ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Abstract Hong Kong is one of the biggest economies in the world. It is ranked number 2 in the list of the best economies in the whole of Asia. It also has the largest international port that handles containers in the entire world. There is an interesting economic development that led to this status. This paper aims to unlock this economic development that runs back to the pre-colonial period, through the British colonization, to the Chinese administration. The paper is divided into subsections, each addressing a different aspect of the Hong Kong economic growth. Introduction Hong Kong is a city that has a rich history, starting from the British colonization through the Japanese occupation, to the current financial giant. Its geographical history is very interesting, with volcanic eruptions changing the initial shape and geological composition of Hong Kong (Shaw et al. 46). The population of Hong Kong has grown steadily due to the immigrants’ settlement. The Japanese invasion had a significant impact on the people of Hong Kong, as more than 2 million Japanese settled in this region unexpectedly. Its interactions with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have shaped its culture and contributed significantly to its economic growth. The British colonization was so intense in this region that it only gained administrative freedom in the year 1997. Hong Kong has had defining moments in its economic development, the notable ones being the years 1997 and 2008. The global financial crisis occurred in 2008, leaving a negative impact on the economic growth of this city. Interestingly, Hong Kong is positioned ahead of Shanghai, which experienced a less impact from the financial crisis of the year 2008. The excellent economic relationship between Hong Kong and Shanghai has contributed to the growth of Hong Kong. Today, Hong Kong has the biggest container handling port. Its economy is one of the largest in the world, while it is ranked number 2 in Asia. This paper will exp
In the prologue of “The Pardoner’s Tale”, the protagonist reveals the truth about his real essence. He explains to people that he is a hypocrite, and although he is ordained to forgive people’s sins and help them avoid bad practices in the future, in reality, he is a sinner himself. From the very beginning of the tale’s prologue to its very end, the main character confesses his lawlessness and immoral way of living. In the first lines of the prologue, we read: First I pronounce whennes that I come, And than my bulles shewe I, alle and some. Our life lordes seel on my patente, That shewe I first, my body to warente, That no man be so bold, ne preest ne clerk, Me to destourbe of Cristes holy werk (Chaucer para. 335-340). In these words, the main protagonist explains that his authority to forgive sins is given by the Holy Church that acts on behalf of Jesus’ name, and, thus, people should respect and obey him. Then the pardoner shifts to describing his miraculous belonging, stating that he possesses the bones and cloths of holy people and animals which are able to save from any harm including diseases, oaths, bites of venomous animals, and even the bursts of anger and jealousy. Gradually, he begins to give people hints that these incredible possessions may become their property, and this can be so for a little fee. Thus, he shows himself as a haymaker rather than a man of godly devotion. Next, the pardoner begins to advert his unique empowerment from the pope to forgive sinners; however, he does not only describe what he can do for the sinners who need forgiving, but he explains what they must do, stating that only those who make offerings to Christ will receive god’s favor and mercy. Suddenly, an abrupt change occurs in the pardoner’s narration as he begins to confess in his lawlessness. First, he says that the practice of forgiving sins is nothing more than the business that helps him earn as much as 100 golden coins a year. He says that he is a showman who organizes performances for stupid people, and then, he bleeds them white (Chaucer para. 392-395). The pardoner describes the only reason behind his activity in the following way, “Is al my preching, for to make hem free to yeve her pens, and namely unto me’ (Chaucer para. 402,403). These words mean that the man only needs money, and does not care about people, about their sins, whether they are deadly or not, and he does not care about anything as long as he can get his precious “pens”. He adds that sometimes he preaches just revenge to those who speak bad things about him, and thus, he is satisfied because he mixes them up with dirt and totally ruins their reputation. So, he warns people about the danger of becoming his enemies. In the final part of the prologue, the protagonist reveals how terribly bad his corruption is. We read: “I wol have money, wolle, chese, and whete, al were it yeven of the povrest page” (Chaucer para. 449,450). This means that he needs the abundance of money that he receives in an illegal way for a particular purpose, and the purpose is to drown in excessive drinking and immorality.
The novel “ Harm” by Brian Aldiss is a science fiction discussing the fear-drenched government systems in the fight against terrorism. Reflectively, the author introduces a thin line “beyond which the west should or should not cross in its’ war on terror” (Aldris 31). Narrated in prose, the author is raging at policies of war on terror and illiberal response of liberal democracies. Adopting an independent approach, he resonates on the perceived acceptable limits of action in the mission to protect citizens and interests of the administrative institution (Gerke 36). In the process of achieving this goal, the author identifies unified approach in combating terrorism through illegalized glorification of terrorism by directly challenging laws on terrorism. Brian has created several characters in this fiction novel and assigns traits that eventually enable them to survive and thrive in their quest for self-fulfillment in the unbearable conditions and challenges. Thus, this reflective treatise attempts to analyze character survival of the main actor, Paul Fadhil Abbas Ali. The main character is Paul Fadhil Abbas Ali who is introduced as a young British writer married to a Scottish woman. This protagonist pokes holes into the political system of the British government in his comic novel. Sired by Muslim parents, the young lad has a published comic novel which has sold few copies yet draws controversy with a government organ. In the comic novel “ The Pied Piper of Hament “, Ali reflects jokingly on the possibility of the death of the Prime Minister through assassination and draws the attention of the whole powerful Hostile Activities Research Ministry (HARM) assigned the role of investigating terrorism activities and threat to national security. Upon their investigations, HARM discovered that Ali had just returned from Saudi Arabia on a holiday trip and immediately detains him on the charges of being a suspected terrorist. Unfortunately, the investigative process is so brutal and inhuman since the law permits HARM to “establish the truth from him by any means possible” in “a system that creates monsters” (Aldris 22). In response, Ali constructs a world of fantasies to escape from the torture and degradation into an imaginary planet. This planet is called Stygia. In the fantasy world, passengers of a gigantic ship from planet Earth make it to this planet in inactive form controlled by the molecular assembly (Aldris 67). Unfortunately, upon reaching their destination, transformational process failed to materialize and the passengers end up developing brain damage, language inconsistency, and confusion. In Stygia, Ali is called Fremant and has the position of a bodyguard to Astaroth who is the leader of this colony. Astraroth has initiated a genocide war against the inhabitants of this planet who double up as Fremant’s friends just as it is happening on the planet Earth where Ali has been subjected to brutal torture without a substantial reason. Consequently, Fremant is in the dilemma of alloca
Since the 1990s, the world banking sector has experienced tremendous growth rates, never before seen in the private and public banking sectors. Innovation in telecommunications and internet technology has led to the gradual digitalization of the banking sphere, moving it from a relatively slow and stable operational model to a more responsive, dynamic, and competitive structure. Globalization trends have left no country unaffected, imposing the need for integration into the world economy. The speed of money flows and information transfers have also significantly expanded the possibilities as well as the demands for banking service providers. Saudi Arabia, which rose to become the economic center for the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) as well as the entirety of the Middle East. The banking sector in Saudi Arabia managed to grow because of favorable oil prices, generous government donations, and protectionist policies, which have imposed restrictions on foreign banking agencies. However, since 2012, the balance between local and foreign investment has shifted considerably. As it stands, there are 24 banks operating in Saudi Arabia. Out of them, only 12 banks are locally authorized, whereas the other 12 are representative offices of foreign entities (Johnes, Izzeldin, & Pappas, 2014). Major foreign banks present in the region are from Qatar, Europe, and China. This presents stiff competition for the local banks, especially the Riyad Bank, which is one of the largest banks in the region. The situation calls for a revision of banking strategies and an increased demand for strategic competence in CEOs and board members. The purpose of this paper is to present a plan for strategic quality improvement for board members of the Riyad Bank, utilizing the established concepts and theories of the strategic planning process. Company Description Riyad Bank is one of the largest banks in Saudi Arabia, standing at the fourth place both inside and outside the country, based on the number of total assets and net income for the past five years (“Company overview,” n.d.). As it stands, the total assets in SAR exceed 186 billion, whereas its net assets for the last year exceeded 3.500 million SAR (Aljazira Capital, 2018). The bank is controlled by the Saudi Arabian government, which owns 51% of its shares and responds directly to the Saudi Arabian monetary agency. The bank operates outside of Saudi Arabia as well, having representative offices in all major countries of the GCC. The total number of specialists employed by the Riyad Bank exceeds 3200 individuals. The main financial services provided by the bank to the population as well as financial agent
Social norm and behavior Any social norm is how a group of people should think about a thing or behave. Each model has its peculiarities and impact on society. For example, the necessity to dress in fashion is one of the frequently used norms that many people cannot neglect and cannot be understood by many people who want to follow their interests and preferences. Dress codes define the rules of clothing for people of different ages, races, and social statuses. In my opinion, this norm is not appropriate in the modern world due to several reasons: first, people are free to make decisions and consider their interests; second, fashion is a current issue that cannot be neglected because of one social norm that has a long history and maybe rethought; and, finally, it is wrong to pay much attention to a single model that deprives a person of comfort and a kind of pleasure. I think it is customary to dress according to personal tastes and preferences. In my new school, I am going to wear clothes that I like expecting other people to understand my choice and support the idea of uniqueness in a currently changing world. School time As soon as I came to the school, where students got used to wearing a special uniform, wearing my favorite jeans and sweater, I observed many eyes. Some students admitted that it was a good job what I was doing. Some students said that I was another person who wanted to move a stone that could not be moved. And some people just passed through. It was interesting to observe how one single action could cause a variety of reactions. I felt that my strange way of behavior was not new. Still, I was eager to discover what I could learn or get from this situation. Everything seemed to be expected until a serious man in a blue suit approached me. I realized that something went wrong. I knew it was forbidden to contradict the norms established; still, I wanted to use my unawareness and the desire to prove that nothing could go wrong as my actions’ main explanations. The director invited me to his office and explained the peculiarities of the school’s dress code. The story he shared with me explained why it was crucial to follow this simple, still critical social norm. A school is not the place for experiments. It is the place where students should get an education and learn new material that can be used in the future. It is not the place for some fashion experiments. It was clear that students had to follow this norm and avoid any contradictions and misunderstandings in the education process. Kind of norm violation In general, this kind of norm violation taught me one thing: it was possible to break the rule
The paper will start by giving an overall impression of the documentary, followed by an examination of what the documentary meant to me. This will be followed by an analysis of whether I agree with Moore’s message in the movie or not, and why. The conclusion will be a discussion on whether the movie has in any way changed my perception on capitalism. There will be included a bibliography page citing the resources used in the paper. If you cut out the drama, the people-bashing and the over-simplification of complex economic systems in Michael Moore’s documentary movie ‘Capitalism: a Love Story’, you can still find substance in there. Having had reviews to both extremes; with others claiming that Moore should have stopped making movies at ‘Roger and Me’, and the other half exclaiming that it was an eye-opener, it was with mixed expectations that I watched the documentary. I admit it was at first difficult to follow the storyline, but by the middle of the movie, I could see clearly the point that Moore was trying to put across. Moore was presenting the social and economic inequalities that have been the result of decades of capitalism. He pointed out at institutions such as Wall Street and Goldman Sachs as being the major culprits (Dargis n.p). He argued that politics and the corporate world are too closely tied in America, and this undermines democratic practice. Who suffers for this? It is the small people, who, ironically make up 99% of the population and only own 5% of America’s wealth (Dargis n.p). A broad definition of capitalism is an economic system where business enterprises are privately owned while the rules and policies that run market conditions are determined by a central government (Bowles 5). After watching Moore’s movie, I had to rethink my understanding on the benefits of capitalism. Capitalism, as it was argued for by its earliest advocates: Max, Smith and others in their league, is that it stimulates economic growth. This
The chosen post aims at discussing social welfare and its types using the example of one particular organization. The author of the post properly references the chosen source and supports the discussion mentioning that people are always able to change their minds and get back on their feet (Fauri, Wernet, & Netting, 2008). In this response, it is expected to touch upon such aspects of the post as the content, structure, and overall presentation and clarify whether the author succeeds in developing the post or makes some mistakes. From the contextual point of view, the author of the post under consideration introduces an interesting and informative text. In the beginning, some general facts about the culture and people’s prejudices and expectations are given. The use of real-life examples is a good decision that supports the chosen direction of the discussion. Subsequently, the author explains that the post is the evaluation of a certain text taken from the book by Fauri, Wernet, and Netting. Several definitions and explanations are given. The last paragraph introduces an organization with its main goal to support women who suffer from domestic violence. Each paragraph contains clear facts and information. However, it is hard for the reader to unite the messages offered. It seems that each paragraph is a separate unit that has to be discussed. There is no evident logical connection between the paragraphs. Therefore, the structure of the post can be described as confusing and not clear. The author fails to explain why a certain text is chosen and what the goals of the discussion are. For example, Pfau-Effinger (2015) develops a powerful text about the role of culture and the connection that exists between social welfare, women, and cultural principles. It can be used as an example to be followed to improve the post under evaluation. Therefore, it is possible to say that an overall presentation of the post is uncertain. The author does not give a title of the post, and the reader cannot identify the goals of the author, as well as the significance of the post. The reader cannot comprehend the main goal identified by the author of the post. Though several strong issues and real-life examples have been introduced, it is still difficult to combine the material and understand why a certain text is chosen, and why the questions of culture and self-reliance are mentioned in the beginning. In general, the post under analysis contains an informative text and proves that women are under a considerable impact on cultural and social issues. It is not easy to find answers to all social questions and offer solutions to the existing cultural incompetence. Residential and institution welfare may not be the goal of society. Still, this concept cannot be neglected or misunderstood. There are many groups of people who need additional support and explanations. Even if people do not choose their roles, there is a list of social roles and duties that are offered automatical
Introduction Dell is a multinational company operating in the computer industry and the company has achieved great success in marketing its products in the global markets. To maintain its market position the company has embarked on manufacturing differentiated products by the application of innovative technologies. The company has focused on marketing its products in the global market and to achieve this strategy the management has established online marketing channels, retail stores and other foreign partnerships (Ignatiuk, 2009). The position of the company in the computer industry is explained by porter’s five forces analysis. Application of Porter’s Five Forces Analysis to Dell Porter’s five forces provide an analysis about the external and internal environments of an organization. The forces analyzed by the Porter’s tools are: threat of new entrants, bargaining power of customers, bargaining power of suppliers, and rivalry among competitors in the industry. Dell has experienced these forces in the computing industry and these have provided threats and opportunities for the company. Threat of new entrants Entry costs The cost of establishing a computer company is very high and many investors have feared incurring the huge costs of penetrating the market. In addition, there are high costs involved in promoting new products in the global markets to enhance acceptance. The market has been unfavorable to new entrants because the costs of entering the market have been very high and this makes the existing companies to continue dominating the market (Ignatiuk, 2009). Speed of adjustment There is great need for companies to adopt better technologies in order to adjust from one products or system to another in the computer industry. This has made it impossible for new companies to enter the market because they lack the technologies required to adjust from one product to another (Ignatiuk, 2009). Sunk costs Starting up a computer industry requires large capitals. In addition, the investors should have adequate capital to sustain the business before profits are made. Many companies have found it challenging to sustain them in the market because there are high costs incurred before they start making profits (Gilad, 2011). Economies of scale The computing industry requires manufacturing products at large scale in order to make profits. This has restricted investors from penetrating the market because it is not possible to enter the market when a company manufactures small quantities of products. Companies without enough capitals to produce in large quantities cannot sustain themselves in the market in the long term (Kotler & Lee, 2005). Network effects The customers for Dell products are sparsely distributed and there is no single market with excess concentration of customers to an extent that they can influence the marketing polices of the company. The customers in the market have little or no control over the prices and quantity of products offered in the market (Lucas & Kirillova, 2011).