ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction The United States of America is perceived by the rest of the world as a powerful and monolithic state, with far-reaching economic ties and strong national interests. As history shows, it was not always that way. Initially comprising of 13 member states, the USA was a conglomerate of different groups with varied prerogatives, beliefs, and interests. The purpose of the Constitution, as well as the bicameral system of governance, was to balance these interests while allowing the union to function. The globalization of the economy and the strengthening of ties between states slowly erased the distinctions between separate states. People started seeing themselves and each other as “American,” rather than Texan, Missourian, or Alabaman. The USA of today is different from what it was over 200 years ago. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the progress the Union made so far in relation to the six goals of the constitution. Constitution and its Main Goals The purposes of the American Constitution, aside from providing the framework of rights to govern the nation, also included long-term goals for statecraft. These goals are as follows (Sheldon, 2018):   * To form a perfect Union. This goal acknowledged the imperfections of the existing system and wanted for future generations to govern themselves better;   * To establish justice. The factual elimination of inequalities before the law;   * To ensure domestic tranquility. Prevent in-fighting among member states in order to ensure peace and prosperity;   * To provide common defense. Be capable of fending off existing and future enemies;   * To promote the general welfare. Improve the standards of living for all Americans;   * To secure liberty and prosperity. Ensure that the rights and liberties of Americans are not being infringed upon by anyone. The existing state of the USA can be evaluated upon these 6 important criteria. The State of the Union America is, arguably, more united than it used to be during the signing of the Constitution in 1787 (Sheldon, 2018). Much of this came from political, informational, and economic integration. The states used to be self-sufficient in terms of economy, and many people did not have much contact with other states due to the rigors of communication and transportation. Nowadays, all states are bound together through various socio-economic ties, the breaking of which would mean devastation for local enterprises (Nevitte, 2017). People from different states meet one another on the Internet, can travel by car, train, or plane, and can talk to one another over the smartphone. The distinctions between individual states and their people have thus become erased, and individuals have started seeing themselves as part of the American super nation. Altho
Southwest Airlines (SWA) has remained a market leader in the airline industry dominating the domestic travel segment. The airline’s cost-cutting measures, exceptional customer service, positive organizational culture, and low-fare business model are the key pillars of its success. SWA’s measures to contain operational costs include cross-utilization of its workers to maintain low labor costs and improve turnaround time, operating without hub-and-spoke arrangements, e-ticketing, and focusing on short hauls, among others. The SWA’s overall corporate strategy focuses on operational efficiency as a source of distinct advantage. It executes this strategy through innovative management style and unique organizational culture. Its unique organizational culture entails new-hire celebrations, customer service training, advanced training, ‘Red hearts and Luv’, and mentorship programs for employees. SWA maintains good relations with its staff and employee unions, which eliminates costly industrial actions. Its unionized employees exhibit enthusiasm and extroverted personalities that characterize the Southwest spirit. HR practices have played a big part in SWA’s business success. Herb Keller, the airline’s former CEO (1981-2001) exhibited an engaging management style and commitment to his staff and customer service saw the airline reach new heights in the industry. The SWA’s HR practices of training and mentoring of new staff, supporting employee initiatives, e.g., fuel conservation by pilots, and maintaining positive labor relations have been critical to its success. SWA has recorded steady growth even during turbulent times in the industry. However, challenges related to increasing business rivalry, operational costs, and rising passenger demand threaten its competitive position. It faces stiff competition from low-fare operators like JetBlue and newly merged airlines like Continental/United with may diversify into the low-cost niche (Pisano 11). The airline plans to acquire larger aircrafts (737-800s) to meet rising passenger demand. In my view, SWA’s core competencies lie in the measures to contain operational costs, focus on customer service, and innovative HR practices. The strategies are a source of competitive capabilities for the airline, enabling it to weather shocks in the market. For this reason, I am optimistic that SWA will weather its present challenges to continue recording sustained success in the future. In my opinion, the airline’s previous success in achieving operational efficiency is a critical success factor in its future growth. Higher operating costs, including labor and fuel costs, reduce profit margins. Therefore, measures to cut costs will help SWA improve its operational efficiency and profit margins. Works Cited Goold, Monroe and Allen Campbell. Strategies and Styles: the Role of the Centre in Managing Diversified Corporations . Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 2007. Print. Hofstede, Geert. Culture’s Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions, and Organizations across Nations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2001. Print. Pisano, Gary. Creating
Strategy IKEA’s strategy is coherent as its products, design, manufacturing, stores, marketing, and management fit together perfectly. At IKEA, the new product development process is overseen by a product-strategy council which consists of senior managers. Once the product priority is established, the product development sets retail price. The effectiveness of this strategy is based on the fact the target price ranges are set 30% to 50% lower than the prices of the main competitors. IKEA maintains the strategy of the low-cost furniture retailer, and the extensive market research allows setting much lower prices. Moreover, the separate matrix is set for each product type. Manufacturers are identified only when the price range has already been set. IKEA managers seek to balance cost-efficient labor with product quality standards. The process of the choice of materials is also cost-sensitive: IKEA chooses inexpensive materials, but the high-quality level is guaranteed. Nevertheless, it is a usual practice for IKEA to redesign the product many times with a single purpose: to squeeze the product into a shipping pallet. Multiple redesigns undermine the effectiveness and coherency of the strategy. Vision Despite these multiple redesigns, IKEA’s strategy is consistent with its vision statement. According to the vision statement, IKEA strives to offer a wide range of furniture with good design and at the lowest prices. While the second objective is met successfully, the statement on the good design is not completely justified. Numerous redesigns and a lack of local responsiveness minimize the value attributed to design. As a result, IKEA’s customers pay attention to the price only while the design is accepted as it is. Moreover, IKEA claims that it responds to the needs of people throughout the world and is able to meet their different needs, tastes, dreams, and aspirations. However, this statement is not consistent with the strategy. The vision statement ends with the outline of self-service benefits. In particular, customers are empowered to choose the furniture they want and pick it up at the self-service warehouse. Most items are packed flat and must be assembled individually at home. Undoubtedly, there are many people who enjoy the process of furniture assembling, but there are many more customers who may find such a shopping experience inconvenient. Shopping In addition, IKEA’s strategy is deficient in many areas compared to the full-service furniture retailers. As IKEA strives to fit the design to shipping boxes, customers may not be satisfied with the quality of the furniture products. Upon entry to the store, potential buyers are coerced into a predetermined path through model bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms, and bathrooms. Thus, the customers may not have the freedom to go to
According to the International Telecommunication Union (2012), the term computer forensics in its usage portrays the orderly gathering of information and examination of computer-based innovations and technologies to scan for digital evidence. When handling a crime scene, investigators should remember that the documentation of the scene builds a record of the investigation for prosecution purposes. Computer Forensics falls within the domain of digital forensic science, and the goal of an investigator in the realm of computer forensics is to forensically examine a computer to identify, obtain, and analyze digital information found on a computer and its components. The US Department of Justice defines digital evidence as data and information of significant worth to an examination that is domiciled on, got, or transmitted by an electronic gadget. This proof is gained when information or electronic gadgets are seized and secured for assessment (Cole, Gupta, Gurugubelli, & Rodgers, 2015). In this section, this paper will address the components of a computer to photograph during forensic photography, the most emergent action an investigating officer should take upon arriving at a cyber-crime scene, the value of computer’s hard disk in computer forensics, the concern of encryption (Secure Hash Algorithms) in a cybercrime scene investigation, and the restrictions that are there for cybercrime scene investigators on the data they seize while executing a warrant for the contents of hard drive during a crime scene investigation. Criminological photography is an irreplaceable device in present-day measurable odontological convention, which helps in insightful systems, support of documented information, and to give proof that can enhance lawful issues in court. Investigators at a crime scene set many goals in their quest to achieve the most desirable outcomes in an investigation. One such goal the investigators set is incorporating photography into detective work. For this reason, the proper determination, selection, and execution of the appropriate photography and computer components coupled with proper training as well as correct workflow operations make fusing photography into the field of crime scene investigation an effectively reachable objective (Gouse, Karnam, Girish, & Murgod, 2018). The job of the forensic picture taker is essential as decent expertise in photography together with continued learning of the mechanics and pr
Introduction The purpose of this case study is to consider the external and internal environments, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, core competencies, and future strategies of Pumpkin Patch. Company Overview According to Pumpkin Patch (2010), Pumpkin Patch is a New Zealand based corporation- it is Australasia’s largest kids wear business with its operations in UK, US, NZ, and Australia; together with its subsidiaries, the group specializes in designing, advertising, retailing and wholesaling of kid’s wears. The business possesses five operating divisions that consist of four geological areas where its retail chain operates and one wholesale or direct division consecutively in UK, US, Australia, and NZ; its subsidiaries comprises Pumpkin Patch LLC, Torquay Enterprises Ltd, Pumpkin Patch Originals Ltd, Pumpkin Patch (Australia) Pty Ltd, Pumpkin Patch Ltd, Pumpkin Patch Wholesale LLC and Pumpkin Patch Direct Ltd. As part of its business strategy, in June 2009, Pumpkin Patch restructured thirty-five retail shops in the US that ran below Pumpkin Patch LLC and closed-up fifteen other shops. Analysing the external environment of Pumpkin Patch Demographic Pumpkin Patch is a New Zealand-based business with its operations in Australia, UK, and US as well; New Zealand has a total population of 4,213,418 from where the Pacific population now build-up 6.9 % of the total NZ population. Multiple ethnicities are most common among younger Pacific populace and the average age of the NZ-born Pacific group is 13 years contrasted to 39 years for the overseas-born; The Pacific group as a whole has a greatly younger age composition than the total population, which means that the target customers (kids) of Pumpkin Patch is higher. Conversely, Australia has a population of 22,451,601m, and the population has five unlike quintiles of gross household-income per week starting from AU$ 319 to AU$ 1096 weekly; generally, more than 90 percent of Australian citizens represented the middle-income class. Economic The 2010 fiscal year substantiated to be rather complicated for the company because of the continuance of the recessionary affect that the company faced in 2008 to 2009 period creating difficult general retail environments for all of its trading entities. As per Yahoo Finance (2010), during this time, the share prices of the company faced a sudden slump as shown in the figure below: Figure: Basic Chart of Pumpkin Patch Ltd (PPL.NZ) for 2006 to 2010 Source: Yahoo Finance (2010) In spite of these tough situations, Pumpkin Patch engendered a quite remarkable development in income and sustained to expand the Pumpkin Patch brand in its twenty-two markets; the result reflects the strength of the Pumpkin Patch brand and the quality of the teams it has around the world. Political/legal The political conditions of both New Zealand and Australia are quite stable and the governments of both the countries try to afford the highest business friendly environment to all its industri
Executive Summary The oil industry plays an important role in the economy of Iran since it is the main source of export earnings. However, the full potential of the industry cannot be realized due to inadequate investments and lack of expertise. Research shows that biofuels can be used as an alternative to oil since it reduces environmental pollution. It is also a reliable source of export earnings. Problem OPEC is increasingly losing its ability to control global oil prices by regulating the supply of crude oil. Uncontrolled supply will lead to a significant reduction in oil prices, thereby reducing Iran’s oil export earnings. Iran can hardly increase its oil exports in the short term due to the sanctions imposed on it by the US and the European Union. Rapid depletion of the country’s oil reserves will also reduce its oil exports. Although biofuels are green energy sources, their use is still limited due to high production costs. Possible Solutions The government of Iran should focus on diversifying its economy by developing the non-oil sector. This will help in reducing the negative impact of declining oil export earnings on its economy. The use of biofuels should be supported through increased investments in cheap feedstock, which in turn will reduce production costs. Recommendations First, economic diversification in Iran should focus on the manufacturing and service sectors. These sectors are likely to improve the country’s economic growth through job creation and exports. Second, investment in research and development should be increased to develop new techniques for producing biofuels at a low cost. Third, OPEC should adopt a new price stabilization policy/ mechanism since regulating oil supply is no longer effective. In sum, OPEC is likely to continue losing its influence on the global oil prices as production increases in non-member countries. The future of economic growth in Iran depends on the country’s ability to develop the oil industry and other sectors of the economy. Moreover, the use of biofuels is likely to increase in future due to high prices and limited supply of oil. OPEC Organization History The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was created to coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its member countries. OPEC “was established in Bagdad, Iraq in 1960” (OPEC). In 1960s, OPEC focused on building the capacity of its members to utilize their oil resources for national development (OPEC). In 1970s, OPEC gained international attenti
Variety of factors can have impact upon the readers’ perceptions of particular works of literature. According to Barthes’ theory, the author cannot predict all the reactions to his work because he/she is dead after the novel is completed. In other words, being interpreted by masses, a novel starts a life of its own. Barthes’ premise concerning the inappropriateness of author-centric interpretations of works is reasonable, but can limit our perception and understanding of the novel Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood. Claiming that his narrator of the same name is only a camera reproducing the real life scenes, Isherwood directly expresses his intentions to enhance the feasibility of his narration by using a complex of techniques (Isherwood 193). Additionally, stating that he is a camera, which is only recording and reproducing, but not thinking and interpreting, the author pursues the goal of affecting the readers’ minds and making his text to seem more reliable to readers and seemingly provides readers with opportunities for free interpretations of the depicted events and the variety of their meanings. However, the perspective and focus of this imaginary camera is chosen by the author. Isherwood is free to show only one side of the phenomenon and conceal its reverse or exaggerate a certain phenomenon by shedding light upon it in a proper way. By selecting the words from a wide range of existing synonyms, the novelist inevitably expresses his personal attitudes to the depicted plot line. On the other hand, Isherwood cannot predict or control the readers’ responses to the pictures he views through his lens. The readers are free to decide whether the events depicted by the novelist look as feasible or fictional and look at the details emphasized by the author or look beyond the words and see the meanings which were not initially implied by the novelist. In that regard, Barthes’ premise is reasonable and justifiable because regardless of all Isherwood’s efforts, he cannot control all the reactions to his text in every reader. Thus, using Barthes’ terminology, it can be stated that the author of this novel remains dead. Being reasonable, Barthes’ thesis imposes limits on our perceptions of Goodbye to Berlin and can be regarded as a hindrance to the realization of the novelist’s project. Isherwood intentionally uses his biographical name for the main protagonist of his novel for producing a particular impression upon readers. Additionally, including
Introduction Technology is an issue which Heidegger resolves to question in his article , The Question Concerning Technology . In doing this, Heidegger reminds humans to reflect on movement of thought that happens in any perplexed questioning more than the mere words that form part of the questioning. This will ensure that the context of questioning is heard and determined. Heidegger explores an array of claims that prima facie , produces weird outcomes that hold humans, entirely making them unaware. Consequently, he explores the essence of technology in itself is not technological. Thus, this drives him to examine technology, and more fundamentally, the essence of technology. Discussion Heidegger does not restrict certain qualms as a result of rapid expansion of technology, and with the connected speed with which the global network of technical tools are breaking up distance and condensing the once immense, mystifying and obstinate earth to a more controllable global village. However, Heidegger is dismayed to see parishes and communities being substituted by a global culture and global Gemeinschaff ; for example, he cites the parish pumps politics as a remnant of the past (Kaplan 9). Philosophical Thinking of Technology Heidegger claims that it is not a surprise to humans that anything which is often taken for granted will become a significant basis of alarm; that is, what seems to be self-evident or unproblematic is a sache. Heidegger poises after insistent zeal. In th
Dishwashers play an important part in the lives of many families. They help save time on cleaning dishes after meals and cooking. Families can, thus, spend more time together rather than polishing plates with a sponge at the kitchen sink. At the same time, these instruments are notoriously difficult to clean. The advertisement in question features Finish and Jar dishwasher tablets. Though short and seemingly inoffensive, it reinforces gender stereotypes in several demeaning ways. First, the advertisement shows two women in the kitchen, handling the dishwasher (CEA Prague, 2017). There are no men present throughout the entire video. The absence of men enforces the stereotype that “women belong in the kitchen.” Conversely, the implied message is that men should leave taking care of the house to women, and pursue their ambitions and careers instead. It is further magnified by presenting one of the women as silly and incapable of washing or operating a dishwasher, implying low intelligence, to further cement the message above (CEA Prague, 2017). The suggestion is, thus, toxic to women and is spreading a message unacceptable in the 21 st century. The advertisement could have been made gender-neutral without losing any of its selling properties. One of the presenters could have easily been a male, and the absence of a female character purposefully made less intelligent would not have diminished the message that dishwasher tablets are superior to conventional liquids when it comes to cleaning. The 21 st century is seeing a blur in gender roles, with more women taking up careers and more men comfortably staying at home to take care of the house and children. Effective advertising should reflect that instead of falling into an age-long paradigm of women being bound to their homes. I think that seemingly innocent videos like these are, bit by bit, delaying the achievement of equality between men and women. Reference CEA Prague. (2017). How to use a dishwasher [Video]. Youtube. Web.