The confidence of saudi consumer in the seasonal sale of the Literature review

The confidence of saudi consumer in the seasonal sale of the international brands - Literature review Example Secondary research was chosen as the method of research for this study. This involves using qualitative and quantitative data that has been gathered by other individuals for different purposes. This will be collected through examining the literature surrounding Saudi consumers, international brands and seasonal sales in detail, collating the information and using statistical analysis to look for patterns and trends. There are a number of advantages to secondary research. Firstly, it is cheaper and less time consuming than primary research. This is because the information has already been collected, it is a matter of finding, collating, interpreting and analysing it. Because of this, a larger data set can be examined than is able to be through primary research. Secondary, sometimes secondary research can give more accurate data than can be obtained through primary research. This is because a large amount of data is being collated, which gives a clearer picture than little data, and there may be government surveys or censuses that reach a large number of people that can be taken advantage of. However, it is important to take the original source and context of the data into account wherever possible to prevent accuracy being compromised. The disadvantages of secondary research are that the questions asked in the original research may not correspond to the questions that are being asked through secondary research.... dary research are that the questions asked in the original research may not correspond to the questions that are being asked through secondary research. This can make the results not relevant for the current question, or biased towards one particular part of the population. This problem is amplified by the fact that the context of the primary data is sometimes unavailable. This study has attempted to avoid this problem by incorporating data from a wide range of different sources, aiming for sufficient replication to avoid any bias from one or a few studies. One primary method of research that could be used for this study would be the questionnaires to directly determine the opinions of the consumer population. Questionnaires are a good method of primary data gathering, as they enable sampling of a wide range of people and do not intrude on the population . For this study in particular, there was difficulty obtaining permission to conduct either internet based, or mail based surveys o f the consumer population of Saudi Arabia, and there was concerns that not all of the survey responses would be legitimate, as the culture of Saudi Arabia is very private and the country has strict religious rules . For this reason, and the advantages cited above, secondary research was chosen as the method of data collection for this study. Finding Secondary Sources Once the focus of study and the questions being asked has been determined, the next step in secondary research is to find and collate data. A large amount of data is needed, and generally speaking, the more data is analysed, the more realistic the results will be. For this study secondary sources will be found primarily through the use of internet based search engines, primarily focusing on peer-reviewed items, as these are on

The Zoo Story Essay Example for Free

The Zoo Story Essay Analyse the dramatic effect of a passage, paying close attention to the language and stage directions whilst relating your observations to your understanding of post-1945 Drama. (PASSAGE- from pg. 27- GET AWAY FROM MY BENCH! A to the end of the play) During the passage I have selected here, the dramatic tension that has been simmering for much of the play reaches boiling point as the quarrels, territorial struggles and one-upmanship reach a climax. In this essay I will be looking at how this is conveyed in the language, imagery, and tone that Albee uses and how these can be related to other texts of the time. The comparisons to other plays that Albee has written could not be more clear and references to private games and battles over territory that we see here are written about in both Whos afraid of Virginia Woolf? and The Homecoming. The passage starts with Peter screaming at Jerry GET AWAY FROM MY BENCH! The anger and passion that we see here from Peter makes the scene quite unnerving for the audience due to the way that Peter is getting so worked up about an object that seems completely frivolous to outsiders. Albee actually states here in the stage directions that Peters self-consciousness has been possessed by his all-consuming anger due to this inanimate object. In this way, the audience would feel even more uneasy at the fact that a grown man seems to be acting in a way that a child might over a toy. I would have to argue though that it is the way that Jerry antagonizes Peter more even though he can see that he is howling like a fatally wounded animal that is the most horrific part of this scene. You have everything in the world you want and now you want this bench? The dramatic irony here is plain for everybody to see; Peter doesnt have everything in the world that he wants. In fact, his life is perhaps as much incomplete as the broken life that Jerry leads. As the audience urges Jerry to stop gnawing away at the parts of Peters life that he does not want to share, the viewers becomes emotionally attached to Peter and want his sufferings to stop. Much like in the private battles that are played out in Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , Georges life is torn apart by Martha at the beginning of the play as she tries to mock him in every possible way that she can. The only difference in the other Albee play is the fact that George can defend himself from the verbal attacks thrown at him from Martha. Here, Peter is said to be quivering, horrified, struggling and whispering after the abuse that he receives. In stark contrast, in the other of the plays, Albee states that George is containing the anger within himself, laughing ruefully to himself and showing mocking appreciation. Indeed, this play, much like the other two synoptic plays, is driven by conflict and how people react to situations placed unwillingly upon them. The origins of the tension here are evidently more profound than the bench for Peter. The bench just serves as a metaphor for all of the other troubles that Peter and Jerry have in their lives. The relationship that these two strangers share with one another serves the same purpose as well. The roots of conflict and strife are embedded much deeper in Peter especially than one may have first thought and it is only through the anger that Jerry provokes in him that causes all of his bottled up emotions to come rushing out. One could argue here that this climax to the play where Peter kills Jerry acts as a kind of release for both of them and there is a sense of new beginnings for the pair underneath the shock that the audience experiences. Throughout this passage Jerry holds the upper hand in the private games and struggle for status and power that the pair have which is at times subliminal. Jerrys speech at the beginning of the scene about the irrationality of the fact that they are fighting over a bench shows this well. He turns the situation on its head when he says to Peter Is this the thing in the world youd fight for? Can you think of anything more absurd? Unlike in The Homecoming when Max has a lot to say about every possible subject that is brought up and yet he is the weakest of all of the characters, Jerry seems to have turned his techniques for domination over other characters into a finely honed routine and manages to dominate and govern not only the power struggle that is shown here but also the way in which Peter would usually think and act. Slowly, Jerry urges Peter into truly letting himself go at the end of the scene. Indeed, throughout the play, Jerry carefully and mathematically makes conversation with Peter by talking about subjects that he thinks he would be interested in. Such topics as family, animals, houses and work seem like normal things to ask somebody that you have only just met. In fact, Jerrys normal approach to talking with a stranger is also very calculating. He talks about the standard experiences of life and puts in throwaway remarks about subjects that Peter seems to feel strongly about. For example, at the start of the play, Jerry asks him whether he is married to which Peter replies Why, certainly. Jerry then instantly retorts back at Peter It isnt a law for Gods sake. By arguing passionately back at Peter like this during their conversation, he feels that he constantly has the upper hand in the heated discussion that they are having with one another and manages to stay one step ahead of his newly found acquaintance much like what we see in both The Homecoming and Whos afraid of Virginia Woolf? Indeed, during the passage I have chosen Jerry says You dont even know what youre saying, do you? This quote is an echo of Pinters play when Teddy utters, I can see you what you do. Its the same as I do. But youre lost in it Jerry and Teddy both accuse their rivals of being lost in the games and private battles that they are indulging in when in fact, they are as much to blame as the people that they target. The build up of dramatic tension is a big part of Albees play here and it becomes especially important as it reaches its climax. For example, when Jerry gets the knife that he has out of his pocket, the play seems to have reached its peak and end. In fact though, Albee is being very clever here in the way that he makes us think that this is going to be the finish to the play when it is in fact the start to a crescendo of emotion that we are going to experience over the next three pages. This therefore makes the real ending even more shocking when it actually arrives. The ways in which Albee builds up and releases the dramatic tension in this scene especially is very skilful. Much like in the scene in Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? When George comes into the room with a double barrelled shotgun, aims it at Marthas head and pulls the trigger, we see the same sort of quick crests and troughs in tension in The Zoo Story. When George pulls the trigger in Albees other play, the suspense of the scene is released due to the dark humour that is shown when a flag comes out of the end of the gun instead of a bullet. Here, we think that Jerry is going to kill Peter when in fact he simply throws the weapon onto the floor in order to give him the instrument with which he wants to be killed at the end of the play. Certainly, Albee often defies expectation and does things to surprise the audience in order to provoke a bigger reaction and keep them on the edge of their seats as the story unfolds. As shown in the previous paragraph, actions and non-verbal communication in this play often speak much louder than the words that the pair say to each other. At the start of the drama, Peter is said to be bewildered by the seeming lack of communication in the stage directions from Albee and then at the end we see this lack of communication transform as Peter resolves to show his feelings in actions and not words. Indeed, Albees stage directions at the end of the play mirror this conscious attempt from Peter to act on his resentment towards Jerry. As Peter unwillingly puts the knife into Jerrys chest at the end of the passage, Albee says just a few words that give a much greater resonance onto the audience than any sort of music or sound effects ever could; Tableau: For just a moment, complete silence. This moment of silence after all of this dramatic tension and suspense acts as a quick release for the audience and allows us, Peter and Jerry to stop and observe the absurdity of the situation that has arisen. The tableau is a way of giving the audience an image with which they can take away with them, resembling the play. Albee wanted to provoke and shock the audience into some form of reaction and this moment here in the stage directions epitomises this fact. We are given a moment to calm down our emotions as the tempo and the intensity of the passage falls to a lower velocity. Moreover, in the second half the scene, Albee describes Jerry and Peter in the stage directions as motionless, almost fainting, talking most faintly and transfixed as opposed to the descriptions of the pair struggling, horrified, still angry and acting contemptuously at the start of the passage. Indeed, the atmosphere of the play constantly changes during the course of this scene and the entire play with Jerry always seeming to dictate and direct what is going to happen next. Although there is a certain aggression shown from both of the characters here in their actions and non-verbal communication, the verbal violence that we encounter during the play and especially in the passage that I have chosen is particularly resonant and would have had a big impact on the audience at the time. Jerry especially tries to provoke Peter into killing him throughout the play until he realises that his words only aggravate his newly found friend and do not provoke him into a blind rage in which he would be prepared to do Jerrys bidding. As Jerry goads Peter into action, he uses verbal violence alongside physical violence in his speech on page. 29. Fight for you daughters, fight for your cats, fight for your wife. At the same time as verbally attacking Peter, he slaps him in the face on every fight that he utters here to emphasize and underline the fact that he is waiting for a reaction and response that he so desperately craves. At the end of the lecture he gives Peter he spits in his face; the lowest form of insult that a man could inflict upon somebody else. It is not surprising then that Peter reacts to this insult more than any other that has been imposed upon him. Much like in Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? where George manages to control the characters of Nick, Honey and Martha due to his quick wit and sharp intelligence, Peter is dominated here by Jerrys astute use of language and is provoked and manipulated quite easily by Jerry. Indeed, Nick and Peter are probably the most impressionable characters in both of the plays by Albee here but Peter emerges with a much more sympathetic view from the audience than the pretentious and pompous mannered Nick. Interestingly, more often than not, the clever and manipulative language that both Jerry and George use in both of the plays mean that although that they cause much grief for other characters, they come out with a respect and sympathy that often shrouds the less dominant characters and masks the fact that they are sometimes quite immoral and merciless at heart. In this passage and the whole play we are often attracted to the direct manner with which Jerry addresses his new found acquaintance. Peters comportment is very different. Throughout the play we see a certain reserved attitude; even at the end of the play, he holds his knife in a defensive way and never wants to make the bold, more aggressive move. He is said to back off a little, hesitate and retreat during the passage, which are made to seem like quite unattractive traits, compared to the brash, lovable-rogue and sometimes outrageous personality that Jerry boasts. In this passage and the rest of the play, the main thing that Albee tries to do is explore the dramatic tension of the arrival of an outsider as seen in the other synoptic plays with Teddy, Ruth, Nick and Honey. Albee explores the social and cultural boundaries of the 1950s in The Zoo Story and makes some very intuitive remarks about preconceptions that some people have towards other. In capturing a very normal and quotidian scene, the audience can really relate to some of the messages that Albee gives in regards to human beings failure to connect and communicate with each other. However, Albee also deliberately tries to shock and provoke the audience in some of the ideas that he gives us during the play. Whilst some of the social boundaries may have changed since the time of publication, the issue of murder, suicide and euthanasia still rages today and in its own way the play confronts a very taboo topic whose dramatic impact will never be lessened over time.

What is Asbestos? Essay -- Environment, Minerals

INTRODUCTION Asbestos has been used since prehistoric times and there is archaeological evidence from Finland, pottery containing asbestos fibres dating from 2500 BC (Mcculloch, 1986). Where asbestos fibres were mixed with clay to form stronger ceramic utensils and pots (Benarde, 1990), the ancient Greeks used it to make lamp wicks and other fireproof items. However, the romans wove asbestos fibres into fabrics to make towels, nets and even head coverings for women (Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia, 1995, p.10). The substance was known to be inextinguishable or unquenchable. Though, asbestos had been around for thousands of years, mass use of the product became popular in the 1800s (Mcculloch, 1986). It was made up of non-flammable fibres and was very sturdy. Also, it was used in homes, businesses, and schools. Asbestos is a dangerous fibre, because its fibres become airborne and can be inhaled or swallowed (Lu & Kacew, 2009). Over time, it can cause both chronic lung conditions and fatal f orms of asbestos cancer. (Benarde, 1990; Mcculloch, 1986). In the early 1900s to 1980s doctors in Europe discovered that workers were suffering from the respiratory diseases (Benarde, 1990), for the reason that they worked in heavily polluted asbestos containing atmospheres, excessive numbers of them became cases of asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, because the workers were exposed directly or indirectly in virtually any occupation, even those who worked in offices (Benarde, 1990; Mcculloch, 1986). Furthermore, employees who worked for asbestos ship building, construction, mining, and other factories whose products used asbestos were also getting ill (Mcculloch, 1986), asbestos fibres were also being brought home on employee's cl... ...ially in asbestos mining. A lot of the victims of the disease had worked directly with asbestos; nevertheless, these people got their exposures in the shipyard, construction trades, and buildings as well as from the contamination of their homes and communities. As a result it occurred that nearly the uncontrolled use of asbestos progressively increased the population at risk from few thousand asbestos workers to millions of people in the general population. The employers and employees who worked in the asbestos reduction industry continued to alert on the handling of the human carcinogen. However, the rules and regulations were put in place to ensure safety and protection of the workers. Sufficiency protective equipment and training were provided, medical surveillance programs by conducting routine examination of all the workers who worked with asbestos.

Body Piercing and Management

Of the many growing trends, body piercing has become very popular. With this practice becoming more popular everyday, many people are frightened away because of sanitary and health reasons. To most peoples surprise the business of body piercing is a safe and clean procedure. Body piercing is a form of self-expression, such as tattoos and hair styles. Piercing are more widely accepted among business today than a couple years ago. Even-though they are becoming more acceptable in society today there is still a misconception of the safety, sterility, and health issues involved. Many people fear the sterility of the piercing process, ergo they don't get the piercing. In actuality piercing is very safe. The piercer has to follow many steps in ensuring the safety of the piercer and the patient. After filling out the proper paperwork, the patient has to decide of the location of the piercing. There are many spots over the human body where one can get pierced. Some of the common spots to get pierced are: the inner and outer ear, the nose, the bridge of you nose, the cheek, lips, tongue, eyebrows, nipples, naval, and the genitalia. If one was to get their tongue pierced, the piercer must decide whether or not it is piercable. If the tongue has a large under-webbing it cannot be pierced. Once the tongue is deemed piercable, the piercer sterilizes all of his equipment. A common set-up for a piercing is as follows: two pairs of surgical gloves, many gauze, a needle, cork, rubber-band, surgical clamp, toothpick, and the jewelry. All of these are placed in a metal cartridge and placed inside a sterilizing machine. The machine heats and compresses distilled water and then blows steam into the cartage sterilizing everything inside. During this time the patient is instructed on the procedure and washing his mouth with bioclean. Bioclean is antibacterial mouth cleaner that destroys 99% of all mouth bacteria. During this time the piercer scrubs his hands with an antibacterial soap, and places one pair of gloves on. The patient sticks out his tongue and the piercer makes a horizontal and vertical make on the tongue if a mild antiseptic dye. The clamps are placed on the top and direct bottom of the tongue and double checked, to ensure that the needle will not pierce a vein. At this time the piercer discards his current pair of gloves and dons the second. He then places the needle on the tongue and pushes it through. Once the needle has passed through, he then places a cork on the end so no one is harmed. The needle is push the rest of the way through with the jewelry. The needle and cork are placed in a sealed biohazard container to await proper disposal. The clamp is removed and placed in an antibacterial solution. The other half is then screwed on and the piercing is over. All the gausses and swabs with no blood are placed in the trash, and any items with blood on them are placed in a biohazard bag. At this time the piercer informs the patient on the proper care and maintenance of the piercing. In an interview with Richard, a piercer at Factor V in Charleston, SC, he states that the most unsanitary and dangerous time for a piercing is seven days afterward. â€Å"People don't follow directions and end-up with an infection. Most piercers pass out a pamphlet with the proper care directions on it. The piercing process is safe when done by a professional. The customer is responsible for the piercing once the piercing process is over. The procedure is so safe that one doesn't even lose taste due to the piercing. Some swelling may occur and pain in very minimal because no nerves were hit. Piercing can be a healthy and fun way express oneself, when done in a clean and experienced environment. But one has to make sure that proper care is given to the piercing.

The Assault – Memory

Memory is defined as â€Å"The faculty of the mind by which it retains the knowledge of previous thoughts, impressions, or events. † Memories are units of information that have impacted one’s life and are stored in the brain for years. In some cases, dramatic events may not let the brain register every single detail about a situation. This is much like Anton’s case of the winter of 1945 of the novel The Assault by Harry Mulisch. The events of that winter affected him like no other would. The loss of his mother, father and brother and the burning of his house left an impact on him but the events were so grave his brain did not allow him to remember the smaller details. As he meets important people from his past, he begins to remember the smaller things he has experienced. Throughout the whole novel memories begin to slowly flow back to Anton. Every person he meets allows his memories to develop. First, he sees his former neighbours, the Beumers’, who not only jog his memory but allow him to learn new things about that night. Although the memories should have been vivid in his mind, Anton had forgotten some of the events of that night. Simply seeing the Beumers’, and being in their presence helped jog his memories. They had him over for supper while he was in the neighbourhood for a friends’ birthday. It had been evident that Mrs. Beumer’s memories were certainly more vivid than Anton’s. Next had been his meeting with Fake Ploeg junior, the son of the Nazi who had been killed that terrible night. Ploeg had not been over his father’s death, He and Anton both had arguments defending their fathers, and why that night may have happened. This allowed Anton to open his mind to new ideas, and question his theories as if they had not been thought out correctly. Another happens later when Anton meets Takes, a friend of his father-in-law’s. In the first episode Anton is thrown in a cell with an older woman whom he cannot identify. He has an emotional conversation with her about what had happened the night of Ploeg’s death and became extremely friendly with the woman. She becomes some sort of a mother figure to Anton. Although Anton felt as if he could remember every word, every feeling and every scent that night in the cell, he drew a blank. Takes explains that the woman in the cell with him was one of Ploeg’s killers. This was one of those important moments in your life that is so grave you can’t allow yourself to remember. It may have been due to the fact that Anton didn’t remember, or didn’t want to remember the details that remind him of the death of his family members. After he meets Takes he meets Karen Kortweg one of the more important characters in the plot. The Kortweg’s were the ones who took Fake Ploeg’s body and dragged it in front of Anton’s family’s house, the Steenwijk residence. When meeting Karen, she finally explains the reasoning behind why she left the body in front of the Steenwijk’s house and not any of the other two neighbour’s houses. Once she goes into detail about the families and her and her father’s reasoning’s Anton begins to understand and remember the neighbourhood he grew up in and the events of that night. It is amazing how memories can be jogged by a single person, object, sound or scent. The people Anton has met and the places he revisits allow him to remember the events of his torturous past, which permit him to determine his future. Without memories people would not be able to be happy and reminisce on all the great moments in their lives. They wouldn’t be able to learn from their mistakes to better their future. With all these memory lapses Anton was having, he was stuck. There was nothing to learn from, no pain harboured inside of him, and all the happy moments he shared with his family were gone. Once he began to remember certain events his mind had been open to new and old feelings. Ones he hadn’t felt since he was twelve years old living peacefully in Holland with his family. He also began to create a direction for himself. The only question he was left with was who was guilty and who had been innocent? In the end memories are extremely important. They help form a person and guide them through life. As well as learn from their mistakes and prepare them for the future. Memories are like a dream you can’t remember. Once it’s over, you forget completely. But that one feeling, smell or sound lets it all come back to you and you are finally able to allow yourself to experience the state of euphoria we call remembering.

Free Essays on Prison Complex

The Prison Industrial Complex Why are there too many prisoners? There is a simple answer to this question, there are too many criminals committing to many crimes. This causes over population in prisons all across the country. Which is dangerous for the inmates as well as the corrections officers. This is not a modern problem it has been going for centuries, same problem different day as they would say. Sometimes they would ignore the problem but now a days they build new prisons yearly to try and keep the over population to a minimum . Which if you ask me is a good idea, the little extra taxes wouldn’t bother me . I look at it this way pay a little more, be safer, and create jobs within these facilities is fine by me. No other country in the world has imprisoned so many of its citizens, this worries me , does the fact that we have so much more freedom cause this problem or do people just lack the respect for life or something else all together . Here is my theory crimes are a disease and just like a physical disease it spreads not through the body but through the society which we live . it is incurable but can be slowed down like Aids but we will never win we will never totally get over this great disease no cure is for seeable in the near future who knows maybe it will never happen .This is not necessarily a bad thing because with out evil there can be no good the yin and the yang .... Free Essays on Prison Complex Free Essays on Prison Complex The Prison Industrial Complex Why are there too many prisoners? There is a simple answer to this question, there are too many criminals committing to many crimes. This causes over population in prisons all across the country. Which is dangerous for the inmates as well as the corrections officers. This is not a modern problem it has been going for centuries, same problem different day as they would say. Sometimes they would ignore the problem but now a days they build new prisons yearly to try and keep the over population to a minimum . Which if you ask me is a good idea, the little extra taxes wouldn’t bother me . I look at it this way pay a little more, be safer, and create jobs within these facilities is fine by me. No other country in the world has imprisoned so many of its citizens, this worries me , does the fact that we have so much more freedom cause this problem or do people just lack the respect for life or something else all together . Here is my theory crimes are a disease and just like a physical disease it spreads not through the body but through the society which we live . it is incurable but can be slowed down like Aids but we will never win we will never totally get over this great disease no cure is for seeable in the near future who knows maybe it will never happen .This is not necessarily a bad thing because with out evil there can be no good the yin and the yang ....

How to Write an Impressive Speech

How to Write an Impressive Speech Apart from studies, extracurricular activities are an essential part of academics. They help to shape the students up for real life. Activities like debates, quizzes, questionnaires, speeches and essay competitions are a colorful part of academics. Speeches especially pave the way for sequels of many great orators and even leaders. Nevertheless, many great orators cannot take part in such competitions because they are not as good writers as they are speakers. The following points will help you write a good speech yourself: Make sure you understand the topic of the speech thoroughly. It is always a good idea to discuss the problem with someone first, preferably someone who is knowledgeable but is not taking part in the competition himself. Make points that you would like to add to your speech. Start by gathering material from books, websites, etc. After gathering solid content, go for quotations. Look up the speeches and letters of great people, preferably good orators, e.g., Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, and Helen Keller, to name a few. You can add as many quotations as you want, but keep in mind that the speech is to be based on your own opinion, not others’. Write the statement while imagining yourself speaking it. Practice in front of the mirror, or if you want to overcome stage shyness, in front of friends during breaks to polish the final thing. Once the speech is written, try to practice it as much as possible. Some language tips to be used while writing speeches are: Do not use flowery expressions that may sound too spurious during formal speeches. Never use the expression like wanna, ain’t, gotcha, gonna, etc. in your speech. Always use language that is advanced yet easy to understand. Try to use minimum passive sentences. Do not use phrases that are too long as they may become complicated to understand by the listeners. Your speech should address the audience directly. There should be parts of the speech to jerk up the audience when it starts feeling bored. Humor is always appreciated in speeches, but it should be decent and relevant to the topic of discussion. Add pauses in between paragraphs to avoid mingling of concepts together. It will also help you remember which paragraph starts after which one. It will make flow in your thoughts visible. For more information about writing speeches including persuasive speeches and  informative speeches, you can find at our custom speech writing service.

Recommended Business Writing Style Guides

Recommended Business Writing Style Guides MOST RECOMMENDED The Gregg Reference Manual:A Manual of Style, Grammar, Usage, and Formatting, 11th EditionWilliam A. Sabin, McGraw-Hill, 2011 The Gregg Reference Manual is intended for anyone who writes, edits, or prepares material for distribution or publication. For over fifty years this manual has been recognized as the best style manual for business professionals who want to master the on-the-job standards of business professionals. FOR NEWSLETTERS AND BLOGS The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media LawEdited by Darrell Christian, Sally Jacobsen, and David Minthorn, Associated Press, 2010 The Associated Press Stylebook, first published in 1977, clarified the news organization's rules on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage. Now in its sixth edition, the Stylebook is the standard style guide for most U.S. newspapers, magazines, public relations, and consulting firms. FOR PROOFREADERS The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th EditionThe University of Chicago Press, 2010â€Å"Chicago† is the bible of book publishers. We refer to â€Å"Chicago,† but it is a specialist’s volume. Unless you’re a professional editor or proofreader, this style guide is not needed by most business writers. FOR EVOLVING LANGUAGE Garner's Modern American Usage, 3rd EditionBryan A. Garner, Oxford University Press, 2009I like this resource because it includes a "Language-Change Index," which indicates how well accepted a term is, ranging from Stage 1, widely considered incorrect, to Stage 5, universally accepted as correct. Because business writing language is ever-evolving, this is a helpful guidebook to determine if a usage is now acceptable. FOR UK AND US ENGLISH STYLE DIFFERENCES The Economist Style Guide, 2011 Edition This guide contains a very helpful section on American and British English. American and British business writing is essentially identical. There are spelling and minor punctuation differences, that this text illustrates perfectly. By the way, you should construct documents in your style. If you are British and writing to an American, for example, use British English, rather than American English. Do not use idiomatic expressions or vague phrasings, of course. There is never any significant misunderstanding between UK and US English, as long as one avoids idiom and writes clearly. Trying to adopt a style and voice that is not your own rings false. INTERNAL STYLE GUIDE Do you wish to compile style guidelines, unique to your organization? For example, you may have specific terms you want used with consistency in all documents. Many organization compile an internal style guide, and share it with all employees. Many thanks to the ASTD LinkedIn group for sharing a generic internal style guide, which you can use as a model. (Yet, another reason you should join LinkedIn if you have not yet done so!) Download a copy of this Business Writing Style Guide Internal Template.

Critically assess Michel Foucault's contribution to the Essay

Critically assess Michel Foucault's contribution to the structure-agency debate - Essay Example Most sociologists, from Durkheim to Talcott Parsons and Radcliffe Brown focus on the standard structures of societies for explaining behaviour patterns. The wider acceptance of the social-structural explanations of identity is attributed to the fact that unlike an individual’s characteristics, social structure is represented by an elaborate conceptual framework (Cote & Levine, 2002: 46). However, it will be seen that sociologists such as Cooley, Blumer, Goffman and Garfinkel emphasise the significance of agency, the symbolic nature of human interaction and the ways in which humans negotiate roles and meanings on an on-going basis. According to Foucault, modern society is highly differentiated and fragmented. Power is not a commodity which can be acquired, nor is it the property of an individual or class, it is rather a structural phenomenon, an extensive network which is all-encompassing. Foucault’s view of modernity is that there exist many centres of power, and connections between various areas of power. This approach is in contrast to the Marxist emphasis and focus on the class struggle and the state, as the centres of power. Further, the mode of production, the work and the industrial sphere that Marx identified as central to power, is different from the Foucaultian view of power as existing in several different social settings and locations (Layder, 2006: 125, 126). The intellectual movement of the eighteenth century, termed as the Enlightenment developed the concept of â€Å"modernity† along with a range of disciplines which constitute the social sciences, forming the modern conception of knowledge (Billington, 1998: 6). Dawe (1970: 208) states that to solve the problem of social order the Hobbesian approach to human nature, which is: â€Å"in the absence of external constraint, the pursuit of private interests and desires leads invevitably to both social and individual disintegration† was taken into

Health, Safety and Security in the Salon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Health, Safety and Security in the Salon - Essay Example The staff can pose health risks to clients when they use wet hands in washing the hair and when working with wet hair. The clients and the staffs normally suffer from dermatitis, increased skin sensitivity and severely dry skin. The use of wet hands in delivering the services to customers occurs when there is no usage of non latex gloves by the staff. In addition, the staff may not have necessary training to dry their hands thoroughly and to reduce the moisture when handling wet hair. Further, the staffs are not provided with non perfumed hand cream to ensure that their hands are dry (Green, 2004). Hair dressing products and chemicals also pose safety and health risks to clients and to the staff. Lightening bleach products may cause eye or skin irritation to the staff and clients. This is due to the purchasing of dusty bleaches and their usage in the salon. Dusty bleaches affect the health of clients and the staff because they lead to breathing allergies and irritation. Other chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide used as a developer or neutralizer may also cause eye or skin irritation if not used well by the staff. This is due to the inability to use the recommended concentrations. Hydrogen peroxide may also be stored closer to light, heat and other products. Further, oxidative colorants also cause eye and skin irritation to the workers in the salon as well as the clients. Wrong usage of oxidative colorants is due to the inability of the staff to check the customer history of allergy so as to prevent damage to the scalp.

Child Labor in Egypt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Child Labor in Egypt - Essay Example Failure of observing ethical stipulations may lead to the incidences of taboos, a common element in the incidents of ethical based violations. However, the task of establishing personal ethics is rather demanding. This is with regards to the essence of ethics in an individual’s life. Adoption of appropriate ethical perceptions is a demand that is laid to the person by his or her immediate community. This makes ethics seem inclusive of an expectation, as well as the desire to protect ones perception of life. Ethical beliefs are regularly challenged, especially during the address of various aggressions in the daily lour daily lives (DiMauro, 2006). Our success in the address of these challenges implies a positive or an impressive performance of our ethical beliefs. The development of successful ethical trends is based on various attributes of our daily lives (Bernardin, 2008). Amongst the factors that contributed in the improvement of my ethical perception includes the influence attributed to my family. A family is central in the up bring of any child. It forms an integral part of our lives. My family contributed grossly towards my adaptation of various perceptions of life. This was achieved via both discipline and emulation. While growing up, I emulated the senior members of my family with regards to addressing the challenges that I encountered in my daily undertaking. I learnt to reason along their perception, and solve a situation via the sourced lessons. My parents played a central role n moderating my ethical perceptions. They established the expected pathway along which I was anticipated to establish them. In addition, they imposed strict regulations on behaviours that prompted the violation of these measures. This eventuated into my possession of a set of ethical beliefs along which I developed the rest of my ethical perception. The rest of the contributors of my personal belief includes the guidance from

Justification Report Part 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Justification Report Part 1 - Essay Example Styrene and Benzene are linked to diseases such as leukemia and Parkinson’s disease. This is because the two elements cause mutations to the peripheral and central nervous systems. Since it can’t be recycled, it is often left to spoil the aesthetic value of the environment. It is non-biodegradable thus has lasting effects on the environment. It has therefore become the major form of litter in my working area. It also impacts negatively on the life of both domestic and wild animals that are found in the area. Styrofoam has been linked with choking and issues of starvation among animals in several studies (GEC Student Union, 2013). The Alternative A will be working with the vendors that use the Styrofoam to ensure that its impacts are reduced. This is through the vendors advocating for the reuse of the Styrofoam containers among the customers. Reuse of the containers will ensue that the Styrofoam disposed on the environment thus reducing its impacts. The vendors can also put in place appropriate waste collection bins for the customers. The use of bins can be segregated in terms of the recyclable and the non- recyclable to ensure ease in waste management. This will make it easy for the relevant authority to identify the Styrofoam products for recycling purposes. The vendors also can be capacity built to ensure that they reduce the use of the Styrofoam products. This will ensure the use of environmental friendly products as Styrofoam products replacement (Gardner and Stern, 2002). The Alternative B will entail the involvement of the municipal government in containing the negative impacts of Styrofoam. The municipal government can develop policies that promote the reduction of use of the Styrofoam products. The policies can also be put into place to ensure that the reuse of the products is promoted. The council government can develop policies that see to it that there are recycling bins. The bins

Figurative Language versus Literal Language Essay - 5

Figurative Language versus Literal Language - Essay Example Idioms are words, phrases, or expressions that are unable to be taken literally, nor should they ever be. â€Å"A slap on the wrist† is an example of an idiom. Literally, this idiom means to slap someone on the wrist. When taken in its figurative context, as it is intended to be, the idiom means that someone has received a mild punishment. â€Å"A slap on the wrist† is an appropriate phrase when describing someone who was caught doing something bad, yet did not face any real consequences for their actions. It can be misunderstood if the individual does not first make it known that someone had been caught engaging in some form of misconduct. An analogy is when two completely unlike things are compared to make a concept more understandable. An analogy aids someone in understanding something new by comparing it to something that they are familiar with. â€Å"I am as graceful as a refrigerator falling down a flight of stairs (Turner, 1998)† is an analogy. This analogy can be used to help someone visualize how ungraceful another person is. A refrigerator would crash down a flight of stairs, so this analogy can describe a significant lack of grace. This analogy can lead to an understanding if it is believed that an individual will literally crash and tumble down a flight of stairs. A metaphor is when two distinctive things that share a similarity are compared. Metaphors help to intensify the meaning of something. â€Å"Time is a thief† is an example of a metaphor. Time does not literally rob, but this metaphor implies that time takes away from people. An appropriate circumstance in which to use this metaphor is in describing a passage of time as a child grows up. Time, as a thief, stole the childhood of that individual as she entered young adulthood. This metaphor can be misleading if it is used out of context and a passage of time is not being considered. A simile consists of the

Comparison and Contrast of Definitions of Rape in Common Law and Research Paper

Comparison and Contrast of Definitions of Rape in Common Law and Modern Law - Research Paper Example Many states have different variations of the definition of rape which fits their Modern Statutory Law. The most general definition of the rape is as follows: any unlawful sexual penetration, which is also called a sexual assault. For instance, in California, rape is defined as â€Å"an act of sexual intercourse ... accomplished against persons will by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the person or another† (qt. in Lyon, 2004, p. 277). Introduction of the Model Penal Code in the Modern Law, as the result of general feminist movement in the 1970s, brought some changes to the definition of the rape, hence gave additional grounds for charges against the criminals. The two major reforms were: â€Å"(1) the partial abolition of the marital rape exemption; and (2) the increased emphasis on the nonconsent of the victim, rather than the use of force by the attacker, in defining rape† (Lyon, 2004, p. 278). The reforms brought both positive and negative attitudes of the public. The reform concerning marital rape was criticized for ambiguity and for victimization of men (Kilpatrick, 2000). Each of these reforms was meant to add something new to or change the definition of the rape in order to take into account all the circumstances of this type of criminal actions. However, there always has been some kind of confrontation in the lawmaking system. Only in recent years some amendments, for instance, the inclusion of the marital rape into the general definition of rape, brought improvements to the modern law, which â€Å"explicitly prohibits forced, nonconsensual intercourse at any time during the sexual act, rather than just at penetration† (Lyon 285).  

Figurative Language versus Literal Language Essay - 5

Figurative Language versus Literal Language - Essay Example Idioms are words, phrases, or expressions that are unable to be taken literally, nor should they ever be. â€Å"A slap on the wrist† is an example of an idiom. Literally, this idiom means to slap someone on the wrist. When taken in its figurative context, as it is intended to be, the idiom means that someone has received a mild punishment. â€Å"A slap on the wrist† is an appropriate phrase when describing someone who was caught doing something bad, yet did not face any real consequences for their actions. It can be misunderstood if the individual does not first make it known that someone had been caught engaging in some form of misconduct. An analogy is when two completely unlike things are compared to make a concept more understandable. An analogy aids someone in understanding something new by comparing it to something that they are familiar with. â€Å"I am as graceful as a refrigerator falling down a flight of stairs (Turner, 1998)† is an analogy. This analogy can be used to help someone visualize how ungraceful another person is. A refrigerator would crash down a flight of stairs, so this analogy can describe a significant lack of grace. This analogy can lead to an understanding if it is believed that an individual will literally crash and tumble down a flight of stairs. A metaphor is when two distinctive things that share a similarity are compared. Metaphors help to intensify the meaning of something. â€Å"Time is a thief† is an example of a metaphor. Time does not literally rob, but this metaphor implies that time takes away from people. An appropriate circumstance in which to use this metaphor is in describing a passage of time as a child grows up. Time, as a thief, stole the childhood of that individual as she entered young adulthood. This metaphor can be misleading if it is used out of context and a passage of time is not being considered. A simile consists of the

Question 2. Standardized Testing of Students Essay

Question 2. Standardized Testing of Students - Essay Example Without a doubt, this uniform and consistent system of assessment has now become an indispensable and requisite part of most of the schools, colleges and universities all over the globe. These educational institutions therefore, spend millions of dollars every twelve months on this system wide testing of their students to judge them in all possible aspects and assist them in overcoming their faults and flaws (Sacks, 12). Initially there were only a few educational institutions that were adopting the special standardized system of assessments (Heller, 152). However with the rapid pace of time and the excessive competitiveness in the world a number of agencies have been developed that are conducting these tests. Some of the most prominent evaluation agencies of the world are named as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Educational Testing Service (ETC), National Council on Educational Standards and Testing (NCEST) and many more widespread all over the world. These a gencies have great expertise in their tasks and are highly professional in conducting the testing methods and practices. This standardized system of evaluating the students was basically introduced for the purpose of shaping the learners so that they get pretty much suitable for the remediation. In addition, this system has therefore gained so much in popularity that renowned educational institutions have started adopting this system. The reason behind this excessive adaptation is the fact that people have widely developed so much trust factor on these testing service agencies. The trust factor is developed because these agencies are well reputed, rated and most importantly known for their unbiased attitude. They treat all students with complete justice and make sure that no unbiased practice exists within their system. Thus all this results in a positive outcome that all the students are objectively judged and evaluated that ultimately lend them a hand to improve on their mistakes. No matter these testing systems are really authentic and bonafide but the question arises that, why do the school, colleges and universities pay so much to get these external services rather than conducting the tests within their management. The reason behind this statement is that these agencies not simply conduct the evaluative assessments but also provide countless benefits to the institutes that hire these agencies. Some major pros of these standardized tests can be highlighted as they are greatly efficient and effective to provide two most important sources of information. These information sources that include the standardized system can bring into play as to weigh up the student’s potential, capability, competence and aptitude towards his or her studies. In turn all these evaluations will lend a hand to the student and institute in order to endow with enhanced or improved teaching, responsibility, and the control (Hamilton et al, 3). Moreover, it also encompasses the piece of evidence that this information can even be used in order to make a number of important and imperative decisions. In addition, the overall focus of these harmonized and uniform tests revolve around her universal and collective nature. It is devised or proposed to the students in a common mode for the reason that the management and admin do not become erratic or capricious in reflecting the complete performance of the students. Thus, all these controlled and calculative variables escort to an

Criticism Philosophy Essay Example for Free

Criticism Philosophy Essay Not too many people can listen none defensively, or none antagonistically, to criticism. And very few of those who listen admit it when they see that they are wrong. The thing is, we think that admission of guilt, or of being wrong, or that we have made a mistake, is a sign of weakness. Yet true failure is repeatedly refusing to see your faults. Learning to listen to criticism is a life skill that wed all do well to master. It is about keeping our hearts open (deferring judgment), and ensuring that we are not emotionally aroused (intimidated, irritated, etc.) by our critic (this is deferring reaction). Learning to listen to criticism is about carefully absorbing what is being said, and then honestly evaluating if it is fair, true, constructive or destructive. Only after weve carefully listened to and evaluated the criticism can we respond to it. SECTION B: HOW TO TAKE CRITICISM 1). See criticism as an opportunity to work together with the critic to solve the problem; not as an adversarial situation. Even if you cant solve the problem together with the critic, consider the moment they criticize you as an opportunity for all of you to grow from whatever the problem is. See it as an opportunity for straightening things out; as an opportunity to hear them out, question them where you need clarity; and as an opportunity for you to clarify what needs to be clarified. This calls for changing your mindset; for changing your attitude (from an adversarial one to a positive one) towards criticism. 2). View criticism as valuable information about how to do better, not as a personal attack. Criticism, regardless of whether it is used as a constructive or a destructive tool, can provide us with valuable feedback on our performance. It provides us with feedback on where weve fallen short, and that (i.e., knowing what we need to improve on) is important for our learning and growth. So even when your critic uses criticism as a destructive tool (e.g., as a personal attack, or as a way to put you down, or as a way to manipulate you, or as a way to maintain a psychological advantage), identify his intention but decide to pay particular attention to the criticism itself. Evaluate the criticism itself, and identify what feedback you may get from it. To be able to evaluate the criticism, you must 3). Listen carefully to what is being said. This is taking up all the data, and evaluating it to see if it has any validity. 4). Watch the impulse to defend (See Defense Mechanisms): Just listen and evaluate. Know the difference between emotional thinking and rational thinking; use your head, not your heart. Dont give in to your emotions (be it laughter, anger, fear, or whatever): simply listen! 5). And if the criticism is too upsetting, ask to resume the meeting later; after a period to absorb the difficult message, and cool down a bit. SECTION C: HOW TO GIVE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM 1). BE POLITE AND SENSITIVE. This is a call for empathy; for being attuned to the impact of what you say, and how you say it to the person on the receiving end. The person (on the receiving end) is most likely to be defensive. S/he may resort to loud and angry words, or may even cry. Be ready for whatever reaction (including rebuffs, or attacks to hurt you back; breaking down into tears; begging you for forgiveness and sympathy; and so on. There is a whole catalog of reactions to criticism: be ready for any of them, and maintain your calm). 2). BE SPECIFIC. Dont criticize the whole person (by using global labels or sweeping generalizations). It is demoralizing for people to know that there is something wrong without knowing what the specifics are, so that they can change. Focus on the specifics; saying what the person did well, what was done poorly, and how the situation could be changed. The following approach is very effective (I call it the VWXYZ-approach): V Tell the person what they did well (You did this and that very well.); W Tell the person how happy you are, and/or how beneficial to you (or to the organization) this positive input was; X Tell the person what was poorly done; Y Tell the person what the damage means to you (or to the organization); Z Give the person suggestions, if you have any, as to how the situation can be changed or rescued. Tell them how they would be expected to handle a similar problem in future. 3). OFFER A SOLUTION (See Z above). The critique, like any useful feedback, should point to a way to fix the problem. Show the person other possibilities and alternatives. 4). BE PRESENT. Critiques, like praise, are most effective when given face to face, and in private. Writing a memo, letter, or email robs the person receiving the criticism of an opportunity for response or clarification. In conclusion, you have to differentiate between criticizing someone and fighting them because of your own secret agenda. When you criticize, you want the person to improve, so that s/he can be better, or so that you can live in harmony together. But when you fight someone, you criticize out of hate or resentment: your agenda is to hurt, not to help. SECTION D: THE MYTH OF REALITY We all see reality through different colored glasses. Our feelings, inborn abilities, psychological make-ups, personalities, egos, characteristics, physical or emotional well-being, fears, desires, needs, wants, beliefs, and so forth, all play a role in our perception of reality. The assertion, THERE ARE NONE SO SURE ABOUT (THEIR PERCEPTION OF) REALITY AS THOSE WHO ARE TOTALLY DELUSIONAL, has a grain of truth in it; at least when it comes to things that can be disputed. Since our perceptions of reality differ, those who criticize us do so based on the perceptions (of reality) that they have in their minds. Our critics perception of the reality of what they are criticizing us of usually differs from ours. If one perception can be demonstrated to be 100% correct, then those on the wrong side of perception should admit that they are wrong, without any fear of being conceived as weak! The real truth is that admitting that you are wrong (when you realize that you are) is a sign of being strong minded. If, as in many cases, none of the various perceptions of the conflict-causing situation can be demonstrated to be 100% correct, then we should acknowledge that our perceptions are different, and simply agree to disagree. Before you criticize someone, be sure that your own perception of reality is 100% correct. If you are not so sure, be sure to point out from the onset that you (and the one you are criticizing) have different perceptions of reality, but you are not sure whose perception is correct. You may then criticize the other persons perception, and then defend your own. SECTION E: TYPES OF CRITICISM Behind each criticism, there is an INTENTION to either put down the one being criticized or to help them (i.e., to build them up). Whether one intends to build up or to destroy, they will use STATEMENTS which are either FACTUAL, or FALSE, or (as is usually the case) a MIXTURE of TRUTHS and LIES. To analyze and evaluate someones criticism, we have to LISTEN very carefully to what they say. If we are not sure that we have heard them correctly, we have to SEEK CLARIFICATION. We have to: I). IDENTIFY THEIR INTENTIONS (to help or to put down); II). DETERMINE THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY CRITICIZE US (are they patronizing/condescending/adversarial or tactful/sympathetic/building up?); III). DETERMINE WHETHER THEIR INFORMATION IS ACCURATE OR WRONG. We must SEPARATE FACT FROM FICTION. We now look at the different types of criticism. 1. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM This occurs when your critic is motivated by the desire to help you; that is, when the person who criticizes you means well. Their manner of presenting the criticism may be good or bad, and they may possess facts, or a mixture of facts and fiction, or only inaccurate information. But the important thing is what drives the critic is the desire to help you. 2. DESTRUCTIVE CRITICISM In this kind of criticism, your critics intention may be one or more of the following: 2.1). PUTTING YOU DOWN. This may be in the form of a pointless nagging, or habitual recitation of your failures, or calling you names when they criticize you, or making sweeping generalizations; 2.2). ONE-UPMANSHIP. This occurs when one tries to maintain a psychological advantage over you, or to prove that they are better than you; 2.3). MANIPULATION. The critic may criticize what you are doing in an attempt to get you to do something else. This is often called CHILD PSYCHOLOGY. o SECTION F: RESPONDING TO CRITICISM There are two ways of responding to criticism; one is Ineffective Response, and the other is Effective Response. 1. INEFFECTIVE RESPONSE STYLES These are: 1.1). AGGRESSIVE STYLE. The techniques used include: Counter Attacks; Insulting or name-calling; Loud Denials; Mocking (Cynicism); and Sulking in anger. This style of responding to criticism is adversarial, and often leads to fights and/or resentment. 1.2). PASSIVE STYLE. In this style of response to criticism, you agree, apologize, or surrender at the first sign of (a usually destructive) criticism. You may panic and tremble physically. Or you may remain silent in a coward manner (which is different from sulking angrily). In this response style, you give your critic too much power, while sending your own self-esteem crashing rock-bottom. You do not seek clarity, and you do not even try to defend yourself. You do not try to give clarity, even where you feel you have been misunderstood, or wrongly accused. You may even take responsibility/blame for things that you have not done or said. Your fear overpowers you, and you just wish to be left in peace! 1.3). PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE STYLE. This may involve being silent, but not fully cooperative. Or you may respond passively by apologizing and agreeing to change, only to get even with your critic later; by not being fully committed to whatever you promised; or by botching it up; etc. 2. EFFECTIVE RESPONSE I). TRY TO DETERMINE YOUR CRITICS PERCEPTION OF REALITY. When someone criticizes you, ask yourself what may be their perception of reality; ask yourself what may be driving him/her to criticize you. Remember that we all see reality through different colored glasses. Resist all urges to respond (aggressively or passively, through panicking or being submissive) before evaluating the criticism. If you are not sure what your critics perception of reality is, and if you are allowed to, ask them (See III below). If you are not in a position to ask them directly, evaluate their criticism; for you may get, from the criticism itself, an idea of what your critics perception of reality is. In any case, it is important to be sure of what your critics perception of reality is. II). EVALUATE THE CRITICISM. It may be possible to tell from your critics tone of voice, from their facial expression, or from their posture, what their intentions of criticizing you are. It may be possible to tell this from context (this applies especially when you get a written critique). It is important to IDENTIFY what your critics INTENTIONS are. Whilst evaluating your critics criticism, do not jump into conclusions, and do not rush to responding. Forget your self-esteem, and concentrate exclusively on the criticism. As already mentioned, you first have to identify your critics perception of whatever they are criticizing you of. Next, identify the critics intention: Do they wish to build up or to destroy/hurt? Is their criticism constructive or destructive? Next, determine the manner in which the critic gives the criticism: is it good or bad? Are they patronizing/condescending, or are they considerate of your own feelings? Hear their tone. Do they want to help or hassle? You may also take into consideration your relationship with the critic. Is it a loved one? Is it your boss or superior? Is it a friend? Or is it someone who doesnt even know you that much? Whatever the case, you want to live in harmony with the critic; but you also want to correct misconceptions. You want to clear the air, and clarify what needs to be clarified. Check whether the criticism is accurate. Is the critic using facts, a mixture of truths and lies, or only lies? III). PROBE. As already pointed out in I), when someone criticizes you, they have a certain perception of what they are criticizing you of, and it is your right to be sure that you correctly understand what they say. Ask your critic to be specific; not to make sweeping generalizations. Ask him to support his claims. Ask him whether he is sure of what he is saying. Ask him what his perception of the situation is, and whether he is sure that his perception is correct. Ask him to give examples of where you went wrong, and to tell you how you should have performed in those instances. Ask your critic to tell you exactly What you must do. Having probed the critic, and having evaluated his criticism, decide whether his criticism is constructive or destructive; decide whether his manner of presenting the criticism is good (considerate) or bad (patronizing/condescending); and whether the information he uses is accurate, inaccurate, or a mixture of truths and lies. We now give guidelines on how to respond to (constructive and destructive) criticism. 2.1 HOW TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM. Depending on your critics nature, he may couch his constructive criticism in terms of good suggestions for change, or he may patronize you. However well-meaning someone may be, patronizing and/or condescending (which occurs when someone tries to appear better) is bad, and is likely to provoke an adversarial reaction. This is because when someone is patronizing us, we are bound to feel uncomfortable, and we may give in to impulsive negative reactions. So even when your critic has good intentions, the MANNER of GIVING the CRITICISM may spoil it all (See HOW TO GIVE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM in CRITICISM PHILOSOPHY I). In criticizing you, your critic will use some statements which are true or false, and/or some statements whose truth values may be unknown. He may have accurate or wrong information. If, in criticizing you constructively, your critic uses accurate information, or facts, to patronize you, or uses facts in a condescending manner, you may acknowledge the truth or validity of his point(s), but point out that his patronizing (or attempts at appearing better) is spoiling or defeating his good purpose (i.e., to help). If your critic puts his (accurate) information in a good manner, acknowledge the facts and thank him for pointing them out. Tell him that you are going to consider his points. If your critics information is inaccurate, you may correct him. Thank him for trying to help if his manner is good; but if, in addition to using wrong information, your critics manners suck, tell him that not only is his information inaccurate but his patronizing or condescending is really uncalled for. If your critic uses a mixture of facts and lies, acknowledge the facts (and give thanks for them), and correct misconceptions. 2.2 HOW TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO DESTRUCTIVE CRITICISM Lets now suppose that you have determined, to your satisfaction, that your critics intention is not to help you, but: to put you down; or to maintain a psychological advantage over you; or to manipulate you. As in the constructive case, your critic will use some statements; some of which may be true, whilst others may be false. In handling such a critic, simply acknowledge what is true and refute what is a lie. Disprove what needs to be disproved, and state your opinion on what is neither here nor there. It is important not to pick a fight, but to concentrate on the criticism.

The Modern Evolutionary Synthesis and the History of Its Development :: Evolution Science Biology Research Papers

The Modern evolutionary synthesis is combination of Darwinian evolutionary theory and Mendelian genetics. It is impossible to understand the theory and it's importance to the scientific community unless one understands the history behind the theory. From 1902 to 1953 major publications in the areas of systematics, developmental biology, botany, population genetics, and paleontology sucessfully integrated Darwin's four postulates and Mendelian genetics into a reformation of evolutionary theory. The new theory is referred to as the Modern Synthesis, Evolutionary Synthesis, or the Modern Evolutionary Synthesis. These terms can be used inter-changeably. Before one can understand the Modern Synthesis and this analysis there a few defintions that must be explained in order to grasp the concept, espically if a person is not familiar with biological terminology. This list of definitions does not have to be read fully but is provided to refer to when a biological term is not understood... of course maybe not every term that isn't understood, but the majority. -Allele-one of a pair, or series, of alternative forms of a gene that occur at a given locus (location) in a chromosome. -Fitness-the number of offspring left by an individual, often compared with the average of the population or with some other standard, such as the number left by a particular genotype. -Gene-a hereditary determinant of a specific biological function; a unit of inheritance (DNA) located in a fixed position on a chromosome. -Genotype-the genetic constitution (gene makeup) of a an organism. -Phenotype-The observable characteristics of an organism. -Chromosomes-darkly staining nucleotide bodies that are observed in cells during division. Each chromosome carries a linear array of genes. -Mutation-a change in DNA at a particular locations in an organism. The term is used loosely to include point mutations involving a single gene change as well as a chromosomal changes. -Variation-in biology, the occurrence of differences among individuals. -Taxon (plural: Taxa)-any named group of organisms. -Macroevolution-large evolutionary change ,usually in morphology; typically refers to the evolution of differences among populations that would warrant their placement in different genera or higher-level taxa. -Microevolution-changes in a gene frequencies and trait distributions that occur within populations and species. -Inheritance-the hypothesis that phenotypic changes in the parental generations can be passed on intact, to the next generation. -Population-for sexual species, a group of interbreeding individuals and their offspring; for asexual species, a group of individuals living in the same area. -Natural Selection-a difference, on average, between the survival or fecundity of

The Physics of Flight Essay -- Airplanes Aerodynamics Science Essays

The Physics of Flight The trials and tribulations of flight have had their ups and downs over the course of history. From the many who failed to the few that conquered; the thought of flight has always astonished us all. The Wright brothers were the first to sustain flight and therefore are credited with the invention of the airplane. John Allen who wrote Aerodynamics: The Science of Air in Motion says, â€Å"The Wright Brothers were the supreme example of their time of men gifted with practical skill, theoretical knowledge and insight† (6). As we all know, the airplane has had thousands of designs since then, but for the most part the physics of flight has remained the same. As you can see, the failures that occurred while trying to fly only prove that flight is truly remarkable. Flight uses four forces: lift, weight, thrust, and drag. In a nutshell; so to speak, an airplane must create enough lift to support its own weight. Secondly, the airplane must produce thrust to propel itself. Finally, the aircraft must overcome the drag or the force of resistance on the airplane that is moving through the air. All four of these forces are vital and necessary for an aircraft to move, takeoff, fly, and land. Wings create lift for the upward force of an airplane. A great example of how this happens is sticking your hand out of a car window driving down the freeway. The force on your flat palm causes a force that can lift your hand up or down by changing the angles of your wrist. Another way to explain this is by the concept of the Bernoulli Effect. According to Kirkpatrick and Wheeler; authors of Physics: A World View, the concept of lift is due to the Bernoulli Effect. They state: â€Å"The upper surfaces of airplane wings are curved ... ...e in any one of these forces leads to a change in the others† (139). A pilot can use many different controls and means of propulsion to change and manipulate the balance of these forces. By doing this the pilot is able to change their speed and change their direction. The Physics of Flight are truly unbelievable occurrences that create amazing effects. Without the concept of flight we would live in a totally different world. Works Cited Allen, John. Aerodynamics: The Science of Air in Motion. London: Granada Publishing Limited, 1982. Kirkpatrick, Larry, and Gerald F. Wheeler. Physics: A World View. 4th ed. Orlando: Harcourt College Publishers, 2001. Shevell, Richard. Fundamentals of Flight. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1989. â€Å"How an Airplane Flies,† Microsoft  ® Encarta ® Online Encyclopedia 2003 http://encarta.msn.com  © 1997-2003 Microsoft Corporation.

The Paris Basin: Tertiary Activities

Paris Basin: – Tertiary Activities Account for the development of tertiary activities in one non-Irish region of your choice. Tourism * Capital city – naturally draws tourists ranging from sight-seers to historical enthusiasts. * Home to monuments and buildings and areas of interest. Eiffel tower – daily tours to the top with a restaurant at the top – iconic monument designed by Gustave Eiffel overlooks the city + Rvr Seine on which are numerous daily cruises * Sacre Coeur Cathedral – on top of Montmartre hill – opens every day to public – originally – relatively inaccessible as it is atop the highest point in city – glass cable car link was built in 1990s – further increased amount of visitors to this attraction. * Nearby – Artist’s quarter + the Salvador Dali museum. Other attractions drawing millions of visitors each year – Louvre – holds famous pieces (Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci) * S. lies the palace of Versailles * E. (in Marne de la Valley) is the world famous Euro Disney. * Arc De Triomphe, Champs d’Elysees and the Notre Dame Cathedral. * 2008 – These sites drew in over 25 million visitors. * Over 60% of visitors – from outside of France – generate over â‚ ¬20 billion each year. * Tourism industry – 20% of Frances total GNP – indicates importance of this business is to economy. Result of tourism – hotels, restaurants and other spin-off industries have developed due to the demand for additional services. * Towns Reims and Epernay – grown in size due to the viticulture industry – draws in wine tasters, home to the famous Champagne houses. Transport * Transport industry – highlights development of tertiary activities * Agriculture, industry and tourism continue to grow – need for highly developed transport network – in high demand. Development of Euro Disney in east broug ht the RER train line – meet needs of the ms of visitors (Part of the SNCF train network in France) * Home to the Metro system – seven routes linking all areas of capital and further * Three international airports: Charles De Gaulle, Orly and Beavais. * The port of Le Harve – mouth of the river Seine (further example of level of development of the transport network in this core region) * France’s second busiest port (after Marseilles) and is the entry + exit point of raw materials and finished products of the region.

Gst in Malaysia

Goods and Services Tax (GST) GST is a consumption tax based on the value-added concept. GST is imposed on goods and services at every production and distribution stage in the supply chain including importation of goods and services. The GST implementation is part of the government’s tax reform program to enhance the capability, effectiveness and transparency of tax administration and management. The Government has not determined the implementation date of GST in Malaysia. Presently, the Government is actively involved in providing awareness and knowledge on the concept and rules regarding GST implementation.If GST is implemented, the Government will provide ample time between 18 to 24 months for the businesses and industries to prepare themselves for the implementation of GST. At the moment, the government has not fixed the GST rate to be imposed in Malaysia. Nevertheless, the social and pricing impact studies conducted by the Ministry of Finance indicated that the suitable GS T rate is in the range of 4%. GST is a more comprehensive, effective, transparent, and business friendly tax system. GST can overcome the various weaknesses inherent in the present consumption tax system.The inherent weaknesses under the present tax system are the cascading tax, double tax and pyramiding tax, tax erosion and leakages through transfer pricing and other means. Besides that, GST is expected to increase tax compliance and is easier to administer in view of its self policing method. Besides that, the businesses are required only to submit simplified tax returns based on prescribed formats. All records and documents relating to the relevant transaction are required to be kept in the business premises for audit by the GST auditor.How does GST work? GST is charged and collected on all taxable goods and services produced in the country including imports. Only businesses registered under GST can charge and collect GST. GST collected on output must be remitted to the governmen t. However, businesses are allowed to claim the input tax credit through the following mechanism and method:- i. GST collected on output (output tax) is deducted against the GST paid on input (input tax). ii. If there is excess, the amount shall be remitted to the government within the stipulated period. ii. If there is deficit, businesses can claim for refund from the government. GST can only be collected by persons who are registered under GST and the tax shall be remitted to the government within the stipulated period. In principle, the GST is not a cost to business as the GST paid on the business inputs can be claimed as tax credit. As such, it is estimated that the cost of doing business will decrease by an amount of RM4. 3 billion inclusive of a saving of RM1. 4 billion by exporters on their business inputs.The reduction in the business costs will make the local products and services more competitive in the domestic and international markets. In addition, the GST is expected t o improve tax compliance and is easier to administer due to its self-policing feature. With GST, bureaucracy in the government’s delivery system will be significantly reduced. Based on a GST rate of 4%, it is expected that there will be a price reduction between 0. 08% to 2. 71% in respect of eight components of goods and services.With this price reduction, the rakyat will benefit from the cheaper goods and services such as clothing and footwear, basic food, communication, furnishings, hardware and maintenance, transport, housing, water, electricity, gas and fuel. The tax burden borne by the rakyat and consumers is expected to be lower compared with that under the present tax system. This is due to the reason that various basic needs such as rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil, vegetables, fish, meat, eggs, and essential services such as public transport, private education and health, residential properties and agricultural land are not subject to GST.What are the measures undert aken by the government to ensure a smooth GST implementation? The government will give the businesses ample time to be ready for GST implementation. GST awareness and education programmes will be conducted on an on-going basis until the GST is implemented. In its effort to disseminate GST information to the general public, the government has set up a Customs call centre which will be operational at Kelana Jaya, Selangor.In addition, various industry guides will be issued as guidance to the industries relating to the GST treatment and procedures pertaining to specific industries. The Customs Department will conduct visits to business premises to provide assistance and advisory services to ensure that businesses fully understand the GST rules and procedure. The government will also ensure that the GST computerization system is fully operational before the GST implementation. The test run for the pilot project relating to the early registration process will be conducted six months befo re the GST implementation date.

Compassion in The Witch of Blackbird Pond Essay

Compassion is important in every walk of life. The definition of compassion is : a virtue of empathy for the suffering of others and a desire to alleviate that suffering. Compassion is important because it makes up who you are and is a strong part of human love. Without compassion, no human could ever get close to each other or function together as a society. Without compassion, people would not be able work together because they would not care about anyone else’s pain. There would be no working together towards a common goal, that is one of the key pillars of society. Compassion is reason we have doctors and nurses. Compassion is reason that when we see someone hurt, on the ground, we help them up. In the novel, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Kit and Nat show compassion for Hannah Tupper when her house burns down. She is their friend and they are sympathetic for her and do anything to help her. They even go into the building to retrieve her cats. They are feeling compassion for her and will help to alleviate her suffering, risking the possible legal repercussions of aiding a witch. Another instance in the novel in which the characters show compassion is when Kit teaches Prudence to read and when she defends Prudence from her mother by lying at the trial. The first time was compassion because kit saw prudence had low self worth because her mother has lead her to believe that she is stupid and never will be able to read. Kit sees her suffering and decides to alleviate her suffering, risking Goodwife Cruff’s wrath by teaching her to read and write. Later in the book, once kit is accused of practicing witch craft and the townspeople present the evidence of the hornbook with Prudence’s name written in it repeatedly, Kit lies for Prudence’s sake. She doesn’t want Prudence to get beaten by her mother. She risks possible death in compassion for Prudence’s situation. Finally, prudence shows compassion to Kit. Against all odds, though she has been educated to not show compassion by watching her mother, she shows everyone that she can write. She risks her mother’s abuse to save Kit, a girl she has recently met, but who has taught her a very important value: compassion.

Fables and Fairytales Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fables and Fairytales - Essay Example So the third fish decided to stay. The eldest of the fish decided to leave that pond with his whole family that same evening. Early in the morning the second fish saw the fishermen from a distance and decided to leave with his family. Even with the evident threat of danger, the third fish refused to leave that pond. The fishermen came and caught all the fish in that pond including the third fish and they were killed. This story shows the ignorance that the third fish shows even despite the fact that the first fish warned them about the fishermen. This three fish resemble the character of us human beings. There are those people who hear of danger and quickly react to it by looking for a safe place or get out of the area that is believed to be dangerous. The second set of people are those that have to see danger in order for the to get out of the area that is believed to be dangerous. The third set of people are those that hear and see of danger but do not want to get out of the area that is dangerous. The third set of people usually end up being killed or get hurt in the process. Therefore, it is important that we listen to the advice that older people offer since they have a lot of experience and are able to protect us. It is very important to listen to advice as this will help us a great deal. The third fish was ignorant of the advice that the first fish gave it and ended up being killed. The f irst and the second fish took precaution and continued to live. So the moral of the story is to follow the advice offers by other people and not to be

Argumentative Research Paper Women in Combat Essay

Argumentative Research Paper Women in Combat - Essay Example For instance, as this essay will demonstrate in the following sections, women suffer more physical injuries than men, they often suffer more serious psychological ailments, they resort to substance abuse as a means for coping with the physical and psychological strains, and their presence contributes to a number of novel problems in the military. The point is not that women are incapable of serving in the military. The point most certainly is not that women cannot be good leaders and good soldiers. The thesis of this essay is that women should not be placed in direct combat roles because (1) their presence may very well result in more serious physical and psychological costs than those experienced by male soldiers, and (2) that their presence causes the military to become preoccupied with peripheral issues such as sexual harassment, dating, and disharmony to the exclusion of military readiness and missions. As the data will demonstrate, this ought to be viewed and treated as much more than a political or a social issue. The military occupies a special place within the larger political and social framework, its combat functions result in serious injuries and mental strains, and women ought to consider the medical findings and the military realities before demanding increased combat roles. This research paper will define what is meant by combat and, as illustrated in Iraq with messy urban warfare, how traditional notions of combat versus non-combat personnel have become increasingly difficult to define. This blurring of the traditional distinction is of particular relevance in this case because women serving in traditionally non-combat roles have, in fact, been directly exposed to combat nonetheless. After examining the meaning of combat, this essay will analyze a number of recent studies which demonstrate that women suffer greater burdens than their male counterparts. Some of these burd ens are biologically-rooted and cannot be remedied by simple shifts in policy.In the final analysis, there is no good scientific or military argument for including women in combat roles. The humane result would be a wholesale exclusion of women from combat. Only a sadist would use women as martyrs to make a point of gender equality, which has been and can continue to be made in less damaging situations and contexts. Combat Versus Non-Combat Combat was traditionally defined as taking place in a specific place with specific people (Skaine, 26); however, Skaine also goes on to note that combat today is more spread out, warring parties often hide and fight among civilians, and that defining a woman as serving in a combat or non-combat role is somewhat disingenuous. This is because, even though most women are theoretically shielded from combat by legislation and by non-combat designations and deployments, the combat reaches and affects women. Indeed, it is an open secret that women operate in combat roles even though they are technically barred or prohibited. Recent events in Iraq illustrate this blurring of the role between combatants and non-combatants all too starkly; as reported by CNN, "The Pentagon's policy banning women in combat is being tested in Iraq, where the lack of a defined front line and insurgents' guerrilla

WEP 300 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

WEP 300 - Essay Example According to several experiments in laboratories, classrooms, organizational workplaces and other environments, rewards essentially weaken the very basis of interventions they are meant to support (Pink 1). The findings show that the inability of any particular incentive program can be attributed more to the insufficiency of the emotional assumptions upon which such plans are based than the seemingly botched approach taken to implement the incentive. As such, Pink (6) noted that monetary incentives blunt individual creativity. The researcher based his reasoning on economics and psychology studies. He cited the â€Å"Candle Problem† experiment by Karl Duncker, which was invented in 1945 to examine â€Å"functional fixedness† in human reasoning. The outcomes support the inefficiency of incentive-based human resource management. Duncker proved that it is not easy for an adult to solve issues facing him or her by summoning an out-of-the-box mentality. This is because humans are not bound to â€Å"iterate(ing) something new† (Pink 8). This means can be construed the general human reluctance to experiment with new objects in an innovative manner. Similarly, Sam Glucksberg repeated the experiment in1962, but focused on the impact of monetary inducements on creativity. He established that financial incentives may actually worsen the problem of fixedness in employee thinking and functions. As such, Pink noted that a Candle Problem experiment conducted on two sets of sample employees working as a team to find a solution established that there are modest impacts of incentives on creativity between the group that was subject to incentives and the other that was not (7). However, the outcomes showed no undesirable consequence of incentives. Therefore, it can be argued that the average performance of employees is marginally better when creativity is based on incentives, but the variation is not

Undergrad research (Sonicator) Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Undergrad (Sonicator) - Research Paper Example The production of methanol was done through the distillation of wood. Methanol today is industrially synthesized from a nonstoichiometric mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and carbon dioxide over Cu/ZnO/AL203 catalysts. Methanol is an industrial chemical used as raw material in the manufacture of solvents such as formaldehyde and producing acids, for example, acetic acid through hydroformylation. Synthesis of methanol is crucial due to wide usage of methanol in industries. Sonicator (Ultrasonic) is one method used to manufacture methanol (Eta, Valerie, 71). Ultrasonic is a phenomenon used in reactive chemical whereby ultrasound energy of approximate 20 kHz is used to agitate the reactants. This method is efficient because necessary temperature and energy are generated by ultrasonic machine. Methanol is a short chain alcohol that is immiscible. The use of the sonicator or ultrasonic is to synthesize methanol in a reaction entitled as transesterification. Catalytic functional group in methanol is methoxide (CH3O-) which is formed when methanol reacts with a strong base or when metals like potassium react with anhydrous methanol (Arutyunov, Vladimir, 95). Mechanism of ultrasonic effect on esterification was illustrated experimentally using bubble- dynamic model where ultrasound energy and micro bubbles in the reactor increased the interface formed between the triglyceride and methanol emulsion, thus considered a physical reaction and not a chemical reaction (Eta, Valerie, 103). There seems to be the best use of the sonicator and why it is mainly used for the production of methanol. The use of Sonification is good as it has led to the production of more methanol and carbon while using less energy. The use of Sonification makes it possible for synthesis of methanol via the use of carbon dioxide and hydrogen, which leads to the water-gas shift formation and surface morphology effects. However, because the use of carbon dioxide and hydrogen is a two-way step,

Credit Assessment and Consulting in Rating Agencies Research Paper

Credit Assessment and Consulting in Rating Agencies - Research Paper Example nsulting services whereby debt issuers request rating agencies to direct them on the manner to structure their debt issues with the aim of securing a favorable rating (Crockett, Harris, Mishkin & White, 2004). In such circumstances, the credit-rating agencies are in effect auditing their own work. Moreover, credit-rating agencies may deliver favorable ratings so as acquire extra clients for the ancillary consulting business. Much of the challenges associated with Credit Assessment and Consulting in Rating Agencies relate to the reliability and integrity of ratings. Investors utilize credit ratings that mirror the probability of default to ascertain the creditworthiness of certain debt securities (Langohr & Langohr, 2008). Conflict of interest can yield a decrease in the flow of reliable information centering on either concealment of the information, or dissemination of misleading information (Brooks & Dunn, 2010). This has dire consequences on the value of stakeholder’s benefits. The markets can in some instances ameliorate the impacts of conflicts of interest within financial services firms and cannot always contain the incentives to exploit conflicts of interest. Some of the approaches to remedying conflict of interest encompass: â€Å"leaving it to the market† or letting market forces resolve the conflict by penalizing financial firms that exploit conflict of interest and instituting new institutional means to contain conflict of interest (Brooks & Dunn, 2010). The other approaches encompass regulating for transparency through mandatory disclosure and supervisory oversight. Additional approaches towards remedying conflicts of interest within credit rating agencies encompass separation of functions and socialization of information production. In conclusion, there is a need to enhance accountability of Credit Rating Agencies so as to negate the pitfalls associated with conflict of interest (Werther & Chandler, 2006). Reputation remains one of the key

History of Table Tennis Essay Example for Free

History of Table Tennis Essay The sport got its start in England towards the end of the 19th century when, after dinner, some upper-middle class Victorians decided to turn their dining room tables into miniature versions of the traditional lawn tennis playing field. Several different every-day objects were employed in constructing the sport. They used a line of books as the net. Rackets were lids from empty cigar boxes, and a little later, parchment paper stretched around a frame. The ball would be either a ball of string, or perhaps more commonly, a champagne cork or rubber ball. Before â€Å"Table Tennis.† When the game first started it was called by a number of different names. â€Å"Whif whaf,† â€Å"gossamer,† and â€Å"flim flam† were commonly used to describe it. The words, as can be assumed, were derived from the sound that the ball made when hit back and forth on the table. In 1901 though, English manufacturer J. Jaques Son Ltd registered one of the more popular names, Ping-Pong, as a copyright. He later sold the trademark to the Parker Brothers in the United States. Then in the 1920s the name and the sport were revived in Europe as table tennis. Evolution The turn of the century brought many other refinements to the sport. Players started using celluloid balls after the English man James Gibb discovered them during a trip to the United States in 1901 and proved them to be perfect for Ping-Pong. In 1903, E.C Goode replaced parchment paper and cigar box lids with pimpled rubber on light wooden â€Å"blades† as rackets. And after the world championships in Prague in 1936, where two defensive players took over an hour to contest one point, the net was lowered to make the pace of the game-play faster. (In another effort to make the game more fast paced and entertaining, rules were again changed in 2001- see Rules). It Spreads Also around this time, the sport spread to other European countries and to the United States. Asian countries like China, Korea and Japan are understood to have learnt about it from British Army officers who held posts in those places. There was an unofficial world championship held in 1901, but the first official world championship was held in London in 1927 by the International Table Tennis Federation. The ITTF was founded in Berlin in 1926 by England, Sweden, Hungary, India, Denmark, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Wales. Asian Factor Although it may seem today that the sport, in the professional realm, is dominated by Asian countries like China and Korea, it wasn’t always that way. Before the late 1950’s and early 60’s, European players from Hungary especially, but also from France and Sweden seemed without competition. But in 1952, Japanese player Horoi Satoh introduced the foam rubber paddle. The paddle made the game faster and spinning the ball became an even greater factor. Japan became the main winner in the world competitions in 1960, and by the mid 1960’s China took over the reigns through to the early 1980’s. Their absolute domination of the sport was finally subdued with the entering of table tennis into the Olympic Games in 1988 and the participation of players from Korea and Sweden. Table Tennis and the Cold War On April 6th, 1971, the US table tennis team was invited on an all-expenses-paid trip to play in China. Four days later, nine players, four officials and two spouses crossed the bridge from Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland. They were the first group of Americans to be allowed into the country since the communist take-over in 1949. One of the first signs during the Cold war of improved relations between the United States and China, Time magazine called it â€Å"the pong heard throughout the world.† It was shortly followed with a visit to China by President Nixon. Facilities and Equipment The Table The playing surface, should be rectangular, 2.74m long and 1.525m wide, and shall lie in a horizontal plane 76cm above the floor .The playing surface should not include the vertical sides of the tabletop. The playing surface should yield a uniform bounce of about 23cm when a standard ball is dropped on to it from a height of 30cm. The playing surface shall be uniformly dark colored and matt, but with a white side line, 2cm wide, along each 2.74m edge and a white end line, 2cm wide, along each 1.525m edge. The playing surface shall be divided into 2 equal courts by a vertical net running parallel with the end lines, and shall be continuous over the whole area of each court. For doubles, each court shall be divided into 2 equal half-courts by a white center line, 3mm wide, running parallel with the side lines; the center line shall be regarded as part of each right half-court. The Net Assembly The net shall be suspended by a cord attached at each end to an upright post 15.25cm high, the outside limits of the post being 15.25cm outside the side line. The top of the net, along its whole length, shall be 15.25cm above the playing surface. The Ball The ball shall be spherical, with a diameter of 40mm.and weigh 2.7g. The ball shall be made of celluloid or similar plastics material and shall be white or orange, and matt. The Racket The racket may be of any size, shape or weight but the blade (wooden face) shall be flat and rigid. The covering material (rubber sheets) shall extend up to but not beyond the limits of the blade, except that the part nearest the handle and gripped by the fingers may be left uncovered or covered with any material. The surface of the covering material on a side of the blade, or of a side of the blade if it is left uncovered, shall be matt, bright red on one side and black on the other. Slight deviations from continuity of surface or uniformity of color due to accidental damage or wear may be allowed provided that they do not significantly change the characteristics of the surface. Rules of the game Serving The server shall project the ball near vertically upwards, without imparting spin, so that it rises at least 16cm and then falls without touching anything before being struck. The ball shall not be hidden from the receiver by any part of the body or clothing of the server or his doubles partner and as soon as the ball has been projected, the server’s free arm shall be removed from the space between the server’s body and the net. If the umpire is doubtful of the legality of a service he may, on the first occasion in a match, declare a let (see below) and warn the server. Any subsequent service of doubtful legality of that player or his doubles partner will result in a point to the receiver. Whenever there is a clear failure to comply with the requirements for a good service, no warning shall be given and the receiver shall score a point.