ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
The case of Beltway Snipers is more than fifteen years old. However, it is one of the examples of FBI work. It happened so that in the course of a month, ten people were killed and three injured. There was no connection between the killings except for the weapon used. They were murdered with a gun. These people were doing their daily routines when a sniper reached them. Then the case was investigated by the Montgomery County (Maryland) Police Department with the support of the FBI (“ The Case of Beltway Snipers” ). The separate attacks were linked to one investigation involving 400 agents to collect evidence from the population. Then evidence experts digitally mapped the crime scenes, and behavioral analysts were working on the profile of a criminal. Fortunately, the criminals themselves helped the investigation. The ballistic expertise helped to link the cases into one investigation. Also, a magazine found in one of the crime scenes had fingerprints which were detected since the criminal named Lee Boyd Malvo has been previously arrested in Washington State (“ The Case of Beltway Snipers” ). The record revealed his connection to John Allen Muhammad. Thus, the investigators had two suspects. Further investigation showed that Muhammad owned a Bushmaster 223 rifle, which was involved in the case. Finally, it was detected that Muhammad had a car. The car data were spread, and it helped to find and arrest the criminals. Both criminals were pled guilty and sentenced to life. Moreover, Mohammad got the death penalty in the State of Virginia (“ The Case of Beltway Snipers” ). The reason for the murders was definitely not stated. During the pre-court investigation, there was a supposition that Muhammad intended to conceal the murder of his ex-wife within the series of other murders. However, this version was not supported because of the lack of evidence. The version of jihad expressed by Malvo in prison was not proved as well. The final testimony of Malvo was that they intended to kidnap children and teach them to terrorize their locations. Since no distinct motive was detected, it is hard to state which theories can be applied to this case. One of the probable is a biological theory or the theory of born criminal. Lombroso (qtd. in Akers 36) believed that some “physical features identified the convict in prison as a “born criminal.” However, the case of Beltway Snipers looks more connected with modern biological theories of crime and delinquency (Akers 42). The theory of testosterone and criminal aggressiveness can be considered here. Booth and Osgood (qtd. in Akers 45) speak of adult male deviance. It is based on the indirect effects of testosterone levels, which are influenced by the peculiarities of their social integration and delinquency in adole
Sustainability The concept of sustainability implies different things to different people. To some, it means maintaining the status quo in the environment so that things remain unchanged over a long period of time while others view it as the conservation of the earth’s natural resources. Some people also see it as keeping an account of how we are using the environment even as we continue with business as usual (Lutz et al, 36). The term sustainability is used interchangeably with sustainable development and has been described by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency as a process of development which is able to meet the needs of both the present and future generation. It is a process that calls for better stewardship of the environment so that even as we achieve positive economic growth, we do not lose sight of our social objectives (Everyday choices, 2005). How do we achieve Sustainable Development Depending on our level of commitment, sustainability is achievable. The Rio conference in 1992 which focused on the environment and development set the stage for countries to establish a framework in pursuit of sustainability (World Bank, 24). The following factors for the promotion of sustainability have since been suggested: Capacity building among the locals Ideally, sustainable development should start at the grassroots. The Rio earth summit emphasized the importance of capacity building to sustainable development (World Bank, 24-25). There is a need to create an environment in which the local people are empowered on matters of conservation, with their scope of knowledge contributing to global knowledge. There is limited awareness on sustainability especially among the poor who are marginalized especially in the developing countries. This necessitates creation of programs which will be aimed at awareness and lifestyle change so as to achieve sustainability. Since poverty is a major hindrance to this goal, the poor can be involved in business opportunities which centre on conservation such as the cultivation of rubber trees, involvement in organic agriculture as well as the management of sustainable forests and fisheries. Such efforts will go a long way in promoting sustainability since the people who are more inclined to destroy the environment will actually be involved in its conservation (UN, 9 see also World Bank 24-25). Political involvement Until recently, many governments were following the traditional view on development, where economic growth is the primary goal regardless of the effect on the environment. Corruption, poor
Research Questions When a firm is faced with the reality of exiting a given market, Ramady argues that it is important to choose the optimal strategy that would protect the interest of stakeholders. 1 The primary goal is always to exit in a way that shareholders, employees, the management unit, and any other relevant stakeholders feel protected. The process must also meet the legal requirements. It was necessary to develop a research question that would inform the nature of the data in the study based on the research topic. The following are the questions that guided the process of collecting and analyzing data from various sources.  1. What is the appropriate exit strategy for private businesses in Saudi Arabia?  2. How can a firm choose between initial public offerings and mergers & acquisitions?  3. How can a firm overcome the valuation premium issues when planning an exit strategy? The researcher intends to use both primary and secondary data to answer the questions above. Literature Review The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the fastest developing economies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The government has been keen on promoting business growth as a way of diversifying its economy. According to Ramady, since independence, the country has heavily been relying on the oil and gas sector to sustain its economy. 2 Although the petroleum industry is still the main source of income for the economy, efforts have been made to ensure that there is growth in the other sectors of the economy as well. The government has been supporting the private sector through various initiatives as a way of diversifying the economy. 3 The infrastructural development in the country has promoted the growth of various other sectors of the economy such as banking, transport, manufacturing, entertainment, and agriculture among others. Tsounta explains that despite the attractive economic growth and great support that the private sector players enjoy in this country, it is important to appreciate that sometimes it is prudent to come up with an exit strategy. 4 According to Tsounta, numerous factors may make it necessary for a firm to
Ethical failures in business are not uncommon. Companies sacrifice even the simplest ethical principles for the sake of competitiveness and higher profits. Customer service professionals and salespeople often find themselves troubled by unethical values, with which they are bound to comply. Customer satisfaction is rightly considered as one of the weakest elements of corporate ethics: competition and market saturation place new demands on businesses. Pragmatism bordering on ethical absurdity often turns into the main instrument of retaining customers. Yet, unethical profits are never long-term. More often than not, customers do not accept unethical service and refuse to continue their relationships with unethical businesses. Therefore, organizations must build and sustain a healthy, ethical climate which will serve the basic measure of customer satisfaction in the long run. Martha Wang has recently been appointed to Consumer Affairs Department of Herb’s Garden Products (Bauer & Erdogan, 2011). She enjoys her job and is fascinated by the company’s commitment to environmental protection (Bauer & Erdogan, 2011). Martha believes that the company uses only natural, safe ingredients to produce and market fertilizers; however, one day a customer complains that Herb’s Special Fertilizer Mix has killed her dog (Bauer & Erdogan, 2011). Martha knows that Herb’s products are made of chicken manure and fish byproducts, but she heard of some secret ingredient, which is revealed to long-term employees (Bauer & Erdogan, 2011). Martha herself used the product and found several dead birds in that part of the garden where most fertilizer had been spread (Bauer & Erdogan, 2011). Her boss does not take this information seriously, whereas the owner tries to persuade her that the product is the company’s bestseller (Bauer & Erdogan, 2011). Martha is being torn between her ethical concerns and the need to comply with the organizational values and culture. Martha must take the most relevant ethical decision, but she faces a number of decision-making challenges. It should be noted, that the customer service professionals, as well as salespeople and marketing personnel, are often perceived as failing to handle many ethical dilemmas (Valentine & Barnett, 2003). In this situation, institutionalization of ethics through codes of ethics and ethical procedures could solidify employees’ ethical intentions (Valentine & Barnett, 2003). However, Martha
Introduction Description of the Company Ritz-Carlton Hotel is one of the leading hotels in Russia. According to Woodcock (2007, p. 73), the hotel was started in 1905 by Ritz Carlton as a series of restaurants that were run on board SS Amerika ocean liners. Carlton was determined to offer high value to its customers on board these ocean liners. As the firm developed, Carlton realized that his customers wanted high value for the products they purchased. Most of the customers on board the liners were holiday makers. During this time, the rich would go on a voyage for general entertainment. People of the lower social class could not afford such voyages, and as Faulkner (2003, p. 67) states, it remained a preserve for the rich. The management of this firm learnt the dynamics of this market segment. It realized that this segment of the market was very keen on the value of products offered to them. They did not mind paying high prices for these products as long as their quality was satisfactory. This is what defined Ritz-Carlton as a major player in the luxury hotel industry. When the World War One started in 1914, the firm had to move from the ocean liners to other facilities along the beaches in some major cities because voyages were no longer safe. Although the firm experienced some growth during this early, period, it was faced with a number of challenges that forced it out of the market. In 1983, William Johnson bought the brand Ritz-Carlton and a few of its assets. Under his leadership, this firm experienced a massive growth not only in Europe, but also in some selected countries in Asia. Currently, the firm has worldwide market coverage, with 81 hotels in 26 countries. Reports in their website show that their revenue for the year ending December 2012 was $ 3 billion. Its permanent employee base is also estimated to be over 38000 people, with many others employed indirectly. In Russia, it is one of the leading luxury hotels that are very popular with tourists from Britain, France and the United States. Some of the products offered in this giant luxurious hotel include a variety of food, accommodation, travel services especially for the tourists, spa, and other entertainment services. The firm has remained focused on the higher end markets, and in Russia, it is considered one of the most expensive hotels. This has worked positively in strengthening its brand, because the rich believe that it is a symbol of class. Description of the country It has been mentioned that Ritz-Carlton operates in 26 countries around the world. However, this research will only focus on the Russian market. Russia is a federal state in Eastern Europe comprising 83 federal subjects ( Kumar & Reinartz 2011, p. 85). These scholars also observe that this is the largest country in the world. It has a population of 143 million people, making it one of the most populous nations in the world. The economy of this country was ranked sixth largest by purchasing power. Some of these characteristics make the
In the year 2000, United States economy experienced a period of slow growth that was characterized by financials crisis. The main cause of this recession was the housing bubble which burst during that time. When recession takes place in any economy, it usually comes along with very many complications. For instance, the level of unemployment increases rapidly because production is usually very low. The recession was a major blow to the U.S. economy as it cost the economy a significant amount of time and financial resources to recover. When there is an economic problem like recession, the situation can either be rectified through a monetary policy or a fiscal policy. However, both policies are used in combination in order to come up with the most effective effects. Both monetary and fiscal policies act by reversing the negative effects impacted by the condition on the economy. For instance, since recession slows down the economy, the monetary and fiscal policies should be aimed at reviving the economy. Therefore, the decisions made should be geared towards the expansion of the economy. In order to solve this problem, the US government came up with expansionary monetary and fiscal policies. Expansionary policies help in reviving an economy after a recession. Expansionary Monetary policy An expansionary monetary policy is any action by the Fed that results in an increase to the total output or aggregate demand in an economy. An expansionary policy conducted during recession is aimed at stimulating economic growth. During recession, economic activities are generally slow and the entire economy comes into stand still (Cummins & Cohen 13). In such a situation, any monetary decision should be directed towards the revival of the economy. This is achieved by ensuring that every monetary decision made is targeted towards the expansion of the economy. One expansionary monetary policy which Fed conducted during the great recession is cutting down the interest rates. This policy leaves the level of inflation unchanged in the long run. However, the level of output will increase gradually in the long run. When the interest rates are low, people will tend to increase the amount borrowed since borrowing is now inexpensive. As a result, the level of investment will increase hence promoting expansion in the total output. In 2008, the US government applied unique mechanism in an effort to solve the financial situations during that time. The fed government made an aggressive reduction in interest rates in 2008 going down to zero rates by the end of the year (Blinder & Zandi 10). This increased the level of production in the economy hence creating employment. Later, the government was also engaged in other expansionary measures in order to boost the economy further. For instance, it bought treasury bonds. This also had a sign
Introduction The society has undergone a significant transformation during the 21 st century. These changes have affected different spheres of individual’s life. One of these spheres relates to work. Work demand is one of the major reasons for the increased need of work-life demands. Approximately 50% of the total workforce is comprised of women while 50% of all household adults are working (Chick, 2004, p.2). Findings of ‘The 2002 National Study on the Changing Workforce’ revealed that approximately 66% of all American families were dual earners by 1977. This means that these couples were salaried employees. However, the proportion grew to 78% by the end of 2002. Not only are the couples working but they are also required to work for long hours (Chick, 2004, p. 2). In most cases individuals working for long hours experience health problems. In addition to work demands, the demands of life are also influencing individuals to have a balance in their life. For example, the adults are required to take care of their children and elderly parents. From the study, 50% of the respondents interviewed said they do not have sufficient time for themselves while 63% said they do not have enough time to spend with their spouses. On the other hand, 67% of all the respondents interviewed said that they do not have sufficient time to spend with their kids. As a result of increased participation in their work, there is need for individuals to establish a balance. In addition to family life, there is an increase in the number of adults who are attending school in an effort to improve their life. This arises from the fact that workers are aimed at developing their career. Considering these challenges, workers are increasingly being concerned with ensuring that there is flexibility within their workplace in order to attain a balance (Romer, 2011, p.1). As a result, human resource managers are increasingly being concerned with work-life-balance as one of the human resource management concepts. This arises from the fact that the profitability of the firm is dependent on its effectiveness in retaining employees (Clutterbuck, 2003, p.34). According to Clayton (2004, p.146), the success of organizational leadership is dependent on the effectiveness with which harmony between the organizational goals and employees’ priorities is established. Considering the changes in the society, the researcher appreciated the importance of analyzing the concept of work-life-balance and its influences on employee development and career management. Literature review According to Armstrong (2006, p.152), work-life balance entails establishing a balance between ones life and his or her work. In their
The following analysis will be about the dialogue aspect of the narrative technique used by Flannery O’Connor in her short story A Good Man is Hard to Find and how it contributes to the story and its meaning. As the story abounds in numerous dialogue lines, it is particularly important to understand the sheer impact of dialogues on the perception of the story by readers. The dialogue aspect of A Good Man is Hard to Find is the story’s key component for delivering the characters’ thoughts, their personalities, their points of view on the events described in the story, and, ultimately, for creating impressions of readers about each character. Therefore, the importance of dialogues to the story will be explained by analyzing certain significant quotes and indicating their contribution to the delivering of the story’s main ideas. The nature of the Grandmother’s personality is already suggested in the very first pages of the story. When John Wesley asked the Grandmother why she would not stay home if she did not really want to go to Florida, little June Star said: “She wouldn’t stay at home for a million bucks. Afraid she’d miss something. She has to go everywhere we go.” (O’Connor 137). June’s depiction of the Grandmother was rather crude, but, at the same time, it was accurate. Old-fashioned and dreamy, the old lady has further proved to match that depiction during the conversation with the kids in the car. “Let’s go through Georgia fast so we won’t have to look at it much,” said John Wesley during the trip (O’Connor 139). The grandmother answered: “If I were a little boy, I wouldn’t talk about my native state that way. Tennessee has the mountains, and Georgia has the hills.” (O’Connor 139). Just from these lines, we can get the idea of a certain confrontation between the old and new views on things. More about A Good Man is Hard to Find How Does A Good Man Is Hard to Find End? 5 71 Who is the protagonist in A Good Man is Hard to Find? 5 729 What Is the Tone of A Good Man Is Hard to Find? 5 533 What Is the Style Of A Good Man Is Hard to Find? 5 65 What Is the Meaning of a Good Man Is Hard to Find? 5 91 How Is Imagery Used in A Good Man Is Hard to Find 5 1260 The Grandmother still lived mentally in the old times, where, according to her, people were better – they were nicer and more respectful. However, she still seemed to believe in the existence of good people. When Red Sammy asked her about why he had let the two fellers charge the gas they bought the previous week, she responded: “Because you’re a good man!” (O’Connor 142). The Grandmother’s reminiscences of the past and the desire for reunification with them led to a car crash. “We’ve had an ACCIDENT!” the children shouted (O’Connor 145). “But nobody’s killed,” June Star disappointedly said, looking at t
In planar geometry on an oriented coordinate plane, there is the concept of coterminal angles, which have a common stationary side and one common movable side. In general, coterminal angles can be called pairs of angles in which one is greater or less than the other by a number divisible by 2pi. That is why there is no exact number of coterminal angles, nor is there a specific direction. In particular, for an angle of 50°, we can continually create at least one positive and one negative coterminal angle. By definition, if the initially given angle was 50°, then the coterminal positive angle is 410°. At the same time, the nearest negative coterminal angle is -310°. Geometrically, these angles were formed by rotating the initial angle a complete turn (or a multiple of a number of turns) in a given direction. In the terminology of coterminal angles, there is the concept of a terminal and an initial side. The initial side is usually the zero coordinate (horizontal axis) from which the initial angle is counted. If the initial angle was indeed 50°, then it is from the initial side these degrees are counted to conditionally form an acute angle triangle, in which 50° are in the center of the coordinates. The terminal side for the initial angle and the coterminal angle are the same because, as mentioned, the coterminal angle is formed only by rotating a multiple of a whole number of revolutions. Consequently, if the terminal side of the coterminal angle is not the same as the terminal side of the initial angle, then there is a clear error in the definition. As a first example, we can use an angle A equal to 50°. The nearest positive coterminal angle for A is, as has been shown, 410°. The terminal sides of both angles, in this case, are in the first quarter of the circle. As a second example, we can use angle B equal to . There are two ways to do this: either convert the angle from radians to degrees or use only radians. In the first case, the angle can be translated: Then the nearest positive coterminal angle is 560°, which, like angle B, has a terminal side in quarter III. If the calculation were done in radians, then: which is also located in the same third quarter.