ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Situated between China and India in the Eastern parts of the Himalayas in South Asia, the Bhutan Kingdom provides a political system worth studying owing to its uniqueness. Bhutan is a landlocked country that for centuries has upheld its traditional systems thus cutting itself off from the values of the outside world especially concerning its culture and politics. Specifically, the Wangchuck monarchy that approached a hereditary system since 1907 before it was replaced by the two-party legislature government system in 2008 portrays how the landlocked country managed its political system. Politically, Bhutan has undergone numerous changes in the past to be where it is in contemporary times. The political system has evolved from a monarchical form of governance to democracy, which is gaining popularity around the country. One of the outstanding aspects of Bhutan is the use of society’s happiness as a way of measuring well-being. This report seeks to provide a report on Bhutan’s historical overview, its geography and democracy, and the political systems and leaders of the country. Additionally, this paper would include the economic structure and development before addressing domestic and foreign policy issues regarding the Bhutan Kingdom. Historical Overview The historical background about Bhutan can be traced from the 2000 BC period when the migration of the Monpa from Tibet took place. However, Drakpa affirms that substantial records regarding the second Buddha, Padmasambhava Guru Rinpoche during the 7 th Century provides reliable information regarding the political structures of the Kingdom (par. 3). Rinpoche established various monasteries during his reign to underscore the relevance of Buddhism as a religion that would guide their way of living. It was during the 7 th Century period when Buddhism was introduced in the country as a religion. In the 1616 CE period, the arrival of the Tibetan Lama fostered the introduction of the dual system of secular and religious government that is still practiced up to date in Bhutan (Drakpa par. 5). Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal provided political leadership that sought to unite the people until his demise in 1651 after which civil wars erupted leading to religious and political bitterness. In the course of the battling period, various governors assumed power and authority calling for the need for unity instead of the wars that occurred for a lengthy period. According to Gallenkamp, the stability of the country was realized in 1907 after the chiefs and lamas chose Ugyen Wangchuck unanimously as the first king of Bhutan (4). The Wangechuk’s dynasty adopted Namgyal’s strategy of unifying the people thus fostering the harmonious coexistence of its population up to date. The political stability of the monarch was influenced by the reorganization of the structures through the help of the British government after signing the Treaty of Punakha in 1910. In 1865, Britain and Bh
Introduction The development of philosophical thought becomes possible due to the activity of courageous people that are not afraid of challenging long-term traditions and views of life. Socrates, one of the most famous Greek thinkers, is an example of an individual who revolutionized philosophy and stayed committed to his principles in any circumstances. His key contributions to the field include the Socratic Method that facilitates the critical analysis of hypotheses, ideas about morality and wrongdoing, and the concepts of immortal soul and preexistence. Socrates’s Life and Career Many centuries have passed since the birth of Socrates, but he is still regarded as a source of wisdom and an inspirational figure in the world of philosophy. Socrates was born in Athens circa 469 BC and died in 399 BC at the age of seventy (D’Angour 5). Some popular myths state that Socrates came from an economically disadvantaged background and had limited educational opportunities. However, based on the common themes found in his disciples’ works, Socrates was a son of relatively well-off parents and grew up being surrounded by the Athenian elite of the time (D’Angour 12). As a child, Socrates dreamed about becoming a strong warrior or a successful politician, and years later, he had a chance to demonstrate his talent in military arts (D’Angour 12). In addition to that, he had other gifts that contributed to the popularity of his philosophical views. Being a teenager and then a young man, Socrates always had a thirst for knowledge and worked hard to develop new skills. He learned a lot from the best music teachers and political advisors, including Damon, and practiced the art of singing and playing the lyre (D’Angour 13). Additionally, it is presumed that at a young age, Socrates was trained to follow the trade of his father and become a stonemason (D’Angour 12). His earliest participation in armed conflicts was around 447 BC, when one of the most known battles of the Peloponnesian War, the Battle of Coronea, was fought (D’Angour 5). During his service, he gained the reputation of a polemist that could not be beaten in an argument and did not care about material possessions. Unlike other philosophers, he did not produce written works to express his principles of life. Due to his self-righteousness and the ability to find the best words to defeat his opponents verbally, Socrates was a character of some comic plays that aimed to expose his mistakes and exaggerate them. For instance, in 423 BC, Aristophanes caricatured him in the play titled Clouds (Moore 534). In this literary work, the philosopher is portrayed as a person who teaches a young man to distort the truth to reach his own goals. In particular, the student learns how to use the art of rhetoric to tire money-lenders with idle talk and distract them from his debts (M
Introduction As one of the main reasons that led to the beginning of Reformation, it is necessary to name the total decline of morals in the midst of the Roman Catholic Church. The political factor can also be considered one of the important indirect causes. The new centralized nation-states in northwestern Europe opposed the concept of a universal church, which proclaimed its jurisdiction over the nation-state and its powerful ruler. 1 The ideal of such a universal Church came into conflict with the emerging national consciousness of the middle class in these new states. Another reason for the reform movement was the struggle between representatives of the just emerging capitalist mode of production and the feudal one, whose ideology was protected by the medieval church of that time, which itself was the largest feudal lord-landowner. 2 Feudalism prevailed in Europe, and the overwhelming majority of the population was serf, feudal dependent, the poorest peasantry, almost completely powerless, since in order to strengthen feudal ownership of land the number of peasant duties increased, while the development of peasant farms was not allowed, contributing to the peasants’ impoverishment. There was growing dissatisfaction with the church in all segments of the population, because the church was the largest land feudal lord and, moreover, it declared each person without exception “unable to save his soul.” 3 Thus, it subjugated all sectors of the population, the secular life of human, secular institutions and all spheres of life of the state as a whole. 4 Particular dissatisfaction was caused by requisitions by the papal curia and higher clergy, which, in the context of the growth of commodity-money relations, were constantly increasing. Secular feudal lords and monarchs demanded restrictions on exactions in the papal curia. 5 The burgher opposition, which at first expressed the aspirations of the broad masses of the population, reflected on the abolition of the Catholic Church as a feudal institution and the creation of a new, “simple and cheap” church without requisitions and fees for demands. The ideologists of the masses put a broader meaning in the concept of the Reformation ‑ the transformation of the entire system of social relations in the spirit of gospel equality. Moreover, the political influence of the church on the life of the state and its financial base were enormous, and the fragmentation of the countries of medieval Europe and the weak centralized power only contributed to this. The mentioned claims of the church aroused grumble and indignation among the largest feudal lords, including kings. 6 All this led to the fact that the reform movement not only embraced, but also united all sectors of the European countries population. The Magisterial R
Introduction It should primarily be mentioned that both Heaven & hell in art: The birth of the Italian Renaissance and The unchained art of the Renaissance are interesting and very insightful videos. Throughout the videos, the reporter visits historical places and describes the outstanding works of Renaissance art. He slowly moves in history and explains the meanings behind specific creations and also analyzes them critically and in detail. One of the most essential points that is made by the reporter is that Renaissance was not creating modern thought but rather it was telling stories and getting people acquainted with religious ideas that were deep and important. Renaissance art gives individuals an insight into the history and allows them to understand the role of religion in human life. In addition, the reporter claims that, by representing the religious standards and since the Renaissance art judges people and asks who is going to be saved and who is going to be doomed. Personal Response As was mentioned earlier, I personally really liked the videos because I found them extremely interesting and educational. Both of them provided me with the needed insights that helped to understand Renaissance art and culture better and immerse deeper into the history of this essential era. While comparing these two videos, I can say that I definitely liked Heaven & Hell: The birth of the Italian Renaissance more due to the fact that, in my opinion, it included a more critical and subjective analysis of the reporter. For instance, I specifically liked the part where the reporter talked about Savannah Roller who offered a new perspective on the Renaissance of those times. He stated that it had grown sinful and corrupt, the rich became corrupt, and, as a result, the art became corrupt. While providing historical insight, this part of the video gave me the possibility to look at Renaissance from another, more negative perspective. For the person that is not very much interested in history because it is sometimes presented in a boring way, these videos were a huge difference. The reporter who was delivering the information was not simply retelling the history, he was analyzing, criticizing, and getting surprised together with the viewers. This strategy created the feeling of strong connection throughout the videos and; therefore, they evoked strong emotions of interest and surprise. Additionally, I really liked that I not only gained a significant amount of knowledge after watching the videos but also discovered some practical things. By observing and evaluating the painting, the reporter taught the viewers what to look at in the painting, how to find the differences, and understand their meanings. Conclusion To summarize, Heaven & hell in art: The birth of the Italian Renaissance and The unchained art of the Renaissance are both interesting videos that tell the viewers the story about the history of the emergence and development of the Renaissance. This era gave people an opportunity to imagine th
Want to know more about marketing strategy of Rolex? This essay analyses the famous watchmaker’s brand positioning, Rolex target market, consumer demographics, and distribution strategy. Introduction Marketing strategy of a company, in practice and theory, is often replete with gaps. Often, marketers have deviated from the theoretical principles to develop their own set of rules that they have dubbed more useful in marketing and selling their product. This paper is a case study analysis of Rolex. The main objective of the paper is to ascertain the gap in the marketing strategy and principles adopted by Rolex with that of the theoretical marketing framework presented by McDonald in his ten world class marketing principles (WCM). Further analysis of the marketing practices of the company and a comparative case analysis are presented in the paper. The paper begins with a brief discussion of the company background. Rolex Case Study: the Background Hans Wilsdorf founded the Rolex Company in the early twentieth century. The company was registered in the name of Rolex in 1908. The watches made by the company were well known for their accuracy, durability, and dearness. The company hails from Switzerland. It has often been credited for making wristwatches a popular fashion. Rolex is also the company that is credited for making the first dustproof, airtight, and waterproof watches. The company is often associated with their luxury branded watches and are sold only through authorized retail stores. The watches are found in gold, silver, and platinum and are often studded with diamond or other precious stones. They also make other kinds of timepieces like clocks, stopwatches, and pocket watches. Today Rolex is the largest luxury watchmaker in the world. The company was formerly known as Montres Rolex S.A and is based in Geneva, Switzerland . With this background of the company, we move further on to the present state of the company. In the next section, we will discuss the financial and marketing strategy of the company in brief before discussing them in detail. The financial data of the company is not publicly available for Rolex as it is a privately owned company. However, the other aspect of the company i.e. marketing aspect can be discussed in details. Marketing Strategy of Rolex Rolex is a luxury watchmaker. The products that are made and sold by Rolex are Rolex and Tudor. Rolex markets its watches as luxury brands. The company is well known for its unique targeting, segmenting, and positioning of their product, which many believe has helped them to maintain their position as a leader over such as long period. However, with the change in the generations and ushering of the new generation
Introduction This case involves making a tough strategic decision for the McNutt. The President, Reed McNutt has to decide whether to relocate its successful Division 1 to a larger and sufficiently convenient building. He also has to decide whether to set up Division 1 as a separate entity. Relocation would result in efficiency. On the other hand, relocation of Division 1 would increase the company’s overhead significantly. Thus, McNutt has to make a significant strategic decision, which would have implications on the company for a long time. Problem definition McNutt Service Group is a 20-year old heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) installation and service company. Since its inception, McNutt has grown significantly. The service division (Division 1) of the company has experienced a tremendous growth in the past two decades. As a result, the president has decided to relocate the division and run it as an independent entity. This would enhance efficiency, but would increase the cost of running the business. Reed McNutt had hoped that relocating Division 1 would also lead to the creation of a new entity. Consequently, the manager would have immense authority in making business decisions. McNutt had also anticipated that the relocation would improve operational efficiency, customer service, and employees’ attitudes and reduce staff turnover. In addition, the company would experience a general sense of professionalism. The two divisions of the company have shared a similar building since inception. This has resulted in operational challenges, poor customer service and interaction, and interruption by technical department personnel. Relocating the company would result in some advantages. For instance, Division 1 will have a large space and increase revenues by 50 percent within the next three years. Selection of a suitable location shall result in saving time spent on traveling to reach customers by 50 percent. On the other hand, the decision would affect consultation among employees and challenges and costs associated with running two business entities. Reed McNutt also has an option of moving the business as a single unit in a large place. This is also a possible option because the current location has an annual lease agreement, which is renewable yearly. Reed McNutt must evaluate these issues carefully. Any wrong decision would affect the company negatively. Conversely, a well-crafted approach would result in a significant growth to the company. Case Analysis Concerns of the decision-makers The two main concerns for Reed McNutt and other managers are increments in operational costs and feelings of the management team (managing change and fear). Failure to formulate these two concerns may derail the expansion strategies of the company. Increments in costs The major concern for Reed McNutt is the potential increment in costs upon relocation. The financial analysis estim
Background This paper is premised on an interview between the author and the head teacher of Delaware school. The interview centered on leadership whereby the author sought to unravel the connection between leadership and ethics. To achieve the stated objective, the author based the interview on pre-prepared questions that she posed to the interviewee. The interviewee’s responses were weighed against the literature to test their reliability. How would you define leadership? Based on the interviewee’s response, leadership refers to the provision of guidance and the necessary support to the junior staff by the managers. This definition of leadership is congruent with the definition offered by other scholars. Bolden and Gosling (2006) define leadership as the ability of a team leader to organize and plan tasks and to provide the necessary support to the junior staff in the course of dispensing their roles. Selznick (2011) claims that leadership involves the use of the leadership skills to organize groups and to mobilize them to work hard towards achieving the set targets. It involves assigning tasks and conducting regular checks to detect any deviations from the normal business practice. My interviewee noted that she cultivates a culture that fosters teamwork to achieve the objectives of the firm. Additionally, she consults her subordinates before making decisions that may affect the firm’s operations. She exercises a democratic style of leadership whereby the ideas of each employee counts. She claims that she furthers her leadership skills from listening to the employees’ ideas. As a leader, what do you do when people on your team are not pulling their weight? Schein (2010) states that personal issues coupled with the lack of skills contribute to the employees’ failure to work as expected. In that regard, leaders should avoid imposing punishments on employees for under performance. Instead, leaders should find the underlying cause of the problem to make an informed decision regarding the approach to adopt. My interviewee’s response to the stated question seems congruent with the findings in the literature. She acknowledged the need to investigate the causes of the employee’s performance as opposed to confronting them. She stated that when faced with such a situation, she first talks to the employee personally to determine the reasons for the underperformance. From the interview, I learnt that the leader exercises a servant style of leadership whereby she assists every employee in accomplishing his/her tasks. Where difficulties arise in accomplishing tasks, the leader investigates the causes of the underperformance. The leader then tailors the support to the problem identified. What is one of the greatest leadership challenges you have ever faced? My interviewee cited dealing with negative attitudes towards children by tutors, as one of the greatest challenges she has ever faced in her career. The first instance occurred in Charles County, where the interviewee had to manage a group of staff who were not children oriented. She responded by promoting a culture that would favor teamwork and pro
Organizational overview Chiquita is a global company that deals with large bunches of fruit processing and selling of finished products. For a considerably long period of time now, the company has been processing bananas as one of its core products although it has recently diversified its product portfolio to include other types of fruits as well. The company has already been listed in the New York stock exchange market and has recorded impressive growth both in terms of expansion and revenue accumulation. In addition, there are quite a number of subsidiary brand names that the company has been operating in. This was found to be necessary as part and parcel of the process of seeking strategic growth and development 1 . The various subsidiaries operate under the umbrella name of Chiquita. In 2005, the company bought Fresh Express Salads in order to expand its operations. Downtown Cincinnati in Ohio. Currently, the company has remained as the top producer and supplier of fresh bananas in U.S having taken over from United Fruit Company sometimes back. In other words, the latter used to be leading player in the production of bananas but it lost this outstanding market performance to Chiquita. In Germany, Chiquita owns Atlanta AG, a company that deals with the distributor of fruit products. It has been operating this subsidiary for slightly over seven years since its acquisition in 2003. 2 In its earlier years of operation, Carl Lindner, Jr. was the leading controller of the company. However, his control of the organization later weakened following the bankruptcy of the company bearing in mind that he was one of the major shareholders at that time. Chiquita was declared bankrupt in mid March, 2002. Thereafter, Chiquita Brands was adopted as the new name of the company from Chiquita Brands International. As already mentioned, Chiquita Brands is keen in the provision of fresh fruit products to its consumers located around major world markets 3 . In order to satisfy the rising demand for fruit produce, the company has taken the initiative of not only processing these products in bulk but also engaging in real growing of the desired fruits as well as developing better distribution networks across the target markets. To date, the company is still handling more bananas than any other fruit. For instance, over 60% of the total income derived from sales is obtained from bananas. Oth