3 Cases of Superfluous Wording

3 Cases of Superfluous Wording 3 Cases of Superfluous Wording 3 Cases of Superfluous Wording By Mark Nichol Certain types of words that may be of no use nevertheless often stealthily make their way into sentences like gate crashers. In conversation, to mix metaphors, they serve as pothole fillers, meaningless placeholders that allow speakers to gather their thoughts and navigate an extemporaneous statement without stumbling before the finish line, but in writing they are expendable. The discussion after each sentence below describes why one or more words in the example do not contribute to the construction of the statement; revisions demonstrate how the sentences stand just as well without the omitted words. 1. More than half of all companies are currently pursuing some form of major information-technology transformation. Currently, which echoes the present-tense verbs it invariably is associated with, is rarely necessary or helpful; retain it only if it clarifies an ambiguous statement (in which case an alternative solution is to revise the statement to eliminate the ambiguity): â€Å"More than half of all companies are pursuing some form of major information-technology transformation.† 2. Management must then determine whether or not the activities for recording, accumulating, and summarizing material information are designed and operating effectively. Some writers don’t realize that the second and third word in â€Å"whether or not† should almost always be omitted. Others know this but automatically write it without noticing or don’t know when it is valid and when it is not. However, a simple test exists- if â€Å"whether or not† can be replaced by â€Å"regardless of whether,† the usage is valid, but if the phrase can be replaced by if, â€Å"or not† is extraneous: â€Å"Management must then determine whether the activities for recording, accumulating, and summarizing material information are designed and operating effectively.† 3. We have managed projects for both healthcare providers as well as medical-device manufacturers. Sometimes the solution is revision rather than omission. For example, in this sentence, â€Å"as well as† is redundant to both, so retain one or the other, but not both: â€Å"We have managed projects for both healthcare providers and medical-device manufacturers† or  Ã¢â‚¬Å"We have managed projects for healthcare providers as well as medical-device manufacturers.† 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 Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Beautiful and Ugly Words10 Types of Transitions48 Writing Prompts for Middle School Kids

of mice and men lonliness essays

of mice and men lonliness essays First published in 1937, Of Mice and Men is an American based novel by John Steinbeck. George and Lennie are two ranch hands that travel together, with George watching over the mentally inferior Lennie. When they start work at a new ranch, several different characters are introduced. One affliction that seems to face several characters is loneliness, created by factors such as the characters lifestyles and by social standards of the time period. Steinbecks theme that loneliness is unhealthy and dangerous to a persons well being is unfolded throughout the novel. This underlying theme is first introduced in the novel when George talks to Lennie about the advantage they have over other workers of the time. George described how other ranch hands like themselves who traveled alone had nothing to look forward to, and no one to look after them. He told Lennie how other workers would just work up a stake and blow it at a bar because they had no where else to go, no one else to look after th em. George explained how Lennie and himself were different from those lonely workers when he said, With us it aint like that, We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. Because of Lennie and Georges relationship they are able to focus on their dream of having their own farm someday, instead of moving from ranch to ranch and wastefully spending their pay at the end of the month. Although Lennie is a burden to George, George accepts their relationship to fight his own loneliness. As he explains to Slim, I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone. That aint no good. They dont have no fun. After a long time they get mean. They get wantin to fight all the time. George appreciates Lennies companionship because he knows that being alone can lead to negativity on life. Candy is another character who deals with loneliness. He is the oldest man on the r...

Mint Oil, Micro Bubble and Chocolate Preparation Dissertation

Mint Oil, Micro Bubble and Chocolate Preparation - Dissertation Example From this paper it is clear that  depending on the size of the micro bubbles needed, the mint oil should be placed on a simple plate with holes of certain sizes or a woven fabric. This will make the gases to follow in small and discrete packets leading to formation of bubbles. The small sized boundary conditions and edge effects of the little holes with time will prevent the gas from flowing through. The gas should also be non-reactive with the mint oil. This will lead to production of small bubbles from the mint oil. This should be carried out at the right temperature so that the different states are maintained, for example, if the temperature is too high it will affect the gas forming the micro bubbles and thus compromise the quality of the bubbles.This study discusses that  in making chocolate you will need things like cocoa powder, buffer softened at room temperature, sugar, milk, powder sugar and water. Put the cocoa powder in water then heat in a large sautà © pan. Add gar lic and stir the mixture over the heat. The sugar is then added then stirred completely until the sugar dissolves in the sugar solution. Then add water into the solution then heat until all the water is absorbed. After the absorption, what remains is chocolate. The chocolate then should be passed through a certain temperature to control its hardness. Absorption is one of the best ways of making chocolate because you can easily control the hardness or softness of the chocolate.

Campus Culture, Vision, Conflict Resolution, or Campus Improvement Essay

Campus Culture, Vision, Conflict Resolution, or Campus Improvement - Essay Example The key points in the article â€Å"Conflict Ð ¡oaching: Conflict management strategies and skills for the individual† are the two methods of solving problems which are the coercive and the noncoercive methods. It enhances the fact that, most of the conflicts come up as a result of institutions or organizations having individuals from different cultures and working towards the same goal or vision. Biasness is what causes conflicts and can either lead to improved campuses with the best vision. It brings out the notion that solving conflicts through noncoercive method is the best method. As a leader, the researcher is called to solve different conflicts that occur on campuses. Therefore, the knowledge on different types of conflicts and how to resolve them is an added advantage for my leadership skills. No biases can be involved in the process of conflict resolution. The researcher would recommend this article to all the leaders who do not know how to handle conflicting issues since it gives guidelines on how to manage a conflict through different stages and gives accurately the possible outcomes of each step carried out. The article â€Å"Continuous school improvement† talks about administration qualities which can lead to enhancing the vision of campuses. It gives direction on how to integrate different scenario in the effort of achieving the vision of an institution. The key point from the article is that all the proposed ideas must be integrated to fit into the vision of an institution. All factors must be considered for a vision to be achieved in the right manner, hence the need for integrated systems. The researcher would recommend this article to all the administrators who need tips on how to work towards a vision and achieve it. This is because; most of the ideas brought out are very handy for administrators as they look into the qualities of a good administrator and the ways administrators should handle different situations in order to ach ieve a particular goal. The article â€Å"Building the academic deanship: Strategies for success† has new ideas that campuses have not yet discovered especially in offering the best academic practices in more practical ways. The practical way of learning is the best form of getting more skilled personnel in the professional industries and work sector.

Indonesian worker in Saudi Arabia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Indonesian worker in Saudi Arabia - Essay Example Her job can hardly be considered greedy as, apart from her salary, she receives no bonuses and benefits, although if she falls ill, her employers do pay for her treatment. Furthermore, her salary is fixed and is not reviewed for increases and she works hard for ever dollar she earns. Her employers are a middle-aged Saudi couple whose children are grown up and living away from home. They are exceedingly rich and very well-connected. The husband works as an ambassador, now retired, at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the wife is a member of the Saudi Royal family. The couple, contrary to the stereotypical image she had of rich Saudi Arabians, treat their staff very courteously and are very sedate. They hardly entertain anyone outside of their family, although they do go out quite frequently. Yes, it is a living wage for an Indonesian. She transfers 250USD to Indonesia every month, keeping only 50USD for herself. Of the $250 she transfers home, $100 enter her husband's account to help support the family and the rest into a savings account in her name. The 100$ that go towards household expenses are double the amount that her husband earns per month. The family relies on this money to pay for the children's schooling, their clothes, food and, if need be, medication. She saves half of her s... She transfers 250USD to Indonesia every month, keeping only 50USD for herself. Of the $250 she transfers home, $100 enter her husband's account to help support the family and the rest into a savings account in her name. The 100$ that go towards household expenses are double the amount that her husband earns per month. The family relies on this money to pay for the children's schooling, their clothes, food and, if need be, medication. 9-how/on what does this global woman spend her wages She saves half of her salary, hoping that one day she would have saved enough to buy a home. The fifty dollars which she puts aside for herself are hardly used at all since she rarely has an opportunity to go out or purchase anything. The 100$ which are spent every month, all go towards her children's expenses. 10-what is the economic situation in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia Indonesia is a developing country. Its per capita income is ranked as the 99th in the world. Inflation rates are high and well-paying job opportunities are limited. In direct comparison, Saudi Arabia is ranked as the 33rd in the world in terms of per capita income. Jobs for nationals are very well-paying and the government subsidises most services, including education and healthcare. While inflation is on the increase, salaries increase accordingly. The implication here is that even though both countries may accurately be described as developing' Saudi Arabia is in a far stronger economic position than is Indonesia. 11- explain how this woman fits into the economy of her home/host country She is an expatriate worker and this has numerous implications. In the first place it means that rather than join her domestic labour force and live her life as an

Marketing Islamic Travel Destinations A Religious Perspective Tourism Essay

Marketing Islamic Travel Destinations A Religious Perspective Tourism Essay Literature on tourism and destination marketing research is rich with key themes which seek to explain why people travel and select specific destinations. Many of the studies are based on the theory of pull and push motivations. The theory posits that tourists are pushed by internal desires or emotional factors to travel as well as pulled by external factors in the form of the attributes of various destinations. While many studies have been conducted to investigate the various types of destination attributes, there has been a lack of research on the religious attributes of the destination and its impact on tourists choice as well as satisfaction. Moreover, when it comes to Islamic religious attributes, the lack of study is more noticeable and profound. The objective of this study is to investigate whether there exists a basis for segmenting the tourism market by Islamic religious attributes through studying the views and opinions of tourists visiting Malaysia. 2. Significance of the Study The Muslim tourism segment may consider a target for destination marketers. Assuming religion represents one of important factors in the decision-making process in regards to travel destinations(Collins Tisdell, 2002), it is important to ensure that Islamic religious attributes are available in those destinations. This may lead to tourist satisfaction as well as encourage multiple return visits. Muslims are well-ordered to follow Islamic teachings which directly and indirectly impact on their decisions concerning leisure and travel plans (Hamira Henderson, 2009). In this regard plans to market destinations for Muslim tourists should be guided by Shariah (Islamic code of life) rules specifically those that pertain to tourism activities. In recent years, it has been observed that there is a growing interest in new tourism concepts such as Islamic tourism. Another concept is Halal hospitality which is akin to the concept of Halal food, a concept already recognized in many countries including those in the Middle East(WTM, 2007). Newspaper articles consider this to be a new phenomenon in the United Arab Emirates and Middle Eastern countries. Halal tourism has attracted many tour packages entirely based on what they term Islamic culture (Javed, 2007) which is defined as a type of religious tourism which is in conformity with Islamic teachings regarding behaviourisms, dress, conduct and diet (WTM, 2007). Heyers (2008) elaboration on the rapid large-scale development of Shariah-compliant hotels is but another expression of the existing trends towards increased Islamisation of activities which in the past focused more on banking, insurance and finance. Thus, tourism is generally encouraged by Islamic law as following the re ligion entails etiquettes, mannerisms, rules and regulations regarding conduct, dress, food, and prayer(Hamira Henderson, 2009). Halal tourism operators target families from the Gulf region known for their conservative interpretation of the teachings of Islamic Shariah. The World Travel Market Report (2007) shows that Halal tourism has the potential to develop into a resilient market. Promising market potentialities cause it to be targeted by industry operators and market researchers. Focus on this market is further increased by a forecasted increase in growth whereby tourist income for the Middle East is expected to grow 108% to a staggering US$ 51 billion while domestic tourism is expected to grow by 82% to reach US$24 Billion by 2011. Much of the forecasted growth is due to increased numbers of Middle Eastern tourists which underlines the need for tailored Halal tourist packages offering services catering to Muslim needs. The negative side of western tourism causing Halal tourism to be increasingly popular among Muslims is issues which have a negative impact on the Muslim community such as the consumption of alcohol, prostitution, inappropriate dressing, kissing in public and open affection between sexes in public (Sindiga, 1996). However, non-Muslim countries continue to attract Muslim families, including those from the Gulf region interested in visiting attractions such as nature parks as these comply with Islamic Shariah. In response to this the current study is an attempt to greater understand the new concept of Halal tourism. Muslims constitute a global market of 1.82 billion potential customers (Muslim population worldwide, 2009). Islamic religious attributes are bound to be very important considerations when a Muslim decides to travel abroad. Given the potential problems expected from non-Halal tourism, the Muslim tourist may decide not to travel to a particular destination due to the absence of these attributes. According to Uysal et al. (2008, p. 413) a study of a the particular attributes of any given destination would provide clues and/or insights that destination marketers could use in developing and promoting their tourism destinations. Bogari et al.(2004) claim that destination attributes and issues pertaining to Islamic culture were not sufficiently covered by researchers. In effect, the study focuses in the Islamic attributes of destinations which could be used as a base to attract Muslim tourists in destination marketing programs. The marketing of Islamic destinations is certainly not an easy task(Henderson, 2008b) because of the variance between the demands of western tourists and the Islamic teachings. Therefore, exploring Islamic attributes may help destination marketers to tailor products and services that satisfy Muslim tourists in addition to using them in promotional programs. In addition, this study attempts to offer insights into the tourism expectations and experiences of followers of the Islamic religion. Muslim tourists could be influenced by religious aspects in their destination choice. Thus, the objective of this study is to explore which Islamic attributes of destinations such as worship facilities and Halal food that may be important to the Muslim tourist; especially in the Muslim world. 3. Literature review: Religion plays a large influence on many peoples behaviour as customers (Essoo Dibb, 2004). In the context of tourism, religion may influence the choice of destination and tourists product preferences(Adi Ron, 2008). According to Poria et al. (2003), the effects of religious belief on behaviour come from two main sources First, there are the yes and nos, dos and donts of a persons religion which are to be observed. Examples consist of the religious rules prohibiting Muslims from consuming pork, or Hindus from consuming beef. The second means by which behaviour is influenced is the fact that religion shapes the culture, attitudes and values of society. This is supported by Grigg (1995) whose research provides evidence on the influence of religion and religiosity on dietary habits. Further support is found in Essoo and Dibb (2004) who demonstrated the influence of religion on consumer behaviour by identifying the differences in consumer spending between Muslims and Hindus. Although the relationship between tourism and religion has been addressed in the literature on tourism, there remains a shortage of theoretical publications in the area of tourism in the context of Islam. Religion and religiosity are acknowledged factors influencing behaviour according to various social settings. In spite of this widely acknowledged fact, research that explores relationships between religion, behaviour and tourist destination choice remains highly limited (Adi, 2006; Adi Ron, 2008; Din, 1989; Fleischer, 2000; Howe, 2001; Poria et al., 2003; Rinschede, 1992). Din (1989) argues that social scientists have tended to overlook the importance of religion in tourism studies. Its importance is emphasized by Adi and Ron (2008) who underline the general importance of the relationship between tourism and religion. For this reason Heo et al. (2004) recommend more related studies that identify and discuss special tourist requirements and preferences. Although neglecting to menti on religion specifically, Fang et al. (2008) conclude that tourists are more likely to choose destinations believed to best satisfy tourist push needs and preferred destination attributes. Studies conducted in this area include Adi (2006) which investigates the religious needs of Christian tourist in the hospitality industry and Fleischer and Nitzav (1995) which investigates the religious needs of Christian pilgrims in the tourism industry. Likewise Hoffmann (1994 Cited in Adi 2006) conducts research on Jewish ultra-orthodox tourism segment. In addition to this, some papers complement the aforementioned research by discussing the religious requirements in the tourism food sector. For example, Dugan (1994) presents the religious necessities in food supply for Muslim, Christian, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists. When it comes to the relationship between tourism and religion, particularly Islam, the lack of literature is more obvious especially regarding Islamic religious attributes and their impact on tourist needs in general and Muslim tourists in particular. The only studies available typically focus only on the needs of Muslim pilgrims (when they visit Makkah for the Haj) rather than the needs of tourists. However, Adi and Ron (2008) forecast increased number of religiously-minded tourists who join dynamic multipurpose packages especially from developing countries many of which are Muslim countries. 3.1 Religious Attributes What does the term `religious attributes of destinations really mean? There are many aspects that can constitute `religious attributes of destinations. The following sections present the literature on the matter: 3.1.1 Hotels Meeting the Religious Needs of Patrons Additional religious services and provisions in hotels may result in attracting new markets and improved hotel rates (Adi, 2006). A study in Israel conducted by Mansfeld et al. (2000) recommended placing Makkah stickers or `Qibla stickers (stickers with ornamented arrows pointing towards the city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia for prayer directions) as well as placing a copy of the Quran in every room occupied by Muslim visitors. Din (1989) found that hotels in Kuantan, Malaysia catered to Muslim needs in the hospitality industry by requiring first class hotels to provide prayer rooms fully equipped with prayer mats, the Quran, Suruh Yasin, and Tasbih, plus Qibla stickers. Adi (2006) presented a number of suggestions to improve the religion-friendliness of hotels. The suggestions begin by simply providing a bible in hotel rooms along with providing information on religious activities and institutions. This keeps religiously-minded tourists in direct contact with scripture and informed of available services. Employment of Christian workers creates a religious atmosphere in the hotel. The hotel may choose to organize its own religious activities. It should provide a place of worship within the hotel itself or be in close proximity to a church. Christian symbols within a hotel such as a cross and images of the Virgin Mary help to provide a religious environment and dà ©cor. Religious values play a role in catering to religious needs. For example, Collins-Kreiner Kliot (2000) hypothesizes the Protestants need for a bible in hotel rooms based on their belief in direct communication with God. Fleischer (2000) compares between Catholic and Protestant pilgrims in terms of the peculiarities of their tourist needs. The study reveals that Protestants appreciate religious symbols and opt for religious-sensitive tourist packages more so than Catholics. Moreover, Adi (2006) recommended catering to such Christian needs in the hotel room as that may increase the satisfaction of Christian tourists Empirical studies on the impact of catering to Islamic religious needs and the level of satisfaction of Muslim tourists are very few. Some of the studies discuss services of this nature which may include Muslim religious restrictions such as activities of vice and forbidden entry for unmarried couples (Din, 1989; Hamira Henderson, 2009; Henderson, 2003) . They also found that hotels may provide religious information such as the location of nearby mosques or prayer times and nearby Halal restaurants (Henderson, 2003). Furthermore, as Muslims avoid free mixing between the sexes, hotels could offer separate swimming pools and recreational facilities (Al-hamarneh steiner, 2004; Henderson, 2003; Timothy Iverson, 2006). Hashim et al. (2007) suggest that providing Halal food on the hotel menu or information on nearby Halal restaurants would enhance the holiday experience. Timothy and Iverson (2006) also suggest that hotels should educate their staff on cross-cultural communication to all ow them to treat Muslim tourists with respect and consider recruiting religious staff. 3.1.2 Places of worship The five daily prayers are of great importance to practicing Muslims. Therefore, the mosque (a Muslim house of worship) or prayer room is considered to be one of the most crucial facilities for Muslims (Al-hamarneh steiner, 2004; Syed, 2001). Adi (2006) suggests that proximity to a mosque may influence Muslim tourist preferences when making hotel reservations. Mohsin (2005) conducted a study to assess Peninsular Malaysians attitude towards choosing the Northern Territory of Australia for a holiday as a tourism destination and found that Muslim respondents were concerned about the availability of mosques. Mohsin and Ryan (1997) recommend that the ease of access to Islamic services are important when they explored the attitudes of Malaysian and Indonesian business people towards the possibility of holidaying in Australia. It is also suggested that Middle Eastern countries take concrete steps to develop Halal tourism internally by having prayer rooms at tourism sites (WTM, 2007). Syed (2001) also suggested that the availability of mosques at tourist destinations may increase satisfaction levels. The mosque itself may be considered as a tourist attraction if they are unique and outstanding (Henderson, 2003). 3.1.3 Availability of Halal food Dugan (1994) presented findings on food service requirements by Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians. Evidence from Browns (1996) ethnographic study shows the influence of religious prohibitions on determining their expectations regarding services provided by a hotel such as appropriate ingredient choice and preparation. This is further supported by Williams (2002) who identified the role of the Jewish Kashrus (Jewish religious requirements) in prohibiting certain foods and regulating compliance procedures for food preparation. For Muslims, the issue is centred on the concept of Halalness. Halal food refers to food that can be lawfully consumed when conditions for Islamic food preparation are met. Food that is unlawful to Muslims includes pork, pork-derived foods including lard and bacon and meat and other products from carnivorous animals or those that feed on carrion. Consumption of any food or drinks with alcoholic content is also prohibited (Dugan, 1994). One important distinguishing feature of the Halal label is that animals must be slaughtered in the name of Allah (God). There are many studies that show the importance of the availability of Halal food to Muslims in choosing their tourist destinations (Adi, 2006; Adi Ron, 2008; Mohsin, 2005; Mohsin Ryan, 1997; Syed, 2001). The importance of this to some Muslims is reflected by the fact that even when served halal food, many are still concerned over whether the food is genuinely halal. Henderson (2003) found that some firms in the Western tourism industry are concerned over this issue. Some Muslims ask about the ingredients the meal is made up of because pork and alcohol in all its many forms are forbidden. Therefore, meals which are provided to Muslim have to be alcohol and pork-free and the utensils have to be uncontaminated by these two elements (Dugan, 1994). Catering to Muslim tourists needs in terms of providing Halal food in any particular destination may increase their overall satisfaction and loyalty. Mansfeld et al. (2000) gives explicit recommendations for providing food which complies with Shariah laws. Therefore, a caterer who is aware on how to satisfy Muslims or who offers religious groups dietary needs will attract more Muslim customers (Dugan, 1994). 3.1.4 Banning of Alcohol Consumption and Gambling According to Islamic Shariah, it is completely forbidden for Muslims to drink or sell alcohol. Muslims are also prohibited from gambling and being involved in the gambling industry. It is stated in Al-Quran: O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satans handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper. (Al-Quran, 5:90). Moreover the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: Alcohol is the mother of all evils and it is the most shameful of evils. (Ibn Majah, 2004). It is also not permissible for Muslims to visit places where alcohol is consumed and gambling is practiced (Al-hamarneh steiner, 2004; Din, 1989; Hamira Henderson, 2009; Hashim et al., 2007; Henderson, 2003, 2008a). Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia implement very restrictive policies related to gambling and the sale of alcohol. Other countries are not so restrictive. For example, in most states in Malaysia alcohol is freely available although Muslims can be punished for drinking in public. 3.1.5 Sexual permissiveness The Shariah expressly forbids Muslims from engaging in fornication or adultery. Activities deemed conducive to sexual permissiveness are not allowed to take place in public. This is based on many verses in The Holy Quran including like: Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils). (Al-Quran, 17: 32). Many Muslim scholars take the view that it is Haram or not permissible to visit, for the sake of tourism, places where sexual permissiveness is rampant. Their opinion is based on the principle that Islam came to impede all roads leading to evil. If some tourist activities result in the facilitation or the commission of sins then it is not permissible for Muslims to be involved in such tourist activities (Rasma, 2008). Most Muslim countries including Malaysia prohibit adultery. The Malaysian licensing policy prohibits prostitution and behaviours such as public or indecent displays of affection (Din, 1989; Hamira Henderson, 2009; Henderson, 2003, 2008a). Moreover, in some Malaysian towns municipal enactments for lodging establishments explicitly forbid unmarried couples from being in close proximity (Din, 1989). Many Muslim authorities frown on tourism in general due to the perception that tourism is associated with sexual permissiveness (Din, 1989). Therefore, some Muslim scholars prohibit sex tourism as practiced by some Arab Muslims from the Middle East in travelling to Europe or Bangkok (Din, 1989). What is more, using sexually provocative images in marketing tourist destinations to Muslim customers is also frowned upon. According to Shariah, promotion techniques must not use sexual appeal in international marketing (Mohammad et al., 2001). Female images are therefore not featured in tourism promotion in some Malaysian states like Terengganu (Henderson, 2003). Mohsin (2005) is of the opinion that the use of sexually provocative images of bikini-clad girls to promote a destination will not attract Muslim tourists. 3.1.6 Dress code According to Shariah Muslim women must not expose their hair and body. The Holy Quran states: O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women to draw their outer garments around them (when they go out or are among men). That is better in order that they may be known (to be Muslims) and not annoyedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Al-Quran, , 33: 59) Men are supposed to cover their thighs (Timothy Iverson, 2006). In deciding tour destinations, Muslims look at the local dress codes in that particular region of the world being considered. Such considerations are to gauge the level of conformity to Islamic dress norms in order to determine if they will or will not be comfortable visiting that particular destination. This is particularly so for Arab tourists who have to observe strict dress codes in their native countries and prefer not to expose themselves and families to environments that may threaten their sense of proper dressing. Hashim et al (2007) demonstrates the Malaysian Tourist Boards awareness of Islamic dress sensitivities by restricting their marketing campaigns to present only traditional Malay Muslim dress codes. Women with headscarves and men wearing Songkoks-a black rimless hat worn by Malay men usually for praying-were depicted on advertising billboards and home pages. Some conservative Malaysian states enforce appropriate dress norms prohibiting people from disturbing cultural norms by wearing revealing clothes such as bikinis. Furthermore, western tourists are expected to adorn the Islamic attire when visiting religious places like mosques (Henderson, 2003). Hamira and Henderson (2009) claim that Shariah laws prohibit improper dressing. Al-Hamarneh and Seiner (2004) assert that considerations of the religious conservatism of any particular region including prescribed dress codes should be respected. Such cultural considerations are expected more so of tourism operators in all aspects of the tourism industry as they are interacting directly and regularly with foreign tourists (Adi Ron, 2008). 4. Methodology The objective of this study is to explore Islamic religious attributes which may be important to Muslim travellers. In order to achieve this objective, focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted and were followed up with interviews to explore opinions and travel experiences in more depth. This combination of the FGD and the interviews has its advantages. Firstly, in identifying a range of Islamic religious attributes from the FGD. Secondly, to explore in depth, by conducting interviews using a relatively wide range of participants in order to discover more Islamic attributes and to check the conclusions with the FGD (Morgan, 1996). The FGD and the interviews are research techniques pertaining to qualitative research (Myers, 2009, p. 121). The aim of the FGD is to collect information through group interaction but the interview is considered an opportunity to discover new information from individuals (Cavana, Delahaye, Sekaran, 2008, p. 138). Semi-structured questions were designed in this study for the purpose of conducting interviews and focus group discussions. Semi-structured questions were designed in this study for the purpose of conducting interviews and focus group discussions. The participants were asked about the Islamic attributes they would require when traveling in a Muslim country or a non Muslim country. They were then asked specifically about these attributes when visiting Muslim countries. This was followed by probing questions that sought to explore in detail specific attributes generated from FGDs such as access to worship facilities, availability of Halal food, services provided in hotels, and morality. Two focus group discussions were conducted in June 2009. The participants of these focus groups were international PhD students currently studying in Malaysia in different areas of research. The participants of FGD1 consisted of eight males from Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Mauritania, Oman, Jordan, Yemen, Egypt and Sudan. The duration of FGD1 was one and a half hours. The participants of FGD 2 consisted of seven females from Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Nigeria, Oman, Turkey, and Algeria. The duration of FGD 2 was one hour and fifteen minutes and the participants did not agree to record the session digitally. The reason for this may be culturally related. All FGD participants had overseas travel experience for various purposes such as tourism, business, learning, and visiting friends. A total of 53 interviews were conducted with tourists in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia; 27 interviews in July 2009 and 26 interviews in October 2009. Thirty of the interviewees were males, and twenty three were females. Only those who professed to be Muslims were selected. 38 tourists did not accept to be interviewed. The duration of most interviews was between 35 to 45 minutes. 41 interviews were recorded digitally. The rest were unable to be recorded due to objections from the interviewees who were females from the Middle East. The interviewer transcribed both the FGDs as well as all interviews session. Some interviewees from the Middle East preferred to communicate in Arabic while the rest were conducted in English. The interviewer adopted the probing technique during the session to encourage the participants to provide more details. Some demographic information was also gathered. The digital recording of the interviews was changed into text. The data was organized fo r easy categorization and systematic data analysis. 5. Findings Results of the analysis were categorized into two major aspects which are tangible and intangible. The tangible aspect consists of Islamic religious facilities such as, worship facilities, Halal food, and Islamic recreational facilities: (A)Prayer facilities: Mosque: all interviewees were concerned about the availability of Mosques (Masjid) or prayer rooms for their tourist destination. Easy access to a mosque/prayer room is considered a vital aspect for Muslim tourists and should not be ignored by tourism planning but should be considered a necessary service. This can be shown in the following response: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Masjid or prayer room must be available in the streets and public places. In other words, a prayer room should be available in all places which I may visit in the destination such as hotels, shopping malls, and airports. Even in the airplane to destination, it should allocate a place for prayer. (FGD No. 1) Masjid is available in most of the places in the destination during my journey, in shopping malls, highwaysà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ and of course in the hotel. (Int. No.1, USA) It is noticed from the previous responses that Muslim tourists expect easy access to a Masjid and/or prayer room to be a primary requirement in Muslim countries. They also highlighted that they expect to find prayer facilities readily accessible during tourist activities. Islamic call (Azan) for prayer: 31 interviewees were concerned about the need for public calling of the Azan (prayer time). Destination operators should provide information about Muslim prayer times. 17 interviewees recommended a prayer time call during flights or journeys to their destinations, hotels, shopping malls and parks. Some also requested prayer time clocks (which ring with each prayer time) or a prayer timetable in the hotel room. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ I need also Prayer time call in the airplane, airport, hotel or at least prayer timetable in hotel room. (Int.No.2, Canada) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Prayer timetable or Alfajr clock (Prayer time clock brand) should be found in hotel room. (Int.No.4, Saudi Arabia). In Islam Muslims should pray five times daily but they are permitted to merge and shorten the prayers while travelling according to the length of the journey and other Islamic legal rules and requirements. As such, the participants preferred that they be reminded about prayer times in order that they may choose between praying at the usual times or merge them. Quran and Qiblah direction pointer: all interviewees emphasized the importance of the provision of Qurans and Qiblah direction pointers in hotel rooms. Some proposed that one or two simple Islamic books to be provided in hotel rooms and in aeroplane seat pockets. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦It will be fine if I find Quran book in hotel room, some Islamic leaflets in the airplane seat pocket, Makkah direction pointer, Sejadda for prayer (prayer mat), simple Islamic book in hotel room à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (FGD No. 1) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I need the Holy Quran book inside the hotel room, some Islamic books which I can read; I dont want any statue or sculpture like a Buddhist. I found that in India when I was there. Also direction of Qibla is important to meà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Int. No.15, Djibouti) The Quran is the Holy book for Muslims. Muslims are requested to read the Holy Quran. Although most of Muslims have a soft copy of the Quran on their hand phones, the hard copy represents the preferable option for reading. Moreover, the Makkah direction pointer is a basic demand of Muslims as they perform their prayers elsewhere even though in public places. Some hotel industry practitioners, even some hotels in non Muslim countries, already provide Qiblah pointers inside their hotel rooms but some participants report that they did not find it in some hotels in Muslim countries. Muslim toilets: 36 interviewees who have travelled to western destinations complained about the bath room because they could not perform ablution (Muslim mandatory washing before performing prayers). There is no such facility inside airport toilets and hotels. Therefore, they requested Muslim toilets to be provided in all airports, hotels and public places. Muslim toilet is very important in airport because the regular toilets provide only tissue. As Muslims, we need water supply inside the toilet. It should be found in public places because in the hotel you can find water but in public it is difficult. (Int. No.14, Thailand) I will be very happy if I find à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ and Bidet in the bathroom (Int. No.2, Canada). Muslim followers must do ablution before prayers. They are required to clean themselves with water when using the toilet. Some countries adopt modern toilet designs which do not enable users to wash themselves using water; providing only tissue. However, some Muslim countries have modified this style and have adopted a Muslim design for their bathrooms which provide water. From previous participant responses, they find it satisfying when water facilities are made available in toilets. (B)Halal food: all interviewees reported that the availability of Halal food is a basic need for all destinations. It is noticed that all interviewees need Halal meals in flights to their destination. Moreover, they recommended that hotels and restaurants in the destination should provide Halal meals free from pork and alcohol. Some of them were worried about the preparation of Halal meals. Seven interviewees highlighted that the kitchen should also be Halal which means that Halal and non-Halal foods cannot be cooked together in the same kitchen and with the same utensils. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ I need Halal food to be available. The mosques and Halal food restaurants, mostly they are close to each other. Last week, I was in Cambodia. Once I was close to the Masjid I found Halal restaurants. (Int. No.13, Turkey) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Some hotels, in breakfast they provide Halal food and non-Halal food from the same kitchen that means the Halal and non Halal food are cooked together using the same facilities. I need Halal kitchen. Moreover, some Arabian tourists cant read English so they eat non-Halal meat. (Int. No.12, Egypt) The travel experiences of some participants highlighted that easy to find Halal food is one factor in choosing the destination for their vacation. Some are very sensitive regarding Halal issues and go well beyond Halal labels. They want to make sure the meat and ingredients used in cooking are Halal and do this by usually asking the service providers. On top of this they also ask whether the kitchen is Halal or not. In response to this some hotels in Malaysia allocate two kitchens; Halal and non-Halal. (C)Islamic entertainment: 39 interviewees gave high priority to finding Islamic-oriented recreations s

antitrust :: essays research papers

Antitrust laws protect competition, which is said to benefit consumers with better products at lower prices. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and attorney generals from 20 states has filed antitrust lawsuits against Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft), the world's largest supplier of computer software for personal computers (PCs) in the United States. Microsoft is accused of allegedly violating sections 1 and 2 of The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890. Section 1 of the Sherman Act outlaws â€Å"every contract, combination†¦, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade." The Supreme Court has since then decided that the Sherman Act prohibits only those contracts or agreements that restrain trade unreasonably. What kinds of agreements are unreasonable is up to the courts. Section 2 of the Sherman Act makes it unlawful for a company to "monopolize, or attempt to monopolize," trade or commerce. As that law has been interpreted, it is not necessarily illegal for a company to have a monopoly or to try to achieve a monopoly position. The law is violated only if the company tries to maintain or acquire a monopoly position through tactics that either unreasonably exclude firms from the market or significantly impair their ability to compete. The DOJ feels that Microsoft has a monopoly in the field of personal computer operating systems (OSs) and that they are engaging in anticompetitive conduct. Microsoft's "Windows" operating systems are used in over 80% of PCs. More than 90% of new PCs are shipped with a version of Windows pre-installed. According to the DOJ," PC manufacturers have no commercially reasonable alternative to Microsoft operating systems for the PCs that they distribute." Other firms do exist in the operating system market for example, IBM, Oracle, Sun Apple, AT&T, Hewlett Packard, Wang, Be, Linux, Dec, Gem, and others. These firms may only have 10-20% of the market share for PC's operating systems but they do have some share of the market. This proves that Microsoft is not the only seller of operating systems as the DOJ claims. The DOJ's complaint states that, "To protect its valuable Windows monopoly against potential competitive threats, and to extend its operating system monopoly into other software markets, Microsoft has engaged in a series of anticompetitive activities. Microsoft's conduct includes agreements tying other Microsoft software products to Microsoft's Windows operating system; exclusionary agreements precluding companies from distributing, promoting, buying, or using products of Microsoft's software competitors or potential competitor; and exclusionary agreements restricting the right of companies to provide services or resources to Microsoft's software competitors or potential competitors.

King Leopolds Ghost Essay

Between 1880 and 1920, the population of the Congo was slashed in half: some ten million people were victims of murder, starvation, exhaustion, exposure, disease, and a plummeting birth rate. Why do you think this massive carnage has remained virtually unknown in the United States and Europe? During all this death there was only a few who would go down into the Congo because of all its dangers. So with hardly anyone already going down there and those who did brave the dangers would usually come back insane from a disease of some sort, there was just not enough evidence to prove how bad it was really getting even with those who made it out fine. There was also no communication possible only by mail and considering the dangers no persons would risk their life to take a letter to and from the jungle. So how can you, with not enough brave people to go down there, get the information out to the world. But even those who got it out and tried to spread the word would be persecuted for saying such things because nobody wanted to help them because that would put their life in danger. No one in their right mind would even venture down to that part of Africa. So with no phones, pagers, computers, or mail to get the word out and sickness and animals killing most that went down there. Even those who go looking for these camps cannot usually find them because there in rural eras of the jungle which, for some, are impossible to attain. There was just no possible way to get word out to the rest of the world to get help. Now even with all the technology to find and go to them we still don’t hear much of them. We have all the vaccines to fight off all the disease and help the dying people in Africa. So even though we have all that still not much people want to help because they are caught up in the world they are living in and nothing else matters until they get what they need and want. The human race is selfish and only looks out for themselves. Question 6 The European conquest and plunder of the Congo and the rest of Africa was brutal, but so was the European settlement of North America and, long before that, the conquest of most of European by the Romans. Hasn’t history always proceeded in this way? Well yea, history has a way of repeating itself. Nothing only happens one time in history. There is always going to be those crazy Hitler type people out there and those who go power drunk and take over their country and then try to take over the world. And yes, whenever you go exploring a new place it’s going to be difficult. Have you ever heard someone say’ â€Å"I went exploring a new continent and it was easy. † There is so much that goes into exploration. You need tools, maps, guides, protection from animals and natives. Pretty much anything new you do is not going to be easy for you to do. Anything you do needs time, practice, and plans, but most important in needs to be organized. If nothing was organized the world would be in chaos. So yes history has and will be forever keep repeating itself to keep balance and stability to the world. It will always have its ups and always have its downs. It doesn’t matter who or what you do to try and prevent it. God has established the status quo and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Question 13 Hochschild quotes Roger Casements as insisting to Edmond Morel’s â€Å"I do not agree with you that England and America are the two great humanitarian powers †¦ [they are] materialistic first and humanitarian only a century after. † What evidence supports or refuses Casement’s judgment? Would Casement be justified in making the same statement today? Now back in that time we were more of a humanitarian country because first of all we didn’t have all the same technology we did today. Second we were pretty much a new country and we were trying to make a good name for us. Then third we went to war for other which was no cause of our own and all we did was help out less fortunate countrys than us. See now during this time it is a little different. We have all sorts of distractions. We have technology, we have more murder, and we are being more protective of our people. We use to go to war for no cause just to help out but now when we are attacked we don’t want to go to war. So you can say we are and have been a little of both the whole time. Back then we went to war to help people now we are sending missionaries to camps around the world to help people. But in the end let’s hope that we become more

Beatles essays

Beatles essays John, Paul, George, and Ringo formed a group known as the Beatles. They were one the first British rock group of consequence to influence not only American culture but Western culture as well. Me- Im conservative. I feel I need to check things. I was the last to try pot and LSD and floral clothes. Im slower than John, the least likely to succeed in class(http://members.tripod.com/beatlefanatic_2/beathistory.html). Coming from the Liverpool underclass, they were drawn to the rock and roll and rhythm and blues music that celebrated the life of the common man. Elvis, the Man who came before them, symbolized the classless society in America where a poor man can become a king. In the beginning, the Beatles learned their music by copying the American music they loved. As they gained popularity they were commercialized and formed by music promoters. Finally, they developed their skills and style to express themselves and define their own image. It is at this point that The Beatles evolved to become a dominant influence on the Cultural Revolution that began in the 1960s. The later Beatles music would scream the painful song of an abandoned child. John Lennon who was raised in a middle class home in Liverpool, England was the original Beatle. John was abandoned by his parents at a very young age. His father, Alfred Lennon, left the family first after a short, unhappy marriage to Julia Stanley. Later, Julia left John with her sister Mimi Smith to raise when she remarried. After that marriage ended in divorce, she returned to live with John. Unfortunately, this reunion did not last long. The ultimate abandonment occurred when Johns mother died after being hit by a car on Menlove Avenue. Years later John said about his mothers death, It was the worst thing that happened to me. Wed caught up so much, me and Julia. In just a few years. We could communicate. We got on. She was great... That...

Relates Great Expectations to fictional experiences in real life

Relates Great Expectations to fictional experiences in real life Great ExpectationsGreat Expectations, authored by Victorian novelist Charles Dickens, is considered one of his finest works of literature. It was indicative of Dickens's strong feelings for injustices and poor conditions committed on women and children of that time. Through the main character, Pip, Dickens's demonstrated the compassion he felt for children. Most readers, like myself, are able to associate Pip's experiences with their own. Pip endeavored upon many things that I can see myself doing.From the beginning of the novel Pip had felt an impending feeling of guilt. It is a common theme in Great Expectations and is one that I have felt numerous times before. In one instance, my friends and I were at a party playing with a water balloon launcher shooting balloons down the street. My neighbors had just put in a new set of porch windows that were quite expensive. With a slight aiming misalignment we broke a window and had to confess to my neighbor and give her our apologies.Englis h: "We sat down on a bench that was near" by...Pip, however, had the guilt weighed on his conscience forever-he did not have the courage to tell Mrs. Joe that he had taken a pork pie that was for Christmas dinner. Mrs. Joe only made it harder for Pip when she asked, 'And were the deuce ha' you been?' (page 20). Pip had to make a moral judgment about whether or not to tell the truth about what he did and is challenged with many more of these decisions throughout the book.Pip was later introduced to Estella, Ms. Havisham's adopted daughter, whom was taught to pursue retribution on all of the male population for her 'mother'. Pip became easily infatuated with Estella's good looks, money, and attitude. Estella considered Pip to be common and pointed out the...

Tax Accountant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Tax Accountant - Essay Example Being perfect in mathematics I am keenly interested in this profession. As description, a tax accountant prepares both business and personal tax returns as well; and by calculating appreciation or depreciation the accountant maintain client property records. In addition, as Fitch (2007) states, a tax accountant carries out research in areas of tax law and regulations to recommend changes in accounting practices to reduce tax liability. Not only that, a tax accountant prepares special tax reports and represents the organization /firm at tax hearings (p. 78). So to be clear with all these responsibilities I need to communicate with clients regarding all tax issues, review and monitor the work of junior accountants and interns. As we know that taxation is an always changing field so I would concentrate my work in a particular area. From the above, we can see that different doors open to excel in this field. My strategy through this career would be to become an entrepreneur and open own tax accounting practice. The services would include assistance for the preparation of the annual tax forms for individuals and businesses in addition to advising services in business and personal finance to ensure clients the best possible tax savings and other advantages. This would be useful to rise up the business and to fetch out the skills essential to survive in cut throat competition. Hence, to fulfill my long term plan I am willing to take employment within a large and well established enterprise. Mostly, large organizations, particularly within the financial services industry, a team of accountants are employed exclusively for preparing and recording the firms taxes. According to me, advancing within a field or organization is a better and fruitful choice rather than changing fields. The prominent reason is that I can gain experience and

Aqua Resources To List On London Stock Exchange Research Project Paper

Aqua Resources To List On London Stock Exchange Project - Research Paper Example In a quest to diversify its portfolio, Aqua resources limited made several investments in subsidiaries such as Aqua Resources (In-Pipe) Holdings Limited, Aqua Resources Asia Holdings Limited, an exempt company incorporated in the Cayman Islands formed in October 2008 and Cooperative Aqua Netherlands Holdings UA, a Dutch co-operative company formed on 22 March 2010. In the company’s short life at the London Stock Exchange, the most significant decision was the tender offer toJPMorgan Private Equity Limited where the company sold out its ordinary shares to 29.9%. This resulted in less than 25% of ordinary shareholding in the public which formed a clear basis for its delisting from the stock exchange market. Table of Contents ABSTRACT 1 List of Tables 3 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 4 1.1Background of the Study 4 1.2 Justification 5 1.3 Objectives 5 Specific objectives 5 1.4 Hypothesis 5 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 6 2.1 Process of application for listing on LSE 7 2.2 Aqua Resources P erfomance 8 2.3 Risks relating to investments in water 9 2.3.1 Challenging six months and possible merger with other funds   12 2.3.2 Collapse in share price of China Hydroelectric Corporation 13 3.0 METHODOLOGY 17 In this event study we shall use the Capital Asset Pricing Method to calculate the abnormal returns of the investments made by Aqua Resources Fund for the period between 2008-2012. Basically the abnormal return refers to the excess returns on the expected returns realized from an investment. Theassumptions underlying the CAPM are: 17 3.2 Summary of significant accounting policies 21 iv.1RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 22 4.1 Procedure for calculation of Abnormal Return 22 Step 1 22 Step 2 22 Step 3 22 Step 4 22 24 5.0 LIMITATIONS AND FURTHER RESEARCH 24 6.0 CONCLUSION 25 Bibliography 26 List of Tables Figure 1Analysis of movements in NAV for the year ended 31 December 2011 (in â‚ ¬) 20 Figure 2: The Company ended the year with liquid funds of approximately â‚ ¬4 million, r epresenting approximately 6.9% of its net assets. 20 Figure 3: Share price performance of the company 23 Figure 4: Assets at unaudited fair value at period end 23 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study Aqua Resources Fund Limited was incorporated on 12 June 2008 as a closed-ended investment fund in the water resources sector with limited liability under The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 1994 as amended. The Company was established pursuant to the framework introduced by the Guidance Document issued by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission. The company’s investment manager is FourWinds Capital Management which has the responsibility for the discretionary management of its assets with a proven track record of generating returns and managing risk across natural resources investments including water-related assets The company had a subsidiary called Ranhill Water Technologies (Cayman) Limited. RWT was a fully integrated water and waste water company with in-house ex pertise in design, construction and operations of water and wastewater plants across a number of Asian countries. Other subsidiaries of the company include: Aqua Resources (In-Pipe) Holdings Limited (â€Å"ARIHL†), a Guernsey limited company formed in August 2009; Aqua Resources Asia Holdings Limited, an exempt company incorporated in the Cayman Islands formed in October 2008; and Cooperative Aqua Netherlands Holdings UA, a Dutch co-operative company formed on 22 March 2010. 1.2 Justification This study focusses