Saturday, October 26, 2019

Historical Development Of Atomic Structure :: essays research papers

Historical Development of Atomic Structure Yazan Fahmawi Sept. 30, 1995 T3 IBS Chemistry Ms. Redman The idea behind the "atom" goes back to the Ancient Greek society, where scientists believed that all matter was made of smaller, more fundamental particles called elements. They called these particles atoms, meaning "not divisible." Then came the chemists and physicists of the 16th and 17th centuries who discovered various formulae of various salts and water, hence discovering the idea of a molecule. Then, in 1766 was born a man named John Dalton born in England. He is known as the father of atomic theory because he is the one who made it quantitative, meaning he discovered many masses of various elements and, in relation, discovered the different proportions which molecules are formed in (i.e. for every water molecule, one atom of oxygen and two molecules of hydrogen are needed). He also discovered the noble, or inert gases, and their failure to react with other substances. In 1869 a Russian chemist, best known for his development of the periodic law of the properties of the chemical elements (which states that elements show a regular pattern ("periodicity") when they are arranged according to their atomic masses), published his first attempt to classify the known elements. His name was Mendeleyev, and he was a renowned teacher. Because no good textbook in chemistry was available at the time, he wrote the two-volume Principles of Chemistry (1868-1870), which later became a classic. During the writing of this book, Mendeleyev tried to classify the elements according to their chemical properties. In 1871 he published an improved version of the periodic table, in which he left gaps for elements that were not yet known. His chart and theories gained acceptance by the scientific world when three elements he "predicted"—gallium, germanium, and scandium—were subsequently discovered In 1856 another important figure in atomic theory was born: Sir Joseph John Thomson. In 1906, after teaching at the University of Cambridge and Trinity University in England, he won the Nobel Prize in physics for his work on the conduction of electricity through gases. He discovered what an electron is using cathode rays. An electron is the smallest particle in an atom, whose mass is negligible compared to the rest of the atom, and whose charge is negative. Though scientists did not know it at the time, electrons were located in an electron cloud rotating around the nucleus, or center of the atom. Another prominent figure in nuclear physics is a man called Ernest Rutherford, born in 1871. He also was a professor at the University of Cambridge, the University of Manchester (both of which are in England), and at McGill College

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Childcare: Nursery School and Children Essay

This policy represents the agreed principles for Safeguarding Children throughout the Nursery. All Nursery staff, representing Jack in the Box at Yewtree Nursery have agreed this policy. Introduction The health, safety and welfare of all our children are of paramount importance to all the adults who work in our Nursery. Our children have the right to protection, regardless of age, gender, race, culture, background or disability. They have a right to be safe in our Nursery. This policy is in line with LSCB (Local Safeguarding Children Boards) local guidance and procedures. Aims and objectives Our aims are: * to provide a safe environment for children to learn in; to establish what actions the Nursery can take to ensure that children remain safe, at home as well as at school; * to raise the awareness of all staff to these issues, and to define their roles and responsibilities in reporting possible cases of abuse; * to identify children who are suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm; * to ensure effective communication between all staff on child protection issues; * to set down the correct procedures for those who encounter any issue of safeguarding. Statutory Framework This policy is formulated using the DfES documents: ‘Circular 10/95 – Protecting Children from Abuse: The Role of the Education Service’, ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (2006), ‘Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education’ (2006) and Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board Child Protection procedures (2007). Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 introduced a new duty requiring governing bodies and LAs to have appropriate child-protection procedures in place. This policy takes account of the requests set out in the Children Act 2004 (‘Every Child Matters’). Nursery Schools are expected to ensure that they have appropriate procedures in place for responding to situations in which they believe that a child has been abused or is at risk of abuse – these procedures should also cover circumstances in which a member of staff is accused of, or suspected of, abuse. DfEE Circular 10/95 (Protecting Children from Abuse: The Role of the Education Service) places the following responsibilities on all schools:- * Nurseries should be aware of and follow the procedures established by the Safeguarding Committee * Nurseries should have procedures (of which all staff are aware) for handling suspected cases of abuse of pupils, including procedures to be followed if a member of staff should be alerted to signs of abuse and know to whom they should report any concerns or suspicions * The Designated Senior Person should have responsibility for co-ordinating action within the Nursery and liaise with other agencies * Staff with designated responsibility for Safeguarding should receive appropriate training Circular 10/95 also states that â€Å"parents should be made aware of the Nursery Schools Safeguarding Policy and the fact that this may require cases to be referred to the investigative agencies in the interests of the child†. This including the police. The Designated Senior Persons (DSP) Miss Jennifer Underwood (Senior) Miss Karen Paddick (Deputy) The Designated Senior Persons (DSP) for Safeguarding are the managers of the Nursery. The DSPs’ role is to:- * ensure that the Hertfordshire Area safeguarding Committee’s Safeguarding Procedures are followed in the Nursery * ensure that all staff are aware of these procedures * ensure that appropriate training and support is provided to all staff * develop effective working relationships with other agencies and services * decide whether to take further action about specific concerns (e.g. refer to Children Schools and Families Referral and Assessment Team) * liaise with Social Work Teams over suspected cases of child abuse * ensure that accurate records relating to individual children are kept in a secure place and marked ‘Strictly Confidential’ * submit reports to, and attend, Safeguarding Conferences * ensure that the nursery effectively monitors children who have been identified as ‘at risk’ * provide guidance to parents, children and staff about obtaining suitable support. * Keep up to date with all relevant procedures and legislations * Attend TAC (Team Around the Child) and CAF (Common Assessment Framework) meetings Nursery Procedures * if any member of staff is concerned about a child he or she must inform the DSPs’ * information regarding the concerns must be recorded by the member of staff on the same day on a ‘cause for concern’ sheet (which has an outline of a body on it – staff must accurately record their concerns). The recording must be a clear, precise, factual account of the observations and must be dated. These sheets are kept in the DSP’s ‘Children Causing Concern’ file, which is kept securely in the managers locked cupboard. * the DSP will decide whether the concerns should be referred to Children Schools and Families. If it is decided to make a referral to Children School and Families this may be done without prior discussion with parents * if a referral is made to Children Schools and Families, the DSP will ensure that a written confirmation of the concerns is sent to the ‘Call Centre’ within 48 hours when requested * particular attention will be paid to the attendance and development of any child who the nursery believes to be ‘at risk’ or who has been placed on the Safeguarding children Register * records relating to Safeguarding children will be kept in a secure locked place, separate from the child’s general file * if a pupil who is known to be on the Safeguarding children Register changes nursery school, the DSP will inform the social worker responsible for the case and transfer the appropriate records to the receiving School/Nursery, in a secure manner, to a named person, and separate from the child’s general file. Prevent Abuse by means of good practice * Adults will never be left alone for long periods of time, with individual children or with small groups * Adults that have no CRB certificate or relevant childcare qualifications will never be left alone with a child. * Children will have regular circle time and discussions on appropriate behaviour * All staff are aware of where to access the response phone number. It is clearly displayed on notice boards within the nursery. Staff training A clear vetting and barring training is in place for all new staff and clear policies are in staff handbook. All adults in the Nursery receive regular training to raise their awareness of abuse, and to improve their knowledge of Safeguarding procedures that have been agreed locally. The maximum period of time before refresher training must take place is three years. All staff have appraisals and yearly performance management which are informed by peer on peer observations. When to be concerned Staff should be concerned about a pupil if he or she:- * has any injury which is not typical of the bumps and scrapes normally associated with children’s injuries * regularly has unexplained injuries   * frequently has injuries (even when apparently reasonable explanations are given) * gives confused or conflicting explanations on how injuries were sustained * exhibits significant changes in behaviour, performance or attitude * indulges in sexual behaviour which is unusually explicit and/or inappropriate to his or her age * discloses an experience in which he or she may have been harmed * gives other cause to believe that he or she may be suffering significant harm Dealing with a disclosure If a pupil discloses that he or she has been abused in some way, the member of staff should:- * listen to what is being said without displaying shock or disbelief * accept what is being said * allow the child to talk freely * reassure the child but not make promises which it might not be possible to keep * not promise confidentiality – it might be necessary to refer to Children Schools and Families * reassure him or her that what has happened is not his or her fault * stress that it was the right thing to tell * listen, rather than ask direct questions * if necessary, ask open questions, not leading questions * not criticise the alleged perpetrator * explain what has to be done next and who has to be told. Record keeping and monitoring When a pupil has made a disclosure, the member of staff should:- * make brief notes during and as soon as possible after the conversation * not destroy the original notes in case they are needed by a court * record the date, time, place and any noticeable non-verbal behaviour and the words used by the child * complete the diagram with an outline of a body shape, to indicate the position of any bruising or other injury * record statements and observations rather than interpretations or assumptions on the incident report form. * the DSP is required to undertake an annual Safeguarding Checklist Dealing with a disclosure from a child, and a Safeguarding case in general, is likely to be a stressful experience. The member of staff should, therefore, consider seeking support for him/herself and discuss this with the DSP. Whistleblowing It is important to Jack in the Box that any fraud, misconduct or wrongdoing by employees or people at Jack in the Box is reported and properly dealt with. At Jack in the Box we encourage all individuals to raise any concerns that they may have about the conduct of others in the setting or the way in which the setting is run. At Jack in the Box, we recognise that effective and honest communication is essential if malpractice is to be effectively dealt with. histleblowing relates to all staff and volunteers who work within the setting, who may from time to time think that they need to raise with someone in confidence certain issues relating to Jack in the Box. Whistleblowing is separate from the grievance procedures. If you have a complaint about your own personal circumstances you need to follow the grievance procedures highlighted in the ‘staff hand book’. If you are concerned about malpractice within Jack in the Box the following procedures need to be followed: * Report any concerns to Jenny Underwood or Zoe Tearle * All staff are aware of preventing and eliminating wrongdoing within Jack in the Box and are watchful for illegal, inappropriate or unethical conduct and report anything of that nature to the managers. * Staff understand that any matter raised under this procedure will be investigated thoroughly, promptly and confidentially, and the outcome of the investigation will be reported back to you. * No one will be victimised for raising the matter under this procedure and continued employment and opportunities for future promotion or training will not be prejudiced because of a legitimate concern. * Victimisation of an individual for raising a qualified disclosure will be a disciplinary offence. * If misconduct is discovered as a result of any investigation under this procedure Jack in the Box disciplinary procedure will be used, in addition to any appropriate external measures. * If a malicious, vexatious or false allegation is made then this will be considered to be a disciplinary offence and disciplinary action will be taken. * Any instruction to cover up wrongdoing is itself a disciplinary offence. If you are told not to raise or pursue any concerns, even by a person in authority such as a manager, you should not agree to remain silent. In this event you should report the mater to either Jenny Underwood or Zoe Tearle. Allegations against staff If an allegation is made against a member of the nursery staff (or a volunteer helper), advise would be taken from the LADO and Children Schools and Families will be contacted immediately. If it is felt, after these initial investigations, that a further enquiry is needed, then the member of staff will be suspended. Suspension is a neutral act, and in no way implies that the person is guilty of any wrongdoing. However, it is acknowledged that this would be distressing for the person concerned, and the Nursery will do all it can to balance the interests of any individual with that of the need to keep children safe. The Nursery will seek advice from Children Schools and Families on these matters, and comply with national and locally agreed guidance. Physical restraint There may be times when adults, in the course of their duties, have to intervene physically in order to restrain children and prevent them from coming to harm. Such intervention will always be the minimum necessary to resolve the situation. We follow the guidance given in the DfES circular 10/98 on The Use of Force to Control or Restrain Pupils. The managers will require the adult(s) involved in any such incident to report the matter to him or her immediately. Confidentiality DfEE 10/95 acknowledges that Safeguarding Children raises issues of confidentiality that must be clearly understood by all staff in schools. The Circular advises that all staff in the nursery have: â€Å"a responsibility to share relevant information about the protection of children with other professionals, particularly the investigative agencies (Children Schools and Families and the Police). If a child confides in a member of staff and requests that the information is kept secret, it is important that the member of staff tells the child sensitively that he or she has a responsibility to refer cases of alleged abuse to the appropriate agencies for the child’s sake. Within that context, the child should, however, be assured that the matter will be disclosed only to people who need to know about it. Staff who receive information about children and their families in the course of their work should share that information only within appropriate professional contexts. Child Prot ection records should be kept securely locked†. Employment and recruitment Jack in the Box ensures that people looking after children are suitable to fulfil the requirements of their roles. We have effective systems in place to ensure that practitioners, and any other person who is likely to have regular contact with children are suitable. Practitioners must tell managers if they are expected to disclose any convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warnings which may affect their suitability to work with children (whether received before or during their employment at the setting). Jack in the Box does not allow people whose suitability has not been checked, including through a criminal records check, to have unsupervised contact with children being cared for. Managers record information about staff qualifications and the identity checks and vetting processes that have been completed (including the criminal records disclosure, reference number, the date a disclosure was obtained and details of who obtained it). Jack in the box meets their responsibilities under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. We will do all we can to ensure that all those working with children in our nursery are suitable people. This involves scrutinising applicants, verifying their identity and obtaining references, as well as the mandatory checks and enhanced CRB. We follow the DfES guidance set out in Safeguarding Children: Preventing Unsuitable People from Working with Children and Young Persons in the Education Service, DfES. We ensure that all staff have sufficient understanding and use of English to ensure the wellbeing of children in our care. Family Support The Nursery School will take every step in its power to build up trusting and supportive relationships between families, staff and volunteers in the group. Where abuse at home is suspected, the Nursery School will continue to welcome the child and family while investigations proceed. Liaise with other bodies The Nursery School and children’s schools and families will work together: 0300 1234040 0300 1234040 Safeguarding Children Concerns 0845 3300222 0845 3300222 Police

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Leisure studies in Canada.

The city of saint Luc City is a beautiful city that has a lot of leisure opportunities such as parks, libraries, and Samuel Moskovitch arena. The city is very accessible as it has well constructed roads and paths that link each and every part of the city. There has been paths that have been constructed of late for example the four Heart paths that was officially opened on 30th September 2007. These paths are meant to make Pierre Elliot Tradeau park accessible. (Heart in Motion Walking Paths, Cote Saint Luc City)These walking paths one which is a kilometer long, another of 3km, 5km, and the last one is of 8km. The heart in motion paths was extended from the city sidewalk by the Quebec stroke foundation. All these paths are clearly marked with distinct blue and yellow colors. These are supported with motion signs after a span of each one and a half kilometer so as to keep tourists who visit this city in the right track. All these city paths branch from the Pierre Elliot Tradeau Park on the southern corner.The construction of the four walking paths had some health benefits to the residents and visitors who come to this city. The paths allow those who want to do walking exercise a classic opportunity for doing so. This is according to the mayor of this city Anthony housefather. Construction of walking paths has been done in other places like Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and German and as thus it is not without precedence. It is something that is feasible as it has been tested and proved that city paths like those in Cote Saint Luc city help in keeping the city dwellers physically fit.Within the city there is a place that people can visit to enjoy themselves and one of these places is the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park, which is located at Mackle road and next to the Samuel Moskovitch arena. It is situated at the northern side of the city. The park is just beautiful and you cannot afford not to visit it. Inside there is a base ball field, soft ban field there is a nd there is also an artificial lake called Contennial Lake where you can enjoy pedal boat rides at a small fee in summertime. There is a picnic area that is very beautiful in winter especially when it’s covered with ice. The parks scene is extremely beautiful with a green covered landscape. (Samuel Moskovitch Arena, 6985 Mackle Road.)The fees that are charged in this park are pocket friendly in fact the cost cannot exceed $25.00 U.S dollars. For example you can access the Baseball diamond with only one dollar, the second baseball diamond with 2 U.S dollars the third one with 3 U.S dollars. There is also a hotel where you can rent a room. These two rooms are equipped with a mini fridge and microwave. (Lesson 6)Also in the city of Cote saint-Luc, there is an arena called Samuel Moskovitch that is located at the Mackle road. This arena is a home to the ice surface that is used by the minor Hockey group, the skating club, hockey schools and adult as well as the youth leagues. Wit hin the arena there is a studio room and a conference room which are good for private rentals. The two rooms are well equipped with basic set up as well as clean up. They also have chairs and table making them ideal for holding conferences.The studio room is equipped with a freezer and not forgetting that there is also enough parking area that can accommodate over two hundred vehicles. For those who might be interested in renting these places it’s good to know their exact measurements to avoid disappointments. The Ice Rink is 200feet in length and 85 feet wide, the studio is (36.5 x 25) feet that can accommodate 85 people when arranged in banquet style and while arranged in theater style it can hold one hundred and seven people. The conference room is 25 feet long and 12 feet wide and can hold twelve people while standing.All these rooms are rented for only two hours and any time on top of that is charged separately. The conference, studio and the studio room for partners are charged 50, 100 and 150 U.S dollars respectively. The ice is suitable for those who are holding birthday parties and has two dressing units. Those people who want to rent both the ice and the studio room are charged according to the set charges.The city has also a public library where you can go to read books, novels, magazines and newspapers. The library is well equipped thus making it ideal for conducting researches. This library is called Eleanor London public library. It offers some games like the classic board game. The library crew consists of skilled people who guide people on how to fully utilize the library materials. The library offers a scavenger hunt play where the winner merits some prizes. This library is also equipped with audio visual devices for storing information for example there is a number of musical as well as artistic works from the Baroque times that are free to all.Though the government has made sure that there are enough recreational places in Canada for all, there might be some barriers that may limit or prevent one from enjoying these sites. If you have some physical disabilities or limitations you might not enjoy these recreational facilities to the fullest. For example if you are crippled then you cannot be able to maneuver through the region. The park has three-baseball field which cannot be of any importance to the physically challenged people especially those who do not have legs and hands. But still arrangements can be made for them to be taken there to relax and enjoy the cool environment. For those who cannot access the park because they cannot walk, alternative means can be used such as airlifting these people to the designated places that are of importance to them. T they can also be driven to these places using vehicles but with a risk of not physically exercising their bodies.Taking a leisure walk helps one to improve the circulation of blood and thus making your heart strong. There are also pedal boats that are found in TheTradeau Park but people who have leg problems cannot be able to use pedals so they can’t enjoy the boat rides. (Pierre Elliot Trudeau Park). The governments of Canada in easing the burden of those who are physically impaired under a tourist and leisure companion sticker are allowed to access to all recreational places for free. If you are visually impaired you cannot have an access all the information that you might need. Some information is stored in magazines, books and journals and it is obvious they cannot be of any use to a blind person. (Lesson 5)In Canada this problem is well taken care of by the library management who has diversified information storage devices. Some library materials are audio visual. This means a blind person can have access to the needed information by listening. A blind person can also have some difficulties in accessing the recreation places as they are marked with colors and motion signs that guide the walkers but they are of no use to a b lind person.Anybody who is knew to a particular place finds it hard to access the recreational places. This person must be guided on how to access them. Proper maps should be provided to these people assuming they know how to read maps. For these maps to be of beneficial to the map readers, then labeling of the features on the ground should be well labeled to avoid confusion. This is something that the government has taken care of; it has provided people who need to visit these places with posters and other signs to guide them. For example in the Cole Saint Luc City the paths are clearly marked with yellow and blue colors after every 500 meters, to keep the walkers on the right track.The government of Canada also uses the motion signs on the paths to guide those seeing these recreational places for this reason even people who are new to Canada can access these places without facing difficulties in locating them. It should not be forgotten that these can be of help to only those that are literate and who have no visual impairments. Sign language solves the language difficulty. Where people cannot communicate in one language then signs prove to be useful. But still you may not be able to enjoy these places as you should. If you do not speak the same language you may be limited to access places and information that you need.Lack of enough financial resources also limits people from enjoying their leisure to the maximum as not all these places are accessible for free. To access some of these you must part with some money. Lastly you may fail to have an excellent leisure time if you are not used to the climate of that particular region. For example, in the Trudeau Park pedal boats that are only available in summers and ice during the winter so if you go during other times apart from summer and winter respectively then you cannot enjoy your leisure time. Therefore climate can also be a limitation.In short, Canada offers people with one of the best recreational place s in the world. The Cote Saint Luc City is a home to these places for example there is a public library, Samuel Moskovitch Arena, walking paths and Trudeau Park where some are freely accessible for free or at a fee. There are some barriers that may prevent one from enjoying these leisure places. These are factors like culture, language, physical disabilities and unfamiliar ness with a new place.Reference:6985 Mackle Road. Samuel Moskovitch Arena.Lesson 6: Commercial Recreation, Economics of recreation.Lesson 5: Travel and Tourism study materials.Pierre Elliot Trudeau Park, 6975 Macle road.Heart in Motion Walking Paths, Cote Saint Luc City.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Adoption by gays essays

Adoption by gays essays With this being an age when people are supposedly more open-minded, why is it that gays are frowned upon or denied when they want to adopt a child? Why is it that they are treated unfairly because of their sexual orientation? Many Americans are uncomfortable with the idea of gay parents. The traditional family has always included a mother and a father. However, today gay parents are heading more and more families. Many use artificial insemination or surrogate mothers because it is extremely difficult for gays to adopt children. Although it seems to contradict societys view of the traditional family, homosexuals should be allowed to adopt because they deserve equal rights, and sexual orientation is not a reasonable determining factor in the qualifications of a parent. I saw a television show the other day on this topic. A gentleman something very interesting adoption is not a right, it is a privilege. If this is the case, there is still not a rational basis for denying homosexuals the privilege to adopt. It is clearly an anti-gay basis. Just as blacks and women have fought for equal rights, gays are now struggling to do the same. It is unfair to single out a group of people with many members who would make great parents. Since we live in a world where all men are created equal, homosexuals should enjoy the same rights a heterosexuals. Gays face discrimination because of their sexual preferences, and now must also face the qualifications for adopting. In a society where families are often split apart, I think it is great that people are so willing to adopt children, but it is terrible that this one qualification is stopping o many of them. Sexual orientation alone doesnt make a person a good or bad parent. Adoption agencies need to stop using this as a factor. A family is a family, and that is what so many children are in need of. Children ne ...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Freewrite Stories How Author Ivo Senden Finished His Novel on a Freewrite - Freewrite Store

Freewrite Stories How Author Ivo Senden Finished His Novel on a Freewrite - Freewrite Store This is Part 1 of the Ivo Senden Freewrite Story, click here for Part 2 Â   Â   Ivo Senden is a fiction writer based in The Netherlands. As a writer by trade, Senden grew up with the kind of heightened sense of imagination that compelled him to begin writing short stories and keeping a journal at a young age. He parlayed his propensity towards creativity, and his life experiences, into stories about adventure and novels steeped in realistic backdrops either historical or modern day. Senden first became a published author at the age of 31, with a story about the history of an old theater. At the time he ordered the Freewrite in May of 2016, he was working on his third book, Gevallen Land, and keeping a journal about his son's early life experiences. Senden enjoyed looking back at his coming of age in his own journal. He hopes that by keeping one for his son, he too will see it as a gift of insight for his future endeavors. Shortly before Gevallen Land was published in December of 2016, Senden began work on another novel. Although he has not outlined any concrete writing or publishing goals, he enjoys his craft immensely. Senden plans to keep writing novels as long as he feels inspired by good ideas. For him, a device that offers optimal comfort and enjoyment is a must have so that he can continuously tap his imagination and creativity whenever the mood strikes. Two of the biggest challenges that Ivo Senden faces as a writer are device ease of use and freedom of location. Many writers feel as though they are a slave to the monster called inspiration. Senden is no different in this respect, preferring to write at places other than his couch or in his living room. After finishing his first book on a traditional PC, he switched to a laptop to allow for more freedom in his choice of work locations. Although a laptop is more portable than a PC, it can be difficult to write on the fly with a traditional laptop. Laptops can be cumbersome due to their size and short battery life. They are also difficult to type on for extended periods of time as they offer no ergonomic features. At one point Senden switched to a Bluetooth keyboard to make long-term writing more comfortable, but he felt that was only a modest improvement at best. Another problem noted by Senden is that laptops are not options that you can use outside. The screens do not work well in natural or bright light, and Senden felt the familiar eye strain associated with long hours staring at a flickering LCD screen. As a writer who frequently enters flow, the LCD laptop screen would leave him feeling drained. Often he would be left with tired eyes and headaches after the long sessions. Not to mention that the short battery life of a laptop often means users are tethered to a location with a power source. Senden knew that his friends and family would be skeptical of the Freewrite's "limited" capabilities. However, whether the capabilities of the Freewrite are limited in scope is simply a matter of perspective. From online games to internet shopping, to the call of social media, there is no shortage of distractions in our modern world. Essentially, the Freewrite is a highly functional word processor that helps a user eliminate access to these online distractions. For a serious writer, an easy to use, distraction free tool is an absolute boost to sustained productivity. The Freewrite is laser focused on alleviating common writer complaints. The minimalist design is such that it addresses distracting elements of traditional PC's and laptops, gives the writer choice of location, and provides safe storage of documents. Â   This is Part 1 of the Ivo Senden Freewrite Story, click here for Part 2

Sunday, October 20, 2019

6 Strategies to Develop Your Critical Reading Skills

6 Strategies to Develop Your Critical Reading Skills To those in professions that involve using your mind as a tool, keeping skills like critical reading and critical thinking sharp is an absolute must. Most of us have been required to read critically during our education, but, strangely enough, the skill remains untapped or undeveloped by most adults. Critical reading, by and large, concerns not discerning what the text says, but why it says what it says and a sharp critical reader will separate three functions that a text performs: what it says, what it does and what the congruity of those two is supposed to mean. In other words, to read critically is to think not about what the text says about one topic or another, but what the text attempts to accomplish by stating what its stating in terms of facts and arguments presented. Here are some strategies that will help you become a better critical reader: 1. Develop Critical Reading Along With Critical Thinking At least once a day, resolve to read something that attempts to argue for or against a cause. Then, spend some time to answer basic questions: what is the issue and why is it being discussed? What is this author advocating for? How do they justify their stance on this topic? Are these good reasons? Why or why not? For reading material, try the New York Times Opinion Pages. 2. Lay Your Thoughts Out Some prefer using a pen and paper, but the easier way is saying what youre thinking out loud, allowing your thoughts to go from something wishy-washy and unsound to concrete, composed statements. It might seem silly, but even advanced students of logical theory have to do this, and its definitely a practical skill worth developing. When youre ruminating on a topic, your mind can go from one thought to the next, barely registering that something was there after your thought switches to something else. Verbalizing those thoughts allows them to bear weight and be recorded. 3. Read Up on Logical Theory Learn what an argument is and the difference between deductive and inductive arguments. Finally, learn about what makes an argument valid, what makes an argument sound and how those two things differ from each other. Theres lots more to learn, but these are the basics that will serve you well when dissecting someones arguments. 4. Remember to Think Actively Active thinking means asking questions when presented with statements, its opposition being passive thinking, which is based on relying on assumption, taking things at face value, and prejudice. 5. Be a Skeptic, Not a Cynic Critical thinkers are naturally skeptical and suspicious, though in some, this can cross into cynicism. The rule of thumb for distinguishing between the two is that cynics will assume that something is malicious or untrue, while skeptics do not assume anything. Of course, were all just human and sometimes cant help but fall victim to our emotions, however, try and remember that critical thinking involves thinking actively, and cynicism is purely passive emotional impulse. 6. Above All Else, Be Open to New Ideas To a non-critical thinker, the world is only their perspective of it and what doesnt fall into their view is dismissed simply because its different. A critical thinker, and, by extension, a critical reader judges ideas based on merit alone, accepting views that differ from their own and in fact readily exposing themselves to opposing views. Using these guidelines will help you stay sharp and think on your feet when presented with someones opinions. Resolving to read critically is something everyone should do. Its not in everyones character to read everything critically, nor is it possible to think critically and remain skeptical at all times, but in this world where your news come pre-chewed youll need the right tools to combat spin and misinformation.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Environmental Geology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Environmental Geology - Assignment Example Sulphides have a simple formula, and show properties exhibited by metals, like luster and conductivity. Sulfides are identified by the anion –S-2 (Britannica). Like Sulphides and sulphates, carbonates are also non-silicates. The carbonates are one of those minerals which are not localized and found in abundance and are distributed far and wide (GeoSci). When a carbonate ion, CO32- , is present in any mineral family it s referred to as a carbonate mineral. Iron sulphide, also known as pyrite has the chemical formula FeS. More commonly it is also referred to as the Fool’s Gold (GeoSci). It is found in Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Grant county (Galleries). Q. 2. There are a number of mines which have been developed in different parts of the world which now release acid mine drainage (AMD). For the following three mines or mine districts, 1) Iron Mountain Mine in Shasta County, Redding, California, 2) Britannia Mine in Britannia Beach, British Columbia, Canada, and 3) the Rio Tinto mining district near Huelva, Spain, describe the years of operation, the type of ore mined, and the scale and nature of wastes generated from the mining activities. 1. Iron Mountain Mine in Shasta County, Redding, California: iron, gold, silver, zinc, copper and pyrite were mined. The mine operated from the 1860’s up to 1963. The mine generated cadmium, copper, zinc, copper compounds, zinc compounds as wastes, which contaminated the Sacramento River. Richmond mine has the highest acidic mine water; with pH values as low as -3.6, metal concentrates 200g/L, and sulphate concentrates 760g/L. 2. Britannia Mine in Britannia Beach, British Columbia, Canada: was a copper mine, which operated from 1900 to 1974. It also generated zinc sulphide and pyrite (Mills). Intertidal discharge from the mine resulted in sub-aqueous deposits in Howe Sound, which was in excess of 44 million tones. Also 980 mg/l