Bronislaw Malinowski's Importance to Cultural Anthropology Essay

Bronislaw Malinowski's Importance to Cultural Anthropology - Essay Example In the documentary videos related to Malinowski perused for this essay, one could see his powers of observation and synthesis. The rest of this essay will summarize the importance of the man and his works to the field of cultural anthropology. Malinowski’s ethnography of the Trobriand Islands made an immediate impact on anthropological circles. His description of the officialdom and hierarchy under Kula ring went on to become a cornerstone work in the realm of cultural anthropology. He paid particular attention to the operation of reciprocity and exchange in social groups. A key to his success is his sense of adventure, which is a pre-requisite to anyone involved in fieldwork. Along with Margaret Mead, Malinowski can be said to have pioneered and mastered fieldwork for anthropological projects. The methods employed by him for fieldwork, including ‘participatory observation’, are now established as fundamental to anthropological research. (Cravens, 2010, p.301) It is a symbol of Bronislaw Malinowski’s scholarly fame that many eminent anthropologists from his next generation took his tutelage and guidance. These included Hortense Powdermaker, Meyer Fortes, Raymond Firth, etc. Firth, in particular, had gone on to write detailed treatises on Malinowski’s works. Malinowski’s legend continues to hold firm even today, though later evolution in anthropological thought has affected it a little. â€Å"He has continued to be a great name in anthropology. But while his reputation as a superb field-worker has been maintained, his fame as a really great teacher in the Socratic tradition has been allowed to fade, and his achievement in creating a new and enduring approach to  anthropology has not been properly understood. Without him, the aridities of the  Kulturkreislehre  and the fantasies of pan-Egyptianism would doubtless have in due course been corrected and overcome. But for the younger generation of anthropologists in Eur ope, at least, he fought that battle and won it by the end of the 'twenties'.† (Troy, 1998, p.129) Of all the contributions made by Malinowski, his ideas related to ethnographic research is the most well-known. He approached the study of social systems through solid methodology and theory. It is not surprise then that one of the documentary films about his life and work is titled ‘Off the Verandah’, for he brought anthropology off the veranda and got knee-deep in fieldwork. In other words, the hands-on approach to studying cultural anthropology is one of his most valued contributions. He emphasized the importance of such ‘detailed participant observation’ for understanding distant cultures and social systems. He inspired a whole generation of anthropologists through these insightful and inspiring lectures. After his appointment as a lecturer in Social Anthropology in 1922, he gave a series of short courses on such topics as ‘Early Beliefs and So cial Differentiation’, ‘Social Organization of Australian Aborigines’, and ‘Economics of Primitive Peoples’. His seminar on Primitive Mentality ranks as equally important. His importance as a cultural anthropologist is further affirmed by the fact that he travelled far and wide in the European Continent giving lectures in Geneva, Vienna, Rome, Oslo, etc. His legacy and pre-eminence is registered by his appointment to

African Corruption Essay Example for Free

African Corruption Essay This study intends to clearly show the extent to which Africa and Africans have been suffering from the ravages of corruption, fraud, and intentional mismanagement by their governments and their leaders, much to the disappointment and anger of the people. The impact of corruption on the lives of the people, the businesses, and the economy of any of the nations concerned has been studied by a number of authors, scholars, and worldwide institutions such as the World Bank, the IMF, and even donors (highly industrialized nations). Although Africa has a large share of the worlds raw material and mineral resources, African nations are by far the least developed and the poorest countries in the world. Robert Harris, in his book, Political Corruption In and Beyond the Nation State, (1990, p. 29,) introduced three themes. First, political corruption is an illegitimate extension of normal political activity. In trying to understand the central issue of corruption, one needs to understand the complex and intricate nature of corruption. If we ask, what is â€Å"corruption†? The American Heritage English Language Dictionary (Pickett, 2000) defines corruption as â€Å"the art or process of corruption, the state of being corrupt, decay, and rot.† As indicated above, corruption comes in many forms. In the least developed countries (LDC’s) such as Africa, all types of corruption are prevalent. The following brief case histories of these three companies will present the magnitude of the scandals, corruption, and deceit these companies perpetrated on the unsuspecting public and their business partners. Other countries of the world have similar problems of corruption, fraud, and mismanagement. From time to time, stories appear about the corruption trial of a government official, a banker, or corporate head in other parts of the world. Doing Business in Africa and Other Non-Industrialized Nations, the basic tenets of the guiding principles are that corruption, dishonesty, and unethical behavior among public officials represent serious threats to the basic principles and values of government, undermining public confidence in democracy and threatening to erode the rule of law. The aim of these guiding principles is to promote public trust in the integrity of officials within the public sector by preventing, detecting, and prosecuting or sanctioning official corruption and unlawful dishonest or unethical behavior. Monsanto Co.: Settled an SEC complaint in January alleging that the company funneled more than $700,000 in corrupt payments to Indonesian government officials between 1997 and 2002. ExonMobil, Chevron Texaco, Marathon Oil, Devon Energy, and Amerada Hess, as well as several other oil companies: These reportedly are involved in SEC investigations into bribes allegedly paid to government officials in Equatorial Guinea. Public perception of police corruption stems mainly from instances where the public has come face to face with the vice as they interact with police in their discharge of duty. My personal experience also left me with no doubt that police corruption in South Africa was daunting task for the new democratic government of South Africa. While police brutality in Kenya is much less compared to that of the apartheid South Africa, the police corruption in Kenya is much more widespread and open. Corruption in the police force takes various forms and in various degrees of sophistication. Corruption in Kenya and more particularly among the police has reached unprecedented levels. Thieves have been set free from police cells because of corruption. The ministry of public works: This is the second most corrupt institution in Kenya. Finding found that this is the Ministry that has the highest rent corruption in Kenya. A large population of the Kenyan people expressed disgust at the corruption in this ministry. The corruption at the ministry of public works is more sophisticated than meets the eye. It is also in charge of construction of government residential houses and offices. The ministry houses the largest number of government employed Engineers, professionals, and Architects. It is actually a key ministry in any government.   Millions of shillings are spent in purchasing goods and services for the government. There was no good will from the establishment to deal with cases of corruption. Where genuine outside companies have been awarded contracts, big bribes were paid to the committee before the award. In one case a contractor has given a job to put up some government circles. The author discovered that this was done just to get free money as penalties from the government. The poor jobs that we have seen on our roads are a result of corruption. This makes the land law in Kenya, one of the most complicated land systems in the world. The Crown Lands Ordinance (Cap. 280) passed in 1915 defined crown land as â€Å"All public land including all land occupied by the native tribes of the protectorate and all land reserved for the use of the members of any native tribe.† All the land rights of the natives were ignored. After all and without exception, African customs recognized land rights. African communities saw land as a gift of God to every individual. That has been the root cause of land problems in this country. Nowhere in Africa is land such expensive commodity as it is in Kenya. A Kenyan who has no land will always work hard to buy himself land. Land and Corruption in Africa The Ministry of Lands is one of the most corrupt institutions in this country. Land Cartels Land allocations, is the biggest single activity that goes on at the Lands office, Nairobi. Here, the people of Kenya will spend as much time and spend as much money, to ensure that they have been allocated land. Income tax department: African Revenue Authority is the main government agency for collecting all government revenue. No government can run on its own without taxes. Money collected from taxes is what the government uses to provide public services like Education, Health, Infrastructure, security and policing, a forestation, public service employment, defence and many others. (Transparency International Report, 2006) You cannot tax people so highly and yet fail to provide services. Over Kenya Shillings 250 billion taxes, (Transparency International Report, 2006), are collected annually by the Kenya Revenue Authority. The African revenue authority has some of the best professionals in the public service. Corruption at the African Revenue Authority is a matter of great concern. There is corruption in the organization both corporate and individual taxpayers. With the present economic situation most business people are stressed out and depressed. Research revealed that there is massive corruption in the import and export sector. Tax evasion is very high in this sector and the government loses millions of shillings through fraud and tax evasion. It was found that tax officers collude with importers and exporters to avoid tax and deny the government the badly needed revenue. This area has provided a good breeding ground for corruption in the income tax department. Officers in the Revenue Authority come across these businesses every day. The government is losing a lot of revenue by leaving these sectors out.

Road Not Taken :: essays research papers

â€Å"The Road Not Taken† By: Robert Frost â€Å"The Road Not Taken† is a poem about Robert Frost reflecting on a personal experience. He talks about the time when he had to make a tough decision. With the evidence gathered up, it seems as if he regretted the outcome of his decision and he is curious as to see whether the other choice could have been better or not. This is a very intellectual poem that could leave people in suspense. For a first time reader, you would never be able to tell if Frost actually regretted taking the path he chose, or if he was actually grateful for it. It all depends on how a person reads Frost’s wording. The inspiration for this poem came from his walks with his friend, Edward Thomas, of England. In 1914, when Frost and Thomas lived in Gloucestershire, they frequently took long walks through the countryside. Thomas would choose the path which he thought might show his American friend a rare plant or any kind of special interest. However, by the end of the walk, Thomas would regret the choice he made. He would â€Å"sigh† over his decision because he thought he could have taken the â€Å"better† direction. Frost would always tease Thomas for all those regrets he would have. Frost takes a â€Å"sigh† in the poem. That could really throw people off. Frost might be implying that it was a sigh of relief, or possibly a sigh of regret. He could be completely happy about the path he chose, or he could be regretful for it. This poem could be analyzed in many different ways. From the research I did, I learned that Frost never really told anyone what the â€Å"sigh† at the end of the poem really meant. He said that it was a very tricky poem. This â€Å"sigh† came from those that Thomas would make after their walks through the countryside. When Frost returned to America as a successful discovered poet, he wrote â€Å"The Road Not Taken†. The manuscript copy of the poem was sent to Thomas immediately. Frost’s expectations were that Thomas would notice how the poem pivots ironically on the phrase, â€Å"I shall be telling this with a sigh†. Unfortunately, as it turned out, Frost’s expectations were disappointed. Thoma s didn’t notice the gentle jest because the irony was handled too subtly. If someone thinks in a positive manner, they will realize that is never really a right or wrong choice in your life. Road Not Taken :: essays research papers â€Å"The Road Not Taken† By: Robert Frost â€Å"The Road Not Taken† is a poem about Robert Frost reflecting on a personal experience. He talks about the time when he had to make a tough decision. With the evidence gathered up, it seems as if he regretted the outcome of his decision and he is curious as to see whether the other choice could have been better or not. This is a very intellectual poem that could leave people in suspense. For a first time reader, you would never be able to tell if Frost actually regretted taking the path he chose, or if he was actually grateful for it. It all depends on how a person reads Frost’s wording. The inspiration for this poem came from his walks with his friend, Edward Thomas, of England. In 1914, when Frost and Thomas lived in Gloucestershire, they frequently took long walks through the countryside. Thomas would choose the path which he thought might show his American friend a rare plant or any kind of special interest. However, by the end of the walk, Thomas would regret the choice he made. He would â€Å"sigh† over his decision because he thought he could have taken the â€Å"better† direction. Frost would always tease Thomas for all those regrets he would have. Frost takes a â€Å"sigh† in the poem. That could really throw people off. Frost might be implying that it was a sigh of relief, or possibly a sigh of regret. He could be completely happy about the path he chose, or he could be regretful for it. This poem could be analyzed in many different ways. From the research I did, I learned that Frost never really told anyone what the â€Å"sigh† at the end of the poem really meant. He said that it was a very tricky poem. This â€Å"sigh† came from those that Thomas would make after their walks through the countryside. When Frost returned to America as a successful discovered poet, he wrote â€Å"The Road Not Taken†. The manuscript copy of the poem was sent to Thomas immediately. Frost’s expectations were that Thomas would notice how the poem pivots ironically on the phrase, â€Å"I shall be telling this with a sigh†. Unfortunately, as it turned out, Frost’s expectations were disappointed. Thoma s didn’t notice the gentle jest because the irony was handled too subtly. If someone thinks in a positive manner, they will realize that is never really a right or wrong choice in your life.

Maritime Policy Essay

Maritime policies are set and managed so as to ensure the safety of ships while on the open seas. Furthermore maritime policies also have control over ports and the policies for docking, shipments, monies, what can be imported or not. Liabilities and values are managed and in some respects so are ethics. The policies are to designate water rights and boundaries. Shipping has inherent risks associated with the trade that needs to have emergency plans in place should something go wrong. There are environmental factors to take into consideration. 1 Add to this list, insurances, warranties and the laws that bind and by far, but not even the least, hazmat with the MSDS sheets of chemicals being transported, inspections, proper loads and bills of lading. Piracy isn’t much of an issue in today’s modern times but yet there are policies on piracy though much of this is outdated back to 1800-1900. Let us start with the safety aspect of shipping. Safety always starts and ends with the human element. Without human intervention there is no guarantee of proper safety procedures being followed. Granted there are no guarantees anyway but a plan to follow is by far better than not having one. Maritime safety policies offer a protection not only to humans but to the environment and each territory or country has its own maritime safety policies and their own policies in general. In following safety as put in the policies this can also promote economic development and activity. 2 If safety procedures set forth in each policy are adhered to then the smooth sailing into and out of ports and countries, taking into account the shipment, humans and wildlife and water handling as well as obeying water boundaries and the knowledge of these policies per each are of sailing then one can be fairly presumptuous in a smooth transaction. Smooth transactions will enable a stable and economical trade for a long time. Funny how safety and policies are a direct relation to simply sailing right? On top of written policies as mentioned, maintenance is also a huge safety concern. Without proper and timely maintenance of sea faring vessels, catastrophes can happen, shipments can be late which can in turn affect contracts of imports or exports which of course goes straight into the economics of shipping. As mentioned, the MSDS of chemicals is hugely, astronomically important in safety! The MSDS sheets give an abundant amount of information relating to any and all chemicals with regards to properties, explosiveness, stability, storage, shipping, proper handling, exposures to human and animals, what to do in case of accidents, medical issues and who to call for questions and answers. MSDS furthermore gives information as to protective wear and the immediate emergency criteria. While the MSDS (material safety data sheet) is one of the most important aspects in the USA for chemicals, even if they don’t seem dangerous, transport and safety factors, other countries will also have their own individual regulations for shipments containing dangerous chemicals. These regulations must be followed as well. This is to ensure safety precautions from both levels. Simply not following, even the MSDS instructions can cause severe issues. Explosions can happen, people and animals may become ill or death may occur. Long term lasting effects may happen to both humans and wildlife. If the safety practice is not followed with regards to whatever is being transported, whomever did not follow the instructions will be held liable and an end result can mean cancelled contracts, economic loss and soured politics with one person or country or even company. You must see the broad picture and how all of this relates to successful shipping, economics, policies and in general to the world. The economics of shipping is like a well oiled machine when operated correctly and with the use of good teamwork throughout all ports, countries and waterways and once again the following of policies at each port, within each territory. Economic welfare consists of the sum of consumers’ surpluses and producers’ surpluses plus or minus any relevant externalities. 3 The economy also requires a strong organizational skill of the shippers, producers and purchasers, not necessarily meaning consumers. The transportation of goods being shipped must be organized in respects to sea, air and freight transport, the production of making and delivering the goods, the ability to produce contracts in a timely manner, even the ability to put together a contract and keep it. Economics also requires the knowledge of knowing port fees and taxes in the other ports being frequented. Market trends will also play a large part in a successful economic empire. If you do not know the ever changing markets and the different economies at each port then the dismals failings are easily found in the shipping industry. This will slide right into the sociological factors of shipping. So how does this part of the shipping management work? How does it prosper? The entire shipping industry, to run in a smooth way uses all of the above but then there is an ultimate management of it all. The human resources management, the industry management, the social management, it all plays a huge part. The items in which are shipped, the taxes and prices of the different items all vary. The weight allowed for each ship, rail car or air transport matter in all ways. Social change denotes this. Social change can also be a dangerous happening to an industry if not prepared. When social change happens, this is similar to the industry changing and the industry and companies must be ready to absorb losses and be prepared to switch gears at a moments notice in their decisions of what to ship to who and when. Contracts may have to be renegotiated and in some cases when they can’t be then there is once again the absorption of the possibility of losing monies, contracts, and in worse case scenarios, allies from other countries. Maybe contracts won’t renew or no new contracts accepted. 4 The sociological side of a shipping industry and all involved are yet again directly correlated with the ecological aspects. There is an ecological factor to also take into consideration, both of the environment side and the human side. The environment side is in relation to protecting the seas, plant and animals within and against leakages that poor maintenance and unnecessary pollutions can cause. If maintenance is not done in the fashions that need to be, ships can fail at sea, shipments can be late. This is a small factor in the ecological side. The bigger problems are with lack of maintenance causing a fuel spill or oil spill then the natural inhabitants of the sea are affected, plant life is affected thus in the end so is the human life. Humans, whether spending the time to cleanup up or from suffering from the damages in a physical way, it is all apart of the ecology. On the human side, and back to the sociological side, which is a direct line to discrimination in today’s world, is the interdependence of the people. This means the people who work together in close quarters and those who work on the ports in far away countries or locally. Interdependence is a vital role in today’s world. If one person discriminates against another, that person loses an interdependence thus making for an unhappy person and in the end this can result in suits being filed. The interdependence of companies relies on maintaining a good policy and ethics as well. On the psychological level of this, companies who cannot maintain all the aspects of maritime policies lose their internal interdependence thus causing the loss of business and potentially causing conflicts that no one ever needs. Conflicts, no matter how small, have too many variables that affect to many avenues. The normal human resources departments of any business must have a good grip on the social aspects of management as well. This doesn’t just include the inter office workings but also all the working at sea, in the air or ground transportation involved. With regards to all the different ports and lanes that a shipping company must deal with there is always the word monopoly that comes to mind. Just like any other person who owns businesses, they are not allowed to corner the market and create this monopoly. Large shipping empires that have attained a level of success would love to monopolize. In a monopoly they would have the most control thus thinking that they have the most power which is an obvious factor to the God complex and this mentality can backslide back hundreds of years to a piracy level. Piracy in any form is not healthy for any economy worldwide. Another issue, especially since the 911 attack, is the threat of terrorist activity. These two play a part in negotiating contracts and between the US and other countries contracts can be quite difficult in forming before they are signed. Hand in hand with this can also be the social aspect. Considering the many parts to a shipping contract, not all parties are going to agree, not all parties are going to easily find the synergy needed to help one another and if a contract is negotiated wrongly, this can, in an astute way cause a port war which can engage much more than the initial port issue thus quickly embroiling itself into wars of territorial or world wars. The security involved policies is to prevent against this form of uprising and thus security issues are addressed in contracts as well. Our history shows that it doesn’t take much to cause a full fledged war as it is, so a good democratic person, or many, with a political mind and good business sense partnered with common sense may be a good one to deal with the different contracts and ports. The biggest issue seems to be the limits of liability. How much liability is each player going to accept if a shipment goes wrong? The factoring of circumstances that control this will help make this decision but in the end no one ever wants to be liable. We must work with and against liability issues such as warranties, lost or late shipments, unexpected happenings, transportation failures and the like. Someone has to be liable at all times and this liability shifts constantly from one person or company, to another. In the end someone has to pay for the negative liability caused. Another, much harder issue to deal with is the contract of intermodal transport. The ships provide transport but contracts also have to be written for the air and land travel as well. Who is responsible and the timeliness factor and costs at each port. Who becomes responsible when arriving at a port and suddenly the shipment isn’t available per unexpected intervention? This becomes a frustrated contract and thus many people lose in this instance. Intermodal transport requires high organization from many variables. Time, type of shipment, weight of shipment, cost of the transport, who can better do the transport with quality and quantity are all important roles. When transportation details are being negotiated, no matter if land, sea, air or a culmination of them all, it is imperative that all operates as expected. When something fails, it affects facets of the industry itself as well as families and all inbetween. With any maritime traveler there is a large and sometimes very emotional, ongoing issue in direct relation the sociological factoring and that’s the families of these travelers. There is a lot of time spent at sea, more so than at home by a wide margin. Even though wives, and sometimes husbands may marry a sea traveler, accepting that lifestyle can be a time of intense and long term distraught. Families have been interrupted and torn apart, simply because the other partner is not there as often as the other one wants them to be. While one partner is striving to provide the economical balance for the family, both parties must also have their own brand of political reasoning in order to maintain that family status. Now it seems crazy that a seafaring family would have politics within their home but it is definitely inevitable to a much higher degree than normal family politics as much more is at stake and much bigger changes happen. The one contract at this point that is generally easier to dissolve is the marriage contract and this happens frequently. â€Å"In this New World [of globalization] there is no room for national industrial policies and shipping is no exception. National shipping policy is dead – or it should be. † (Sletmo, 2001, p 334). While Sletmo may state that specific policies do not broaden the economics of the shipping industry but yet the government keeps making policies does not mean that the whole shipping industry policy is dead or needs to be dead. There are many policies that we may be unaware of that indeed do not strengthen the economics of this industry. The policies were put there for a reason and even if it is the policy on piracy it remains. This is a check and balance system that will always be ever changing. Can you imagine what would happen if all references to piracy were exonerated in maritime policies? Bounce right back to history of The Boston Tea Party or of the days of pirates stealing ships and cargo and the deaths involved, the families destroyed. It is a requirement to have the government involved to a degree. To have policies in place is needed. This is the only way, even in a globalized world, to survive whether it be industrial of nature or not. National shipping policy is not dead; just not agreed upon as much. From the Federal standpoint of maritime laws, shipping policies will remain in place as it desperately needs the protection that it affords. This protection encompasses regulation safety issues, contracts, ecological and sociological issues, water borders, individual countries port rules and much more. Policies affect the world wide shippers to some degree, even if only contemplating the policies in the USA. With larger shippers from Germany, Japan, Netherlands, China and Hong Kong present, it is imperative to have policies in place, especially when considering the past issues of wars between the USA and some of these countries. There is no room for error, no margin for a lack of agreed upon policies to maintain a profitable shipping policy. These countries must get along; one slip can create chaos and the loss of the economy even more so than ever, the loss of allies, and an uprising. This can even inadvertently and directly affect our stock markets and jobs world wide. If one thinks about the logical, in-depth reasons for policies, one will also recognize that many of the USA products, to include our actual ships, come from other countries. Without a policy in place for protection then shipping ports begin to lose. Without a policy, taxes may not be agreed upon, shipments may not be considered as satisfactory, maybe someone would decide to usurp someone else’s authority thus the possibility and likelihood of angering a different country or a specific port. It is somewhat recognizable that there will be a never ending aspect to problems that can happen and their effects which only go to prove that yes, policies, in all arenas of shipping need to be made under all circumstances. There is an abundant amount of pressure in shipping. One specific example is where we obtain our ships. Most of the ships the USA or other countries uses or owns are built in Germany. With Germany building the ships we buy or lease there is the maintenance and warranty to consider. Without proper maintenance a warranty is void, with a voided warranty, as with anything, tempers flare as each party believes another to be responsible. When proper maintenance of a ship is adhered to per policy then generally it leaves little to no room for argument when it comes time to file against a warranty. Warranties in everyday life, for little items are sometimes hard enough to get honored as it is; imagine enforcing a warranty for a multi million dollar freight ship. It becomes obvious how important it is to follow the shipping policy of just maintenance alone. Once again, think of the broader picture of maintenance and how it is related to safety as already discussed. Another example of shipping is actual the lower cost of labor for production in countries such as Japan and China. What if one day the shipping industry was paying 10 cents on the dollar for the labor to produce the items for shipment and then the next day that labor cost shot up to 50 cents on the dollar because of a suddenly strained atmosphere between countries? This rise would affect everything involved with contracts, timeliness, allies, shipments, sociological factors and who knows what else may happen that we don’t see. In summary, yes there are many policies for both the USA shippers for sea, land and air shipping but there are also policies for ports and countries abroad. There are many contracts to consider, many safety precautions to follow. There is a lot of political and economical pressure from all parties involved in the shipping industry and without policies in place there is no way that the shipping industry would survive. This lack of survival would affect all of us, world wide. Companies, persons, ports and countries would do as they saw fit, each persons view would be different and there would be nothing in place to prevent severe consequences from happening. While nothing is ever perfect in our imperfect world, the world of maritime policies must be complete in every aspect and almost perfect. Policies are ever changing as needs arise and in the end, if terms cannot be agreed upon to form a new policy then this can go anywhere from losing a contract before it is signed, to losing part of an economy to a full out war. Globalization demands policies at all levels. The statement of there being no room for industrial shipping policies is a huge fallacy. Make room for the policies needed for the safety, economical, political reason on all levels throughout the world, that, or have a mess on hand that will be a hard cleanup. List of References MSc in Maritime Security, Safety and Enviromental Management (2005) http://www.deu. edu. tr/DEUWeb/English/Icerik/Icerik. php? KOD=6756http://www. maritimesafetymanagement. com/AboutMSEM/AcademicProgram/Unit3SafetyandEnvironmentalManagement1/tabid/723/Default. aspx Maritime Transport Policy (2006) Barrott, Jacques http://ec. europa. eu/transport/maritime/doc/maritime_transport_policy_en. pdf pg 2 Gross, Richard (2004) Economic Welfare and Maritime Economics (http://web. deu. edu. tr/smbm/RGoss. pdf Scollick, Andy. Maritime Regional Sustainability http://web. pml. ac. uk/globec/structure/fwg/focus4/symposium/posters/S5-P8. pdf Norfolk Southern Railway Co. v. Kirby, 125 S. Ct. 385 (2004). Federal Maritime Jurisdiction Pushes Inland http://www. olemiss. edu/orgs/SGLC/National/SandBar/4. 1maritime. htm SLETMO, G. K. 2001. `The End of National Shipping Policy? A Historical Perspective on Shipping Policy in a Global Economy`, International Journal of Maritime Economics, 2001, 3, (333-350). Sletmo (2001) The Economic Effects of Shipping policies http://www. porteconomics. nl/docs/the_economic. pdf Shipping Management Plan VS 1 (2003-2005) http://www. amsa. gov. au/shipping_safety/great_barrier_reef_and_torres_strait/gbr_review_report/Documents/shipmgt1. pdf The New York Times ( 1919) http://query.nytimes. com/mem/archive-free/pdf? _r=1&res=9504E7D6163AE03ABC4C51DFB3668382609EDE&oref=slogin National Shipping Fleets and Access to Shipping Markets (1950-1960) http://www. unescap. org/ttdw/Publications/TFS_pubs/Pub_1988/Pub_1988_Ch5. pdf Law of the Sea. Murdoch University (1901-1988) http://weblaw. edu. au/display_page. phtml? WebLaw_Page=Law+of+the+Sea Traveling by Sea. Traveling Advice for Shipping and Ports (2008) http://www. smartraveller. gov. au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/shipping_and_ports Department of Transport. Shipping and Ports (2007) http://www. dft. gov. uk/pgr/shippingports/ State of Connecticut Maritime Policy (2006) http://www. ct. gov/dot/cwp/view. asp? a=2314&Q=309828 Maritime Affairs (2008) http://ec. europa. eu/maritimeaffairs/ Ferguson, Allen R. Refom on Maritime Policy: Building blocks of an Integrated Program http://www. cato. org/pubs/regulation/regv17n2/reg17n2-ferguson. html BioMarine: Integrated Maritime Policy (2008) http://www. marinelink. com/Story/BioMarine:+Integrated+Maritime+Policy-213236. html Maritime Areas of Practice http://www. klgates. com/practices/ServiceDetail. aspx? service=77 The Transportation Institute http://www. trans-inst. org/EuropeanMaritimePolicies. htm Word count=3069

History of Sepak Takraw

HISTORY OF SEPAK TAKRAW In 1935, during the Golden Jubilee Celebrations for King George V, the game of sepak raga was played on a badminton court, in the Malaysian State of Negeri Sembilan. The development of the game was interupted by the war. In 1945 in Penang the net was again introduced and the popularity spread to surrounding areas and then countries. n 1965 Malaysia hosted the South East Asian Peninsular games (SEAP) and sepak raga was introduced. There were lengthy discussion between Malaysian and Singapore delegates, on the one hand, and Laos and Thai delegates, on the other, with regard to the official name of the sport. An agreement was subsequently arrived at and it was decided that the sport would be known as â€Å"Sepak Takraw†. Sepak means KICK in Malay and Takraw means BALL in Thai word. Almost every nation that played this game knew it by a different name. In Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, it's called ‘sepak raga', whereas in Thailand it's commonly known as ‘takraw'. The same game goes by the name of ‘sipa' in the Philippines, ‘da cau' in Vietnam, ‘rago' in Indonesia, and ‘kator' in Laos. Since sepak takraw was played and enjoyed in several countries, there were a lot of inconsistencies in terms of how the game was played and judged. In 1960, representatives from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Lao and Thailand met in Kuala Lumpur to standardise rules and regulations for the game. And after a long and heated debate, consensus was reached that the sport would henceforth be officially called sepak takraw. They also formed the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation (ASTAF), and translated the rules into English, setting the stage for the first international competition, held in Malaysia in 1965, at the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games, or SEAP Games, the predecessor to today's Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games). This chain of events set the stage for the international development of sepak takraw. However, it was the replacement of the natural rattan ball, which tended to splinter and warp, with the more standardised synthetic plastic ball that really kicked the game's popularity into high gear. In 1990, sepak takraw was included at the Asian Games in Beijing. Women also got in on the action with the first women's championships in Thailand hosted in 1997. Today, more than 20 countries have national sepak takraw associations with representatives on the board of the global governing body, the International Sepak Takraw Federation (ISTAF). * FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT Court The standard court of the Sport Sepak Takraw is an area of 13. 4m X 6. 1m free from all obstacles up to a height of 8m. It is advisable that the court is flat concrete surface. The width of the lines that determines the perimeter of the court should not be more than 0. 04m measured and drawn inside the measurements of the court. The lines of the court should also be at least 3. 0m away from any obstacles. Each side should have a 6. 7X6. 1m area. The centerline of the Sepak Takraw court, measuring about 0. 02m, divides the court into two equal halves. A quarter circle must also be drawn at the intersection of each of the sidelines with the centerline, measuring 0. 9m in radius. The quarter circle must be drawn outwards from the edge of the measured radius. The court should also have a service circle of about 0. 3m in radius. This circle is drawn on the left on the left and from the sidelines. The 0. 04m line will be measured on the right court and should be drawn outward from the ledge. The sideline facing the net should have a 2. 45m distance from the center of the circle and 3. 05m from the side. Posts The post height differs with males and females. The official height of the posts for males is 1. 55m from the floor and 1. 45m for the females. It should be made using very strong material and shall not be more than 0. 04 in diameter. The position of the posts should be 0. 3 m away from the sideline and should be positioned in line with the centerline. * Both male and female players are required to wear shorts and sleeved t-shirts. Players must tuck-in their shirts. The t-shirts for all players must also be numbered permanently in which numbers are only ranged from 1 to 15. The captain of each regu (team of 3 or 4 players) is required to wear an armband on their left arm. Any apparel that could endanger opponents is not allowed. * RULES AND REGULATION 1. THE COURT 1. 1. Area of 14. 4m (7. 2m X7. 2m each side of the court) x 6. 5m free from all obstacles up to the height of 8 m measured from the floor surface. The surface of the court must be beach sand. 1. 2. The width of the lines bounding the court should not be more than 0. 04m measured and drawn inwards from the edge of the court measurements. A tape or rope can be used to be the boundary lines. All the boundary lines should be drawn at least 3. 0m away from all obstacles. 1. 3. The Centerline of 0. 2m should be drawn equally dividing the right and left court. 2. THE POST 2. 1. The posts shall be 1. 55m (1. 45m for women) in height from the ground and shall be sufficiently firm to maintain high net tension. It should be made from very strong materials and shall not be more 0. 04m in radius. 2. 2. The posts shall be erected or placed firmly 0. 3m away from the sideline and in line with the Centerli ne. 3. THE NET 3. 1. The net shall be made of fine ordinary cord or nylon with 0. 06m to 0. 08m mesh. The net shall be 0. 7m in width and not shorter than 6. 50m in length and taped at 0. 5m from tape double at the top and sideline, called boundary tape. 3. 2. The net shall be edged with 0. 05m tape double at the top and the bottom of the net supported by a fine ordinary cord or nylon cord that runs through the tape and strain over and flush with the top of the posts. The top of the net shall be 1. 52m (1. 42m for women) in height from the center and 1. 55m (1. 45m for women) at the posts. 4. THE SEPAKTAKRAW BALL 4. 1. The Sepaktakraw ball shall be spherical having 12 holes, 20 intersections. It shall be made of synthetic fibre of one woven layer covering with synthetic rubber. The circumference shall not be less than 0. 0m and not more than 0. 44m. The weight before play shall not be less than 170 gm and not more than 200 gm for men and women. 4. 2. All world, international, region al competitions sanctioned by ISTAF, including but not limited to, the Olympic Games, World Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Sea Games, must be played with ISTAF approved sepaktakraw balls. 5. THE PLAYERS 5. 1. A team comprises four players and two reserves. The game is played by two â€Å"REGU's† consisting of four players (per team) on each side. 5. 2. The player serving will position himself behind the baseline of the court. Any one of the four players can execute the serve. 5. 3. The other three players shall be in their respective court. 6. PLAYER’S ATTIRE 6. 1. The players are allowed to wear anything besides jeans, long pants, and as long as the attire is decent. It is forbidden for players to wear anything that endanger themselves or their opponents during the game. 6. 2. Players wearing earrings, chains, watches and any other form of accessories are not allowed to play in the court. 6. 3. For women swimming costume is allowed but shorts or bermudas must be worn to overlap the costume. Jerseys T-Shirt, Singlet Round neck shirts Bermudas Shorts Tights Caps Sunglasses or Visors Goggles 6. 4. The players are permitted to use sun visors, goggles and caps to protect their eyes from the sun. 6. 5. The entire apparel of a player is regarded as part of his/her body 6. 6. The regu captain is identified with a marking or an armband on the left arm. ) 6. 7. Anything that helps to speed the ball or movement of a player is not allowed 7. SUBSTITUTION 7. 1. Substitution of a player is allowed at any time on request made by the Team Manager to the Official Referee when the ball is not in play. . 2. Each â€Å"Regu† is allowed to make one substitution per set only. 7. 3. A Player who has been sent off by Referee during a match may be substituted, provided no substitution has been made. 7. 4. Any player having played in the starting line-up or as a substitute in the current game is not allowed to play again. 7. 5. Any â€Å"Regu† having less than 4 players will not be allowed to conti nue the game and will be considered as having lost. 8. OFFICIALS For International Tournaments, the game shall be managed by the following officials: i) 2 Technical Delegates ii) 6 Jury ii) 1 Official referee (Seated behind the referee’s chair) 2 Referees (1 Referee seated in an elevated position and the other also seated in elevated position to help the referee. ) iv) 2 Linesmen Standing at the baseline facing the Referee 8. 1. Two technical delegates to the Sea Games, Asian Games and World Championships and any other international competitions that are sanctioned by ISTAF. The expenses of the Technical Delegates involving round trip air tickets, accommodations, meals and allowances of US$75. 00 per day shall be paid by the organizing committee. The host country must guarantee proper accreditation for technical delegates who have been appointed. The technical delegates must be allowed to inspect the competition venue, facilities and equipment to insure that they conform to ISTAF regulations 8. 2. ISTAF Members Jury of Appeals – 4 members to be appointed to a Jury of Appeal to any ISTAF sanctioned competitions including Asian Games, Sea Games and other International and Continental competitions sanctioned by ISTAF. The host country shall provide accommodations, meals and internal transportation during the competition period. Members of the Jury shall be paid US$20. 00 per day for their services. Two (2) members of the Jury of Appeal are to be appointed by the host country of whom one of them is the technical committee chairman and shall act as the chairman of the Jury of Appeal. As for the other member of the Jury of Appeal from the host country, he will act as secretary without vote. 9. THE TOSS AND WARM UP 9. 1. Before commencing the game, the Referee will toss a coin or disc and the side winning the toss will choose side or service. The side that loses the toss will abide with the decision. The side winning the tossshall â€Å"warm-up† first for 2 minutes followed by the other â€Å"Regu†. Only 5 persons are allowed to move freely in the court with the official ball. 10. POSITION OF PLAYERS DURING SERVICE 10. 1. At the start of play, the players of both â€Å"Regu's† must be in their respective courts in a ready position. 10. 2. The Player serving the ball must have both feet outside the base line. 10. 3. The other three players shall be within their side of the court and remain in one spot, while ‘serve’ is being made. 10. 4. The opponent or receiving Regu is free to be anywhere within its court. 11. START OF PLAY AND SERVICE 11. 1. The â€Å"Regu† that chooses â€Å"service† shall start the match. 11. 2. Once the Referee calls the score, the player doing the service will toss the ball in the air and kicks the ball over to the opponent. The ball can be kicked in any manner using the foot. If the Tekong throws the ball before the Referee calls the score, it shall be a re-throw and a warning will be given to the thrower. The serve can be executed anywhere along the baseline. 11. 3. During the service, as soon as the Tekong kicks the ball, all the players are allowed to move about freely in their respective courts. 1. 4. The service is valid if the ball passes over the net, whether it touches the net or not, and inside the boundary of the two net tapes and boundary lines of the opponent's court. 12. FAULT 12. 1. The Serving Side During Service 12. 1. 1. The â€Å"Tekong† plays about with the ball (bumping, giving to other player, etc. ) after the call of score h as been made by the Referee. 12. 1. 2. The â€Å"Inside† player lifts his feet or steps on the line or crosses over or touches the net while throwing the ball. 12. 1. 3. The â€Å"Tekong† does not kick the ball on the service throw. 12. 1. 4. The ball touches his own player before crossing over the opponent court. 12. 1. 5. The ball goes over the net but falls outside the court. 12. 1. 6. The ball does not cross to the opponent side. 12. 1. 7. The tekong foot touches the baseline or any other markings in the court before he kicks the ball to serve? 12. 1. 8. A player uses his hand or hands, or any other parts of his arm or arms to facilitate the execution of a kick even if the hand or arm does not directly touches the ball, but it touches other objects or surfaces instead when doing so. 12. 2. For Both Regus During The Game 12. 2. 1. Stepping on the centre line (except during a follow through) 12. 2. 2. Any player who touches the ball on the opponent side. 12. 2. 3. Any part of player's body crosses over into opponent's court whether above or under the net except during the follow through of the ball. 12. 2. For Both Regus During The Game 12. 2. 1. Stepping on the centre line (except during a follow through) 12. 2. 2. Any player who touches the ball on the opponent side. 12. 2. 3. Any part of player's body crosses over into opponent's court whether above or under the net except during the follow through of the ball 12. 2. For Both Regus During The Game 12. 2. 1. Stepping on the centre line (except during a follow through) 12. 2. 2. Any player who touches the ball on the opponent side. 12. 2. 3. Any part of player's body crosses over into opponent's court whether above or under the net except during the follow through of the ball. 15. SCORING OF POINTS 15. 1. A point is given to the Regu when its opponent have committed any fault 16. SCORING SYSTEM 16. 1. The winning point for the match is a maximum of 21 points 16. 2. The change of side shall occur whereby one Regu has reaches 11 Points 17. TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF PLAY 17. . The Referee can suspend play temporarily in the event of obstructions, disturbances or any injury to a player who needs immediate treatment, for not more than 5 minutes. 17. 2. An injured player is allowed up to 5 minutes injury time-out. If after 5 minutes, the player is unable to continue, a substitution must be made. If the injured player's team has already made a substitution, the match will be declared a forfeit in favor of the opposing team. 17. 3. In the course of such suspension, all players are not allowed to leave the court 18. DISCIPLINE 18. 1. Every player must abide by the rules of the game. 8. 2. Only the Captain of the â€Å"Regu† is allowed to approach the Referee during the game. 18. 3. Players are not allowed to wear any jewelry or accessories e. g. earrings, chains, watches etc. in the court. 19. PENALTY 19. 1. Players disobeying rules will be penalised by the Referee 19. 1. 1. Showing dissent by words or action towards any officials, with regards to any decision and to any players or spectators 19. 1. 2. Using foul or abusive language to any officials, players or spectator 19. 1. 3. To take any improper step or action in order to influence any decision made by the officials 19. 1. 4. To leave the court without the permission of the Referee 19. 1. 5. To commit ungentlemanly conduct 19. 1. 6. To disobey orders and rules of play The Referee may use one of the following cards: Yellow Card – Caution Red Card – Expulsion Red card shall be given to the following offences committed â€Å"INTENTIONALLY† 19. 1. 7. Persist in misconduct after receiving a caution 19. 1. 8. Violent conduct (eg. Striking, kicking the opponent, spitting, etc) 19. 1. 9. Using foul or abusive language Note: Any player who is shown the Red Card shall be sent off the court and disciplinary action shall be taken against him. The Player concerned shall not be allowed to play in any game until sanction has been made. 19. 2. Fouls and misconduct are penalized as follows: Disciplinary Sanctions – 19. 2. 1. Cautionable Offence A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following six offences: 19. 2. 1. 1. Is guilty of unsporting behavior by the display of such action that can be reasonably regarded as either a mitigated or unmitigated violation of the norms of sporting ethics, which can be considered as having or will have a detrimental effect on the proper conduct of the match as a wh19. . 1. 4. Delays the restart of play. 19. 2. 1. 5. Enters or re-enters the court without the referee's permission. 19. 2. 1. 6. Deliberately leaves the court without the referee’s permissionole. 19. 2. 1. 2. Shows dissent by word or action. 19. 2. 1. 3. Persistently infringes the Laws of the Game 19. 3. Sending-off Offences A player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits an y of the following five offences: 19. 3. 1. Is guilty of serious foul play. 19. 3. 2. Is guilty of violent conduct, including an act executed with deliberate intent to cause injury to his opponent. 9. 3. 3. Spits at an opponent or any other person. 19. 3. 4. Using offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures. 19. 4. A player who commits a cautionable offence either on or off the court, whether directed towards opponent, team-mate, the referee, an assistant referee or any other person, for which a yellow card is awarded for each the offence committed is disciplined as follows: 19. 4. 1. Offence: First Yellow Card: Penalty: Normal Caution 19. 4. 2. Offence: Second Yellow Card received by the same player in different matches, but in the same tournament. Penalty: a) One Match Suspension 19. 4. 3. Offence: Third Yellow Card received after suspension for the first two Yellow Cards in the tournament by the same player. Penalty: a) Two (2) Matches Suspension b) A Fine of US$100 (One Hundred Dollars is to be paid by the club or any other body the player represent in the match. 19. 4. 4. Offence: Fourth Yellow Card Yellow card received after two matches' suspension for the earlier Third Yellow Card in the same tournament by the same player. Penalty: Immediate suspension from playing in the next or subsequent matches in any tournament sanctioned by relevant Sepak takraw controlling authority until a Disciplinary Committee is convened and a have been reached on the matter. 19. 4. 5. Offence: Two Yellow Cards received by the same player within the Same match. Penalty: b) Two (2) Matches Suspension c) A Fine of US$100 (One Hundred Dollars is to be paid by the club or any other body the player represent in the match. d) A Red Card will be given for a third disciplinary offence committed in any other matches in the tournament. 19. 5. A player who commits a sending-off offence either on or off the court, whether directed towards opponent, team-mate, the referee, an assistant referee or any other person, for which a red card is awarded for each of the offence committed is disciplined according to the nature of the offence committed is disciplined as follows: Offence: 19. 5. 1. A Red Card Penalty: Send-Off from the game and immediate suspension from playing in any tournament sanctioned by the relevant controlling authority for Sepak takraw until a Disciplinary Committee is convened and a decision has been reached on the matter. 0. MISCONDUCT OF TEAM OFFICIALS 20. 1. Disciplinary action will be taken against Team Officials or his team for any misconduct or disturbances committed by the official or team during a tournament whether in or outside the court. 20. 2. Any team official who commits misconduct or disturbances will be immediately escorted out from the arena by the tournament officials and the official referee and will also be immediately suspended from being a team official, until a Disciplinary Committee is convened and a decision has been reached on the matter. 21. GENERAL 21. 1. In the event of any question or any matter arising out of any point, which is not expressly provided for in any of the rules of the game, the decision of the Official Referee shall be final. BASIC AND FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS: Inside Kick. Arguably it is the most important skill. This is the kick you will use the most. Watch any top class players in action and you'll see that this is the control kick of choice. This move sets up all the killer spikes. While doing an inside kick, you should stand in a good athletic stance. Feet shoulder width apart. Remember to bend your support leg at the knee. And, it is important, always keep an eye on the ball! The kicking motion is easy and don't swing at the ball too hard. The ball is bouncy and you need to just hit it in the right spot on your foot as well as with the proper motion. Try a few times of simply tossing the ball to yourself. Focus on the ball and pop it back up to your hands. Catch the ball and then try again. Do this until the ball is consistently coming back up with ease and pop it back up to your hands. Once you have gained consistency in this drill you can begin to try to link some kicks together. Try dropping to your strong foot, popping the ball up and then kicking with your weak foot before catching the ball. Try to link three kicks together, on alternating feet. You should be able to see your progression. All rights reserved. Spiker Dek is owned by Sport Action International in the promotion of sepak takraw in the Takraw Thailand League. All rights reserved. Knee/Thigh kick. The knee and thigh is used when the ball comes fast towards the area between your knees and your waist. This skill is used to â€Å"bump† or deflect the ball up enough to use an inside kick to control the ball. It is also used when kicking consecutive kicks or in a circle and the ball gets to close to your body. The motion is like a high step marching motion. Simply raise the leg with your hip allowing your knee to bend. Try to contact the ball on the thigh where possible instead of the knee as it provides better control. Make sure the ball hits the fleshy part of the thigh to â€Å"bump† the ball up and out a bit. Try a few back up to your hands. Once you feel comfortable, try to link with one inside kick, and then catch the ball. Do this over and over until it comes naturally. Once you get this combination and doing it naturally without thinking, you will be aware of your improvement in skill. Header. The header is probably the second most important skill to have, especially in the net game. The header is used to pop up a ball that comes higher than the waist. The best way to learn the header is like the inside kick. The contact point should be just above the forehead at the hairline, not too much on the forehead and not too much on the top of the head, right in between. Toss the ball to yourself, hit it with your head and then catch it. Do this several times until you feel comfortable with this skill. When doing the header, remember to bend your knees and get low beneath the ball. Like the other kicks, you don't need to focus on power but on accuracy and placement. The next step in this skill drill is to toss the ball higher and again control it with your head before catching the ball. It hurts a bit at first, but you'll get use to it. The graduating step is to a header from a high inside kick or from a header to a controlling inside kick. Try both combinations as you will be using both of them as you begin to play more Front kick/Toe kick. The toe kick is a defensive kick, great for saving a ball that has gotten out in front of you. It is not, however, a good control kick. Those who play soccer may disagree, but in sepak takraw the inside is the right way. Learn the toe kick for saves, the inside for control. The toe kick is achieved by placing the foot out for the ball and depending on the height of the, either lifting the foot with your hip or just letting the ball bounce off. You don't need much power because the ball tends to fly off uncontrollably. Do it slow and take it easy. Like the other kicks, do the same toss and catch drill. Then try with different combinations. Do the same progression. * TERMINOLOGY : Block: Blocking is a defensive skill used to counter a spike coming from close to the net. Block is usually made by jumping in the air and raising a leg and/or back to divert the ball back into the opponents court. A block counts as one contact. Center Line: Divides the length of the playing court into two equal halves. Dig: The act of fielding hard hit ball successfully, usually a spike or block, to regain control. i. e. The Dig by Thailand came at crucial point in the game.. Dink: A soft hit ball -usually either a â€Å"dink serve† or a â€Å"dink spike† Fault: A violation of one of the rules of the game. Feeder: Person who â€Å"sets† the ball to the â€Å"spiker†. First Ball: Term used to describe receiving the serve by the opposing team. Killer: Same as Spiker. Common in international terminology. Quarter Circle: Place on court where the serving team's forwards (left inside and right inside players) must remain until the ball has been kicked by the server or back player. Regu: Malaysian word for team. In takraw, a team of 4 players (3 starters plus 1 reserve) is known as a â€Å"Regu† and a squad of 3 â€Å"Regu's is known as a â€Å"Team†. Roll Spike: Spike in which the player jumps with his back to the net, rotates in the air and kicks the ball over the opposite shoulder from the kicking foot with a flip like motion. The most dramatic and famous move in the game! Service Over: When the serving team fails to return the ball over the net or commits a fault or foul. The opposing team becomes the serving team but a point is not awarded to either team. USA also uses the same term as volleyball – â€Å"Side Out†. Serving Circle: Circle of 1 foot radius located in both halves of the court. The server is required to have one foot touching the ground inside the serving circle during a serve. Set (1): A period of play which is concluded when one team reaches 15 points. Matches consists of the best of three sets. Set (2): A high pass by one player to a team-mate or to self to enable a spike. Service: The act of putting the ball into play by the back player. Service (Hand) Toss: A hand throw of the ball by one of the forward â€Å"inside† players to the â€Å"back† who must kick the ball into play in one try. Spike: A powerfully hit shot directed into the opponents half of the court by the foot or head. Sunback Spike: Spike in which the player jumps with his back to the net and kicks the ball over the same shoulder as the kicking foot. In soccer this is known as a â€Å"bicycle kick† or â€Å"bike† for short. * STRATEGIES: The strategies in Sepak Takraw are very similar to those in volleyball. The receiving team will attempt to play the takraw ball towards the front of the net, making the best use of their 3 hits, to set and spike the ball. THE GOAL The goal in any form of takraw is to keep the hand-woven ball off the ground for as long as possible using any part of the body except hands and arms. Takraw challenges an individual's assumptions of what they are, and are not, capable of doing. As you gain control of the takraw ball, you will find it very rewarding when you can easily whiz through a string of consecutive kicks or place an accurate pass to another player. While amazing yourself and your friends, you will also be having fun, greatly increasing your eye-foot coordination and overall ball control (super for enhancing and refining soccer skills), strengthening your legs and really increasing your flexibility. GETTING STARTED: Try the FIVE BASIC KICKS/HITS shown here. These kicks may seem awkward at first, but be patient and practice each kick individually. What was impossible yesterday, can be achieved today. Once the basics are learned, try the free style kicks (and make up some of your own), then you can play a whole series of games, including the ones below. . INSIDE KICK There are 5 basic kicks/hits that any good Takraw player will have mastered. The most important of these is the inside kick, for it provides maximum ball control. Use this kick to field a ball dropping in front of you. With your planted leg flexed at the knee, lift up your other leg and swing the foot and lower part of the leg in and up sideways like a pendulum in fro nt of you, turning the ankle so that you hit the ball with the flat surface of the inside of your foot. The inside kick is commonly used for passing and setting the ball up high for a spike. 2. THE OUTSIDE KICK The Outside Kick is used when the Takraw ball drops outside your shoulders and slightly behind you. It is similar to the Inside Kick in that your leg swings like a pendulum, but out and upward (rather than in and upward). Shift weight to ball of support foot as you lift kicking leg up away from body. Turn your ankle so that toes are pointing out (not down), which enables you to kick the ball up with the flat, outside surface of your foot. Avoid swinging or kicking your leg forward (only lift it upward). 3. FRONT FOOT KICK This kick is primarily used to save a low ropping ball in front of you. To propel the ball upwards most consistently, the front of your foot must be flicked up in a quick smooth motion as the ball is contacted (remaining loose at the ankle, not stiff). 4. THE KNEE BUMP The Knee Bump is usually used to deflect upwards a low angle pass or a fast serve to the mid-body. Lift your knee up very quickly, with the foot following underneath (not kicking out) . The ball is contacted at about waist level with the front of your thigh, just behind the knee, for maximum upward thrust and height. Contact with ball in mid-thigh area will serve he same purpose, but ball will not be thrust up as high. Note: both the Front Foot Kick and Knee Bump are used for added control when making a save or controlling a pass. They do not always provide consistent control. 5. THE HEADER The fifth basic hit is the Header, and it is used frequently in games to deflect upwards a high angle pass or fast serve to the upper body. With legs flexed at the knees, put the top of your forehead in front of the ball, lifting up your chin and spring up from the legs as the ball strikes the forehead so as to deflect it up high in your own court. General Helpful Hints: aIways be in a ready stance, with feet pointing ahead and shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, weight low and slightly forward. – with the basic kicks/hits, usually you should face the direction t hat you want to direct the ball to as you contact it. – approach contact with the ball in a slow, easy and relaxed fashion, it is more important to first develop good timing (knowing when and how to contact the ball) than it is to kick the ball hard. – the support leg provides your balance so should maintain a low profile and be flexed at the knee as your other foot executes the kick. ambidexterity is key to being a more versatile player, when ball approaches your right side, kick it with your right foot – left side, left foot. FREE STYLE This is your chance to expand on your basic kicks and come up with some more challenging moves of your own. Here are a couple to get you started. FLYING CLIPPER Leap off the same foot that you'll use to kick the ball. Cross your kicking foot behind and under your other leg. Lift your kicking foot, turning your ankle and making contact with the ball with the flay surface on the inside of your foot. HAND LOOP This move can be don e with a number of kicks. Position our arms to form a loop. The idea is to have the ball first fall through the hand loop then kick it back upward through the loop. Different Games SOLO PLAY The object of play is to keep the takraw ball in the air as long as possible without using hands or arms, anything else goes! CIRCLE GAME The object of the traditional â€Å"Circle Game† is the same as â€Å"SoIo Play†, except with a group of players standing in a circle. This activity was played as far back as the 14th century in India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines and Thailand using a similar ball that was woven out of a rattan material, available in abundance there. SEPAK TAKRAW – THE NET GAME â€Å"Sepak† is Malay for â€Å"kick† and â€Å"Takraw† is Thai for the â€Å"hand-woven ball† that is used. In 1945 enthusiasts added a court and net with the same dimensions as in doubles badminton, and a set of rules similar to volleyball (without using hands or arms) to form a fantastic spectator sport with world championship tournaments held in both Malaysia and Thailand. In western countries it has been mostly Laotian immigrants who have first introduced Takraw to others. Now ASEC INTERNATIONAL is also happy to help introduce, promote and organize this fun and exciting recreational activity/sport! PLAYER'S POSITIONS: 1. The serving team's forwards must remain in their quarter circles' while the back player must have only one foot in the ‘serving circle' until the ball is contacted by the servers foot. 2. The receiving teams players may stand anywhere in their side of the court, but usually the back player stands just in front of the serving circle with the forwards on either side of him. 3. Players are allowed to move freely on each half of the court once the ball is has been served. TO BEGIN PLAY: The game begins by one of the forwards tossing the takraw ball to the back player. The back player must then kick the ball, with the foot that is outside the serving circle, into the opponent's court in one try (usually with an extended version of the inside kick). The serve is still good if the ball hits the net as it goes into the other half of the court. SCORING: 1. Only the serving team can make a point. 2. A fault by the team possessing the ball constitutes a loss of serve'. 3. A set is won by scoring 21 points, unless the points are tied 20 -20, then the set shall be decided on a difference of two points, up to a ceiling of 25 points. 4. A match is won by winning two out of three sets. . If each team wins one set, the tie breaker set only goes to 15 points,unless the points are tied 14 – 14, then the set shall be decided on a difference of two points, up to a ceiling of 17 points. FAULTS: 1. The back player does not kick the ball over the net on the service toss. 2. The ball falls to the ground inside or outside of the court. 3. The ball is hit more th an three times in succession by one side. 4. The ball hits the net but does not go over it. 5. The ball hits the hand or arm of a player. 6. Any part of the body touches, crosses the plane, or goes under the net. . The ball rolls on the body or is stalled. Note: One player may hit the ball twice, or even three times, consecutively. The ball may be hit up to 6 feet outside court's perimeter. CONTROL: When receiving a serve, stay low and deflect the oncoming ball upwards (head and thigh shots are highly effective for this purpose). SETTING: Setting is a skill which is executed by propelling the ball high above the net to enable the same, or another, player to smash the ball into the opponent's court. Usually the player with the best ball control is setter. SPIKING: After the ball has been set, it can be spiked down into the opponent's court by the spiker's head or foot. This is the most effective and dramatic move in the sport. Usually one of the forward players is designated as spiker during the game so that no confusion will arise as to who will spike the ball. BLOCKING: A block is a defensive skill used mainly for the purpose of preventing a spiked ball,that is coming from above and close to the net, from flying into the defending side. A block is usually made by jumping and raising the side of one's foot and leg above the net, or by turning and jumping up with the back to the net. OFFICIALS: a. Member of Referees' Committee b. Referee c. Assist. Referee d. Reserve Referee e. Standby Referee f. Team's Manager g. Team's Coach h. Players i. Spectators Referees shall avoid getting themselves involved in dispute members of the public, the press, Sepak Takraw officials or players on matters pertaining to refereeing. An unpleasant incident encount ered must promptly be reported to Chairman Referee. Referees must at all times uphold the Laws of the Game, The Rules and Regulations. Referees must at times observe the 3Fs – Firm, Fair and Fit. The level of physical fitness must always be maintained to ensure consistency with the requirements of good refereeing. Referees must behave as professionals and conduct themselves in a manner that will bring honour to themselves and the country. Referees detailed to officiate in a sepak takraw tournament must report at the venue at least 30 minutes earlier for local games and 1 hour earlier for International Games. Official Referees must ensure that all referees stay behind until all games have ended before giving a short briefing and officially release the referees to go home. Official Referee is responsible to record down the names of

Explanation of Collaborative Activity

Explanation of Collaborative Activity Introduction In developing a collaborative activity, it is necessary to do so in a way that encourages creativity, cooperation and above all accuracy in the content provided. This online collaborative activity focuses on students who are part of advertising courses and will be designed as a means of introducing them to the world of online advertising.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Explanation of Collaborative Activity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is through this activity that students will learn to work together in teams in order to create a viable online advertising campaign through a variety of free online tools such as free website makers, free online advertising campaigns as well as a variety of other such methods of online promotion. It is expected that by the end of this activity students will come to realize the importance of combining ideas, collaboration as well as the importance of teamwor k in creating an advertising campaign. Activity Synopsis (Introduction to activity that students will see) Within the past 10 years, as the internet and online digital media have become one of the largest and most prevalent platforms of advertising and product sales to date, it has become increasingly apparent that for any company looking to expand its market share it has to be able to appeal to online consumers groups (Gould, 2004). As a team of new hires (hypothetical) it is your responsibility to develop an online advertising campaign for your company in order to promote it through a variety of advertising channels in a way that is free yet is able to potentially reach thousands of people. This consists of developing a method of advertising that is not only in conjunction with the latest social media trends and sites but is also able to act as stand-alone platforms that can entice customers to purchase particular items and services (Stockwood, 2008). Such platforms of advertisin g can consist of interactive websites (i.e. websites with games), online viral advertising campaigns (YouTube videos, Facebook, Twitter etc.), banner ads and a variety of other processes and projects. It is based on this that the brand objective of this particular project is to create a sufficiently enticing online presence that it would result in greater interest in the companys product (Thornton, 2002).Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For the purpose of this particular project the brand that will be focused on is (students choice) that focuses on young children The objectives of this project are as follows Create an online social media presence for (your choice) Brand in order to achieve a sufficient degree of â€Å"hype† and social media awareness of what the brand can offer in terms of educational experiences for children (i.e. toys that actually teach th em something) as well as special offers, limited time discounts and promotions that are only available via being a â€Å"friend† or â€Å"follower† on any one of the social media accounts that you will create for the brand (Collins Schumacher, 2005). Develop a customer oriented online sharing platform (i.e. a forum) where parents can share their stories regarding their experiences with the Thomas the Train Engine brand via uploading stories, videos and a variety of other customer created content (in order to promote this particular platform special competitions will be held with cash incentives for the most insightful and interesting uploaded content by a user). Develop a sufficient online advertising strategy that takes advantage of not only traditional methods of online advertising (i.e. banner ads) but also the creation of a viral advertising campaign to help penetrate new markets as a result of the company’s unique approach to promoting the brand. Create a simple yet effective online E-commerce platform that is connected to the various advertising campaigns and applications via hyperlinks in order to take users of such applications to the E-commerce site in order to introduce them to the various (your brand) merchandise they can avail of. Learning Activity In this online collaborative learning activity students will be evaluated based on the quality and overall effectiveness of their advertising campaign. Methods of creating this activity will proceed as follows: Introducing students to a variety of free online tools they can use in order to create their advertising campaign Creating an appropriate timeframe for the completion of the project Setting limitations involving the number of people per group and the type of branding campaigns that are appropriate Providing students with an overview of established strategies involving social media and online advertising Separating students into groups of three Setting up a bi-weekly presenta tion schedule so that students can report on the progress of their advertising campaign Creation of a final presentation of the overall setup they have created Scoring Plan The scoring rubric in this particular case will evaluate the students based on the following criteriaAdvertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Explanation of Collaborative Activity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Potential effectiveness of chosen online advertising strategy Overall appearance of website Degree of cooperation Variety of online tools utilized Effectiveness of individual members during the presentation Within an actual setting the rubric will consist of the following: Were the students able to prove that all members collaborated during the creation of the advertising campaign? Yes No How effective was the advertising campaign in terms of the various tools and methods utilized? Exemplary Satisfactory Vague Terrible Was the ov erall campaign creative and imaginative or did it lack sufficient enough flare? Yes No In each presentation, were all members able to show that they were capable individuals and that they were able to properly and succinctly present the parts they worked on? Yes No Did the presentation and the online advertising campaign sufficiently address the course requirements?Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Yes No Reflection Explanation of the Scoring Plan The main purpose of the scoring plan was to evaluate the visual impact of the advertising campaign, its operational effectiveness and most important of all, the level by which the students were able to cooperate in its creation. This is the primary reason why the bi-weekly presentations are necessary since by having each individual member explain their parts and what they did, it will be easy to determine the level of cooperation of the entire group. It is based on this that the selected criteria had been devised in order to examine such factors and create a succinct output regarding the overall effectiveness of the online collaborative activity. Rationale for Course Goals Overall, the main purpose of this particular activity was to encourage collaborative action among students in what amounts to a real world setting. By introducing them to the concept of collaboration as well as social media, this creates the necessary mindset the y will need when it comes to attempting similar activities when they enter into workplace environments. Reference List Collins, S., Schumacher, J. (2005). Unleashing the Partnership Advertising Opportunity. CRM Magazine, 9(10), 56. Gould, D. (2004). Leading the Lead Generation Challenge with Online Advertising.  Franchising World, 36(10), 20. Stockwood, J. (2008). Modern romance. Brand Strategy, (227), 14. Thornton, R. (2002). Electronic Advertising: Examinations and Implications. Journal Of  Promotion Management, 9(1/2), 57.

The Determination of the Presence of Coliform Bacteria from Selected Sources by Means of the Most Probable Number MPN Method essays

The Determination of the Presence of Coliform Bacteria from Selected Sources by Means of the Most Probable Number MPN Method essays Coliform bacteria are good indicator organisms for the presence of pathogenic bacteria due to their realtionship with these pathogenic bacteria, their relative ease of determination by simple methods, and by their occurrence in large quantities in human feces. The MPN method used in this experiment is one of the prescribed techniques for the determination of these coliform bacteria from the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater as prescribed by the EPA. It consists of three stages, each of which necessitates a positive result for the previous stage. The first stage (presumptive test) determines the gas-producing coliform characteristic during lactose-fermentation. The second stage (confirmed test), determines the gram-reaction and also the lactose fermentation abilities of the organism, while the last stage (completed test) determines the endospore presence to determine if the organisms in the sample indeed are coliforms. The number of coliforms or bacter ia present is readily seen with the use of a special table and then the statistically estimated numbers are determined. The samples, however, did not produce positive results for the presence of coliforms. Enventhough there was a large MPN value for one of the samples, about 1100 MPN per 100 ml, the sample still tested negative in the last stage. It is therefore suffice to say that the samples did not present any health risks for humans. Future researchers should, however, device or perform other more specific procedures due to the fact that there might have been still coliforms present but these may have been negated by possible endospore-forming relatives. Human health has always been a hard condition to preserve and the detection and control of pathogens in the environment have been the very key to the success of the human race. Although microbial pathogens are relatively few in comparison to the total number of microorganisms, their detection hav...

If You Dont Know Jack, Youre a Jackwagon

If You Dont Know Jack, Youre a Jackwagon If You Don’t Know Jack, You’re a Jackwagon If You Don’t Know Jack, You’re a Jackwagon By Mark Nichol A recent news article prompted me to research the use of jack as a catch-all term: Apparently, a pair of pot smugglers ignored the sensible admonition â€Å"Don’t get high on your own supply† and, in a state of THC-fueled paranoia, called 911 to complain that while transporting their precious cargo, they were being harassed by undercover police officers in nearby vehicles. The caller referred to the alleged persecutors- probably just fellow motorists perturbed by the unsteady hand of the man at the wheel- as â€Å"jackwagons.† All usages of jack in English, it turns out, derive from the proper name Jack, a variant of the common names John (from English, but ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, also the source of the name Jonathan) and Jacques (the latter of which, from France, is the origin of the word jacket). The ubiquity of these names in medieval England resulted in its use as a general term of address for the common man. (In Middle English, it was spelled various ways with an e at the end and pronounced â€Å"Jackie,† hence the diminutive form of the nickname.) The Scots equivalent, Jock, was the origin of the word jockey, used to describe someone who rides or drives a horse in a race or, by extension, operates a vehicle or a tool (as in â€Å"disk jockey,† the origin of the entertainment term DJ, also spelled deejay). To jockey, on the analogy of a jockey’s riding strategy, is to maneuver or negotiate for advantage. From the usage of Jack as a generic name stems such terms as lumberjack for a worker who cuts trees down and steeplejack for someone specializing in working on tall structures, jack-of-all-trades, referring to a person who is skilled at multiple types of jobs or tasks, and jack-o’-lantern (â€Å"jack-of-the-lantern,† originally synonymous with will-o’-the-wisp) and jack-in-the-box, the name for a toy and a carved pumpkin lit from within respectively, as well as â€Å"Jack Frost† as a personification of wintry cold and â€Å"Jack the Ripper† as a nickname for a notorious serial killer in Victorian London. (Jack-in-the-box was originally slang for a con man who switched out a full box for an empty one, and it acquired numerous other senses, too.) The name also became associated with sailors in the designation â€Å"Jack Tar,† thanks to the fact that men of the sea generally had a scent of tar about them. Fictional characters given the Everyman appellation in tales and nursery rhymes include the heroes in â€Å"Jack and the Beanstalk† and â€Å"Jack the Giant Killer† and personages in â€Å"Jack Sprat† and â€Å"Jack and Jill.† Jack was also applied to the lowest-ranking face cards in a deck of playing cards (which is the origin of jackpot, meaning â€Å"a prize,† and hence jack, a slang term for money) and to various small objects, including flags (as in â€Å"Union Jack†) and the game of jacks and its playing pieces. The sense of â€Å"small† is also responsible for the retort â€Å"You don’t know jack shit† (or just â€Å"jack†). It also appears in the name of animals and plants, including the jackass, or male donkey, the jackrabbit (a hare named for its long ears, suggestive of a donkey’s), and the jackdaw, a relative of the crow, plus the jack oak and jack pine trees, as well as the jack-in-the-pulpit plant. Jackanapes, from the nickname given to an upstart English nobleman, derives from â€Å"Jack of Naples,† a contemporary slang term for a monkey that came to refer to an impudent person. The cheese variety Monterey Jack was named after its first commercial producer, David Jack, who lived near Monterey, California. The noun jack, referring to various mechanisms, including a device for hoisting or raising a heavy object, and the verb form jack and the verb phrase â€Å"jack up† derive from the fact that the machines did the work of a common laborer. Jackhammer and jackknife, as well as the term bootjack, for a device used for removing boots, stem from this usage as well. (However, jackboot, referring both to a boot worn by cavalry soldiers and a later marching boot worn by German and Soviet military personnel- hence the word’s subsequent association with totalitarian oppression, although jackboots have been worn by soldiers of democratic nations as well- is unrelated: The cavalry jackboot was originally fortified with chain mail, and an Old French word for that material is jaque.) So, how did we get to the insult jackwagon, popularized in a television commercial featuring actor and former drill sergeant R. Lee Ermey? As a less offensive alternative to jackass as a derogatory label, it may derive from a nickname for the chuck wagon (chuck comes from a slang word for food), a vehicle carrying cooking implements and supplies for a cattle drive or a wagon train, or for any of one of several other types of wagons that might bring up the rear of a procession of other vehicles. The seemingly lowly status of the trailing wagon, literally left in the dust of what came before it, presumably came to be associated with a person of low character or intelligence. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Types of RhymeYay, Hooray, Woo-hoo and Other AcclamationsWhat Is the Meaning of "Hack?"

Translation as a normgoverned activity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Translation as a normgoverned activity - Essay Example There was a time when translation was perceived as a secondary activity, it was more likely to be understood as a 'mechanical' process rather than a 'creative' process, with a common perception that any layman can handle it. Gideon Toury presented a unique and new approach to reassess translation research in the 1980s until the translation studies was dominated by the systemic approach pioneered by Itamar Even-Zohar and Gideon Toury. Toury being the pioneer of "Polysystems theory" shifted it towards a radical development because he wanted to acquire the attention away from arid debates about faithfulness and equivalence towards an examination of the role of the translated text in its new context. Significantly, this opened the way for further research into the history of translation, leading also to a reassessment of the importance of translation as a force for change and innovation in literary history. Whereas previously the emphasis had previously been on comparing original and translation, often with a view to establishing what had been 'lost' or 'betrayed' in the translation process, the new approach took a resolutely different line, seeking not to evaluate but to understand the shifts of emphasis that had taken place during the transfer of texts from one literary system into another. Polysystems theory focused exclusively on literary translation, though it operated with an enlarged notion of the literary which included a broad range of items of literary production including dubbing and subtitling, children's literature, popular culture and advertising. When in 1995, Gideon Toury published "Descriptive Translation Studies and Beyond", he meant to reassess the 'polysystems' approach (which was presented by first Itamar Even-Zohar) for the reason that it was disliked by some scholars for its over-emphasis on the target system. That means Toury's intentions were not to take full credit what was started by Itamar. While putting his emphasis on target culture, Toury mentioned and highlighted the need to fill in the gap created by target culture, it is logical to make the target system the object of study. He also pointed out the need to establish patterns of regularity of translational behaviour, in order to study the way in which norms are formulated and how they operate. Toury explicitly rejected any idea that the object of translation theory is to improve the quality of translations: theorists have one agenda, he argues, while practitioners have different responsibilities. Although Toury's views were never universally accepted but th ey acquired respect and esteem for the reason that it was significant during the 1990s to work, research and show efforts on translation norms and a call for greater scientificity in the study of translation. In Search of a Theory of Translation (1980) Although Toury's publication with Tel Aviv School of Poetics and Semiotics met with various criticisms and failure but Toury alone could not be held responsible for it for many reasons. The study of translation norms in the mid of 1970s did not expose Toury much towards the field as translation was not at heyday as what is today. No particular work had been done in the field of translations studies, until Toury Gideon along with Itamar Even-Zohar researched the field of literature and semiotics. It was Toury who discovered

Compare and contrast the total populations and total GDPs as well as Essay

Compare and contrast the total populations and total GDPs as well as the GDPs per capita - Essay Example Arabia has a total GDP of just $718.50bn (the highest in the OPEC Middle East Bloc), with GDP per capita of just $26.27, as compared to the highest GDP per capita of $100.51 in the Middle East Bloc (The World Fact Book, 2015). Interestingly, a good measure of wealth of a country is the GDP per capita, and that places Saudi Arabia at the third last slot in the list of OPEC Middle East Bloc, while a comparison with the GDP per capita of G7 nations leaves Saudi way below the country with the least GDP per capita in the G7 (Italy with a GDP per capita of $33.52). The G7 bloc has an average GDP per capita of $45.16 compared to a figure of just $14.11 portrayed by the OPEC Middle East Bloc. To much surprise, while the highest GDP amongst the two lots is that of the United States, Canada and US share a GDP per capita figure thanks to Canada’s low population as compared to its overall GDP. The highest population in the OPEC Middle East Bloc is found in Iran, at 80.84bn people, while the lowest is found if Qatar, at 2.12bn. Similarly, the highest population in the G7 as well as the OPEC Middle East Bloc is made up by USA (318.89bn), whereas the country with the lowest population in the G7 Bloc is Canada at 34.83bn people (The World Fact Book,

Wireless and Mobile Technologies Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Wireless and Mobile Technologies - Case Study Example One of the ways that organizations use wireless technologies to improve business efficiencies is by the development of mobile and computer applications that allow customers to access their services. The technologies are also used in e-commerce where customers can order for goods and services online and give their feedback (Smyth & Institution of Electrical Engineers, 2004. At the same time, mobile and wireless technologies improve business efficiency when used to send important information to the customers regarding the company’s products and services. In other words, it improves communication and, therefore, enhances business communications. Many businesses use wireless and mobile technologies to interact with their domestic and international customers, especially in the modern era of globalization. Delta implemented a number of wireless and mobile technologies. It installed an in-flight Wi-Fi on the domestic flights as well as smartphone apps with smart features such as trac king of baggage and customer check-in (News.delta.com, 2015). The mobile and wireless technology also include the customer care service via Twitter that runs for 24 hours. Customers also have the ability to book tickets directly from Facebook. The wireless and mobile technologies utilized by Delta help to improve business efficiency. Through the Twitter customer care, customers can be served quickly from the comfort of their homes. The online booking service also helps to reduce transportation costs for the customers to the booking offices. Likewise, the mobile tracking system helps to recover lost and stolen goods. This improves the reliability of the organization to the customer. The technologies also help to ensure that many customers can be served within a short duration. This is unlike the case where all the customers are required to visit distinguished offices to get the services.

Early Childhood Ed. Observation Assignment Essay

Early Childhood Ed. Observation Assignment - Essay Example Depending on the group and the individual child the teacher needs to have a good learning environment applying the prerequisite skills to harness and enhance the abilities of the children. This paper looks at the different activities and behaviors that have been observed in one of the centers and critically analyses what the center needs to improve or change in order to develop their children better. This paper uses the Merchantile Kindacare facility in Boston where there I observed children from the age of 3 to five years for three hours from 10am to 1pm on Tuesday. I had to go to the staffroom and observe the children’s timetables where I found that the children had a similar program for most parts of the week except for Friday where they had to rest and get off the center early. The facility is located in a serene environment where there are few noises that come out of the neighboring areas. The center has made sure that industries and other forms of facilities that may cause disturbance are far away from the area (Otto, 2014). The center has also equipped their classrooms with sound proof equipments that are meant to shield the classroom from any form of noises from the outside environment. There are building blocks and also dressing up clothes that are evident in the playing ground and the interactions that the children are able to form. They look confident when handling these forms of playing tools and are fascinated by the colors. The building blocks are especially popular with the kids with each child wishing to make their own castle and mimic their own homes through the use of the blocks. The dramatic plays that are directed by the teachers are also very popular with the children as they are looking to be the best at the plays (Koralek, 2003). There are also a lot of games that the children are engaged in looking to be competitive and match the wits of their peers. The materials that the center is using are well organized with the setting

Evaluation of Starbucks Dilemmas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Evaluation of Starbucks Dilemmas - Essay Example It also enhances the relationships between management, stakeholders and the society. Business ethics involves decision making process which focuses on moral awareness which leads to moral judgement or moral motivation. From prior studies, it can be evidently stated that ethical considerations provided by organisations in the post-modern era not only tends to boost its industry relations, but also tends to strengthen its existence in the market. Thus, ethical concerns by organisations play a crucial role in rewarding the company with competitive advantages in its targeted market (Shaw, 2010). Hereby, this paper will intend to provide a brief description of Starbucks, a coffee company in relation to its ethical considerations. With this concern, the paper will focus on the ethical dilemmas faced by the company and its ethical practices implemented in the recent company operations. From a rational perspective, these facts will be further analysed so as to obtain a comprehensive explanat ion business ethics related issues faced by the company based on which recommendations will also be suggested. Overview of the Company It was in the year 1971 that Starbucks was founded in Seattle, Washington. The main reason in instigating the company was the love and desire for coffee in the then American community. As days passed on, this company grew up slowly with its branded coffee and by the year 1981, it established a well equipped coffee roasting plant. It had also built four retail stores that sold the whole bean coffee in the markets around Seattle. Starbucks continued growing rapidly into the market with continuous development of retail stores and establishment of new enterprises. Within five years, the number of Starbucks’ stores grew nearly about tenfold with various locations prevailing in different countries like U.S, Japan, and Singapore among others. In the year 1998, Starbucks partnered with Conservation International (CI), which is a non-profit organisatio n and it enormously helped Starbucks to promote bio-diversity especially in the coffee-growing regions in order to support the producers of shade grown coffee. The result with this partnership has also laid impact on the positive response towards the environment and also among the farmers engaged in the initial level of the company’s supply chain. From the very beginning Starbucks made some strategy of loan guarantees that helped to provide loans to the farmers and with this financial support they enabled themselves to double their income which facilitates farmers’ motivation (Stanley, 2002). Issues or Dilemmas Facing by Starbucks One of the major and most hazardous operational issues faced by Starbucks was that it had limited control over fluctuating global prices. As a consequence, increase in the commodity prices in the global market forced the company to increase its product price. Furthermore, with an increase in its product price and simultaneously in its profit earned, Starbucks should also require taking appropriate measures for community services which can be observed as an ethical issue faced by the company. For instance, the farmers play a very crucial role in the production process of coffee in the supply chain of Starbucks. But unfortunately it was these groups of people who are observed to suffer a lot of hardships that can hamper the production process to an extent which is likely to have significant influence into the