public function order($order, $direction = 'asc')
	{

		//put this in try...catch block for better error handling
		try{

			//throw esception if empty value for $order was passed
			if ( empty($order) ) 
			{
				//throw exception
				throw new MySQLException("Empty value passed for parameter $order in order() method", 1);

			}
			
		}

		//diplay error message
		catch(MySQLException $MySQLExceptionObject){

			//display error message
			$MySQLExceptionObject->errorShow();

		}

		//set the orders property
		$this->orders = $order;

		//set the directions property
		$this->directions = $direction;

		return $this;

	}