unemployment in the host cities. The improvement of infrastructure contributes not only to the economic recovery but also to the social development of the city hosting the Olympics. The complex development of the transportation system and co
Introduction A project work breakdown structure enables the logical analysis of project components (Devi & Reddy 2012). Mostly, a WBS should be presented in a diagrammatic representation as this is the simplest way to outline the various sets of work required for the completion of the project. The hierarchical presentation is to ensure that the works presented reflect their subset order in execution. This implies that the performance of an important role is dependent on its supporting activities (Brotherton 2008). According to the Department of Energy, the work-based structure can either take up the form of a contract or a project. The above work-based structure chooses to highlight a project-based work structure, which essentially considers all the elements required in the project, also acting as a basis through which subcontractors can develop their CWBS (Cleland, King, & Lavold 1988). Main Discussion Through this structure, one can decipher the relationship between project parts and components. This is mainly in the form of a hierarchy structure, with each element of the plan explaining the technical aspects, evaluating costs, and stating the scheduled time for when the action should be taken (D’arrigo & Smith 998). The above WBS is a great pillar in implementing the project. Through the above structure, the project team members are presented with the capability to understand the code and structure of the various processes required to complete the oil project. Thus, the project includes a project baseline imperative for the technical objectives needed to carry out the project. Overall, the WBS ensures proper project management throughout the full project lifecycle in terms of recognizing, allocating, and tracking already accomplished jobs (U.S. Department of Energy 2012). The key characteristic that the above WBS has taken up is the use of language and simple terms that can easily be defined and understood by all the project members even at first glance. From the above WBS, it is possible for the team leader to assign duties and project responsibilities to each team member as all units of work are high. Reference List Brotherton, SA 2008, Applying the work breakdown structure to the project management Lifecycle , Project Management Institute, Newtown Square, PA. Cleland, DI, King, WR & Lavold, GD 1998 Project management handbook, second edition, John Wiley & Sons. D’arrigo, CS & Smith, DE 1998, U.S. Patent No. 5,848,394, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Washington, DC. Devi, TR & Reddy, VS 2012, ‘Work breakdown structure of the project’, International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications vol. 2, no. 2, pp 683-686. U.S. Department of Energy 2012, Work breakdown Structure handbook . Web.
Costs and benefits counted in the video in the Ford Pinto Case demonstrate confusing results that peoples’ lives cost less than car repairment. Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarian theory explained by the professor engages students in moral and economic choices (Harvard University, 2009). However, I disagree with such a comparison as utility and profit are two different aspects that have to be separated. Ford company was not giving individuals success and happiness, it focused primarily on self-benefit to increase income and reduce spending. The main issue of the modern market is the focus on profit, not utility. That was one of the reasons for the 2008 financial crisis: no one cared about people and consequences, every firm wanted profit and right now. I applied a similar analysis in my life when I took a chance to see my friend the evening before an important day at work. I knew that I risk my energy level the day after; still, my friend lives in another country and we have not seen each other for 7 years: these facts were convincing enough to take a risk. I chose entertainment above responsibility and the next day overslept my shift. As a result, it cost me a fine plus extra hours at work. I never regretted it, but the costs were memorisable enough. One of the major downsides of the utilitarian theory is providing satisfaction and general good for the significant part of people having similar needs. The problem is, the minority also has views and needs, and taking away utility from them would be unfair to the population. I suppose people should aim for happiness but also try to balance between different opinions as every person is important. It is unethical to let people die because it is more profitable than fixing a car. Every human life should be priceless, valued, and taken care of. In a society aiming only for self-benefit, we cannot manage to survive. What we should do is cooperate and care about each other to create trustworthy and firm relationships for a better future. Reference Harvard University. (2009). Justice: What’s the right thing to do? Episode 2: Putting a price tag on life . [Video].