For Home Maintenance – FORHM

The term “mass communication” is a term used in a variety of
ways, which, despite the potential for confusion, are usually clear
from the context. These include a) reference to the various
activities of the mass media as a group, b) the use of criteria of
a concept, “massiveness,” to differentiate among media and their
activities, and c) the construction of questions about
communication as applied to the activities of the mass media.
Significantly only the third of these uses do not take the actual
process of communication for granted.

“Mass Communication” is often used incorrectly to refer to the
distribution of entertainment, arts, information, and messages by
television, radio, newspapers, magazines, movies, recorded music,
and associated media. This general use of the term is only
appropriate as designating the most commonly shared features of
such otherwise disparate phenomena as broadcast television, cable,
video playback, theater projection, recorded song, radio talk,
advertising, the front page, editorial page, sports section, and
comics page of the newspaper. In this usage “mass communication”
refers to the activities of the media as a whole and fails to
distinguish among specific media, modes of communication, genres of
text or artifact, production or reception situations, or any
questions of actual communication. The only analytic purpose of the
term serves is to distinguish mass communication from
interpersonal, small-group, and other face-to-face communication
situations. Another use of the term involves the various criteria
of massiveness, which can be brought to bear in analyses of media
and mass communication situations.

These criteria may include size and differentiation of audience,
anonymity, simultaneity, and the nature of influences among
audience members and between the audience and the media.

Live television spectators of recent decades may be the epitome
of mass communication. These may include such serious events as the
funerals of India’s Late Prime Ministers Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Mr.
Rajiv Gandhi, or Martin Luther King Jr., and such entertainment
spectaculars as the Olympic Games, World Cup Soccer, and the
Academy or Grammy Awards. These transmissions are distributed
simultaneously and regardless of individual or group differences to
audience members numbering in several tens or even a few hundreds
of millions. Outside of their own local groups, these audience
members know nothing of each other. They have no real opportunities
to influence the television representation of the events or the
interpretation of those representations by other audience
members.

By contrast the spectator for most cable television channels is
much smaller and more differentiated from other audience groups.
The target audience for newspapers, magazines, and movies is less
simultaneous, again smaller and more differentiated, and there is
the potential for a flow of local influences as people talk about
articles, features and recommend movies. But compared to a letter,
phone call, conversation, group discussions, or public lecture all
of these media produce communication immensely more massive on
every criterion.

All of the criteria used in defining mass communication are
potentially confused when one is engaged in a specific research
project or critical examination. The most confounding problem is
encountered when determining the level of analysis. Should the
concern be with a single communication event or with multiple
events but a single communication channel? Should the focus be upon
multiple channels but a single medium? Does the central question
concern a moment in time or an era, a community, nation, or the
world?

Here Radio provides an excellent example of the importance of
these choices. Before television, network radio was the epitome of
mass communication; it was national, live, available and listened
to everywhere especially in a country like ours. Today it is
difficult to think of radio this way because the industry no longer
works in the same manner. Commercial radio stations depend on local
and regional sources of advertising income. Essentially all radio
stations are programmed to attract a special segment of a local or
a regional audience, and even when programming national
entertainment materials such as popular songs, stations emphasize
local events, personalities, weather, news, and traffic in their
broadcast talk. Radio is an industry characterized by specialized
channels each attracting relatively small, relatively
differentiated audiences. But the average home in the developed
nation like US and its developing counterpart India have at least
one and even more than that in compare to television sets.
Cumulatively the US and Indian audience for radio is just as big,
undifferentiated, and anonymous as that for television. Is radio
today, then a purveyor of mass communication? It depends on whether
the concern is with the industry as a whole or with the programming
and audience of a particular station.

Most uses of the term “mass communication” fall into one of
these first two categories, either to refer to the activities of
the mass media as a whole, or to refer to the massiveness of
certain kinds of communication. Both uses have in common that they
take issues of communication for granted and instead place emphasis
on the massiveness of the distribution system and the audience.
Attention is given to what are called the mass media because they
are the institutional and technological systems capable of
producing mass audiences for mass distributed “communications.”
Communication, then, ends up implicitly defined as a kind of object
(message, text, and artifact) that is reproduced and transported by
these media. For some purposes this may be exactly the right
definition. But it diminishes our ability to treat communication as
a social accomplishment, as something people do rather than as an
object that gets moved from one location to another. If
communication is people something do, then it may or may not be
successful, may or may not be healthy and happy. If communication
means, “to share” for example rather than “to transmit” then what,
if anything of importance is shared when people watch a television
programme. Scholars of mass communication are often more interested
in communication as a social accomplishment than they are in the
media as mass distribution systems. This interest is based on an
intellectual independence from both existing habits of terminology,
and most importantly, from media institutions as they exist.

What is communication theory?
Communication is a tricky concept, and while we may casually use
the word with some frequency, it is difficult to arrive at a
precise definition that is agreeable to most of those who consider
themselves communication scholars. Communication is so immensely
rooted in human behaviors and the structures of society that it is
difficult to think of social or behavioral events that are absent
communication.

We might state that communication consists of transmitting
information from one person to another. In fact, many scholars of
communication take this as a working definition, and use Lasswell’s
maxim (“who says what to whom to what effect”) as a means of
circumscribing the field of communication. Others suggest that
there is a ritual process of communication that cannot be
artificially abstracted from a particular historical and social
context. As a relatively young field of inquiry, it is probably
premature to expect a conceptualization of communication that is
shared among all or most of those who work in the area.
Furthermore, communication theory itself is, in many ways, an
attempt to describe and explain precisely what communication
is.

Indeed, a theory is some form of explanation of a class of
observed phenomena. Karl Popper colorfully described theory as “the
net, which we throw out in order to catch the world – to
rationalize, explain, and dominate it.” The idea of a theory lies
at the heart of any scholarly process, and while those in the
social sciences tend to adopt the tests of a good theory from the
natural sciences, many who study communication adhere to an idea of
theory that is akin to that found in other academic fields.
Nonetheless, when evaluating the strength of a theory, the criteria
commonly found in the sciences, and derived from the scientific
method are often broadly applicable.

Evaluating theory
What makes a theory “good”? Six criteria might be said to be
properties of a scientific and authentic theory. The terminology
presented here for the students is drawn from Littlejohn, Theories
of Human Communication, but a similar set of criteria are widely
accepted both within and outside the field of communication.

1. Theoretical Scope: How general is the theory? That is, how
widely applicable is it? In most cases, a theory that may only be
applied within a fairly narrow set of circumstances is not
considered as useful as a theory that encompasses a very wide range
of communicative interactions. The ideal, of course, is a theory
that succinctly explains the nature of human communication as a
whole.

2. Appropriateness’: Theories are often evaluated based upon how
well their epistemological, ontological, and axiological
assumptions relate to the issue or question being explained. If a
theory recapitulates its assumptions (if it is tautological), it is
not an effective theory.

3. Heuristic Value: Some theories suggest the ways in which
further research may be conducted. By presenting an explanatory
model, the theory generates questions or hypotheses that can be
operational zed relatively easily.

4. Validity: It may seem obvious that for a theory to be good,
it must also be valid. Validity refers to the degree to which the
theory accurately represents the true state of the world.

5. Parsimony: The law of parsimony (Occam’s razor) dictates that
a theory should provide the simplest possible (viable) explanation
for a phenomenon. Others suggest that good theory exhibits an
aesthetic quality, that a good theory is beautiful or natural.

6. Openness: Theories, perhaps paradoxically, should not exist
to the absolute exclusion of other theories. Theory should no be
dogma: it should encourage and provide both for skepticism and
should – to whatever degree possible – be compatible with other
accepted theory.

Moreover in the context of social sciences, we may find
different theories that each explains a phenomenon in useful ways.
There is value in being able to use theories as “lenses” through
which one can understand the world together with other scholars. So
let us discuss in nutshell the most rational and relevant
communication theories in this regard.

1. Agenda Setting Theory
The Agenda-Setting Theory says the media (specially the news media)
aren’t always successful at telling us what to think, but they are
quite successful at telling us what to think about. Theorists:
Maxwell McCombs and Donald L. Shaw Date: 1972/1973 2. Cultivation
Theory
Gerbner’s cultivation theory says that television has become the
main source of storytelling in today’s society. Those who watch
four or more hours a day are labeled heavy television viewers and
those who view less than four hours per day, according to Gerbner
are light viewers. Heavy viewers are exposed to more violence and
therefore are affected by the Mean World Syndrome, an idea that the
world is worse than it actually is. According to Gerbner, the
overuse of television is creating a homogeneous and fearful
populace. Theorist: George Gerbner Date: 1976 3. Cultural
Imperialism Theory
Cultural Imperialism Theory states that Western nations dominate
the media around the world, which in return has a powerful effect
on Third World Cultures by imposing them Western views and
therefore destroying their native cultures. Theorist: Herb Schiller
Date: 1973 4. Diffusion of Innovation Theory
In the Diffusion Innovation theory, communicators in society with a
message influence/encourage people that have strong opinions
through the media to influence the masses. Theorists: P.
Lazarsfeld, B. Berelson, and H. Gaudet Date: 1944 5. Media
Dependency Theory
This theory states that the more dependent an individual is on the
media for having his or her needs fulfilled, the more important the
media will be to that person. Theorists: Sandra Ball-Rokeach and
Melvin DeFleur Date: 1976 6. Media Equation Theory
This theory predicts why people respond unconsciously and
automatically to communication media as if it were human.
Theorists: Byron Reeves and Clifford Nass Date: 1996. 7. Spiral of
Silence Theory
The Spiral of Silence Theory explains why people often feel the
need to conceal their opinions/preferences/views/etc. when they
fall within the minority group. Theorist: Elizabeth Noelle-Neumann
Date: 1984 8. Technological Determinism Theory
Technological Determinism state that media technology shapes how we
as individuals in a society think, feel, act, and how are society
operates as we move from one technological age to another (Tribal-
Literate- Print- Electronic etc.,) Theorist: Marshall Mcluhan Date:
1962

9. Functional Approach To Mass Communication Theory There are
five functional approaches the media serves users: surveillance,
correlation, transmission, entertainment, and mobilization.
Theorists: Harold Laswell and Charles Wright Date: 1948, 1960

10. Human Action Theory
Human behavior can be predicted because people make choices with a
purpose about their actions. Behavior is chosen by individuals to
reach certain goals. Theorist: P. Winch Date: 1958

Apart from these there are many more important theories such as
Uses and Gratification Theory, Cognitive Dissonance Theory,
Communication Accommodation Theory, Expectancy Violation Theory,
Face-Negotiation Theory etc, needed to be discussed. Rest assured,
I will keep my promise in my next article provided you grab the
given one first. Please do not cram better to conceptualize. Happy
reading………

Golf Course Design Elements

An Interview by Colin Goehring with Golf Course Designer &
Architect Kevin Norby

What are the most important considerations for a golf course
developer when choosing a golf course designer?

What is really important is knowledge and experience. As an
owner, you want to make sure you’re working with someone who can
guide you through the project approval process and provide some
assurance that, when complete, the project will be successful.

In particular, it is important that the client determine who
they are building the golf course for: Whether the course is
designed for private, public or resort play will have a
considerable bearing into the design elements. These are important
factors as an owner considers what their maintenance budget will
be, as well as the caliber of golfer that will play the course.

A golf course architect is also valuable to the owner in terms
of providing guidance regarding maintenance facilities, maintenance
equipment, sighting of the clubhouse, the amount of parking
required, finding good contractors, where to look for when hiring a
manager or golf professional. In many ways, we become a sounding
board for the owner because we have a wide variety of experience in
getting these golf course projects up and running smoothly.

That’s where having an experienced golf course designer is
particularly helpful for a golf course owner; simply in having
worked through a lot of the unforeseen challenges that an owner can
have when setting up their golf course.

It’s also important that you find someone whom you can work well
with. You’ll want to find someone who is really willing to listen
to your goals and your concerns. You want to make sure you’ve got a
golf course designer who isn’t just imposing their personal biases,
style or budget onto your golf course. Issues like sizes of greens,
species of grass, the type of sand in your bunkers are all
important considerations which all affect the initial construction
budget and ongoing maintenance budget.

A designer without experience may lack the necessary
understanding of how all these elements can affect the final costs.
The last thing you want as an owner is for your costs to skyrocket
and to jeopardize the success or the project. This is where
knowledge and experience will be invaluable.

Having an experienced golf course designer is essentially like
having access to a Rolodex of industry professionals whom your
designer has a relationship with and they can call upon for
specialized knowledge when necessary.

What is your philosophy of golf course design?

What is really important for us is to have a clear understanding
who will be playing the course and their level of skill. We will
design a public course much different than a private course. The
public and semi-private courses will typically have more play by
higher handicap players. If you don’t set the course up to
accommodate that, you will end up with a course that won’t be
enjoyable for the customer and will suffer from slow play. People
just don’t want to come back to a course that takes more than 5
hours to play. So in that case, we intentionally design this type
of public course to be a little more forgiving, with wider fairways
larger greens and more forgiving hazards.

Having said that, one of the real tricks to golf design is to
create a great course that is fair and relatively forgiving for the
beginning golfer, yet strategic enough that the better player feels
challenged. We can do this by not only providing multiple tees but
by manipulating the angle to the green, contouring of the green and
landing areas, placement of bunkers and hazards and also by
adjusting the width and angle of the fairways.

What are your considerations about how the course will look and
photograph when you set up a golf course design?

Golf is a very visual game. I think that when people come out
and play the game, they want to have a great experience that they
will remember. Typically the holes that people will remember the
most are the ones that will have some dramatic effect or elevation
change. For that reason, we try to design a course so that the
holes are visually exciting. As a general ruel, we try to take
advantage of dramatic elevation changes by putting the tees up
higher and the greens and landing areas lower.

People also want to be able to see how the hole lays out in
front of them, where they are supposed to hit the ball. For this
reason, I generally avoid hidden sand traps and hazards.

My favorite type of hole to design is the short par 4. These
holes we design so that there are several options with varying risk
/ reward opportunities. We set it up so that a player who really
wants to go for it from the tee may have the opportunity to drive
the green or get very close to it. The more conservative option is
to lay-up and have a longer approach shot. Those are really fun
holes because they give a wide variety of playability options.

As it turns out, it generally ends up that the holes with some
elevation change or some elaborate bunkering or water are the most
photogenic.

What can you tell us about designing an “Environmentally
Friendly” golf course?

It pretty difficult in this day and age to find a piece of land
to design a golf course on that doesn’t have some sort of
environmental constraints. It may be as simple as a few stands of
trees, some wetlands, or a drainage corridor with some potential
for erosion. As a rule, we are looking for ways to preserve and
possibly incorporate these sensitive areas rather than to modify or
eliminate them.

It seems that these days everybody likes to claim that they are
environmentally friendly but there’s a right and a wrong way to go
about doing that.

We’ve been fortunate to have been involved in some projects that
really showcase how golf can co-exist with nature. One of the
examples of that the Refuge Golf Club in Oak Grove, Minnesota. We
worked with about 340 acres and about 100 acres of that was high
quality wetlands, as well as a pretty severe problem with diseased
oak trees. We were able to go in and route the golf course so as to
preserve the wetlands. In the end, those wetlands became an
important part of the golfing experience and strategy. A few months
after that project was done, we were notified that the department
of Natural Resources had submitted and ultimately awarded the
project an award for environmental stewardship.

Currently, we’re working with a new 18 hole golf course on Lake
Rathbun in south central Iowa. The project is part of a new State
Park and is being administered by the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources. We worked with six different routing plans on that
project before we came up with one that avoided all the sensitive
plant and animal communities. We also made use of vegetative
buffers, native prairie restoration, and a variety of water
management and monitoring practices to insure that the project does
not negatively impact the existing plant and animal communities.
This is another great example of how a golf course can co-exist
with nature.

How about considerations of fertilizers and pesticides that can
affect the drainage and water systems – what do you do with that
when you’re designing a course?

Frequently, we are either required or requested to bring
somebody in to monitor these situations so we know that the amount
of chemicals or nutrients that enter the water supply are at least
no greater than they were prior to development. There are a number
of studies that show that golf course developments can actually
reduce these problems with run off. This can happen because golf
courses make use of storm water ponds, vegetative buffers, and also
because golf course superintendents are licensed applicators.

We often will bring in storm water specialists, biologists, and
engineers to monitoring the sites. Often the erosion and chemical
contributions from a golf course will actually be reduced to a
water supply. A golf course can be actually enhance the environment
and animal species that live there.

What will inevitably happen is that there will be people in the
community who will be concerned and outspoken about the possible
negative environmental impact of the proposed golf course. An
experienced designer can assist the developer by clarifying the
issues and clearly articulating the solution to those concerns.

How can people reach you for a consultation about their golf
course or if they are considering hiring a golf course
designer?

They can call me directly at 952-361-0644 or I can be reached at
by email at golfnorby@earthlink.net.

Our website is www.HerfortNorby.com
Golf Course Architect
Kevin Norby

This article may be re-published or posted to your website as
long as it is published in its entirety and you send a note to
Kevin Norby acknowledging where you have posted it.

Copyright 2007, Kevin Norby, Herfort-Norby Golf Course
Designers

Partial-page rendering removes the need for the whole web page
to be refreshed as the result of a postback. Instead, only
individual regions of the page that have changed are updated. As a
result, users do not see the whole page reload with every postback,
which makes user interaction with the Web page more seamless.

Developers that want to add such behaviors to their web pages
are often faced with a difficult decision. All of these actions can
be implemented using a very simple solution: by refreshing the
entire page in response to the user interaction. However this
solution is easy but not always desirable. The full page refresh
can be slow, giving the user the impression that the application is
unresponsive. Another option is to implement such actions using
JavaScript (or other client-side scripting technologies). This
results in faster response times, at the expense of more complex,
less portable code. JavaScript may be a good choice for simple
actions, such as updating an image. However, for more complicated
actions, such as scrolling through data in a table, writing custom
JavaScript code can be a very challenging undertaking.

This paper provides a solution which avoids the drawbacks of the
full page refresh and custom JavaScript solutions. In this paper
partial page rendering functionality provides the ability to
re-render a limited portion of a page. As in the full page render
solution, partial page rendering sends a request back to the
application on the middle-tier to fetch the new contents. However,
when partial page rendering is used to update the page, only the
modified contents are sent back to the browser. This paper gives
the solution using a hidden Iframe and simple JavaScript to merge
the new contents back into the web page. The end result is that the
page is updated without custom JavaScript code, and without the
loss of context that typically occurs with a full page refresh.

Introduction:

Web pages typically support a variety of actions, such as
entering and submitting form data and navigating to different
pages. Many web pages also support another type of action, which is
to allow the user to make modifications to the contents of the web
page itself without actually navigating to a different page. Some
examples of such actions include. Clicking on a link could update
an image on the same page. For example, an automobile configuration
application might update an image of a car as the user chooses
different options, such as the preferred color. Selecting an item
from a choice box might result in modifications to other fields on
the same page. For example, selecting a car make might update the
set of available car models that are displayed.

Clicking a link or selecting an item from a choice could be used
to scroll to a new page of data in a table. Clicking a button in a
table might add a new row to the table.

All of these actions are similar in that they result in the same
page being re-rendered in a slightly different state. Ideally,
these changes should be implemented as seamlessly as possible, so
that the user does not experience a loss of context which could
distract from the task at hand.

Partial page rendering can be implemented with very simple
solution using a hidden Iframe and minimal JavaScript. Any part of
the page can be partially rendered with using a div or table tags
in HTML.

Page Elements That May Change During PPR:

•Re-Render Data: The same fields are redrawn but their data is
updated. Examples include the Refresh Data action button, or
recalculate totals in a table. •Re-render Dependent Fields: Fields
may be added, removed, or change sequence, and data may be updated.
Examples include the Country choice list, which may display
different address fields, and toggling between Simple and Advanced
Search. •Hide/Show Content: Both fields and data toggle in and out
of view.

Page Elements That Do Not Change During PPR:

Some page elements are always associated with a page, regardless
of the content displayed on the page.

As a general rule of thumb, elements above the page title
(except message boxes) remain constant and do not change position,
whereas elements in footer constant but may move up or down the
page to accommodate changes to page content. The following elements
never change when PPR is initiated:

• Branding
• Global buttons
• Tabs, Horizontal Navigation, SubTabs
• Locator elements: Breadcrumbs, Train, Next/Back Locator • Quick
links • Page titles (first level header) • Page footer • Separator
lines between the Tabs and Page Title

In most cases the following elements will also not change, other
than moving up or down the page to accommodate changed elements.
Nevertheless, in certain cases actions on the page may require them
to be redrawn:

• Side Navigation, unless it contains a Hide/Show control. •
Subtabs • Contextual information • Page-level action/navigation
buttons • Page-level Instruction text • Page-level Page stamps •
Page-level Key Notation

In all above scenarios this solution can be used to achieve the
good performance and user interaction of the web pages.

Contexts in Which PPR Should Not Be Used:

When PPR is implemented correctly, it significantly improves
application performance. When performance improvement is not
possible with PPR, it should not be implemented, thus avoiding
unnecessary code bloat, PPR can’t be used when navigating to
another page (with a different title).

Partial Page Rendering Solution:

Solution provided to the Partial Page Rendering using simple
hidden iframe and JavaScript, this can be used as a generalized
solution to all the Partial Page Rendering scenarios. Below is the
main html (Table 1.1), which will have two buttons one is to show a
simple table which will be generated by the server, and another
button to remove the table.

[html]
[head]
[title] Main Document [/title]
[script language="JavaScript"]
[!--
function showTable() {
hiframe.location="./table.htm";
}
function removeTable() {
document.getElementById("tableId").innerHTML="";
}
//--]
[/script]
[/head]
[body]
[iframe id="hiframe"
style="visibility:hidden;display:none"][/iframe] [table] [tr]
[td]Table::[/td] [td][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td colspan="2"][div
id="tableId"][/div][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td][input type="button"
value="Show Table" onclick="showTable()"][/td] [td][input
type="button" value="Remove Table" onclick="removeTable()"][/td]
[/tr] [/table] [/body] [/html] Table 1.1

[iframe id="hiframe"
style="visibility:hidden;display:none"][/iframe]

This iframe tag is used as target to the Partial Page Rendering
Request. The tag [input type="button" value="Show Table"
onclick="showTable()"] gives the user action to get the contents of
a table from the server, in this solution sample html is provided
to render the table, which supposed to be generated by the
server.

The tag [input type="button" value="Remove Table"
onclick="removeTable()"] gives the user to remove the table from
the user interface.

The JavaScript
function showTable() {
hiframe.location=”./table.htm”;
}

Is used to get the contents from the server, the line
hiframe.location=”./table.htm”; sends the GET request to the
server, and as a response iframe gets the HTML. If the requirement
insists to send a POST request for Partial Page rendering Response,
that can be achieved by setting the html form element target
attribute as the name of hidden iframe.

The code for the post request looks like [form method="post"
action="/myaction" target="hiframe"]

Partial Page Rendering Server Response:

Table 1.2 shows the sample response from the server for Partial
Page Rendering. This response has the JavaScript code to transfer
the HTML from hidden iframe to main page.

[html]
[head]
[script language="JavaScript"]
[!--
function iframeLoad() {
parent.document.getElementById("tableId").innerHTML =
document.getElementById("tableId").innerHTML; } //--] [/script]
[/head] [body onload="iframeLoad()"] [div id="tableId"] [table]
[tr] [td]1[/td] [td]One[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]2[/td] [td]Two[/td]
[/tr] [/table] [/div] [/body] [/html] Table 1.2
The tag [div id="tableId"] encloses the content to transfer from
hidden iframe to main page. [table] [tr] [td]1[/td] [td]One[/td]
[/tr] [tr] [td]2[/td] [td]Two[/td] [/tr] [/table] This is the
content to show the table to user.

The code [body onload="iframeLoad()"] is used for triggering the
action to transfer the content.

function iframeLoad() {
parent.document.getElementById(“tableId”).innerHTML =
document.getElementById(“tableId”).innerHTML; }

This JavaScript function does the transferring data from the
hidden iframe to main page.
parent.document.getElementById(“tableId”).innerHTML This part
refers to tag div html id in main page and this part
document.getElementById(“tableId”).innerHTML refers the HTML of the
Partial Page Response.

Conclusion:

Improve the user experience with Web pages that are richer, that
are more responsive to user actions, and that behave like
traditional client applications. Reduce full-page refreshes and
avoid page flicker. Partial page rendering using iframe is a very
simple solution.

For those who aren’t familiar, dropshipping is a business term
used for a situation where a seller sets a retail price for an
item, collects the payment, sends the wholesale cost to a
dropshipper and the item ships directly from their warehouse. In
most cases, the seller never even handles the merchandise because
every aspect of shipping is handled by the dropshipper. As
successful as the industry has become, there are concerns that
arise from this method of selling. In order to familiarize you with
those concerns and other helpful information, a list of 10 tips has
been compiled. Anyone in the dropshipping industry, or who is
considering it, should take their time and gather as much
information as possible.

Tip 1: Check out the dropshipper’s reputation with the Better
Business Bureau in their area. How long have they been in business?
Has anyone ever filed a consumer complaint against the company? If
so, has the complaint been resolved? This information can be found
at http://www.BBB.org.

Tip 2: Ask the dropshipper how quickly they will be able to
fulfill and ship the order. Be sure to inquire about whether or not
a tracking number will be available. The tracking number will be
very important because, if an item doesn’t arrive, you will need to
have some means to track the purchase and to make sure that it was
shipped. If a customer doesn’t receive a product, they will look to
you for answers.

Tip 3: If you are dropshipping, this means that the item you are
selling is not in your possession. It’s very important to let your
customers know this. Sellers should indicate that the item will
ship directly from your supplier.

Tip 4: An important factor to consider is the delivery time.
It’s pertinent to let buyers know that, because the item is
shipping directly from your supplier, they may need to allow extra
time for delivery. Make sure to ask your dropshipper how long
delivery takes so that you may pass this information on to your
buyers.

Tip 5: If a problem should arise during the course of shipment,
or if a shipment is delayed, promptly address the issue with your
buyer. It’s important to have good communication and to let your
customers know that you are always there to answer their
questions.

Tip 6: Be cautious of a dropshipper who requires that you pay a
fee to access their product line. A legitimate dropshipper should
not charge to set up an account.

Tip 7: When ordering from a dropshipping company, there should
not be a minimum order. It’s normal to get discounts on larger
quantities, but the dropshipper should be able to accommodate any
order size from 1 to 100.

Tip 8: Consider doing business with more than one dropshipping
company. It’s always a good idea to shop around for a larger
variety of better deals. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket,
so to speak.

Tip 9: When you begin doing business with a new dropshipping
company, order a few test products for yourself. Afterall, you are
the one who will be selling the products and you will want to make
sure the company offers quality products, reliability and accuracy
in filling orders.

Tip 10: The whole idea behind dropshipping is wholesale. You are
buying a product at such a low price that you should be able to
sell it for a profit. The dropshipper is the wholesaler and you
become the retailer. It’s easy to forget that some things really
are too good to be true. Just like everything else, there are scams
out there so be careful. The bottom line is that regardless of how
wonderful the deals may seem, start slow and build up to larger
orders as you become more comfortable with the process.

Electric mobility scooters are designed to assist those who have
physical conditions that make walking hard enjoy the sense of
independence and freedom that comes from mobility. When selecting
the appropriate make and model of an electric scooter the
individual rider ‘s overall physical condition and personal
preferences need to be considered in relation to the basic
construction of the scooter.

The basic construction should combine a backrest, seat and foot
support to provide a comfortable and stable seating base. This
enables riders to expend their energy on the essential activities,
such as operating the vehicle and accomplishing tasks from within
the mobility scooter rather than wasting effort trying to maintain
a comfortable, upright position. The seat unit should have an
anatomically contoured seat base and backrest and be wide enough to
accommodate outdoor clothing if necessary. However, it should not
be so wide that the user is forced to sit asymmetrically to feel
properly supported. If the seat is too narrow it will become
uncomfortable and increase the risk of pressure sores.

Try to choose an electric mobility scooter that has a seat and
backrest which can be adjusted to meet individual comfort levels.
As well, a seat with fold up armrests adds to the comfort of the
rider, make transferring on and off the seat easier and will reduce
the amount of physical strain on the upper body. A stable seating
posture is essential in order to manage the vehicle ‘s controls
which are located on the tiller, or steering column and
handlebars.

The tiller is the control and steering mechanism for the
mobility scooter and has the controls to drive the scooter forward
or in reverse, as well as steering the front wheels. Some tillers
feature height and angle adjustability to ensure that the rider can
comfortably reach the tiller and therefore has maximum control over
the scooter. A console, centrally located on the tiller, has the
supplementary controls for lights, indicators, horn and to power
the unit on and off. Two hands are typically required to manage the
tiller steering component of an electric mobility scooter. Some
models can be controlled by only one hand if the model is equipped
with one level for acceleration that switches for forward and
reverse mode, however operating supplementary controls at the same
time as steering can be hard.

A motorized wheelchair is a form of personal transportation that
typically has six wheels and is steered using a “joystick” type
control mechanism. Other names for the motorized wheelchair
include, electric chair, power wheelchair and power chair. A
motorized wheelchair is usually equipped with outstanding
maneuverability features that make them perfect for use in the home
and will generally fit just about anywhere. Motorized wheelchairs
are typically for in-door use.

The power mobility provided by electric wheelchairs has made a
dramatic difference in many people’s lives. The development of new
technology in the industry has made it possible for people to
obtain smaller, more lightweight and maneuverable motorized
wheelchairs for use inside the home allowing people to move about
in small places and complete their activities of daily living
without being bed-ridden or sent to nursing homes.

In comparison, electric mobility scooters have either three or
four wheels and steer much like a bicycle, using a set of
handlebars and hand operated control mechanisms. Electric mobility
scooters are ideal for indoor and outdoor activities, as they glide
smoothly and simply over a variety of surfaces. There are even
portable electric mobility scooters that will fit easily in the
trunk of a car. Electric mobility scooters are reliable,easy to
operate, comfortable, safe and do not have the more obvious medical
appearance of a motorized wheelchair.

If the intended rider is interested in an electric mobility
scooter that will travel as well as provide travel you will want to
investigate transportable electric mobility scooters. Transportable
mobility scooters can be dismantled for transport and storage. On
larger scooters or those intended for rugged outdoor use, you may
want to check the weight of the largest individual piece in order
to be properly prepared to disassemble as individual components can
still be quite heavy. Although a convenient feature, when you
consider transporting a mobility scooter you will have to keep in
mind that transporting the scooter will require it to be broken
down before the next destination, assembled upon arrival,
disassembled upon return and once again assembled for use at home.
This may not seem very convenient, but when it comes to being able
to join family and friends on a special outing or having to choose
to not participate due to physical limitations, the break down and
set up of the mobility scooter is a more than worthwhile small
chore in comparison to the benefits it brings to the rider and
their ability to interact independently with family and
friends.

As one of the nightlife hubs of Thailand, Pattaya has as much to
do during the midnight hours as it does during the day. It has
gained notoriety as the capital if Thailand’s sex industry, but
there are plenty of other entertainment venues in town including
beach-related activities, amusement parks and fine, five-star
accommodation.

Mini Siam
For a glimpse into Thailand’s historic and architectural past, pay
a visit to Mini Siam on Sukhumvit Road. Tourists flock here daily
to walk in among the 80 buildings that make up this miniature
reconstruction of Thailand’s more popular sites such as the Temple
of Phimai in Nakorn Ratchisima, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha as
well as modern additions like Don Muang Airport. These recreations
are scaled down to 1:25 of their original size and are best viewed
at night when the exhibits are illuminated. Ripley’s Believe It or
Not
Pattaya is not particularly well-known for its museums however
there is one facility that fits the bill in an off-beat sort of
way. Ripley’s Believe It or Not is a shrine to bizarre, unexplained
phenomena that have stumped and amazed people for years. There are
more than 300 displays and several immersive exhibitions including
the Motion Master, the eerie Haunted Adventure and the walk-through
sound and light show called the Infinity Maze. Many of these larger
exhibits employ actors, impressive special effects and animatronics
to enhance their effect. The museum can be found on the third floor
of the Royal Garden Plaza. Sriracha Tiger Zoo
The Sriracha Tiger Zoo is located just off Route 3241 and can be
reached via a 30-minute drive from Pattaya. Animal lovers are given
the opportunity to interact with tiger cubs and even bottle feed
them under carefully supervised conditions. Photo opportunities are
possible, and there are a few other side exhibits that include
elephant shows and crocodile demonstrations. One of the more
outlandish presentations features a woman wrestling a crocodile.

Million Years Stone Park and Pattaya Crocodile Farm A wealth of
flora and fauna can be found at the Million Years Stone Park,
located 15 minutes drive from the city centre. These well-kept
grounds are home to a variety of plant and animal life with
impressive specimens included in the beautiful bonsai garden, and
breeding pens accommodate 1,000 crocodiles. The daily crocodile
roundup can be viewed by visitors every afternoon, and there are
also elephant shows and a group of rare albino bears on
display.

Wat Yansangwararam
Pattaya’s most well-known temple was built in 1988 in honour of
King Bhumibol’s 42nd year on the throne. The temple sits atop 299
stairs skirted by slithering snakes. The grounds are well-kept and
include a pond and Chinese pavilions. There’s also a small museum
on the grounds that contains antiques and art exhibits that
originated in China. Yansangawararam is located just a few miles
south of the city centre. Nong Nooch Tropical Garden
This sprawling, 600 acre park is a replica of a Thai village and
offers a glimpse into the life of the agricultural population. Some
of the ground’s more outstanding attractions include a cactus
garden and an impressive orchid nursery. There’s a zoo that houses
local animal species and a lake for canoeing. In the arts centre,
daily presentations include exhibitions of Thai dance, Thai boxing,
an elephant show and cock fighting. The gardens are located a few
miles south of Pattaya, and shuttles leave from Nipa Lodge Hotel
several times a day. There are also bungalows and cottages on the
grounds itself for those visitors who wish to stay overnight.
Pattaya Elephant Village
The Thais have had a long relationship with their indigenous
elephants, with roots that date back to their roles as beasts of
war in ancient times. More recently, elephants were employed in the
timber industry as teak wood haulers. Today, they are protected by
law and are most easily viewed at special facilities like the
Pattaya Elephant Village. A variety show is performed every day in
which the elephants play football and demonstrate their prowess at
hauling lumber. Visitors are also given the opportunity to ride
elephants. Pattaya Beach
Pattaya’s greatest local attraction is its beach, more than two
miles of which borders the city centre. A tree-lined walking path
gives easy access to several laid-back restaurants that serve some
of the city’s finest fresh seafood. The southern stretch of beach
is livelier due to the commercial development and the thriving
nightlife, while the northern stretch is more peaceful. Swimming in
the waters takes a back seat to the more aggressive water sports
and chartered boats bound for nearby islands. Nightlife
You can’t visit Pattaya without acknowledging its strongest asset,
a behemoth nightlife and sex industry. A great number of foreign
tourists come here to specifically indulge in the many bars and
clubs that are fronted by minimally-dressed, young Thai ladies.
Walking street is home to a long stretch of go-go bars, along with
a few establishments that cater for gay clientele. Those who would
like to enjoy a night out with a little less sleaze will find a
couple of Irish pubs, a blues bar and an English pub. Amusement
parks
Due to the city’s status as a tourist destination, there is every
manner of amusement park to entertain visitors. Underwater World is
an impressive, modern aquarium—the largest in all of Asia, with an
underwater walking tunnel that allows a unique perspective on the
aquatic life. Funnyland Amusement Park has mainstream carnival
rides including a roller coaster, carousel and a swinging Viking
ship. Pattaya Water Park offers respite from the summer heat with
water slides, whirlpools and a children’s swimming area. For a more
secluded experience, check out the Pattaya Park Resort and
Amusement Park which is located on a secluded coastline with
staggering towers that house revolving restaurants with spectacular
views.

The heap of anguish caused by the claustrophobic city life can
only be eradicated when you take a stride down the blue beaches of
Australia or relax at the foot of Christ De Redeemer in Rio de
Janeiro. When life demands too much and you want to escape from
this mundane world, take a flight to one of your desired
destinations and spend the holiday there with your loved ones. Give
yourself a chance to enjoy the gorgeous Greek Island, scintillating
Cuba or the magical Thailand. The unparalleled exquisiteness of the
five top destinations below is alluring visitors to feast on the
amazing beauty.

1. Australia – Whitsunday Islands

The spectacular scene of Australia has made it the suitable
holiday destination for people from all over the world. The very
thought of the coral reefs, lush rainforests and the amazingly warm
ocean water would chill you up and you won’t be able to resist the
charm of holidaying in this country. Whitsunday coasts and islands
seem to have been naturally tailored to quench your need of getting
lost in the soothing greens and serene blue of the water. The
Islands are centrally located on the Queensland Coast where almost
all flights have been given access. The airport is about 40 minutes
away from the Airlie Beach and leisure can be enjoyed to the full
extent. Apart from this Island particularly, Australia is
encompassing within itself a wide array of holiday zones. The Gold
Coasts, Hunter Valley, Sunshine coast, the wonderful Sydney and so
on. At Whitsunday, you will get the opportunity to select resorts
and hotels of your choice. The availability of the peaceful
ambience, spas, swimming pools, gardens and other amenities will
vary with the denomination of the accommodation you choose. The
exciting Great Barrier Reef, the stunning beauty of the Proserpine
River and the luxury yachts are bound to drive you ecstatic.
Holiday packages to this Island will seem to be incomplete, as you
will fall in love with Whitsunday forever.

2. Brazil – Rio de Janeiro

It may be the outstanding color of its beaches or the magical
sound produced by the forests that has made the creation of samba
music possible in Rio de Janeiro. The high-spirited people of this
state make Brazil one of the liveliest places on earth. Those of
you who are fond of sports must take your family to this city to
enjoy the essence of sports and sporting spirit. The intense
cultural life of ravishing Rio includes mind-blowing music and
heart throbbing belly dances. The state is the pride of Brazilians
for it includes within it, theaters, clubs, museums, beaches,
gardens, forests, lagoons and the memorabilia of the World War II.
Winter is full of events and it would the best time to take a
flight to Rio and give your life a new refreshing turn. Hotels and
inns are available at your fingertips, which you can reserve even
via the Internet.

3. Greek Islands

If you are a travel freak then you must spend your next holiday
at the Greek Islands, which are about 22 in number. Mykonos would
take you down the memory lanes with the windmills turning the pages
of history. Affordable hotels and excellent services are designed
to make your visit very pleasurable. Naxos is the island of
churches, Venetian castles and homes just opposite to the nightlife
culture that Rhodes can give. Lesvos is a perfect destination to
soothe your tired mind and eyes. Wildlife, restaurants, spas and
greenery can cheer you up for the rest of the hectic year ahead.
Most of the islands here are breathtaking and you can zoom through
the clouds directly or can halt in mainland Greece and then move
ahead. Accommodation places are always ample, just prior booking is
essential.

4. Cuba

Vigorous salsa, mind-blowing architecture, exciting tropical
beaches and the swashbuckling nightlife can be the most apt phrases
to describe Cuba – the dream destination for most people.
Relaxation coupled with luxury is going to make your holiday in
Cuba one of the most memorable experiences. This unique and safe
Caribbean Island has got a historic importance of its own. Fishing
or sailing in a tranquil ambience can reinvigorate you to your
fullest. The journey to Cuba would revitalize you, shedding all the
lethargic loads that you had been carrying so far. Your stride
through the Las Terrazas will enable you to relish the flora and
fauna. The coffee at a famous Cafetal restaurant would make you
nostalgic, and sips at the Darquiri cocktail at Tropicana Cabaret
are definitely an enchanting experience. Ecological tours of the
Western Cuba can also be a sumptuous and momentous moment for you.
If you are looking for cheap eats and lodging, you can find it at
this top holiday destination.

5. Thailand

Thailand gains prominence as one of the hottest tourist sports
for the sky kissing mountains, green meadows, multi-colored
orchids, fascinating native handcrafts, coupled with the tropical
climate. The country is well known for the hospitality, and the
local food is also superb to taste. For the active traveler, this
can be the ideal spot to spend the holidays. Travel packages booked
earlier can make your journey to this place an interesting one.
Bangkok is the main gateway to Thailand where the international
airport is situated. The religion followed in this country is
Buddhism and everywhere place you visit, you are going to find
information pertaining to Lord Buddha. The elephant conservation
center, wildlife sanctuaries, Thai crafts and the fruit carving are
simply wonderful. The capital Bangkok is of great prominence due to
the natural beauty that it ensembles. Makha Puja, Flower festival,
Pattya festival and the Sonkran festivals attract throngs of
visitors every year to this country. For a cool escape, the
southern beaches are a definite hot spot and are not to be missed,
Phuket having the biggest tourism numbers followed by Koh
Samui.

Holidaying in any of these top destinations will leverage the
stressful life you live and will have to resume to after some days.
Visits to these heavenly places will make your experience
meaningful and you will find a new spirit to restart your life. So,
keep aside all hesitations, pack your luggage and set off for the
dream destination that you had been longing for so far!

Torquay – the Queen of the Riviera is one of the most popular destinations for coastal holidays in England. Situated in South West England in the area of Torbay and county of Devon, Torquay is famed for its culture, history and beaches. Without a doubt, Torquay is an excellent location for a holiday, and in keeping with all that this town has to offer, there are excellent accommodation options available for all. Here are the top ten hotels to stay at in Torquay:

1. Cary Arms Inn and Restaurant makes the top of the list – this 5 AA Stars and 5 Visit Britain Stars hotel is one of the finest in the country, and serves the very best of seaside gastro pub food and real ales. With luxurious ensuite bedrooms with magnificent sea views, this Inn is worth every penny spent, with prices from £150.00.
2. Coming in at number two is Palace Hotel, which has been awarded 4 AA Stars and 4 Visit Britain Stars. Beautifully set in 25 acres, this hotel has excellent service, cuisine and leisure facilities. Prices here are approximately £60.00.
3. The Grand Hotel makes a close number three – this hotel has also been awarded 4 AA Stars and 4 Visit Britain Stars, and boasts stunning sea views. Prices are from £60.00.
4. Number Four is the 4 AA Stars hotel, Elmington Hotel. This hotel is set in large gardens and boasts a swimming pool and lovely sea views. Prices are from £22.00 – family, double twin and single rooms are available.
5. Livermead Cliff Hotel is number five – it has 3 AA Stars and 3 Visit Britain Stars status, and is very unique as it is Torquay’s only water’s edge hotel with a beach on either side. Prices are from £38.50.
6. Livermead House Hotel: this hotel has been awarded 3 AA Stars and 3 Visit Britain Stars, and is close to the centre of Torquay town on Torbay Road. Average prices are from £30.00.
7. Corbyn Head Hotel is ideally located close to the beaches and is also close to the Town Centre. This hotel has been awarded 3 AA Stars and 3 Visit Britain Stars and prices are from £35.00.
8. Orestone Manor Hotel makes this list for its relaxing informal ambience and stylish quality and comfort. This hotel boasts 3 AA Stars and has prices starting from £135.00.
9. Toorak Hotel, awarded with 3 Visit Britain Stars, prides itself on its comfort, quality and high standards, and makes its place in this list at number nine. Prices are from £57.00.
10. Carlton Hotel is another 3 Visit Britain Stars awarded hotel in Torquay, and is located just a few minutes walk from the seafront. Prices are from £54.00.
 

The Renault Clio is a car full of options. It offers a differing
range of body styles, 3 and 5 door options, and different choices
of diesel engines. The Clio is the biggest car in its class
appearing much larger than its predecessor. The interior has gone
through a complete remodel. The Clio has the option of key card
entry. The 1.5 litre diesel engine version of the Clio comes in
three outputs,

The Clio is an economical car both in purchase price and in
economy. The Clio contains more cabin space than its rivals, with
front seat passengers enjoying an abundance of head, leg and elbow
room. The glove box is also a nice useful size. The controls and
dials are large, useful, and easily read.

Renaults Clio provides a smooth ride with comfortable seating.
There is minimal engine and road noise even at higher speeds. The
Clio has easy access with wide opening doors and seats which sit
high enough for passengers to slide in.

The large area of glass in the Clio provides good all-round
visibility. The car is easy to drive with a 1.5-litre engine which
is powerful enough for a smooth ride. The steering is light, but
accurate and well weighted. The interior and exteriors are both
made from good quality materials made to durable and stylish.

The Clio has good cabin space making it an excellent choice for
a small family vehicle. There is ample space for front and rear
passengers and there is enough space in the boot to carry cargo.
The Clio would be an excellent choice for a first time cars buyer.
It’s economical on fuel and its standards provide for good
insurance rates.

The Clio comes standard with remote deadlocking and a security
alarm. It also features automatic door locking over 5 mph, and
engine immobiliser. ABS brakes are standard, and the Clio features
four airbags on all models. The active head restraint has also been
added. The Renault Clio also comes standard with and audio system
including a radio/CD player.

The Privelege versions of the Clio come with a two tone
dashboard, with the interior finish of dark grey.

The Renault Megane is an exception to the boring cars in its
class. The Megane Sport Tourer has been improved with its new
V-shaped grille, enhanced headlights, and new front bumper. The
rear bumper has also been modified just slightly. The interior
sports instrument graphics with white backlighting.

The Megane’s improved electronic power steering feature helps
for a smoother, more enjoyable ride. The car has a range of
powerful diesel engines, but it doesn’t sacrifice on economy. The
Megane should be inexpensive to maintain and to run because of the
availability of diesel engines, low asking price and likely low
insurance rates.

The interior cabin of the Renault Megane is spacious providing
room for up to four adults. There is plenty of leg and head room in
the front for the comfort of passengers. The rear does have its
limitations on leg room. The boot is large and its low loading lip
is accommodating. The rear seats can fold down for even more cargo
room. The Megane’s controls are easy to locate and are intuitively
placed. The seats are comfortable in both the rear and front seats,
being wide and supportive. The suspension adds to the comfortable
ride, accommodating for any bumps along the road. The doors open
wide for ease of entering the care.

The tail lights are designed in a stacked configuration for ease
in reverse parking. The Megane Sports Tourer features a 1.9-litre
dCi 130bhp engine which produces performance along with economy and
refinement.

The Megane has standard remote central locking, engine
immobilizer, and security alarms are available as an option.
Keyless entry is also a safety feature which can provide a high
level of security. Safety features also include ABS and Electronic
Brakeforce Distribution with ESP and traction control. Tire
pressure monitoring is a useful option as well.

The Renault Megane audio system comes standard with a radio/CD
player combination providing good sound quality. Column mounted
controls provide for easy driver operation.

Accommodation; a luxury suite or even a simple room, elegantly designed with all the comforts such as a luxurious bathroom, comfy furnishings and the latest in gadgets such as LCD TV, VCD player, communication equipments such as computer are a must.

Service is another all-important factor. Day-and-night service like laundry, dry cleaning, newspaper, is vital for a five star hotel. Spa treatments, massage, relaxing treatments for body, hair treatments, sauna and Jacuzzi are essential. Health Club, Beauty Salon, Swimming Pool and Tennis Courts are also significant for resulting in an all round epicurean experience.

The flourishing hospitality industry in India is 2nd only to China in Asia. As per Indian tourism ministry, around four million tourists visited India in year 2009, which has enhanced to ten million in year 2010. But there is hitch; India is facing a vast deficiency of rooms, i.e. it is “under roomed” while the tourists are growing speedily. There is a big deficiency in hotel accommodations.

Hospitality sector plays a key role in the total economic growth of the country. Along with the speedy industrial growth and advancement of tourism, the catering and 5 star hotel sector is flourishing at a speedy pace. The Indian middle class is becoming prosperous day by day and domestic Indian tourist travel is springing up speedily, allowing this class to avail five star hotel facilities.
 

Food is one factor that can make or mar the reputation of a five star hotel. A good 5 star hotel must have specialized and multi-cuisine restaurants, pastry shop, a bar and a twenty-four hour coffee shop. Cuisine should include the local variety as well as specialized cuisine such as Chinese, continental, Italian, Thai, etc. For a seasoned traveler, in-house shopping venues such as designer boutiques and gift shops are a must.

For a business traveler, besides the above mentioned luxuries, the hotel should also fulfill his business needs. All the essential communication equipments like multiple phone lines, fax, PC, and internet services should be available all the time. The hotel should have good transport services to ferry business travelers to airports and railway stations. Day-and-night chauffeured services are always a plus.

Meeting and conference facilities like meeting rooms, conference rooms, seminar rooms with full audio & video conferencing facilities is crucial for attracting good business. A five star hotel should be practical as well as luxurious. Earmark of a good 5-star hotel is its loyal clientele, great services and elegant care.