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Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The History of the Computer Keyboard

The History of the Computer Keyboard The history of the modern computer keyboard begins with a direct inheritance from the  invention of the typewriter.  It was Christopher Latham Sholes who, in 1868,  patented the first practical modern typewriter. Soon after, in 1877, the Remington Company began mass marketing the first typewriters. After a series of technological developments, the typewriter gradually evolved into the standard computer keyboard your fingers know so well today. The QWERTY Keyboard There are several legends around the development of the QWERTY keyboard layout, which was patented by Sholes and his partner James Densmore in 1878. The most compelling explanation is that Sholes developed the layout to overcome the physical limitations of mechanical technology at the time. Early typists pressed a key which would, in turn, push a metal hammer that rose up in an arc, striking an inked ribbon to make a mark on a paper before returning to its original position. Separating common pairs of letters minimized the jamming of the mechanism. As machine technology improved, other keyboard layouts were invented that claimed to be more efficient, including as the Dvorak keyboard patented in 1936. Although there are dedicated Dvorak users today, they remain a tiny minority compared to those who continue to use the original QWERTY layout, which remains the most popular keyboard layout on devices of many types throughout the English-speaking world. QWERTYs current acceptance has been attributed to the layout being efficient enough and familiar enough to hinder the commercial viability of competitors. Early Breakthroughs   One of the first breakthroughs in keyboard technology was the invention of the teletype machine. Also referred to as the teleprinter, the technology has been around since the mid-1800s and was improved by inventors such as Royal Earl House, David Edward Hughes, Emile Baudot, Donald Murray, Charles L. Krum, Edward Kleinschmidt, and Frederick G. Creed.  But it was thanks to the efforts of  Charles Krum between 1907 and 1910 that the teletype system became practical for everyday users. In the 1930s, new keyboard models were introduced that combined the input and printing technology of typewriters with the communications technology of the  telegraph. Punch-card systems were also combined with typewriters to create what were known as keypunches. These systems became the basis of early adding machines (early calculators), which were hugely commercially successful. By 1931, IBM had registered more than $1 million in adding machine sales. Keypunch technology was incorporated into the designs of the earliest computers, including the 1946  Eniac computer that used a punch-card reader as its input and output device. In 1948, another computer called the Binac computer used an electro-mechanically controlled typewriter to input data directly onto magnetic tape in order to feed in computer data and print results. The emerging electric typewriter further improved the technological marriage between the typewriter and the computer. Video Display Terminals By 1964, MIT, Bell Laboratories, and General Electric had collaborated to create a  time-sharing, multi-user computer system called Multics. The system encouraged the development of a new user interface called  the video display terminal (VDT), which incorporated the technology of the cathode ray tube used in televisions into the design of the electric typewriter. This allowed computer users to see what text characters they were typing on their display screens for the first time, which made  text assets easier to create, edit, and delete. It also made computers easier to program and use. Electronic Impulses and Hand-Held Devices Early computer keyboards were based either on teletype machines or keypunches but there was a problem: having so many electro-mechanical steps necessary to transmit data between the keyboard and the computer slowed things down considerably. With VDT technology and electric keyboards, the keys could now send electronic impulses directly to the computer and save time. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, all computers used electronic keyboards and VDTs.   In the 1990s, handheld devices that introduced mobile computing became available to consumers. The first of handheld devices was the HP95LX, released in 1991 by Hewlett-Packard. It had a hinged clamshell format that was small enough to fit in the hand. Although not yet classified as such, the HP95LX was the first of the Personal Data Assistants (PDA). It had a small QWERTY keyboard for text entry, although touch typing was practically impossible due to its small size. The Pen Is Not Mightier Than the Keyboard As PDAs began to add web and email access, word processing, spreadsheets, personal schedules, and other desktop applications, pen input was introduced. The first pen input devices were made in the early 1990s, but the technology to recognize handwriting was not robust enough to be effective. Keyboards produce machine-readable text (ASCII), a necessary feature for indexing and searching by contemporary character-based technology. Minus character recognition, handwriting produces digital ink, which works for some applications but requires more memory in order to save input and is not machine-readable. Ultimately, most of the early PDAs (GRiDPaD, Momenta, Poqet, PenPad) were not commercially viable. Apples 1993 Newton project was expensive and its handwriting recognition was particularly poor. Goldberg and Richardson, two researchers at Xerox in Palo Alto, invented a simplified system of pen strokes called Unistrokes, a sort of shorthand that converted each letter of the English alphabet into single strokes that users would input into their devices. Palm Pilot, released in 1996, was an instant hit, introducing the Graffiti technique, which was closer to the Roman alphabet and included a way to input capital and lowercase characters. Other non-keyboard inputs of the era included the MDTIM, published by Poika Isokoski, and Jot, introduced by Microsoft. Why Keyboards Persist The problem with all of these alternative keyboard technologies is the data capture takes more memory and is less accurate than with digital keyboards. As mobile devices such as smartphones grew in popularity, many differently formatted keyboard patterns were tested- and the issue became how to get one small enough to use accurately. One fairly popular method was the soft keyboard. A soft keyboard is one that has a visual display with built-in touchscreen technology. Text entry is performed by tapping on keys with a stylus or finger. The soft keyboard disappears when not in use. QWERTY keyboard layouts are most frequently used with soft keyboards, but there were others, such as the FITALY, Cubon, and OPTI soft keyboards, as well as a simple listing of alphabetic letters. Thumbs and Voice As voice recognition technology has advanced, its capabilities have been added to small hand-held devices to augment, but not replace soft keyboards. Keyboard layouts continue to evolve as data input embraced texting, which is typically is entered via some form of a soft QWERTY keyboard layout (although there have been some attempts to develop thumb-typing entry such as the KALQ keyboard, a split-screen layout available as an Android app). Sources David, Paul A. Clio and the Economics of Qwerty. The American Economic Review 75.2 (1985): 332-37. Print.Dorit, Robert L. Marginalia: Keyboards, Codes and the Search for Optimality. American Scientist 97.5 (2009): 376-79. Print.Kristensson, Per Ola. Typing Isnt All Fingers, Its Thumbs. The World Today 69.3 (2013): 10-10. Print.Leiva, Luis A., et al. Text Entry on Tiny Qwerty Soft Keyboards. Proceedings of the 33rd Annual ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 2702388: ACM, 2015. Print.Liebowitz, S. J., and Stephen E. Margolis. The Fable of the Keys. The Journal of Law Economics 33.1 (1990): 1-25. Print.MacKenzie, I. Scott, and R. William Soukoreff. Text Entry for Mobile Computing: Models and Methods, Theory and Practice. Human-Computer Interaction 17.2-3 (2002): 147-98. Print.Topolinski, Sascha. I 5683 You: Dialing Phone Numbers on Cell Phones Activates Key-Concordant Concepts. Psychological Science 22.3 (2011): 355-60. Print.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

The History Behind Crayola Crayons

The History Behind Crayola Crayons Crayola brand crayons were the first kids crayons ever made, invented by cousins, Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith. The brands first box of eight Crayola crayons made its debut in 1903. The crayons were sold for a nickel and the colors were black, brown, blue, red, purple, orange, yellow, and green. The word Crayola was created by Alice Stead Binney (wife of Edwin Binney) who took the French words for chalk (craie) and oily (oleaginous) and combined them. Today, there over one hundred different types of crayons being made by Crayola including crayons that sparkle with glitter, glow in the dark, smell like flowers, change colors, and wash off walls and other surfaces and materials. According to Crayolas History of Crayons Europe was the birthplace of the â€Å"modern† crayon, a man-made cylinder that resembled contemporary sticks. The first such crayons are purported to have consisted of a mixture of charcoal and oil. Later, powdered pigments of various hues replaced the charcoal. It was subsequently discovered that substituting wax for the oil in the mixture made the resulting sticks sturdier and easier to handle. The Birth of Crayola Crayons In 1864, Joseph W. Binney founded the Peekskill Chemical Company in Peekskill, N.Y. This company was responsible for products in the black and red color range, such as lampblack, charcoal and paint containing red iron oxide which was often used to coat the barns dotting Americas rural landscape. Peekskill Chemical was also instrumental in creating an improved and black colored automobile tire by adding carbon black that was found to increase the tire tread life by four or five times. Around 1885, Josephs son, Edwin Binney, and nephew, C. Harold Smith, formed the partnership of Binney Smith. The cousins expanded the companys product line to include shoe polish and printing ink. In 1900, the company purchased a stone mill in Easton, PA, and began producing slate pencils for schools. This started Binney and Smiths research into non-toxic and colorful drawing mediums for kids. They had already invented a new wax crayon used to mark crates and barrels, however, it was loaded with carbon black and too toxic for children. They were confident that the pigment and wax mixing techniques they had developed could be adapted for a variety of safe colors. In 1903, a new brand of crayons with superior working qualities was introduced - Crayola Crayons.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Immigration In The USA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Immigration In The USA - Essay Example Another important factor is education. Favorable educational opportunities entice youngsters as well as parents to migrate for a brighter outlook in their child’s life. The quality of education can drastically affect a child's life in terms of lifestyle, personality, and future. Western universities encourage active learning and provide an auspicious campus life to enjoy as well. Political reasons play a major role in migration. Some people migrate to earn a new identity, to get better rights or just a better living environment. People also immigrate to maintain a global presence in other countries. Moreover, some might not feel secure in their own homeland due to political instability and therefore wish to fortify a protected ambiance for themselves. Man is a rational being and this faculty of rationality forces them to make certain decisions in life. As everyone is unique, they have different preferences. Extroverts and work oriented personalities are most likely to migrate alone for their futures and self-actualization whereas family oriented people may migrate for an accumulated benefit for their families. Individuals might also be attracted to the idea of finding their soul mate in a different country. Sociologists say that this series of events begins with word of mouth and others get attracted to attain a certain lifestyle. Having all the causes together, the consequences can be easily depicted. Overpopulation is said to be the major consequence of immigration.... Political reasons play a major role in migration. Some people migrate to earn a new identity, to get better rights or just a better living environment. People also immigrate to maintain a global presence in other countries. Moreover, some might not feel secure in their own homeland due to political instability and therefore wish to fortify a protected ambiance for themselves. Man is a rational being and this faculty of rationality forces them to make certain decisions in life. As everyone is unique, they have different preferences. Extroverts and work oriented personalities are most likely to migrate alone for their futures and self actualization whereas family oriented people may migrate for an accumulated benefit for their families. Individuals might also be attracted to the idea of finding their soul mate in a different country. Sociologists say that this series of events begin with word of mouth and others get attracted to attain a certain lifestyle. Having all the causes togethe r, the consequences can be easily depicted. Over population is said to be the major consequence of immigration. However, USA is blessed with land and therefore its favorable conditions haven’t created such an issue. Though some cities are densely populated and various ethnicities are found in different states. The wide mix of cultures has given the opportunity for people to mingle amongst each other. The factor of exploration and tolerance can also be inculcated as a result of such social mingling. However, issues do prevail. Minorities such as the black are mostly looked down upon and Asians (Pakistanis/Indians) are not given preference (at times) in work places whilst local natives secure better positions irrespective of the competency faculty. The host country such as the United

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Balanced Reading Program Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Balanced Reading Program - Essay Example Such issues have been addressed and overcome by the introduction of a balanced literacy program. The balanced reading approach offers effective techniques for enhancing reading, writing, listening, viewing and speaking skills of the students through its literacy program. According to Cohen and Cowen (2007): â€Å""The primary goal of a balanced literacy program is to teach reading, not as a skill broken into isolated steps, but as a lifelong learning process that promotes higher order thinking, problem solving and reasoning† (Pp. 37). The basic components of a Balanced Literacy Program include: Reading Alouds, Shared Reading, Guided reading, Independent Reading, Modeled/ Shared writing, Interactive Writing, and Independent Writing. The essential components of a Balanced Reading Program, on the other hand include: explicit instruction and practice in essential academic learning requirements which includes phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension and thinking skills and strategies etc; Response to reading through writing, discussion and drama; Classroom environment i.e. conducting activities individually or in small groups, focusing on thinking and learning and problem-solving, as well as student interaction; High expectations, clear standards and continuous evaluation; Use of variety of materials such as fiction, non-fiction, and other popular genres; and Daily Reading which includes shared reading, reading to students by teachers, guided reading, and independent reading practice (Holcomb, 2004). This article on â€Å"IQ, Phonological Awareness and Continuous-naming Speed Related to Dutch Poor Decoding Childrens Performance on Two Word Identification Tests" by Kees van den Bos deals with the word identification variables and reading-related variables of intelligence, phonological awareness and continuous naming speed. For the purpose of this study, a series of experiments were conducted on children aged between 10 and 12 years who had poor

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Rome and Han Ccot Essay Example for Free

Rome and Han Ccot Essay RomeAncient Rome and Han China are different in the ways how their slaves were treated. Overall, they were ultimately more similar because of the importance of trade and family. Slaves in Ancient Rome were treated very harshly. They were put in gladiator fights to the death against fellow slaves and occasionally lions for the entertainment of the community, although it was against the law for a citizen to kill another citizen’s slave. Also, 10% of the populations of Rome were slaves, which means if one died, they could be easily replaced. RomeAncient Rome and Han China are different in the ways how their slaves were treated. Overall, they were ultimately more similar because of the importance of trade and family. Slaves in Ancient Rome were treated very harshly. They were put in gladiator fights to the death against fellow slaves and occasionally lions for the entertainment of the community, although it was against the law for a citizen to kill another citizen’s slave. Also, 10% of the populations of Rome were slaves, which means if one died, they could be easily replaced. In contrast, only 1% of Han China’s populations were slaves. They were much more valued and thus their owners treated them better. There were two kinds- Privately Owned and State Owned. These slaves could pay for freedom, or be freed by their master or the emperor. It was against the law to kill these slaves at all. Trade in Rome was thought to be beneath the occupation of landholding, although they continue to practice trade throughout Roman history. The Senate was not allowed to participate in commerce because they were too prestigious to be affiliating with it. Similar to Han China, agriculture was a much better occupation than trade. Merchants, however wealthy, were looked down on because they looked like they could surpass social boundaries because of their riches. In Ancient Rome, loyalty to family and state was highly important. The nobles of Rome were constantly reminded to be aware of their fathers and grandfathers successes. We know this because the term pietas; meaning â€Å"dutifulness†; depicts these values. Also, we know of these the importance of family because typically at a Roman funeral, they would exhibit masks’ of their ancestors and their deeds. This regard to ancestors resembles that of Confucianism, which was highly practiced in Han China. The core of Confucianism was known as â€Å"filial piety†, meaning the respect and obedience that children owed their parents.

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Black Assassin - Original Essay :: Papers

The Black Assassin - Original Essay It was a little windy out on that warm June day in Texas. People were seated all over the square in the town of Morano, as the Governor was about to make his long awaited big speech. Everyone was excited to hear what he had to say. That is everyone except for the dark figure standing in a hotel window at the opposite end of the square from the stage. No one could hear the clicking of metal against metal as the dark figure began to prepare a gun, resting it against the windowsill in the shadows. Below at the midst of the crowd a tall man stood looking around at all of the buildings as well as the people. A dark brown cowboy hat covered his brow from the sun as his dark chocolate eyes searched the area. "I know you're here." Whispered Bounty Hunter to Darren McClintock softly. Darren rested his hand on one of the pistols that were held in the leather holder around his waist. He continued his search of the crowd. He was dressed in dark brown leather chaps with a similar coloured vest, jacket and boots. His deep red flannel shirt hugged his chest and was becoming wet with perspiration. He had been on the trail of this outlaw ever since the first one and he knew that this outlaw would be here. There was no way that the Black Assassin was going to miss a chance like this. He thought back a year ago when he heard that Gerald Thomas was massacred while he rode along his block of flats. Than two months later Baron John Buckham was shot through the chest on his way back home from a day at work. A month later Mayor G.W. Clinton was killed as he came out of the town hall. Another month later the same fate fell upon Mayor Harold P. Phillips. These men all had two things in common; large amounts of money and the thought that they'd do anything The Black Assassin - Original Essay :: Papers The Black Assassin - Original Essay It was a little windy out on that warm June day in Texas. People were seated all over the square in the town of Morano, as the Governor was about to make his long awaited big speech. Everyone was excited to hear what he had to say. That is everyone except for the dark figure standing in a hotel window at the opposite end of the square from the stage. No one could hear the clicking of metal against metal as the dark figure began to prepare a gun, resting it against the windowsill in the shadows. Below at the midst of the crowd a tall man stood looking around at all of the buildings as well as the people. A dark brown cowboy hat covered his brow from the sun as his dark chocolate eyes searched the area. "I know you're here." Whispered Bounty Hunter to Darren McClintock softly. Darren rested his hand on one of the pistols that were held in the leather holder around his waist. He continued his search of the crowd. He was dressed in dark brown leather chaps with a similar coloured vest, jacket and boots. His deep red flannel shirt hugged his chest and was becoming wet with perspiration. He had been on the trail of this outlaw ever since the first one and he knew that this outlaw would be here. There was no way that the Black Assassin was going to miss a chance like this. He thought back a year ago when he heard that Gerald Thomas was massacred while he rode along his block of flats. Than two months later Baron John Buckham was shot through the chest on his way back home from a day at work. A month later Mayor G.W. Clinton was killed as he came out of the town hall. Another month later the same fate fell upon Mayor Harold P. Phillips. These men all had two things in common; large amounts of money and the thought that they'd do anything

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Common Study Habits Among Students in the Tertiary Level

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM THE SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY PURPOSE OF THE STUDY CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS RESEARCH QUESTION REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 3 – 5 METHOD – â€⠀œ – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 6RESEARCH METHODOLOGY RESEARCH DESIGN PARTICIPANTS RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS RESULT – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – â€⠀œ – – – 7 – 10 DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES TABLES ANALYSIS – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 12 – 13 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS DISCUSSION – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – †“ – – – – – – – – 14 FINDINGSCONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 14 REFERENCES – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 15 COMMON STUDY HABITS AMONG STUDENTS IN THE TERTIARY INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY A research on the study habits among students in the tertiary level, th e study investigated the common study habits among students in the tertiary level using school like St. Nicolas College as a case study.Thirty (30) students were given a questionnaire from different department and year level in the area. The instrument utilized for the study was a questionnaire named â€Å"Common Study Habits among Students in the Tertiary Level†. What are study habits? Study habits are the ways that you study – the habits that you have formed during your school years. Study habits can be good ones, or bad ones. Good study habits include being organized, keeping good notes, reading your textbook, listening in class, and working every day.Bad study habits include skipping class, not doing your work, watching TV or playing video games instead of studying, and losing your work, the manner with which you consistently use to study for school or college. Some of the students missed the effective study habits. In this problem, the researcher wishes to improve and enhanced their learning and to reach their highest potential in significant improvements on test scores and the highest level of success in the classroom or on the job.STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The problem is focused mainly on the common study habits among student in the tertiary level. THE SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY The problem is focused mainly on the common study habits among student in the tertiary level are significant in various ways. It is believed that findings of this research will definitely be useful to the teachers understanding the capacity, strength and weaknesses of the student and also to influence them in better study habits.OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY This study was based on the following objectives to describe the study habits of the students in St. Nicolas College, to suggest measures to improve the study habits of the students. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The purpose of this study is to find out the common study habit among students in the tertiary level. This study also intends to reveal or find out what, if any, relationship exists between habit and effective study habits of students in the tertiary level.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Intro to Operating Systems

Intro to Operating Systems Student: Gabriel Guevara Chapter: 5 Exercises Exercise #2 Give at least two â€Å"real life† examples (not related to a computer system environment) of each of these concepts: deadlock, starvation and race. Describe how the deadlocks could be resolved. 2 real life examples of the concept of deadlock: A. In a presidential election 2 candidates reach an electoral deadlock when neither candidate get a majority of the 270 electoral votes required to win the presidency.This is resolved by the House of Representatives, with each state delegation having one vote. Senators would elect the vice-president. B. Diet deadlock occurs when calories are restricted when a human being is dieting , as a consequence the body’s metabolism slows down; The reason is the body is worried about going into starvation mode and is trying to holdown to leftover body fat. The solution to diet deadlock is to: 1. Eat more protein to boost metabolism. 2. Lift weights to increa se muscle mass, the more muscle mass the more calories burned in a 24 hour period (day). . Do more cardio to burn more calories. 2 Real life examples of Starvation: Hypoxia is the name given to oxygen starvation, for example of this condition is when brain tissue is deprived of oxygen-rich-blood, if this condition lingers a range of events could follow such as permanent brain damage or death. The solution is to restore the flow of oxygen-rich-blood to the brain via any surgical procedure that would unlock the deadlock or flow of vital oxygen enriched blood back into the brain.Aviation Fuel starvation occurs when there is a supply problem to the engine for various reasons such as a blocked fuel filter or gradual fuel pump failure. But the most popular problem with fuel starvation is with aircraft with water contaminated fuel being delivered to the engine instead of none-contaminated fuel resulting in fuel starvation within the engine. This is corrected by replacing the fuel filter or fuel pump and testing the fuel for the presence of water prior to use for a flight. 2 Examples of the term race: Exploitative competition is when 2 organisms vie for the same resources.One way for nature to solve this condition is to naturally develop habitat conditions to induce mutualistic bonds between the 2 organisms so that one cannot survive in their natural habitat without the other, therefore perhaps reversing deadlock conditions. Organism competition: Utilization of the same resources by organisms of the same or different species living together in a community resulting in a sort of deadlock competition for said resources. One way to relief this deadlock condition is for one organism to develop a method of eliminating the other by intelligently depriving it from the resource in question.Advance exercise 14 A system that is in an unsafe state is not necessarily deadlock. Explain why this is true? Give an example of such system (in an unsafe state) and describe how all the p rocesses could be completed without causing deadlock to occur. Answer 1: An unsafe state doesn’t suggest a realistic deadlock is presently occurring it appears this term is used to described that a sequence of events have now set favorable condition(s) to suggest a deadlock is highly likely to occur.Answer 2: An example of an unsafe state within a system could be where a system has jobs in its request queue greater than what is available in memory to handle the jobs waiting to be executed, setting ideal conditions for a deadlock. The concept of avoidance suggest that the system can remove one of the deadlock conditions if it knew ahead of time the sequence of a request associated with each of the active processes. There must exist at least one allocation of resources sequence that would allow jobs to continue without becoming deadlocked.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Discover More About Marine Reptiles

Discover More About Marine Reptiles Class Reptilia is the group of animals known as the reptiles. These are a diverse group of animals that are cold-blooded and have (or had) scales. They are vertebrates, which puts them in the same phylum as humans, dogs, cats, fish and many other animals. There are over 6,000 species of reptiles. They are also found in the sea, and referred to as marine reptiles.   The Class Reptilia, or reptiles, traditionally included a diverse group of animals: turtles, snakes, lizards and crocodiles, alligators, and caimans. Many scientists believe that birds also belong in this class. Characteristics of Reptiles Animals in the Class Reptilia: Are ectotherms (commonly called cold-blooded). These animals need to warm themselves up using external heat (e.g., the sun).Mostly bear their young in eggs, which are protected by an amniotic membrane (so reptiles are referred to as amniotes).Have scales, or did have at some point in their evolutionary history.Breathe using lungs rather than gills. Thus, reptiles in the ocean may be able to hold their breath to go underwater, but eventually need to go to the surface to breathe.Have a three- or four-chambered heart. Classifying Reptiles and Marine Reptiles Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: Reptilia Marine reptiles are divided into several orders: Testudines: Turtles. Sea turtles are an example of turtles that live in the marine environment.Squamata: Snakes.   Marine examples are sea snakes.Sauria: Lizards. An example is the marine iguana. In some classification systems. lizards are included in the Order Squamata.Crocodylia: Crocodiles. A marine example is the saltwater crocodile. The above list is from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Habitat and Distribution Reptiles live in a wide range of habitats. Although they can thrive in harsh habitats like the desert, they are not found in cooler areas like  Antarctica, because they need to rely on external heat to keep warm. Sea Turtles Sea turtles are found in oceans worldwide. They nest on subtropical and tropical beaches. The leatherback turtle is the species that can go in cold waters, such as off Canada. These amazing reptiles have adaptations  that allow them to live in colder water than other turtles, including the ability to shunt blood away from their flippers to keep their core body temperature warmer. However, if sea turtles are in cold waters too long (such as when juveniles dont migrate south quickly enough in the winter), they might become cold-stunned.   Sea Snakes Sea snakes include two groups: laticaudid sea snakes, which spend some time on land, and hydrophiid snakes, which live wholly at sea.   Sea snakes are all venomous, but they rarely bite humans.   They all live in the Pacific Ocean (Indo-Pacific and eastern tropical Pacific regions). Marine Iguanas The marine iguana, which lives in the Galapagos Islands, is the only marine lizard. These animals live on the shore and feed by diving in the water to eat algae. Crocodiles In the U.S., the American crocodile often enters saltwater. These animals are found from southern Florida to northern South America and can be found on islands, where they swim or are pushed by hurricane activity. One crocodile, nicknamed Cletus, swam out to the Dry Tortugas (70 miles off Key West) in 2003. American crocodiles tend to be more timid than American alligators and the saltwater crocodiles, which are found in the Indo-Australian region from Asia to Australia. Most reptiles give birth by laying eggs.   Some snakes and lizards can give birth to live young.   In the world of marine reptiles, sea turtles, iguanas and crocodiles lay eggs while most sea snakes give birth to live young, who are born underwater and must swim immediately to the surface to breathe. Marine Reptiles Reptiles that can live at least part of their lives in the marine environment include sea turtles, crocodiles  and some lizards. References and Further Information Galapagos Conservancy. Iguanas and Lizards.  Accessed October 30, 2015.IUCN. 2010. Sea Snakes Fact Sheet. Accessed October 30, 2015.Morrissey, J.F. and J.L. Sumich. 2012. Introduction to the Biology of Marine Life. Jones Bartlett Learning. 466pp.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How to Find a Literary Agent

How to Find a Literary Agent How to Find a Literary Agent How to Find a Literary Agent By Mark Nichol You do know, don’t you, that if you hope to have just about any trade publisher consider your book manuscript, you’ll need a literary agent? Good. But how do you go about finding one? Here’s my advice: If you know a published writer or are a member of a writing group that has one or more published writers, ask the author for a recommendation. Peruse magazines geared toward writers, and other literary-themed publications, for profiles or other references to agents. Attend writing conferences and attend presentations by agents. At smaller events, you might even have an opportunity to meet one. Enter writing competitions that offer consultations with agents as part of their award packages. Research and evaluate agents at online directories. If you choose only one of these options, opt for the last one: Go to the Web site of the Association of Authors’ Representatives or to AgentQuery. AAR members abide by a reassuring code of conduct, and AgentQuery stands by the agents listed in its database, many of whom decline to join the AAR for one reason or another or have not yet qualified for AAR membership but are just as reliable. (There’s also Preditors and Editors, which evaluates literary agents and other publishing professionals.) Never pay an agent up-front to review your manuscript or represent you, and never pay for editorial services an agent offers or recommends. No reputable agent will request money up-front (other than, possibly, a copying and postage fee; see below) or refer you to an editor who charges you for their assistance. (They may, however, suggest several such services without recommending one in particular.) Professional agents will represent you if they think your manuscript is ready to be published or may offer you some advice if they think it shows promise; rarely, they’ll actually offer to polish your novel a bit free before sending it out. Increasingly, legitimate literary agents are inserting a clause into contracts specifying an expense-reimbursement fee of up to $500. However, their contracts generally also state that no additional fees can be charged without your written consent, and they will not offer to edit your manuscript or outsource that service if you put out some more funds. Furthermore, agents often don’t accept the expense payment if they don’t get you a publishing contract. Most reputable agents, however, refrain from charging you up-front at all. How, then, do agents make a living? If an agent agrees to represent you, they are gambling on the chance that your manuscript will sell, and they will collect a 10-20% commission on sales for their services. If they suggest some revisions, invite you to resubmit the revised manuscript, and take you on, they’ll hope to recoup their expenses, and more, the same way. If they reject your manuscript outright, that means they do not feel that representing you is a good investment, and they will not charge you for turning you down. If several agents reject your manuscript, they’re telling you something and it’s not that you should pay someone else to represent you. They’re telling you that your manuscript isn’t ready for prime time, so get back to work on it, set it aside and get started on another project, or seek help in a writing group, class, or program. Before too long, it will be time to seek an agent again and perhaps the next time, you’ll get lucky. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Possessive of Proper Names Ending in S10 Types of TransitionsWhat Is a Doctor?

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Annotated Bibliography of Air Pollution in Beijing

Of Air Pollution in Beijing - Annotated Bibliography Example With this kind of primary data, it was possible to solidly cement the research evidence and thus eloquently state out the findings of the research. With this data, it was possible to tell what the position of the city is from a first-hand point of view. This interview was aimed at establishing hard facts from residents about the observable effects of pollution within the city. The interviewee as born and brought up in the outskirts of Beijing. He has lived his entire life literally in the city having schooled and currently working there. From this interview, it is possible to line out some of the major effects of urbanization and thus pollution in the city. Life has been literally abuzz with changes for the residents and at times observing some things they never thought. These excerpts can be used by the researcher to solidify his arguments by bringing out the cries the victims. Sanderson, H. (February 28, 2013). Beijing Air Pollution Tops Hazardous Levels Days Before  Congress. Retrieved from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-28/beijing- air-pollution-tops-hazardous-levels-days-before-congress.html This is a report from a top business news website about the levels of pollution in China. The concentration of air pollutants have been compared to various prescribed levels giving the situation on the ground. Comments from various government based agencies like the environment institute have been reported also. The article focuses on a real time position the atmosphere at the city and the effects that it might have. This is mainly because it is a highly rated debate issue as the congress resumes. The current governments’ response to the issue like issuance of real time data has been highlighted. In accordance to this report, the severity of the case, to the government has been highlighted, this assists the researcher in getting the

Friday, November 1, 2019

The Life and Works of James Baldwin Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Life and Works of James Baldwin - Essay Example James, who was exposed to the religiosity of his stepfather, learned the significance of faith and religion in his life. Although David was not a caring stepfather, his religiosity influenced James and his brothers in a way that David had instilled Catholic morals on the family. For one, James became a youth minister in a Pentecostal Church in Harlem even at the age of 14. With his conformity to religious standards and intellectual pursuits, James gained recognition and lasting impression from his teachers, as well as his neighbors. To the people in their locality, James was considered as intelligent and righteous. He carried these values along with him as he struggled for the Negro race through participating in political and social activities as a writer. The deep religious foundations of Baldwin’s morality were later shown in his writings, as well as his preference for non-violent activism over bloody riots. As a child, James loved to read, and, during his school years, he showed an inclination toward writing. Although James showed his exemplary writing ability even in high school, he was not able to pursue his college education and other plans due to financial constraints. As the eldest child, James had to put his dreams aside and support his mother in sending his seven younger brothers to school. Thus, in his own discretion, James struggled to find a job after he graduated in high school in 1942. While putting his dreams aside means compromising his passion and talent, James considered his family as the most important part of his life. Finding a sustainable job was difficult for James. The fact that the year during which he lived was dominated by prejudice and racial discrimination, James was frequently warded off by employe rs mainly because of his color. This situation made him take whatever job opportunities that came along his way. For instance, he took the job in the railroad in New Jersey from which he was again dismissed for no apparent reason. Another significant event in James’ life was the death of his stepfather on the 29th of July 1943. On this day, also, her mother gave birth to his eighth sibling. This means that their family had grown larger, which, in turn, means that he needed to earn more for his family. In 1945, James’ life took an unexpected turn. Although, he worked during the day, he still found time to write a novel during his spare hours. His passion to read and write offered opportunities that influenced the rest of his life. For instance, he had the chance to meet Richard Wright, a writer, who helped James found a fellowship that could publish his works and support his writing expenses. In those times also, James was able to publish his stories and essays with Com mentary, The Nation, and Partisan Review, three of the most popular national publications during that time. As James was able to gain an audience for his literary works, his popularity also grew, and he was able to visit different American cities with his writing colleagues. By the year 1948, James moved to Paris as he was able to find another fellowship there. James’ stay in Paris enabled him to observe America in a distance; he was able to analyze the American social and political situation critically especially in relation to the African Americans, his race. Considering the wide view by which James observed the socio-political status of America, he was able to evaluate the American system of government objectively. Additionally, he was able to see clearly where he began, which developed in him the sense of determined destination. Thus, James’ stay in France enabled him to see both his beginning and his purposive end. While in France, James was able t