ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
McCormick is a world’s leading producer and seller of spices. McCormick specializes in selling spices of all types including the standard and most widespread cinnamon and pepper and more exclusive spices popular in the particular region or culture. The target audience of McCormick includes restaurants and large manufacturers of food. Also, the company expands its product lines for home cooks too. What concerns my preferences of spices for food and drinks, they are very different. I like to drink coffee with cinnamon. I do not think I like other spices for drinks. Pepper and salt are my favorite spices for food because they are universal. However, sometimes I like to put cloves to some types of food. Every business is dependent on the macro-environment factors in the country or the world. For instance, the economic recession has led to significant changes in the behaviors of American consumers. This negative change affected everyone’s budget and people became thriftier. They avoid visiting restaurants and the demand for spices decreased. Also, people started buying only simple spices. McCormick realized the need to expand the target market to cope with difficult times. So, the company started new campaigns that attracted the attention of those who cooked at homes. This strategy allowed to stay competitive and did not lose profit. Shopping habits of consumers vary from country to country. For example, people from developing countries usually go to open markets to buy spices and other food. Thus, McCormick faces a challenge because of the lack of access to open markets or a lack of people’s interest in visiting supermarkets or stores. The solution is that McCormick tries to adapt to different consumers’ habits by selling products to different retailers including open markets in Shanghai, Beijing, or Turkey. Businesses can be also affected by political and natural powers. For example, the political instability in the country may lead to the unknown and even dangerous consequences. Some of McCormick plants were in countries that became unrest, and it resulted in the need to find new places for production. Natural powers such as weather are very important for the business. Bad weather conditions result in a bad harvest so the company may lose revenues. These unpleasant events resulted in the increasing prices for spices. McCormick faced rapid inflation of prices for commodities. The price for pepper, for example, increased twice in one year and a half. The profits of the company fell quickly. However, McCormick found ways to prosper. It changed advertising strategies for products and focused on usual spices. Porter’s five forces analysis can
Historically, the major challenge faced by nonprofit organizations has been obtaining the funds to accomplish their missions. Over the last couple of decades, and most certainly now, it has become apparent that nonprofit organizations are dealing with an even greater challenge (Babbie, 2013). Lack of efficient business practices is significantly affecting the organization’s stability. This not only affects the organizations but also the communities, which rely on their services. Extensive research done in this area has suggested that inadequacies in board governance and lack of business practices are hindering these organizations from thriving financially. This study would contribute to the construction of social theories by showing how formal education is vital in specific areas as well as business practices within nonprofit organizations. Problem There has been an ongoing issue with non-profit organizations’ failure to integrate common business practices into their organizational culture. As a result, these nonprofit organizations are operating under unsatisfactory conditions, which have led many down the path of destruction and financial instability. This issue is worth studying because many of these organizations significantly affect our communities. The findings obtained from this study may be used in improving the efficiency of non-profit organizations in the future. Literature review Most of the recent research done in regards to nonprofit organizations’ success has consistently addressed key challenges nonprofit organizations have in common. It has been suggested that balanced scorecards in nonprofit organizations (NPOs) can eliminate common challenges and enhanced organizational stability through proper management of resources such as knowledge of essential business practices and implementation (Yang, Cheng, & Yang, 2005). Performance in nonprofit organizations (NPOs) can be enhanced through proper management of resources such as knowledge (Lettieri, Borga, & Savoldelli, 2004). According to their arguments, some of the factors that affect knowledge management include the NPOs’ position in the life cycle, characteristics of the governing board, and the average age and turnov
There have been numerous examples in the history of humanity when a certain state played a leading role in the international policy dictating its demands to others and determining the evolution of the world and society at the current stage of their development. Traditionally these states were characterized by a serious economic, military and political power and this fact served as the guaranty of their further dominance and evolution. At the same time, the history also proves that all empires that are based on military force and world dominance are doomed to collapse. The involvement in the majority of global events, the usage of military power to solve some problematic issues, economic assistance or pressure that are considered the part of the policy of interventionism obviously demand numerous resources. In this regard, the adherence to this policy undermines a states well-being and results in its gradual degradation. Roman, British and other Empires might be taken as a good evidence to this statement. However, the lust for power remains one of the basic peoples instincts which means that there will always be attempts to play the dominant role in the global policy and be a super-state. In the modern world, we could observe the US desire to preserve its position and remain the most influential actor, and it also preconditions the great topicality of the opposition isolationism vs. interventionism. Having appeared in consequence of the War of Independence and separated from the British Empire, the USA soon became one of the biggest and the most powerful states. Besides, the first stages of its evolution could be characterized by the isolationism. Being too weak and suffering from numerous internal problems, the country had to create the efficient state machine to use numerous natural resources that were found on its territory. The decades of evolution resulted in the Civil War, rise of civil movements, development of the economy, and, finally, the US increased role on the international level. Since the 20th century, the state had become one of the most influential agents in the world politics which power allowed it to impact the majority of important processes and events. The USA started to reconsider its role and priorities, creating the background for the exploration of interventionism. Finally, the WWII, its results, and the creation of the bipolar world characterized by the opposition of two super-states and their allies known as the Cold War resulted in the total adherence to this policy. The USA became a state that took part in all events that impacted the international relations. The end of the Cold War and collapse of the USSR conditioned the increase of the US power and its becoming the only super-state. The US interventionism reached a peak as its actions were not opposed. Being one of the main tools that helped to reach its aims, NATO supported every decision accep
Introduction Sleep is considered one of the most important parts of any individual’s life. Some researchers emphasize the usefulness of sleep for productivity, while others focus on its impact on people’s health. The present paper will offer several different opinions on the role that sleep plays in the satisfaction of humans’ well-being. A brief overview of four videos will be followed by a discussion of the lessons that should be taken from the speeches. Brief Summaries of Videos Each of the speakers in the videos focuses on a different characteristic of sleep, but all of them agree that without enough sleep, one does not perform to the fullest potential. Arianna Huffington (2010) analyzes sleep as a crucial constituent of happiness. In her speech, Huffington (2010) mentions that sleep deprivation can lead to detrimental outcomes and describes her own negative example of not receiving enough rest. The speaker remarks that women are more likely to arrange the revolution of sleep because, for men, sleep deprivation has become “a virility symbol” (Huffington, 2010). Thus, this speech stresses the importance of sleep and considers women as the most probable change agents in the sleep revolution. Another speech given by a woman is not focused on feminism. Jessa Gamble (2010) considers sleep as a vital element of humans’ body clocks. In her presentation, Gamble (2010) offers several examples of how people’s sleep habits are correspondent with animals’ chemical clocks. Sleep is thus associated with culture, and the role of sleep in the establishment of a healthy lifestyle is underlined in the speech. The other two videos present researchers’ talks on sleep and its functions. Russel Foster (2013), a neuroscientist, explains why people need sleep and what can happen when they disregard this vital behavioral experience. In his speech, Foster (2013) provides numerous examples of how people treated sleep at different times and notes that individuals’ ignorance about sleep is too big. Therefore, from the neuroscientist’s point of view, not only the duration of sleep but also its quality is highly important. The last speech is focused on unique functions of the brain that can only be performed while one is asleep. Jeff Iliff (2014) remarks that during sleep, brain vessels “clear away waste,” which is impossible to do while being awake. Thus, it is crucial for people to have enough sleep for their brain to receive time for restoration. Appropriate brain rest helps to avoid serious disease and enables individuals to discover the full potential of their brain. The Valuable Information Obtained from Videos Although all speakers analyze sleep from different points of view, they all agree that it is highly significant for people to have a sufficient amount of rest. The videos give information on the value of sleep
Introduction Undeveloped nations are faced with the challenge of accessing clean drinking water. Lack of understanding in the importance of practicing hygienic standards of living is a major setback to the efforts of preventing diseases that are spread through contaminated water. In most cases, you will find that many people in these countries use water from rivers, springs, or street vendors for their domestic use. This water may contain harmful substances such as waste materials dumped in water sources, which can easily cause diseases (Hogan 1). Cholera, intestinal parasites, and typhoid are some of the major waterborne diseases. They are infectious and their impact is fatal both economically and on human health. A case study In 1996, the state of Kano in northern Nigeria was hit by an epidemic of acute diarrhea, which was later confirmed to be an outbreak of cholera (Hutin, Luby and Paquet 1). The Nigerian ministry of health and some non-governmental organizations stepped in to ensure that curative and preventive measures were undertaken. A case study on the patients showed that the highest number of infection was in children less than 5 years. According to this study, the main exposures were failure to wash hands with soap before meals and drinking water from street vendors (Luby, Agboatwalla, Raza, Sobel, Mint, Baier, Hoekstra, Rahbar, Hassan, Qureshi, & Gangarosa 127). Restriction on movement and access to the affected area affects trade and the loss of human life and deteriorated health is a major blow on the economy and on the quality of human life. These cholera outbreaks have affected many places globally such as Chad, Haiti, and Cameroon among others; the major cause being poor sanitation of the individuals living in these countries. Likewise, the undeveloped countries are more prone to these epidemics. Solutions Due to this and other frequent cholera outbreaks, the state commissioner for health was ordered to tour and assess the affected areas. The order was given by the assembly of the Adamawa state house. The ministry of health chlorinated wells and bore holes, and disinfected public toilets in the affected areas. Kwamoti cautioned that besid
World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are the leading financial organizations on the planet, and covering their role in the world economy is a serious task. In my opinion, the goals that both organizations pursue – such as global financial stability, sustained economic development, and eradication of poverty – are laudable. However, I also think that the methods they employ in their interactions with developing nations may be of questionable efficiency and are subject to criticism. This is a personal reflection on how IMF and World Bank promote neoliberalism in the developing countries and why I think their universalist approach and policies of continuous borrowing are ineffective and contradict actual experience. First of all, the World Bank and the IMF maintain the policy of serial lending in their interactions with the developing countries, which I believe is harmful to the economic development of said countries. This policy effectively means that the developing nations do not borrow money once to use it to drive economic development but stretch the process over time. As a result, the countries become reliant on loans and become more and more indebted instead of developing financial sustainability and economic independence (Hillebrand, 2020). As far as I can tell, this policy contradicts the overall goal of eradicating poverty. A country such as the USA may have enormous foreign debt and a thriving economy due to the importance of its currency in the world’s financial system, but this does not apply to developing nations. If they continuously rely on foreign loans to make ends meet, they are at the complete mercy of their lenders. I do not see a way for them to create healthy and stable economies that may protect their citizens from poverty and unemployment under these conditions. Secondly, the IMF and World Bank use their neoliberal policies indiscriminately, as if thinking that they suit every case. I think that this approach may actually harm the receiving countries in some cases. For instance, the loans usually come with the requirements to cut government spending (Hillebrand, 2020). I see that as an example of how neoliberal policies pursued by both organizations may prove ineffective for some developing countries. If the population does not have much purchasing power, government spending will be one of the primary sources of demand, and cutting it will decrease demand severely, thus stalling economic growth. Thirdly,
In their intentions to create better-living conditions, find new working places, and promote technological and social prosperity, people usually forget about one simple issue – the role of the natural world around them. Many environmentalists and eco-activists continue to research the field and offer new options to keep human beings and nature in balance. However, their attempts maybe not enough compared to the goals and methods chosen by technologically advanced people. As a strong environmentalist, Terry Tempest Williams finds it necessary to emphasize the beauty of the wilderness and recognize the aesthetic value of nature. Her “A Shark in the Mind of One Contemplating Wilderness” is not only a call to protect nature, but also an emotional eruption and expression of indignation about the fact that wilderness, with no definable function, is thus considered dangerous or unimportant for people. One of the strongest points of the story is the author’s ability to raise several significant topics related to the environment. Many people tend to think that nature can survive everything due to their ability to regenerate. It is normal to observe “the killer whales kept in tanks for the amusement of humans, the killer whales that jump through hoops, carry humans on their backs as they circle… day after day” (Williams). When people find a fish “preserved in a salt solution to honor the diversity of species,” they enjoy the idea of progress and celebrate their achievements (Williams). The problem in the story is the view of nature and wilderness in particular as weird and even dangerous because of the inability of people to determine its meaning and aesthetic value. In her essay, Williams demonstrates strong opposition to almost all the activities of humans. She describes such behavior as “we are stopped cold, our spirits suspended, controlled, controlled sensation” (Williams). Instead of paying attention to emotions, compassion, and respect to the world around them, people want to focus on power, control, and using every resource for personal benefit and success. Williams asks several questions about the quality of life and the environment, the relationship between biology and art, and the decisions that people need to make before it is too late to do something. The author doubts her readiness to provide enlightenment about the value of nature in the modern world. Her imagination becomes “quickly rearranged to see the suspension of a shark, pickled in formaldehyde, as the stopping power of motion in the jaws of death, an image of my mortality” (Williams). This world undergoes numerous changes, and people are not always able to understand and accept all the transformations. To develop an effective solution in debates about human beings and nature, Williams recommends focusing on the definitions and values of specific concepts. She states that “wilderness is a cabinet of pharmaceuticals waiting to be discovered” (Williams). Therefore, people are free to introduce their interpretations, share their controversies, and promote new conversations to find out the truth and create clarity about who is wrong, and wh
Introduction The United States has been faced with the challenge of having to understand and deal with Islamic fundamentalism in the past decade. The US has found it difficult to come up with a comprehensive foreign policy to address the issue. However, policymakers have been able to comprehend the ideological tenets behind these fundamental groups or at least they have been able to establish justification for the actions of these fundamental groups. Islamic fundamentalism has been referred to as the successor of the infamous Red Scare during the Cold War era. In some quarters, this has been referred to as the Green Menace whereas some analysts have regarded these groups as social movements that emphasizes on religion. Generally, it can be agreed that the issue of Islamic fundamentalism requires special attention. This is because of the fact that these fundamentalist groups have resorted to terrorist tactics in advancing their position (Levitt and Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 2006). Hamas is regarded as one of the Islamic fundamentalist organizations which have resorted to terrorist tactics in advancing their course of action. Hamas uses child-soldiers and suicide bombers to launch attacks against their target. The group does not have discretion for targets; it targets innocent civilians, political party members and any opposing military forces. This group has also resorted to guerilla tactics which pose a real danger to the US Homeland Security. Hamas has a strong support system from other organizations such as the Hezbollah, as well as from nations such as Iran and Lebanon. The support system of Hamas provides financial aid and training ground to the group (Levitt and Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 2006). This paper aspires to provide a detailed analysis of one of the Islamic fundamentalist group known as the Hamas. In addition, the paper will provide analyses of various United States policies towards the Hamas group and other external terrorist organizations. The Emergence and ideology of Hamas Hamas is an Arabic word which means ‘zeal’ and is derived from the verb ‘ hamisa ’ which signifies the idea of supporting a cause without any reservations. The term Hamas acquired a distinctive meaning during the formative stage of the Palestinian intifada which begun in December 1987. During this time, Hamas engaged in a military activism against the Jewish state of Israel. Hamas is an acronym that stands for Harakat al-muqawama al-islamiyya which translates to mean the ‘Islamic Resistance Movement’. Hamas was started in Gaza during the fall of the year 1987. The organization served as a political as well as a military arm of the group, Muslim Brotherhood Society, which had been established in 1928 in Isma’iliyya, Egypt. After its formation, the Muslim Brotherhood Society spread its influence in the Arab world establishing branches in Palestine in the period 1936-39 when the country was experiencing an uprising (Muslih, 1999). There are various reasons which are advanced to exp