ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
What do we know about the financial crisis of 2008? It seems that there are no persons who did not hear about this financial collapse or even experience its consequences. However, if an individual has little knowledge about the definite aspects of the economic processes, the picture of the crisis is rather abstract and can be perceived as the undetermined notion which influences all the economic, political, social, and even personal aspects of the people’s life, but it is difficult to indicate its factors or boundaries. Charles Ferguson presented his vision of the economic crisis of 2008 in the documentary film Inside Job which became the real sensation in 2010, and it was highly estimated by the ordinary public and by the critics. The secret of the film’s success is in the fact that Charles Ferguson focuses on the financial crisis as the multidimensional phenomenon and vividly discusses all its aspects in detail and with references to the most controversial elements which can seem to be insignificant at first sight, but contribute to developing the whole picture. Charles Ferguson’s Inside Job is a winner of the Academy Award, and the film is discussed as one of the most successful critical representation of the extreme financial situation which made the population of the whole world be dependent on the process’s development and its dangerous consequences. That is why it is possible to give this documentary film the highest evaluation in five stars because of its currency, acute character, provocative interviews, complexity, completeness of the research, and intriguing conclusions. The viewer becomes involved in discussing the peculiarities of the financial crisis from the first pictures. The development of the collapse is presented in detail with paying much attention to its key aspects which can be discussed as the causes of the crisis or as its influential factors. Ferguson concentrates on the period of deregulation in the USA, on effect of the economic freedom of the enterprises, on the domination of the banks, and as a result, on the following economic absolute recession. All these notions seem to be familiar to the audience, but do all the people know what these processes can mean for the economy of the country? Some critics can state that Charles Ferguson’s film is rather subjective in its discussion of the issue. Nevertheless, the value of the film is in the director’s unique opinion on the aspects of the financial crisis which are common for the public, but presented from the other, unordinary point of view which is supported by the author’s proper research. Charles Ferguson is rather provocative in conducting the interviews with the speakers and those economists who were actively involved in the economic depression, and this controversy make the viewers develop their own conclusions. The situation of the financial crisis is perceived as absolutely real and influential, and such names as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Lehman Brothers are not only the symbols of the crisis, but the companies in which definite persons worked and became the human objects of the crisis as numbers of the other people who suffered f
Introduction The WTO (World Trade Organization) is the only organization in the world dealing with trade agreements between countries and it is characterized by a number of trading rules. The chief goal of the WTO is to oversee the production, exportation and importation of goods and services. It ensures that trade between countries is governed by a number of agreements that helps the WTO in its advocacy for fairness of the terms of international trade. The WTO is also involved in a number of activities that are marginal to international trade. These activities are mainly humanitarian. The WTO thus uses its power to control the trade interests of countries to ensure that nations uphold humanitarian and environmental conservation values (Timothy, 2002, p. 1). Origin Ideas to the birth of the WTO came up 1944 with the ITO (International Trade Organization). During the creation of the ITO, 1946 to 1948, representatives from 17 nations met in Geneva and agreed to form an interim trade agreement, GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) that lowered trade barriers and tariffs among the 17 countries. The United States Senate was not in favor of the ITO and therefore the GATT took the place of the ITO. GATT members later decided to replace GATT with the WTO. Some reasons for this are: GATT dealt with merchandise goods only while WTO covered goods, services and intellectual property, and the fact that the WTO had more established agreements and it was more efficient in solving conflicts. The WTO came into being in January 1, 1995 (Gordon, 2003, p. 1). Purpose of the WTO The purposes for the creation of the WTO included improving the standards of living of the citizens of member countries, ensuring full employment while at the same time achieving sustainable economic growth and environmental protection, and ensuring that international trade growth benefits the least developed countries. To achieving the above, the WTO engages itself in establishing trading rules between cou
Introduction Charlotte Perkins Gilman was a United States sociology expert, a novel writer, a short story writer, a poet, an academic professor who fought for women’s rights. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was one of the extraordinary women of her time. Charlotte Perkins Gilman became the beacon for women fighting for gender equality. Charlotte Perkins Gilman had unconventional theories and lifestyle that run against the very grain of society’s theory that women are the lesser gender. Charlotte Perkins Gilman became famous for the “The Yellow Paper” masterpiece. The masterpiece was a self-biography discussing the daily sufferings from the disease entitled postpartum psychosis. Charlotte Gilman successfully instituted women’s rights (Kessler, 1995). Charlotte Perkins Gilman Bibliography Born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1860, Mary Perkins researched several books at the public library. Mary’s childhood is characterized as lonely and isolated. Her father’s pasting of literary books encouraged Mary Perkins Gilman to indulge in reading many books in the library. Charlotte Perkins Gilman studied in more than five public schools. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was a slow learner in class. Charlotte Perkins Gilman supported herself through college by working as an artist, painter, and tutor (Kessler, 1995). In 1894, Charlotte Perkins Gilman actively participated in the activities of many feminist and reform organizations. Specifically, Charlotte Perkins Gilman joined several group like the “The Pacific Costs Women’s Press Association, The Women’s Alliance, The Economic Club, The Parents’ Association, The Ebell Society, and many others. In the same year, Charlotte Perkins Gilman espoused many progressive views regarding the father’s rights to the child after the courts approve a divorce. Charlotte Perkins Gilman insisted that her former husband had every right to visit their child after the divorce. In the same manner, her daughter, Katharine, had every right to learn and love her natural father. In 1884, Charlotte Perkins Gilman complained about her post-partum depression state after giving birth to her child, Katharine. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was described as hysterical and nervous. However, her friends did not take her health complaints seriously (Davis 36). In 1888, Mary Charlotte Gilman had
HR managers act as mediators between the company and its workers, protecting the interests of both sides and ensuring positive outcomes for any conflicts arising. Hence, it is crucial for HR specialists to understand the official federal and state laws that apply to their work. The Civil Rights Act of 1991 The purpose of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 was “to strengthen and improve Federal civil rights laws, [and] to provide for damages in cases of intentional employment discrimination” (CRA, 1991, p. 1). The Act prohibits the discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, and disability and allows employees to seek compensation if they were subject to intentional discrimination (CRA, 1991). The CRA (1991) provides employees with a right of recover compensatory and punitive damages from discriminating employers. In addition, the CRA (1991) imposes limitations on the amount of monetary damages to be paid out by employers, depending on their size. The CRA (1991) also allows any party to demand a trial by jury, which provides an opportunity for employees to protect their interests in court. Title III of the CRA (1991) also extends anti-discrimination laws to Senate and other government employees, which is an important addition to the 1964 CRA policies. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA, 2016) aims “to promote employment of older persons based on their ability rather than age; to prohibit arbitrary age discrimination in employment; [and] to help employers and workers find ways of meeting problems arising from the impact of age on employment” (p. 1). The Act prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on their age. The Act prohibits age discrimination of workers by their employers and deems all acts of age discrimination by employers unlawful (ADEA, 2016). Also, age discrimination by labor organizations and employment agencies is prohibited and may be subject to a penalty (ADEA, 2016). The actions against people of older age are only permitted if the differentiation is based on reasonable factors other than age, or if employee age is reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the business (ADEA, 2016). Moreover, the Act states that employee benefit plan or voluntary early re
Is W.L. Gore a successful enterprise? If so, why has it been so successful? What are some of the building blocks of its success? W.L Gore is a successful business establishment. For instance, the organization has been in operation for several decades. Besides, it has expanded its operations beyond its original location. The company has a wide network of branches with hundreds of employees. Moreover, it has often been ranked by various market researches as among the best firms in terms of employee satisfaction and revenue growth. These are just some of the indications that the firm is a market leader and equally competitive. Judge and Robbins (2011) observe that there are quite a several reasons why a firm has been successful. From the given case study, it is evident that the firm has a unique system of management that stands out among other players. For instance, the firm has no stipulated hierarchical structure based on positions. Employees of this firm are allowed to supervise themselves and also be innovative as much as possible. In other words, personal drive and initiative are highly encouraged. This approach has led to massive growth and likeability of the firm across the world where its branches are located. Some of its building blocks include operations, strategy, structure, ownership, and leadership. Associates were responsible to manage their workload and would be accountable to others on their team. Only the associate could commit to doing something—a task, a project, or a new role. Once the commitment was made, the associate was expected to meet it. New associates were regularly cautioned against overextending themselves, and associates could reject any request. Projects and teams were not formed by assignment; rather, a product or project concept was usually formed by an individual, who garnered support to move forward. As the project progressed, project founders—not managers—had to sell their idea to other associates who they felt had the necessary technical, market, and organizational skills to advance the project. Objectives were set by those who made them happen. This strategy was based on the belief that associates who were allowed to choose which projects to sponsor—by committing their resources—would more likely be motivated because they would choose projects they believed in and felt they had an ownership stake in their success. Further, small teams with highly motivated associates supporting a project or product concept were more likely to succeed, because they believed in what they were doing. Would you like to work at W.L. Gore? Why or why not? The form has been ranked as one the most comfortable organizations that guarantee comfort and satisfaction for employees. I would certainly like to work at W.L Gore due to several reasons. For instance, the firm has created a conducive environment whereby employees can experiment without fear in the course of being innovative. This strategy is aimed at improving the productivity of workers since they are individually taken as innovators. The company does not spend addi
Introduction The concept of Yin and Yang is fundamental to Chinese medical philosophy. This concept expresses duality with the two forces of yin and yang being opposites, yet complementary. The body organs are categorized as either yin or yang organs. Lloyd (2009) reveals that yin is held within the inner body to nourish the organs while yang stays in the superficial region from. The balance between Yin and Yang is fundamental to promoting health. This concept affects the health beliefs of many Asian patients. This paper will discuss how the influence of the concept of yin and yang in the traditional Asian patient will affect his view of the healthcare treatment of flu, childbirth, appendectomy, and foot amputation due to diabetic ulcers. Health Care Treatments Flu While antiviral drugs are often prescribed for flu patients, the Asian patient might use herbal or dietary remedies. To the Asian patient, the flu will be viewed using the yin-yang concept of hot and cold diseases. According to this concept, hot diseases are caused by too much yin, while cold diseases are caused by too much yang (Xueqin, 2004). The flu is accompanied by symptoms including fever, chills, and a runny nose. It is therefore classified as a hot disease, and warming Yang foods and herbs are recommended to cure it. Pregnancy Pregnancy and childbirth are viewed using the yin-yang polar relationship of hot and cold. Traditional Asian clients believe that pregnancy and childbirth are yin condition (Xueqin, 2004). The reason for this is that the woman will experience blood deficiency or fatigue during childbirth. This will lead to a deficiency in the yang available in the body. Pregnant women and new mothers are therefore asked to consume yang foods which man include chicken, beef, eggs, and spicy foods. This will restore the yin-yang balance and ensure health after pregnancy. Appendectomy To the traditional Asian patient, appendicitis is caused by the blockage or stagnation of Qi, whic
Organizational strategic plan Wal-Mart is one of the largest multinational retail firms. The firm’s success originates from adoption of optimal business, functional, and corporate level strategies. One of the corporate level strategies that the firm has continuously implemented relates to expansion strategies. Wal-Mart started its market expansion efforts in the early 1990s. The firm has adopted different market expansion strategies such as acquiring local firms, joint ventures, and organic expansion. The firm’s decision to adopt the market expansion strategy hinged on the desire to maximize its economic gains by exploiting market opportunities (Sims, 2007). Over the years, the firm has managed to enter and position itself in the international market. Currently, the firm is targeting emerging markets in Asia and Africa. However, the firm’s success in the two regions will face various challenges. This paper identifies and describes the organizational issues that the firm may face in its quest to expand into the international market. The organizational issues discussed relate to cultural differences, inability to develop a strong brand, human capital challenges, and difficulties in understanding the local consumer patterns. Moreover, this paper outlines the strategies that Wal-Mart should implement in order to address the organizational issues identified. Organizational issues faced Culture differences According to Menipaz and Menipaz (2011), cultural difference is one of the major issues that multinational companies face. Wal-Mart’s international market expansion effort will be subject to differences in national and organizational culture between the US and the target foreign market in a number of ways. First, the firm will experience a challenge in its quest to communicate and create market awareness regarding its products and services. Some governments such as Zimbabwe have instituted strict legal regulations that limit entry of multinational companies. In a bid to enter these markets, Wal-Mart will be required to partner with local firms. Therefore, the firm will not market its products directly. Such legal regulations may affect the firm’s ability to penetrate the target market. However, partnering with local firms might not succeed due to corporate culture clash between Wal-Mart and the local firms. The two firms might not possess similar cultures with regard to the norms, attitudes, and beliefs. Moreover, their organizational culture may vary based on the firm’s mission, vision, and philosophies. This aspect will limit the effectiveness with which the two firms implement business and operational strategies (Carleton & Line berry, 2004). Differences in organizational culture between the two firms will also affect the working relationship between Wal-Mart’s employees and employees of the firm that it will partner with. Differences in organizational culture might prompt employee conflict due to variation in work policies and procedures. For example, culture variation with regard to gender might affect how the firm’s employees treat men and women. In Saudi Arabia, men are considered more superior to women; therefore, they are treated
Marlon Brando is seen as one of the greatest actors who employed method acting. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) is one of the films where the actor’s performance can be regarded as an example of the effective use of the method acting techniques. This is an emotional story of a man who tries to build his happiness despite his ill temper. Such techniques as emotional memory, substitution and magic “if” help the actor create such a lively and appealing character. Thus, examples of the use of emotional memory are quite numerous in the film. For instance, the scene where Stanley reveals his dreams to have a son is one of these examples ( A Streetcar Named Desire ). Notably, it is manageable to act out emotions of a man who is happy to have a son. The scene where Stanley is playing cards with other men is also suggestive. Stanley gets more and more furious as he does not win ( A Streetcar Named Desire ). This emotion is also rather easy to act out as each person has witnessed such kind of emotions. Admittedly, such techniques as substation and magic “if” are a bit more complicated to act out and trace. Nonetheless, these techniques are also employed by Brando in the film. For instance, the scene where Stanley clears the table is one of examples of substitution. It is clear that the situation when someone is telling a man what to do is unpleasant for the male. It is also apparent that each man has had loads of such situations (especially in their childhood). Brando refers to all those cases when he was told what to do something to accumulate the fury necessary for the scene. The actor is very emotional when explaining who the king in their kingdom is. The actor’s emotions make the scene very lively and realistic. As far as the magic “if” is concerned, it can be found in the scene where Stanley confronts Blanche and tells her everything he thinks about her ( A Streetcar Named Desire ). Brando manages to imagine he is the brutal man who is fed up with the woman’s behavior and lies. He acts out the joy of a man who understands his own flaws, but is eager to reveal the flaws in other people. The magic “if” can also be traced in the one of the most famous scenes of the film. Stanley calls his wife Stella ( A Streetcar Named Desire ). He is desperate and he needs his wife badly. Here, the actor puts himself into his character’s shoes. He explores the feelings of a man who can lose the one he truly loves and cares about (in his peculiar way). Stanley is devastated he does not want to listen to anyone else. Only his wife can comfort him and she does come back. It is necessary to note that this scene is also suggestive as it helps understand the inner conflict in Stanley. On the one hand, he is a brutish man who is accustomed to a working life. He is accustomed to being in charge of his family and he is the boss. He uses his physical strength to dominate in his house. His wife is submissive. Even though she is trying to protest sometimes, Stanley strives for total control over his wife as well as her sister. Thus, the scene where Stanley is telling the women he is the k
Walter notes: “In the twentieth century, the music industry underwent a revolution and it brought with it new freedom and wide experimentation. Although there was an emergence of new musical styles and forms which challenged the normal and accepted rules that applied during the earlier periods.” [1] However, there are many composers who continued to work in forms and in a musical language that originated from the nineteenth century. Nonetheless, modernism became increasingly outstanding and important with composers experimenting with form, tonality and orchestration. These composers are such as Rachmaninoff, Edward Elgar, Claude Debussy and post-Wagnerian composers such as Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler. A few of the other composers such as Busoni, Schreker, Igor Stravinsky and Arnold Schoenberg had already been recognized as modernists even before 1914. All of these composers offered major contributions in the development of music during the 20 th century in their own exceptional ways. This paper deals with two of the most significant and vital figures in this development and the roles they played. Arnold Schoenberg and Igor Stravinsky were two of the most noteworthy composers during the twentieth century, both with different but equally notable roles to the progress of the music industry. Arnold Schoenberg, an Austrian but later became an American composer, was born on 13 th September 1874 in the Leopoldstadt district, Vienna in a lower middle class Jewish family. Walter notes “Schoenberg was linked to the expressionist movement in German poetry and art and he was also a leader of the Second Viennese School.” [2] Schoenberg’s major milestone in the musical scene of the 20th century was his approach in terms of harmony and development. His approach and thoughts on music have been consciously extended by at least three generations both in the American and European traditions. In some instances, it has also been passionately reacted against such as during the rise of the Nazi party in Austria when his music was labeled as degenerate art. Schoenberg’s name was used as a personification of what turned out to be most polemical aspect of the 20 th century art music, advancement in atonality. During the 1920’s, Schoenberg came up with the twelve-tone technique. This is a method of manipulating an ordered series of the twelve notes that are found in the chromatic scale which is has proved to be significant to a great extent. In addition to coming up with the term “developing variation”, he was also the first modern composer to acknowledge an approach of developing motifs without considering the idea of the supremacy of a centralized m