Sunday, August 26, 2012

How to Make Good Revision Notes!

Avoid writing in block text where possible! Make notes look like notes! Use bullet points or tables, graphs or even little sketches to show your work. Arrows and diagrams also work well, it depends entirely upon what your preferred style is and how you best like to set out your work. (As long as everything is all still understandable to you when you come to revise!)
· Use Highlighters and Coloured Pens to emphasise particular areas or things you need to remember, is a good idea. This way when you come to revise you can easily see what areas you may need to pay closer attention to.
· Summarise large passages where you can- this really makes you focus on what it is you need to remember without trying to remember lots of words that have little to do with what is important to remember!
· Put headers on paragraphs so that everything is clearly marked for when you come to revision and are looking for something in particular to look up and revise! It makes the task of revision easier and far more satisfying as you have already done half the work!
· Circle important passages with bubbles and different shapes to show they mean different things. This is a great way of differentiating between different meanings and concepts.
· Revise in ways that make sense to you! Don't feel you have to be regimented into using plain paper and black pens and standard paragraphs in your revision notes!
· Make your notes eye catching so you can quickly skim read and still be revising the key important points. This way if you find something you feel unsure of you can look into those in more detail and not have to waste time reading detailed notes on a subject you already know!
· Detail is sometimes necessary to achieve the highest marks in an exam but make sure all the key points and important facts to remember jump out at you on the page. This breaks up the detail. makes the page look more manageable to revise from and less overwhelming!
· Use post-it notes - put a key word on each note and stick these on your mirror, fridge (or where ever you are likely to see them often) and try to recall from memory everything you can when you see a particular word.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Ladder Safety

I've heard a lot of people say that ladders are dangerous and unsafe. The truth of the matter is that ladders are completely safe when used properly. We use ladders on a daily basis, while cleaning windows and pressure cleaning houses, and have never had an injury. Ladders are only as dangerous as the user. Here you will find several safety tips to make sure that you are completely safe when using ladders. This tips are meant for extension ladders but may come in handy for step ladders as well.
Before you even touch the ladder you want to make sure that you are properly taken care of. So let's take a look. Are you wearing the proper type of footwear? I would hope that its obvious that climb a ladder in flip flops is not a safe practice. Have the proper shoes on before starting, for example, sneakers or work boots, and make sure that they are tied properly. The last thing you want to do is trip over a shoe lace while climbing or descending a ladder. Now that your foot wear is taken care of lets check everything else. Make sure there is nothing on your body that could get caught on a rung or interfere with your feet or hands.
Next, if you are working with tools make sure that you have a proper tool belt. It should fit properly so that it is not slipping or falling off as you work. Do not carry tools in your hands while climbing a ladder. You want to make sure that your hands are free so you can have a proper grip.
Now, the ladder. The first thing you should do is purchase ladder mitts. Ladder mitts are a soft rubber mitt that fits on the top of the ladder. They serve two functions: 1. The protect the ladder from scratching the siding of a house or whatever the ladder will be leaning against. 2. They grip to the surface they are leaning against and prevent the top of the ladder from sliding while climbing or working. You can also purchase a ladder stabilizer if you wish. This piece of apparatus needs to be attached to the ladder and spans a couple feet. This adds extra stability to the top of the ladder. We don't use these but some do.
You can also add adjustable leg extension to a ladder. These attach to the feet of the ladder and extend to about a foot. The great thing about this type of device is that you are able to adjust one leg longer then the other which is great for uneven ground or working on stairs. Make sure that you purchase a good pair of extension if you decide to add these. If you are using a heavier ladder you will need a more heavy duty extension. Also, these are not something that should be added to large ladders like a 40 foot extension because the ladder itself is so heavy the extension may not be able to handle the weight.
OK, so we have taken care of the you and the ladder. The next thing to look at is where you are placing the ladder. First, getting to where you need to be. The two easiest ways to carry a ladder are parallel to the ground or in an upright position. You can put the ladder on your should and stand it up where you need it. For guys like us, who carry a ladder from window to window, carrying the ladder upright is easiest. Make sure the ladder is not extend and grab a lower rung with one hand and use the other to keep it stabilized. If you carry a ladder upright, or when you are raising a ladder, make sure you are clear of any power lines. The last thing you want is to be electrocuted.
Next, you want to make sure that the ground is as level as possible. Putting a ladder on an uneven surface will make the ladder tilt to one side which is extremely unsafe (leg extensions will help with unlevel surfaces). You also want to make sure that the base of ladder is the right distance from the wall it will be leaning on. When you put a ladder against a wall you do not want it to be too close or too far away. This will make the angle of the ladder too steep or too shallow of an angle. Too steep and you run the risk of falling backwards off of the wall; too shallow and your weight may make the base of the ladder slide out from under your bring the ladder and your body crashing to the ground below.
If you have to put a ladder on a surface that may be slippery make sure that you have someone holding the base of the ladder. Wood decks, tiles, etc. can be very slippery and may cause the ladder to slip out from underneath you if not careful. If your ladder is in the dirt, you are pretty safe. The feet of most extension ladders can be turned so that they dig into the ground adding extra safety. When you put the ladder against the wall make sure it is as close as possible to the area you are working. You do NOT want to be extending while working. The farther you have to reach, the more at risk you are of falling. Another rule of thumb is to not be on the top rung. The farther down the ladder you are the safe. Optimally you would want to be at least 3 rungs from the top.
The last tip I am going to give is make sure you are comfortable. If you are not comfortable working on a ladder you are more at risk of an accident. Start out working on a smaller ladder, like a 16 ft extension ladder and work your way up. After a few times on a ladder you should start to feel more comfortable. As always, if you are not comfortable make sure you have someone with you. If you fall and get hurt, you will need someone to call for help.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

4 Major Advantages of Fire and Electrical Safety Training

Fire and Electrical Safety Training is knowledge that will never go waste. This type of course is not for fire-fighters or electricians, it is for you. It may come in handy at times when you least expect it. You can never be sure the fire engine will arrive in time or if there will be time to wait for an ambulance. Therefore, it is good to get the information in a formal training class. Furthermore, another training course on your resume will only be good for you.
Here are four major things you will learn to do once you have successfully completed the training.
• Aware: Fire and Electrical Safety Training will teach you to always be aware of your surroundings. You will understand that small actions like playing with a lighter or candle may cause a fire. Once you become aware of your actions, you will be able to control them and thus avoid accidents.
• Observe: You will become more observant about the dangers around you. You will be conscious that you have left your geyser on too long or your electrical kettle left unattended. When you start observing things around you, you will be able to pin point the danger before it occurs. On finishing the training you will have acquired this potential.
• Act: In case, an emergency does occur and you find yourself in the middle of it, you will be taught how to act immediately to prevent the matter from getting worse. You will learn who to inform in case of a fire in your neighborhood, how to evacuate your building in an orderly manner, and how to use a fire extinguisher. You will also be trained to protect yourself and others in case of any injury sustained in the fire. Specific procedures will have to be followed for burn victims, before the ambulance arrives and they can be moved to a hospital. The main thing to remember in such situations is not to panic. The training course will make you confident even in the most dangerous situations so you can concentrate on protecting yourself and other from potential danger.
• Share: Knowledge is no good unless it is used and shared. Once you understand what fire and electric safety training entails, you can tell others at work so they can be aware too. This knowledge is especially handy at home. What you have learned can be passed on to them so they can be safe too.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

How to Be a Nurse in 10 Steps

1. First, ask yourself if nursing is compatible with your personality and the type of work you enjoy. In my opinion, the nursing field is so vast that any one of the many specialties is compatible with different personality types and interests. An introverted personality, who may enjoy one-to-one care, would work well in a home health care setting, where personal interactions are focused and fairly predictable. An extroverted personality, who may enjoy organizational dynamics, would work well in a management position, which requires skillful interactions involving employees, families, and clients.
So get familiarized with a specialty that interests you, but it is also necessary to do a character self-assessment.
2. Make sure you maintain a moral character, since nurses work with the most vulnerable populations. Be certain you don't have a record during your student or professional career. This will prevent acceptance into a nursing program or denial /revocation of licensure by the state, for obvious reasons.
If you qualify at this point, then you can think about the educational level you want to achieve in nursing.
3. Decide what type of nurse you want to be and understand the amount time it will take. The following is a summary of the approximate time a full-time student will take in order to finish different nursing programs. This does not include the amount of time during prerequisite classes.
Please refer to the end of this section for an explanation of the different nursing acronyms.
a. Licensed Practical Nurse / Licensed Vocational Nurse: 1 year + prereq's
b. Registered Nurse:
i. LPN-to-ADN: 1 year + prereq's
ii. ADN: 2 years + prereq's
iii. BSN: 2 years + prereq's
iv. MSN: 2 years + BSN
v. PhD: 4 years + BSN
c. Nurse Practitioner / Clinical Nurse Specialist/ Nurse Anesthetist:
i. MSN: 2 years + BSN
ii. PhD: 4 years + BSN
LPN: Licensed Practical Nurse
LVN: Licensed Vocational Nurse
ADN: Associate's Degree in Nursing
BSN: Bachelor's Degree in Nursing
MSN: Master's Degree in Nursing
PhD: Doctorate's Degree in Nursing
Now that you have an idea of how much time it will take to finish your nursing education, let's move on to what resources you will have available.
4. Plan on how you will pay for your education. These are a few of the sources that are available to fund your nursing education.
a. Personal / Family / Work:
Are you going to use personal savings, credit cards, or pay as you go with money earned from work?
b. Scholarships / Government Financial Assistance:
This involves filling out a lot of applications in order to increase your odds. Be sure to only apply to the programs you will qualify for.
c. Military, Enlisted:
The US Army will pay qualified enlisted soldiers to become Licensed Vocational Nurses. The US Navy does train sailors to become Corpsmen (or Corpswomen), but they must meet additional requirements in order to sit for the LVN/LPN NCLEX exam
The GI Bill is available to military personnel who have completed their service contract, which varies greatly from 2-8 years.
d. Military, Officer:
ROTC is a scholarship for high-school students. However, the age limit to become a Military Nurse Officer in is 42, so don't feel left out if you didn't get an ROTC scholarship.
For an advanced nursing degree seekers, the military has special programs to become Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, or Nurse Anesthetists.As your goal to be a nurse becomes clearer to you, be sure to share them with others.
5. Prepare your plans and goals, write them down, and discuss them with your partner, children, and/or other family members. Get their feedback, remember that they have to buy into this, because they will have to make sacrifices as well.
Set your plan into motion by researching and preparing applications to the schools that interest you.
6. Plan to apply to several vocational, technical, college, and/or university programs. Have a back-up plan ready if you don't get accepted into the program of your choice.
You will need to have competitive exam scores to get accepted into the school's program.
7. Study for the placement exams for the prerequisites classes and the entrance exams for the nursing schools. Not all schools have the same exam requirements. Consult with the nursing and other advisors at the school to make sure you are studying the right materials.
Once you have applied, got accepted, and enrolled in the prerequisite classes, study as best as you can order to increase your odds to get into a nursing program.
8. It is absolutely necessary to maintain your grades in order to be accepted into the nursing program and to graduate! Make sure you have competitive grades in your prerequisite classes in order to get into a nursing program. After completing your prerequisite classes and taking the entrance exam, apply to different nursing programs of your choice. Make sure the nursing school you apply to has NLNAC (National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission) or CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) accreditation. Once admitted into a nursing program, you will need to continue to maintain your grades in nursing school.
This will help you to meet graduation requirements and it will help you to prepare for licensure.
9. Study for and pass the licensure exam. For LPN's, LVN's, and RN's, this requires passing the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) exam. Advanced practice nurses will take a more specialized exam in addition to the NCLEX exam.
Once you have passed licensure, it's time to go from a student to a professional.
10. Just like maintaining your grades in school, maintaining your professionalism is a must in your nursing career! You will need referrals from your professional relationships when applying for nursing residency programs, applying for jobs, or applying for more advanced nursing degrees.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Roger Williams - True Revolutionist Speaks For Freedom - Of Religion - From Government

The true revolutionist in America often has been the solid citizen with firm a conservative background, and surely Roger Williams, educated at Cambridge University, fell within that definition. Williams, a Puritan ordained minister in his mid-twenties, because of his concept of the religious tolerance and liberty in his sermons forced him to flee an England that stubbornly and sternly insisted upon conformity to the established church.
In 1631, Roger William's arrived in Salem with this same spirit of liberty and a passion for democracy, bolding speaking out against those in the Massachusetts Bay Colony that had conformed to the ways of the Old World. He criticized the Massachusetts Bay Company for not paying the Indians for their lands. He spoke out against the Puritan Church for demanding that everyone worship God in the same way, which was their way, the very reason the Puritans fled England. This led to Roger Williams' banishment from the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
What made Roger Williams the great revolutionary patriot of his day? It was his highly positive religious and intellectual individualism. In that age, religious conformity was the general rule. Williams was not willing to conform to the things that went against his core beliefs, such as the Puritans requiring men to be a member of the of church, and church and state being one, but rather pushed for the separation of church and state, giving the government of the day no authority over man's freedom to worship God in the way he chose. Williams even stopped trying to convert the Indians to his religion and rules of worship, believing that any man can worship in the way he chooses.
Williams criticized the Puritan church for trying to use the government to in force the Ten Commandments as a part of colony law. He also criticized the law, requiring men to attend church regularly and taking an oath of loyalty. Williams said plainly, Religion is none of the government's business.
Roger Williams believed and taught to his church congregation the ideals and practices of democracy. He believed that every man had certain rights by natural law; that government created by the people is always their servant, responsible to them, and can be changed whenever they wish.
This was strong doctrine for those days. Many men dare not be so bold. The founders and leaders of Massachusetts could not tolerate such a man, so they banished him from their colony.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Chinese Facts for Kids About the Zhou Dynasty for Kids About the Zhou Dynasty

There is nothing wrong with children learning about the history of another country. In fact, it should be encouraged because of hoe beneficial this knowledge can be for a child's future. China has a very interesting and long line of history to learn. China has had many different Dynasties. One of them is the Zhou Dynasty. During this period, there are many different Chinese facts for kids to learn.
The Zhou Dynasty was between 1027 B.C. and 221 B.C. and was created by a chieftain from the Zhou Tribe. The chieftain overthrew the last ruler of the Shang Dynasty. That is when the Zhou Dynasty was created. He lived in Hao, which at that time was the capital of China. Hao is located near the Xi'an city in the Shaanxi province.
The Zhou Clan ultimately created this Dynasty. This Clan has a long history throughout Chinese antiquity. The Zhou became so powerful by the 11th century B.C. that they lasted throughout the Gansu and Shaanxi Provinces. Due to the power that the Zhou Clan had, they increased the menace of the Shang dynasty. The power of this Clan had also created the conflict that the two groups had between each other.
This particular Dynasty is the lengthiest one throughout all of Chinese history, lasting for more than 800 years and having 37 different emperors. This Dynasty was divided into two separate Dynasties. The first one is called the Western Zhou Dynasty, which was between the 11th century B.C. and 771 B.C. The other Dynasty was called the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, which was between 770 B.C. and 221 B.C. The only thing that people during this Dynasty recorded was the culture, economy, politics and science, all of which was recorded via various illustrations.
In 221 B.C., Qin conquered the other states that were still in existence during that period. When Qin was able to do that, China was not divided any more, becoming united once again. When the powers at hand changed, China was given a yet new Dynasty - the Qin Dynasty.
There are many interesting Chinese facts for kids from the Zhou Dynasty. Since this Dynasty was the longest Dynasty within China's history, a great many events happened during that time. With there being many events happening during this Dynasty, that means there are many Chinese facts for kids and adult to learn.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Nathaniel Bacon Righteous Rebel Revolts Against Sir William Berkeley

Indian massacres and oppressive taxation were the immediate causes that drove Nathaniel Bacon and his Virginia rebels to rise up for American freedom, but there were deeper passions stirring in the land that led Bacon, the uncommon aristocrat, to stand for the good of common man against Sir William Berkeley.
Berkley's Corrupt Ways
This rebellion grew out of the misgovernment of the King's governor, Sir William Berkley, whose chief aim was to build a system of personal rule by corrupting the Lower House of the Assembly, through the use of the appointing power. He surrounded himself with "yes men" and in 1661, when the Burgesses met in the little statehouse at Jamestown, Berkeley made it very clear to them that they were there because of his favor, and expected them to vote as he proposed.
What Berkeley proposed was nothing short of tyranny. Large areas of unoccupied land were granted to his favorites, taxes were levied against the poor for his/their personal benefit, and Sir William's enemies, estates were confiscated. This went on for over sixteen years.
Nathaniel Bacon For The Common Man
Nathaniel Bacon declared that the common people were "curbed and oppressed in all manner of ways" and that perpetual breach of laws, prosecutions, excuses, and evasions showed that things were carried, "as if it were but to play a booty, game, or divide a spoil."
After years of oppression by Sir William Berkeley, under the leadership of Bacon, the people turned to open resistance, touched off by an Indian war in the summer of 1675, when Governor Berkeley refused to defend the people from the hostile Indians. Bacon and the people suppressed the Indians themselves. Afterwards their aggression was turned towards Sir William Berkeley, because of his evil rule over the common man.
At first, when Nathaniel Bacon and his wife migrated from England, Sir William befriended him and tried to win his support, but when Bacon saw his motive, he withdrew from him and eventually rebelled against Berkeley, forcing him to pass a series of laws which struck at the roots of the governor's power. Councilors were no longer exempt from taxation, officials must not charge for their services more than the fees prescribed by law, the justices of peace were to be restrained in assessing taxes, sheriffs were not to succeed themselves, no man was to hold more than one public office at a time, and a law that was a century and a half in advance of its time, giving the right to vote to all freemen.