ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction JetBlue founder David Neeleman announced his plans for a new airline in early 1999. After acquisition of 75 Airbus A320 and allocation of slots at JFK, the airline’s maiden flight took off in early 2000 destined for Fort Lauderdale in Florida. The company would later fly other routes to Tampa and Orlando, among others, in the same year. During the 2011 final year results, the company announced that it flies more than 70 states and 12 countries. Additionally, it announced that it flies into New Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean and Latin America (JetBlue 2012). The company recorded good results in the early years of its operation until 2005 when it acquired a new Brazilian jet. This slowed progress for the two consecutive years. JetBlue prides itself for providing cheap flights that offer in-flight additions such as television, which was a first in the industry. In early 2012, the company was operating more than 700 flights in a day with a fleet of over 120 A320 Airbuses and slightly more than 50 EMBRAER 190 aircrafts (New York Times 2012). Mission, Policy and Vision JetBlue strives to offer its customers value, style, service and low costs. This is part of its policy and mission that includes offering customers hosts of other in-flight entertainment options. This propels its brand image to the customers. For example, it offers branded popcorns, a JetBlue spa among others (JetBlue 2012). As part of its policy, the company offers only one-way tickets and flies short destinations. It has a policy of assigning all seats and having ticketless travels. Additionally, the company has documented ‘customer-protection bill of rights’, which details a host of many options as pertains customer needs and complaints. The company’s vision is to offer safety at all times, care for its customers, propel its integrity and guarantee all customers fun and low costs (JetBlue 2012). Objectives and Strategies Founder David Neeleman had the idea that humanity had been forgotten by the available airlines. From that, he decided to bring humanity back to air travel. This formed part his innermost objective. He would do this by focusing on short travels and offering the best services and entertainment on-board. He wanted to do this while offering value for the shareholders. Hence, in the early years (2000 up to 2005), he recorded commendable results. As part of the company strategy, Airbus A320 was the main aircraft. However, the company made a strategic error in 2005 when it contracted a Brazilian aircraft manufacturer for acquisition of EMBRAER aircrafts that would carry 100 passengers (JetBlue 2012). This enabled it to travel international destinations. However, it created an operational problem at airports both in New York and in other destinations. The company strengthens its brand by offering branded products in the aircrafts. This includes foodstuff and pleasure pr
Comment on relative frustration of the two variables XOM (Mobil-Exxon) is an individual share, while MRT (Market Portfolio) is an aggregate market value of all shares named. The market portfolio has a reflection of the market reaction within the financial period depicted. The difference between the two variables is that one has a reflection of other shares in that portfolio, while the other one is an individual share. It is noted that the two variables fluctuate in the same direction in most cases hence meaning that XOM has a big impact on the aggregate market fluctuation. The only difference between the two sides is that market liquidity is different (Altwies, 2010.P. 23). The two moves in a different distance, reflecting disparities in the two variables liquidity. If a shared variable is liquid than the other, this means that it will fluctuate more than the other. This is irrespective of the direction. On the same note, Xom has more negative reflection as compared to the market portfolio. This is because the market portfolio is an average of all share variables in the market hence providing a pool of risk. In most cases, the market portfolio is availed to reflect the whole market performance, but individual share aggregation reflects the market position of that particular share in a specified financial period. The above case, therefore, shows that the share market during the specified period was stable mainly because it is more represented above zero (Sanghera, 2011.P. 91). Refer to the Excel page provided separately for the calculation The contrast of the risk premium of the two variables Microsoft’s share seems to be more volatile than the market portfolio. The higher the volatility of the stock, the higher the risk to the investor since the share is unstable. This same principle applies whereby the higher the volatility of the share, the higher the expected profit. If the investor decides to invest all his or her money in Microsoft alone, it means that there is a higher possibility that he or she can make a big profit or make a huge loss. Share volatility indicates the shared liquidity without the respect of the market direction. The share price might take any direction hence proving to be risky. From the available data of the Microsoft share, it can be seen that this stock moves to the two extremes i.e. negative and positive. There is no certainty on the share direction hence increasing investors’ risk and investment on this single share implies that the investor might be using speculation (Jagannathan, 2002.P.12). Contrary to this notion, the market portfolio provides a reduced risk and profit platform but a definite platform. The market volatility can be considered low holding the fact that it offers a pool of risk by forming a good risk spread portfolio, which accommodates all shares in the market. Investor certainty is a plus and this portfolio is made of speculation free situation holding the fact that not
The term “Culture of Poverty” was created by Oscar Lewis, referring to a type of subculture connected to economic poverty and defined by four dimensions of traits. These dimensions are “the relationship [with] the larger society; the nature of the slum community; the nature of the family; and the attitudes, values, and character of the individual” (Lewis 1966:21). Although the culture of poverty and economic poverty are linked, Lewis noted that one does not necessarily beget one another, pointing to some impoverished subcultures that do not exhibit the cultural traits mentioned above. He also explained that, although the subculture has positive characteristics, it ultimately entails “much pathos, suffering, and emptiness” (Lewis 1966:25). Lewis stated that a culture of poverty is characterized by a low level of organization despite high gregariousness and a potential sense of community. As a consequence of this characteristic, he pointed out that racial segregation and discrimination might be a factor that prevents a culture of poverty from forming in a particular group. Those discriminated groups, as he pointed to the African-American minority and lower Indian castes tend to have a stronger sense of group identity and organization. The term has been used in broader policy-making discussions over the years. For example, the politician Michael Harrington was heavily inspired by Lewis’ work and referred to the culture of poverty widely in his book The Other America, bringing it into the broader discourse and political process. However, his understanding of the concept was more focused on wealth, describing a vicious cycle that had little relationship to culture. In his assessment of this vicious cycle, no cultural factors were mentioned; in essence, the culture and economic parts of the issue were disconnected from one another. He also claimed that racial and ethnic divides perpetuated the subculture, that one can become part of it by “being born … in the wrong racial or ethnic group” (Harrington 1962:21). This statement directly contradicts Lewis, who, as mentioned above, observed segregation as a detriment to the formation of a culture of poverty. He also attributes the poor’s attitude towards the larger society, exemplified by the policeman, to wealth and connections, contrasting them to “a well-dressed … man who might have political connections” (Harrington 1962:23). Overall, he seemed to be focusing on the wealth aspect, using it to justify any cultural effects. Works Cited Harrington, Michael. The Other America: Poverty in the United States. Penguin Books, 1962. Lewis, Oscar. “The Culture of Poverty: Does Membership in a Group That Has Been Poor for Generations Constitute Belonging to a Separate Culture? A Study of Puerto Ricans
Lean Is the Pits Lean lessons emphasize the importance of hiring the professionals who can perform their responsibilities faster than the others. Moreover, the chosen experts have to be team players who embrace the company’s leadership and goals and assess the individual skills and performance as contribution to the collective work. The focus on training and practice, along with planning and attention to details, guarantees the efficiency at work not only to a particular crew, but also to the whole enterprise. The application of new technologies and deep analysis of various processes are essential for the planning and preventing maintenance and, thus, reducing the time and financial costs. The systematic feedbacks help to understand the existent or potential shortcomings and improve the weaknesses in advance. The significance of the lean from NASCAR is in the area of performance of the well-coordinated team with excellent communication, clear goals and strategy, and the implementation of technology. The latest is a must for any business that aims to lead. Although the greatest lean impact is the spotlight on the highly integrated crew that considers group performance as the most efficient way to achieve the company’s goals. Lean takes on the skies The gap between orders and delivery was a serious threat for Boeing. The failing of customers’ expectations could put Airbus, a primary rival, on the front row of theindustry and sweep Boeing out from its leading domain. The major deadlocks that slowed down the process of delivery were the internal and external plights. The inner struggles included a “massive batch-and-queue production system” (Trent, 2008, p. 229) and the previous unsuccessful experience of increasing the production capacities. The external complications were associated with the decrease in the number of suppliers. To overcome the difficulties and secure its superior position in the industry, Boeing initiated the embracement of lean. The enduring process of lean implementation is illustrated by the changes in production of the dual-engine, single-aisle 737 model. The assembly line of 737s has been modified: during the manufacturing process, the aircraft is moving to the following workstation while the team of workers finalizes its tasks in the process of transportation. Progressing from one to another assembly facility, the employers are supplied with the portable work equipment. Thus, the manufacturing lines “bring people and assemblies to the right place at the right time” (Trent, 2008, p. 232). The construction of empennage has been started on a moving basis as well. These changes have reduced the time of production and expanded the efficiency of the working teams. Also, with the implementation of the lean principles to the plane assembly, the company has cleared floor space that is used for other purposes. Boeing intends to execute the lean initiatives tested on 737
Introduction Animism attributes spirits and souls to inanimate and living things. In this belief system, souls are said to enter or exit a certain body when the body is ‘alive’ and ‘dead’ respectively. After departure, the soul then takes the form of a spirit and waits for the next ‘container’ that will host it. Evidently, animism provides a distinct explanation concerning the origin of the reincarnation concept because it recognises the existence of souls in different life forms. This belief provides an avenue for the re-emergence of the soul in what is understood as reincarnation. How animism is a source of the reincarnation concept Reincarnation is a belief in the rebirth of souls into different bodies. This may occur in a geographically different location and at different times. Numerous religions around the world embrace the concept, and they include Buddhism, Sikhism, African traditional religions and Hinduism. Different religious systems have different beliefs about reincarnation. Nonetheless, all of them hold that reincarnation happens to all humans and some living beings. They also believe that reincarnation marks the developmental process of the soul. In other words, it is a step towards achieving a higher state of existence. Given its prevalence in several religions around the world, it is necessary to understand the source or the origin of this phenomenon. Edward Tylor is one of the most reputable forces in the study of ancient religions. He particularly dwelt on animism, and his assertions can be quite insightful in explaining the concept of reincarnation. Tylor believed that all religions started with animism (Tylor, 1871). Primitive cultures were especially linked to animism owing to their need to figure out the differences between being alive and being dead. They also wanted to figure out some of the dreams that they experienced throughout their lives. Animism was a plausible framework for understanding the relationship between spirits and man. In these societies, adherents assumed that the human body possessed a ‘phantom’ and ‘life’. The phantom was distant while life could be perceived easily. rimitive societies often assumed that the phantom would combine with a soul to form a ghost soul which could enter other beasts, plants, reptiles and birds. When the ghost soul entered another body, it would cease being a ghost and would become a soul. In other societies, it was assumed that there were spirits in boats, clothes, sticks, rocks and other objects, which non animists would consider lifeless and soulless. Therefore, one can see that the possibility of reincarnation emanates from this idea. In order for souls to reborn, one needs to believe in their existence, and in their ability to move from one form to another. This was quite central to the animistic belief system, and thus illustrates that such a belief system may have been responsible for the development of the concept of reincarnation. T
Causes of World War 2 The World War 2 began in 1939. This is when France and Britain declared war on Germany. This occurred when Germany invaded Poland and therefore, this is what triggered the outbreak of war. However, the causes of the war are more complex. The major causes of this Great War were the unresolved issues that resulted from the World War 1. Another reason was due to the effects of the Great Depression. This occurred in the 1930s. Another reason is the interwar period in Europe. Several events accumulated and led to the outbreak of the war. One of the events that contributed to the series of events includes the invasion that occurred in Poland in 1939. Soviet Russia and Germany were responsible for this invasion. Another event that had a great effect was the invasion into Republic of China. The Empire of Japan was responsible for this and this occurred in 1937. Several European powers such as the United Kingdom, Russia and France expanded their territories using force and aggression. This is a process that was referred to as expansionism or imperialism. Germany and Italy were not as successful as the other nations when it came to gaining territory under colonial rule. When Germany lost land to the other nations, it led to their relocation. This cause the Germans to get bitter and this interfered with their relations with their neighbors. This contributed to the feeling of revanchism. Under Nazism, Germany started a program that would lead to the restoration of the country’s rightful boundaries. These were the boundaries that were in place before World War 1. This lead Rhineland to reoccupied. When Hitler saw the success of this action, he believed that he could further invade Russia and Poland without causing any major war. Another leading cause is the failure of appeasement. The actions by Germany were thought to be reasonable since they thought that Germany had the right to re-arm herself in order to be ready to defend itself. Therefore, the Munich Agreement was signed. This was between Germany, Italy, Britain and France. Czech was not invited and this made them feel betrayed. However, Hitler went ahead to break the terms and conditions of the Munich Agreement. He invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia. It was evident that the policy of appeasement had failed. Another thing that led to the World War 2 was the failure of the League of Nations. The reason why the U.S. was involved in the war The United States had remained neutral in the war but they were provoked into it. This was when the Japanese bombed the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. This made the Japanese official enemies of the United States. The Japanese later bombed the U.S. fleet in the Philippines. This then agitated U.S., which decided to declare war on the Japanese. A few days later, Hitler decided to declare war against the United States. This led the U.S. to respond with fire. This then led to the full involvement of the United States in World War 2. FDR also wanted the United States to be involved in the war. He made publ
What economic principle justifies the high salaries of some professional athletes? Suppose the manager of a baseball team wants to hire a new pitcher for $4 million per year. Under what circumstances would it make sense for the team to do so? Today many people could be surprised by the fact that sportsmen playing football, hockey, basketball, or some other popular kind of sport get millions for their job when therapists, firemen, teachers, etc. are provided with much lower wages. Individuals admit this unfair distribution of funds and do not understand the fact that they are the main contributors to the existence and further evolution of this very pattern. The fact is that the extremely high salaries of professional sportsmen are possible due to the economic principle of supply and demand (“The labor market,” n.d.). First of all, there are not so many good athletes that could help a team to win by their own forces. That is why the most skilled ones could ask for the extremely high salary as they know that coaches and team managers have no choice in case they want to win. Moreover, the above-mentioned sports are very popular nowadays. Millions of people watch basketball or baseball games. It results in giant incomes for the industry that comes from sponsors who want to advertise their goods, TV channels which buy broadcasting rights, etc. In this regard, the existing high demand for games and talented sportsmen preconditions the enormous size of their salaries. Besides, in case a manager of a baseball team wants to hire a new pitcher for $4 million per year, it could be justified by several reasons. First of all, it should be an eligible investment. It means that it should be really an outstanding player who could not be replaced by any other member of a team. Moreover, all modern players are celebrities who sell different goods. For this reason. he should be able to attract sponsors. Only under these conditions, his transfer could be justified. The sum spent to buy him will be compensated by contracts with sponsors and other incomes preconditioned by the increased popularity of a team where a baseball star plays. Assume that the government of the state of New Jersey has determined that a large number of injuries and deaths have occurred as a result of accidents involving the installation and repairs of electrical equipment at private residences. In reaction to this problem the state assembly decides to pass a law which requires that all certified electricians pass a tougher state licensing examination. Analyze the impact that this law is likely to have on the market for
Have you ever thought about space? I mean not this abstract notion that is used when people speak about planets, stars, and the Universe, but try to imagine it and make it less abstract? To understand these giant distances, empty and cold, but, at the same time, full of planets, stars, and unknown things? Myriads of words that are not available for us, innumerable places that cannot be achieved but exist somewhere in space and have their unique secrets? Is it even possible to imagine something eternal, primal, and endless? These questions amaze and puzzle, they deprive you of sleep and inspire you at the same time. For me, space is not just a term, but it is one of the greatest mysteries of our world that can hardly be discovered and cognized by us, but that is why it remains so attractive. Thinking about space means thinking about the mystery. At least, it works for me as lying in bed and looking in the window, I start cogitating about distant stars with their own worlds. I have heard the idea that many of the sparks we can see in the sky at night do not exist anymore, but space is so giant that light from them continues its travel, and that is why we can still see it. I do not know whether it is true or not; however, I often think about the path light has to travel to achieve solar system and meet with our eyes. It means that we are surrounded by millions of worlds that remain unknown to us, and all we can see is a small light in the sky when it is dark. It is a great mystery of space. It can be full of life and other creatures, but we can never get to know about it because of its size and inability to leave our own system and travel to other galaxies. We are bound to our star. Sun is the center of our life, its source, and its master. The Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and other planets of our system move around the big gaseous sphere that flares and generates heat sufficient enough to give life. Abstracting away, it might seem absurd and ridiculous, but it is one of the main laws of the Universe as stars are centers of their systems, and their death means the collapse of all other planets surrounding it. It means that our existence will end with the death of the Sun, which sounds symbolic as our appearance was also preconditioned by it. This giant master of our system seems eternal, but scientists are sure that its time will come one day, and it will enter a new phase resulting in the destruction of life and radical changes in the structure of our system. It will happen in several milliards years, and the numbers impress. For me, it means eternity, but for space, it is just one small event peculiar to its existence. Of course, we have some achievements in discovering the Universe. We send people and satellites in space, we use telescopes and other machines to cognize it, and we even landed on the Moon, which is definitely one of the greatest successes demonstrating the power of human thought and science. Since ancient times, Moon has been attracting the attention of human beings because of its significant role in the life of the Earth and its close pos