ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Kuwait is one of the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This country has a stable economy due to the availability of different natural resources, including oil. Its leading industries include shipbuilding, petrochemicals, petroleum, cement, construction, and food processing. The report presented below gives a detailed analysis of this country’s economy. It goes further to discuss and examine its banking corporate governance. The information presented in this paper can guide and empower investors planning to do business in Kuwait. Kuwait Economy Kuwait is one of the smallest countries in the world with a petroleum-based economy. The country’s financial industry forms an integral part of its non-petroleum sector. A report released by the World Bank in 2016 identified Kuwait as one of the most successful in terms of GDP (Biygautane, Gerber, & Hodge, 2016). The key aspects presented below gives a detailed view of this country’s economy. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) In 2017, Kuwait’s GDP stood at $120.13 billion (“Kuwait GDP,” n.d.). This means that its GDP value represents around 0.2 percent of the global economy (Hassan, Al Shriaan, & Al-Mutairi, 2017). Since the 1960s, the country’s GPD has averaged 44.5 USD (“Kuwait GDP,” n.d.). The highest GPD of 174.2 billion US dollars was recorded in the year 2013 (see Figure 1). The lowest was recorded in the year 1962 at 1.8 US dollars (“Kuwait GDP,” n.d.). These statistics reveal that Kuwait is one of the most stable countries in terms of economy, thereby making it an admirable investment destination for many people from different parts of the world. Figure 1. Kuwait’s GDP (1960-2018). GDP Growth: Ease of Business Investment Kuwait’s GDP has been growing steadily within the past few years. For example, the rate of growth for 2015 was around 0.6 percent. In 2016, the percentage of GDP growth increased to 3.5. Some of the leading sectors that continue to support economic growth and development in this country, such as agriculture, petrochemical and petroleum industries, and financial services (Hague, Patnaik, & Hashmi, 2017). Due to these indicators and developments, the country has been ranked number 96 when it comes to the ease of doing international business. Interest Rate One of the outstanding aspects of Kuwait is that it ensures that its currency is not pegged to the US dollar. Instead, it has linked the dinar to different global currencies (“Kuwait interest rate,” n.d.). From 1999 to 2018, the interest rate has averaged 3.7 percent (see Figure 2). The highest percentage of 7.25 percent was recorded in 2000 while the lowest was in 2012. Figure 2. Kuwait’s interest rate. Unemployment Rate From the year 1983, the rate of unemployment has averaged 1.5 percent. The highest rate of 3.8 percent was recorded in 2011 (see Figure 3). The lowest percentage of 0.50 percent was recorded in 1990. This is a clear indi
The ‘English-only’ debate is believed to have stemmed in the 1980s, “out of nowhere” (Crawford J., 1996) due to the nervousness that the national language of the United States was under a serious threat due to intrusion from the assimilation of other languages spoken in America, thereby necessitating ‘legal protection’ (Crawford J., 1996). As a result of this potential threat to the language, several legal actions have been taken to protect it from being infringed from other languages and to give it an ‘official status’ (Crawford J., 1996). The United States serves the home to a hundred and seventy-five languages, more than half of which were in use much before the arrival of the Europeans (Krauss, 1996). The proponents of the ‘English-only’ movement argue that the language is under potential siege from the severe and rapid immigration of the United States. Making English an official language will serve many benefits. The proponents of the movement debate that English has always served as the adhesive factor and a link between the diverse citizens of the United States. As a result of rapid, incessant immigration, English is losing its importance in its own land, and the move is necessary to restore its status to the language. The supporters of the ‘English-only’ movement include the likes of former senator of Idaho, Steve Symms, who caution that innumerable Indians have lost their lives due to “language riots”, and that there is likelihood for a “similar situation” to be replicated in America (Linda Chávez, 1995). Social scientists such as Citrin et al. (1990), debate that the ‘English-only’ movement mirrors the ‘positive attachment’ of the loyalists of America and will serve to harness feelings of uniformity among its speakers. The initial crusaders of the movement including Benjamin Franklin, asserted that the ‘English-only’ campaigns will avert the potential “disorders and inconveniences” arising due to lack of assimilation (Franklin, B. 1961). Proponents argue that America is becoming a melting pot not only in terms of cultures, but also in terms of languages. The assimilation of other ethnic languages in the country has diversified the varieties of English in the current scenario. This has posed a considerable threat to the native English language. If English is then the only language, it becomes a compulsion for the ethnic minorities to learn the correct use of the language which will ultimately increase its accurate usage. The employment of ‘English-only’ edification would serve to provide the same platform of language to all the learners. In this way, it would also serve to generate “sameness of sentiment, and thought”, thereby incorporating of “customs and habits” in similar patterns which would gradually and ultimately eliminate any problems arising due to language differences (Atkins, 1887). The crusaders of the English-only campaign have cited that a commonly spoken language is a nece
Introduction Global warming is considered to be one of the most burning issues for consideration during a long period of time in many countries. This very phenomenon is characterized by considerable increasing of temperature that is caused by the use of fossil fuels and developing industrialization. Lots of scientists offer more and more own predictions as for global warming, the major reason that will influence this warming development, and the steps, which have to be taken to save our Earth. Some of them believe that recycling and anti-smoking programs can be helpful, and some scientists predict that even if people stop emitting smokes and other harmful gases, the climate will hardly stabilize. There are so many factors, which influence global warming, and human activities are one of them. People use cars, buses, airplanes in order to move from one place to another. They truly believe that the point that they save time by such means will be justified. They do not take into consideration that this air pollution, smoking, and any kind of garbage destroy our atmosphere and put human lives under a serious threat. Global warming will be always a captivating topic to discuss in order to prevent Earth’s destruction; there are always many problems, which cause global warming, and it is necessary to analyze each of them to achieve positive results and prevent dangers. Discussion Global Warming as It Is Global warming is characterized by considerable increasing of temperature within the Earth surface and oceans. One of the first signs of global warming is changes, noticeable to ordinary people: winters become milder and milder, lots of glaciers start melting, and the level of seas starts rising (Silverstein et al, 2003, 6). The summer temperature changes as well, it becomes hotter, and it becomes hard for people to breathe. Some people cannot still comprehend that their activities are crucially important for global warming and may bring it closer and closer. Greenhouse gases and numerous holes in the ozone layers are not the most dangerous problems, which people have to comprehend. This is why it is better to focus their attention on personal activities and on the harm, they do every day. People think about the ways of how to create one more plant or factory, how to buy a new car, or how to be saved from such heat and use a conditioner. Before take any step to achieve one of the above-mentioned purposes, it is necessary to realize how harmful they are in real. Burning of coal and oil gives a birth to carbon dioxide (CO2), and this is a greenhouse gas that prevents heat escaping into space. Of course, trees and many other plants aim at removing all that greenhouse gas by means of photosynthesis, but still, one day, it may be not enough. Clearing of land causes reducing the movements of gas from our atmosphere and promote the spreading of CO2. One of the biggest mistakes made by people is the idea that fires in forests may cause global warming. In fact, everything is quite the contrary. The writers from Science admit that global warming may certainly c
Human history has known some people who were able to rule its flow due to their strong will, desire for changes, charisma, and strong sense of moral and civic duty. One of such men of genius was Thomas Paine, one of the Founding Fathers of the USA. To mention his other great services to his own country, let us refer to the Introduction to “Common Sense and Related Writings” by Slaughter who mentions that Paine “was a man of science, … a philosopher of religion as concerned with God’s realm as he was with human arenas, and a propagandist for political change” (1). It is worth mentioning that the work done by Slaughter is a profound study of the biography and personality of the revolutionary that enables us to make a multidimensional analysis of his legendary pamphlet, Common Sense . It is possible to single out the form of a sermon as a very convincing one and Biblical evidence that has proved to be very persuasive, especially in Section II that shows sinful origin of monarchy, necessity of independence and democracy as the only natural, reasonable and just form of government. The contemporary topicality of Section II which criticizes monarchy and hereditary succession can be explained in the following way: Common Sense on the whole and Section II in particular explains the necessity of independence and democracy as the gift of Lord. It shows erroneous nature of monarchy, the form of government in Britain. It claims that democracy is the only just form of government as prescribed by the Bible: “In the early ages of world, according to the scripture chronology, there were no kings; the consequence of which was there were no wars” (Paine 79). Paine describes monarchy as “the most prosperous invention of the Devil” (Paine 79). The author stated that the Jews were deluded and yielded to temptation of the creation of monarchy that is considered one of their sins. Besides, the author criticizes hereditary succession of power since “descendants might be far too unworthy to inherit” honors (Paine 82). Also, Paine presents evident criticism of the British monarchy, saying that “England since the conquest hath known some few good monarchs, but groaned beneath a much larger number of bad ones” (83). In the final part of the section, Paine gives a historical account of the bloody conquest for monarchy and suc
Introduction In the poem, My Old Man , by Charles Bukowski, the speaker is a disturbed man. At only sixteen years old, he is already into drinking alcohol as a means of coping with depression and abusive father. Apparently, the narrator and his father have a severed relationship and are constantly in conflict over issues such as alcohol abuse, physical abuse, and irresponsibility. However, in a twist, the difficult relationship becomes lighter when the father reads one of the many stories written by the depressed narrator. The son is struggling to understand the sudden change of heart and cannot immediately know the significance of that story to his father. Therefore, this paper will attempt to explain that the story of the rich man and a horse meant being overcome by a source of happiness that turns into frustration that is threatening to completely destroy his relationship with a son he should love. The reading the story prompted the father and son to become momentarily closer than they have ever been because he could relate his severed relationship with the son to the rich man and the horse. The story of the rich man and horse From the reaction of the narrator’s father, the story about the rich man and horse seems to relate his life to the narrative that was meant to mock him. In the eyes of the narrator’s father, the rich man could mean a one happy family that shared everything and had a direction. The happy family was held by the bond of joy as a result of easy times and everything was prospering as anticipated. The father was very happy at that time to control and head this happy family as the provider and protector. The horse could mean the source of joy for the happy family who could do anything to ensure that the source of livelihood is protected. The father of the narrator might have really tried to ensure that the source of livelihood for his happy family was protected from any force that might have wanted to conspire against it. Along the way, the horse turned into a killer and did not bother about the sacrifice its rich owner had gone through to provide the best care. In the case of the narrator’s father, the great depression was the horse that killed all his ambitions and hopes, despite having tried his best to work hard and protect his source of livelihood. Just like the rich man in Henry’s story, the father of the narrator was scared that his son would become his killer as was the case of the horse that killed its master. As a mean of coping with the stress accompanied by such down swing, the father of the narrator resorts to alcoholism and excessive aggression. The violent behavior is too much and the mother of the narrator is worried for her son. It seems the two men in the house could not look each other in the eye and preferred not to share the same room. The son is equally stressed by this anonymity between himself and the person who is supposed to be his role model. The protector has turned into the tormentor whose drunkard nature overtakes his responsibility of raising the young man. Basically, the tension between s
Introduction In the early years of twentieth century, sandwiches made of peanut butter and jelly became very common. This literature review will focus on the history of peanut butter and jelly by examining the thought on interchangeability of peanut butter in the construction of sandwich, the schools of thought on the study and how they influences the construction of peanut butter and jelly. In this literature review, issues concerning the possibility of peanut butter interchangeability and peanut butter and jelly sandwich construction are also discussed. Data was collected from secondary sources. Literature review To Robinson (2001), Americans were being amazed by the popularity that peanut butter and jelly was gaining during the start of the twentieth century. He argues the trigger was the fact that most Americans never knew of the methods and ways of preparing the sandwich. Robinson further explains that despite the fact that Americans both young and old came to like the delicious sandwich; their culture had not incorporated the best ways of preparing it. As a result, housewives and teachers of home economics used to write letters to cookbook companies requesting for information on how to prepare the sandwich. There was widespread debate on the interchangeability of peanut butter in the 1920s and 1930s. Discussions mainly featured women’s magazines (Robinson, 2001). Robinson states that “there were articles which advised people to make wise choices of peanut butter” On the other hand, quite a good number of writers emphasized that consuming peanut butter and jelly sandwich was a choice that people were supposed to make on their own just like they could opt for any other item in the market. Only a small percentage of articles emphasized on the need for the constructors of peanut butter to have other thoughts apart from personal choice when it came to making a choice on whether to consume peanut butter. Owing to the great role played by the advertisements, the interchangeability of peanut butter was portrayed as simple. Robinson (2001) noted, “The peanut butter industry has always being interested in people’s association of the product with less anxiety.” Consumers were assured that they should not worry anymore about the proper use of peanut butter but they should purchase the types that appealed to them most. Currently there is too much emphasis for people to use peanut butter as portrayed in advertisements. Robinson (2001) asserts that magazines do not like going against the advertisers. Therefore, magazine editors do not object to what companies tell them, for example, magazines may fail to indicate the negative effects of the interchangeability of peanut butter. Several theoretical frameworks and schools of thought have emerged to reinforce the di
Bureaucracy is a form of organization intended to achieve the organization’s formally stated goals. Because misuse of power for personal advantage and favoritism in decision making by employees interferes with organizational goal achievement, rational organizations seek explicitly to delimit authority and enforce merit-based impersonal decisions. Bureaucracy is an idea which has made a major contribution to the structure and functioning of large organizations including those in the public sector. Bureaucracy determines the structure, functions and performance isues within the organization. Max Weber and Marl Marx developed and extended the notion of bureaucracy. Bureaucracy is a system of administrative efficiency. This approach sees bureaucracies as complex organizations with hierarchies which can be found in both the public and private sectors (Mullins). Bureaucracy can be identified as a consistent set of written rules, intentionally established rather than handed down from tradition. In organizations, rules are established for a reason and justified as furthering the organization’s formally stated objectives. Following Mullins: “Bureaucracy, as applying to certain structural features of organization, is the most dominant type of formal organization”. In practice, rules may become outdated, and officials may not want to bother to explain them. But this is a human failure to implement bureaucracy fully. No one is above the law in a bureaucracy. This means that the company per-person limit on meal expenses holds equally for the president and the sales trainee (Hughes, p. 43). The company leader cannot use his or her power over the bookkeeper to seek personal exceptions to rules. This feature of bureaucracy is regarded as central to its legitimacy by those, such as clients and low-level employees, who do not wield much power. In such organizations, employees do not do as their supervisors suggest because they like them, or what is most important, they do not disobey because
Introduction The development of several Southeast Asian countries was profoundly affected by prolonged colonial rule. For many years such states as Philippines and Indonesia were under control of Western-European superpowers, namely the Netherlands and Spain. This fact gives rise to a great number of questions. First, it is necessary to single out those methods which European governments employed in order to subdue these people. We need to ascertain the reasons why their dominance was so tenacious and lasting. Furthermore, it is vital to identify the steps of escaping this dominance and challenging imperialism. For this purpose we should refer to such novels as This Earth of Mankind by Pramoedya Ananta Toer and El filibusterismo written by José Rizal. Although these are literary works they can be extremely helpful in this discussion because they provide first-hand information about the life of Indonesians and Philippines during that period. They authors portray the struggles of average people who strive to prove to themselves and to the rest of the world that they must not be treated as inferior or subhuman. These works may throw light on many of the issues which we need to discuss. Mechanisms of controlling the colonized country In his book Pramoedya Ananta Toer gives the reader very deep insights into the strategies of the Dutch government. In fact, it was a classical technique which is usually known as “divide and rule” 1 . Its key objective is to spread enmity among the members of the host population by granting privileges to one group and abusing the other. The author eloquently demonstrates this approach: for instance, the main character Minke attends Holland school because he is of European descent. In turn, the native people are not allowed into this educational institution and no explanation is given to them. It should be pointed out that Minke frequently becomes ashamed of his origins because a person can be humiliated only for being a native or a Javanese, to be more exact (Toer, 159). Thus, another technique of conquering the nation was to downgrade its own culture, make it look primitive, unsophisticated. Furthermore, the author emphasizes the lack of appropriate education: many native people, especially women were deprived of any opportunity to enter educational institutions. (Toer, 184). These examples show that there was actually no need to use military force, this effect could be achieved by means of well-staged public campaign. This is why this political course seems to be even more dangerous. The main goal of these policies was to isolate different layers of the society from each other. Those, who achieved status in the community, were quite content with t