Who is the antagonist in "Saboteur" by Ha Jin?

In Ha Jin's story "Saboteur," the police are the antagonists, as they are constantly in opposition to the protagonist, Mr. Chiu. When he is peacefully eating with his new wife, a policeman tosses tea on their feet. When Mr. Chiu complains, the police deny their actions and arrest him, charging him without evidence with being a saboteur. Although Mr. Chiu is a Communist Party member, the police have long been acting against him and have compiled a large dossier against him. Mr. Chiu is sick with hepatitis, but the warden in the prison refuses to help him. In the end, Mr. Chiu must sign a false confession of his crimes so that he and his former student can be released from jail. The police, who accuse him without any reason and who show disregard for his health, are the antagonists in this story. 

What were the two prized possessions of Della and Jim?

Della's prized possession is her long hair. At the time the story was published it was customary for women to let their hair grow extremely long. They would put it up in a bouffant fashion which came to be called the Gibson Girl style due to the popularity of the magazine illustrations of pretty girls by Charles Dana Gibson. Naturally the long hair required a lot of attention, but most girls and women spent their time at home like Della Young in "The Gift of the Magi." She could spend hours washing, drying, and setting her hair.

Jim's prized possession was a pocket watch he had inherited from his father, who had inherited it from his father. The fact that it was a family heirloom added to the watch's intrinsic value for Jim. Men carried their big pocket watches in a vest pocket with a watch chain and fob, attached. The chain stretched across the vest and had a weight at the other end to protect the watch from accidentally being dropped. If a man should happen to drop his watch the chain would keep it from falling more than a foot or two. The weight, or fob, at the other end would keep the chain from slipping out of the other pocket of the vest. All men who wore suits in those days also wore vests.

Since Della's hair and Jim's watch were their only valuable possessions, it was obviously a great sacrifice for both of them to sell them to buy each other Christmas presents.

In Seema Jena's 1989 essay titled “Characterization in the Works of Anita Desai,” what are the main claims of the essay? Which ideas in the...

The main claim in the essay, is that Desai's early novels express women's mental development as it relates to their place in the structure of Indian families. Notice that in that introduction, the structure of Indian families is called "patriarchal," which means that men and not women are considered the rulers of the household. So in other words, the essay's main point is that Desai's novels help us understand how women think and grow as a result of their role in male-dominated Indian families.

Jena's thesis statement appears to be this one: "[Desai's] novels ... [delve] deep into the forces that condition the growth of a female in the patriarchal, patrilineal, male dominated Indian family."

Here are Jena's supporting claims in the essay:

1. The conflict in Desai's novels mostly center on the human psyche: that is, they take place within a character's mind, rather than between two characters or two groups. The novels are more about a character's private moods and attitudes rather than social relationships.

2. Many of Desai's main characters are intelligent yet disturbed; they feel alienated from the people closest to them and maintain a deep, intense longing for a free, solitary life. Specifically, they want to be free from their families.

3. The characters don't struggle with poverty, but they do strive for independence and for their own identities, even experiencing suffering and misery in this quest. However, they lose themselves in the stifling atmospheres of their families.

4. With many of the characters, their unhappy marriages lead to disaster and to the belief that life has no meaning.

5. The characters also struggle with self-expression and communication, ultimately finding that they can accomplish neither with their family members.

6. "Bim" is a character of Desai's who is the exception. She finds happiness and independence, and her own identity in life, thereby providing hope for "a resurrected and rejuvenated India."

Whether or not you find any of these claims particularly interesting or noteworthy will be a matter of personal taste. Personally, I found Jena's comments on Desai's writing style to be especially interesting. The essayist praises the novelist for her incredible level of detail that lends realism to the stories, as well as for her talent in allowing character development and action to express the themes rather than too much authorial intrusion. For me, these comments help me understand the aesthetic value in Desai's work that exists outside the often depressing task of understanding how patriarchal families relegate women to a life of restriction, repression, neuroticism, and dissatisfaction.

How do I avoid plagiarism and use quotations and paraphrases correctly?

First, for an educator to provide answers using the exact quotation you are assigned as part of your homework would be an example of precisely the sort of academic dishonestly your instructor is teaching your how to avoid. Thus for this answer I will use the following quotation: 

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

This is the first line of Jane Austen's novel, Pride and Prejudice. 

If you want to refer to this line in an essay you can quote all or part of it or paraphrase it. Simply using the line without properly attributing it to Austen would be an example of plagiarism. 

You could paraphrase this passage by saying: "According to Jane Austen, every one agrees that wealthy bachelors should marry." Although the paraphrase has only one word ("that") in common with the original, it expresses Austen's key points. 

You also have the option of quoting the entire passage as a block quotation or using ellipses to incorporate a partial excerpt into one of your own sentences, e.g. "... a single man ... must be in want of a wife". 

Whether you quote or paraphrase Austen, you need to cite the work from which your quotation is taken according to a specific style sheet. Among the most common used in North American universities are MLA, APA, and Chicago. 

How can I write balanced chemical equations to represent how specific nutrients are broken down by enzymes and the subsequent products formed?...

The equation you showed is the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide (`H_(2)O_(2)`) by the enzyme catalase into water (`H_(2)O`) and oxygen (`O_(2)` ). You just need to balance the equation by having the same number of atoms per element on both sides.

`2H_(2)O_(2)`   ------(Catalase)-----> `2H_(2)O`    +    `O_(2)`

* catalase should be above the yield arrow

There's also break down of glucose (`C_(6)H_(12)O_(6)` ) into water (`H_(2)O` ) and carbon dioxide (`CO_(2)` ) during the process of aerobic respiration.

`C_(6)H_(12)O_(6)`  + `6O_(2)`   ------------> `6H_(2)O`  + `6CO_(2)`   + energy

Who is Baldeo in The Tiger in the Tunnel by Ruskin Bond?

In short, Baldeo is the main character in The Tiger in the Tunnel.  He lives in a village just outside of a jungle in India.  Even though Baldeo has a small plot of land in order to grow rice and other plants, he still needs to support his family further; therefore, he works as a watchman for the railroad.  Baldeo’s main job is to keep the signal lamp lit (and keep the tunnel free of obstacles) so that the train can safely make it through the tunnel and deliver the mail.  In order to do this job, Baldeo needs to take shelter in a little hut by the tunnel.  Baldeo is very skilled with his one weapon: an axe. Unfortunately, one night a tiger appears.  Even though Baldeo is able to dodge the tiger for a while (and even partially sever its leg), Baldeo’s axe gets embedded in bone, which renders the weapon useless.  With no weapon to speak of, Baldeo is killed by the tiger.  Baldeo’s job is then passed down to his son, Tembu.

In The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare, what is the magic charm that Hannah works on Kit?

In Chapter Nine of The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Kit and Mercy are co-teaching eleven small children from the town. Kit decides to have the kids act out the story of The Good Samaritan, but the play erupts into chaos as the boys start to misbehave. Mr. Eleazer Kimberley, the schoolmaster, discovers this ruckus and dismisses Kit from her teaching position. Devastated, Kit runs to the Meadow, where she is fed and comforted by Hannah Tupper, the titular "witch" of Blackbird Pond. 

Thus, the "magic charm" that Hannah work on Kit is ridding her of "the rebellion that had been seething in the girl's mind for weeks"; she manages to calm down the girl's raging anxiety and soothe her belief that she does not (and cannot) fit into the Puritan community. Determined to make things right and find true peace, Kit uses the strength she has gathered from her conversation with Hannah to march up to Mr. Eleazer Kimberley's door and ask for one more chance.

Why is T.S. Eliot worthy of critical study? What makes him worthy of critical study in the future? Refer to two of his poems.

One reason why T.S. Eliot is worthy of critical study is because of the disenchantment expressed in his poems.

There will always be sadness in the world.  Despite its preponderance, we have a tendency to avoid paying attention to it because we avoid what makes us uncomfortable.  The work of T.S. Eliot reminds us that sadness and disenchantment are daily parts of our lives.   The only thing we can do is understand their roles in shaping our identities and world.

In "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," Eliot delves into a topic that most would want to avoid.  Eliot focuses on the outsider, the person on the periphery.  The poem's speaker is looking into a world unwilling to accept him. Most would want to be on the inside, and would avoid paying attention to those relegated to the margins. However, Eliot brings this experience to the poem's center.  

The poem's speaker does not command immediate respect from everyone. He is not a Romantic hero who is able to make women swoon upon seeing him. Rather, Eliot's speaker is self-conscious about his looks.  He expresses discomfort about physical details like "a bald spot in the middle of my hair" or "how his arms and legs are thin!" The speaker is not a "carpe diem" type of person.  He does not actively "seize the day" and discard the thoughts of other people.  Rather, he has "measured out" his "life with coffee spoons." This image makes us think about people who live an invisible and indistinguishable life.  He is not a "Prince Hamlet" or an "attendant lord." Rather, he will "grow old" and "wear the bottom of my pants rolled."  

Eliot challenges the poetic conventions of a hero.  This hero suffers from low self-esteem, believing the very worst about himself as the world's gaze traps him.  While this is not someone we would like to think about, our world is filled with people like this.  In our lesser moments, we might actually share the speaker's experience of being "pinned and wiggling."  Eliot's illuminates a condition we want to avoid examining.  He forces us to look at something difficult so we can better understand who we are.

"The Waste Land" is another Eliot poem that compels us to embrace difficult reflection.  Written in the wake of World War I, Eliot brings out the disillusion that is a part of the human experience.   The poem's images of broken hope are worthy of critical study.  From the opening image that does not recall the perceived vigor of spring as much as "dried tubers" to how "the dead tree gives no shelter," Eliot conjures a world where natural disillusion mirrors the state of human existence.  At the same time, he shows a desolation in human beings.  This is conveyed in images such as the "old man with wrinkled female breasts" along with how people were "once handsome and tall" but no longer.  Eliot's poem insists that we examine how disillusionment can take form in ourselves and our world. It is worthy of critical study because of the richness of images from different intellectual and spiritual traditions. These mental pictures communicate social and personal disenchantment, a topic we would rather avoid.  

In the cases of both poems, Eliot's work is worthy of critical study because it transforms us. The result of examining uncomfortable realities is that we see ourselves and our world differently.  We end up paying attention to concepts that might not immediately grab our attention. Eliot changes our thinking. It might be only for a moment, but the poems broaden our thought towards of the amazing intricacy of life.  It is filled with varying intensities of sadness, loss, and pain.  Eliot forces us to ponder this social and emotional complexity.

I would start a presentation on Eliot by stressing his background.  He is a writer that pulls from so many elements in order to communicate his ideas. Greek and Roman traditions, as well as Romantic sensibilities along with Judeo-Christian and Hindu philosophical frames of reference dominate his poetry.  When we read T.S. Eliot, we end up reading more than T.S. Eliot.  He is worthy of further study because of their vast intellectual and religious references.  I would focus on how "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" and "The Waste Land" are filled with such references. You could spend several slides probing such references.  I would conclude the presentation with how both poems focus on disillusionment, paving the way for focus on uncomfortable reality.  This becomes the final reason why Eliot's work is worthy of further study.

How did the story conclude in The Westing Game? Was it effective or not?

The story is a murder mystery about who killed Sam Westing, a paper products tycoon. Most of the plot revolves around a game his heirs play as part of his will. However, it turns out that Sam Westing is not actually dead. One of his heirs, young Turtle, discovers that he has been there all along masquerading as different people. She tells him she won the game and claims her prize, the inheritance. This is the story’s resolution.

Turtle, the heir who solves the puzzle, walks into Julian R. Eastman’s office at the end of the game when she realizes that he is really Sam Westing. She determined this partly because she kicked Barney Northrup, but Sandy MacSouthers had the bruise. Also, Sam Westing was a chess player, and Sandy was playing chess when he wasn’t supposed to know how.

She shouldn’t have kicked him (the Barney Northrup him). … He was smiling. He wasn’t angry with her, he was smiling.

“Hi, Sandy,” Turtle said. “I won!” (Ch. 27) 

Westing also pretended to be Julian R. Eastman, so he had all of the four directions covered with his aliases! He was Sam Westing, Sandy MacSouthers, Barney Northrup, and Julian R. Eastman.

Whether this is an effective or satisfying resolution or not is somewhat subjective. It is a twist ending, so it could be considered effective and satisfying in that respect. You may think it is less than satisfying because there wasn’t really a murder after all, so there was no murderer to identify. It’s a murder mystery without a murderer or a victim. However, that is all part of the fun.  

The ending is effective because it maintains the twists and turns of the story, which is quirky to the last. Sam Westing was an eccentric man. He faked his own murder, then rose from the dead and had his fun. In the end, it all worked out for the best.

How do I annotate the poem "Blindness" by Charles Lamb?

The poem "Blindness" is narrated by an old man who first observes a girl in a stage coach. Here are some notes you might make while annotating the poem.

The narrator notes the girl seems distracted and "her mind seemed busy on some childish thought." She is not looking out at the scene passing by. In the second stanza, the narrator asks the girl to look at some object they are passing. In the third stanza, the child tells the man she is blind. He thinks, "Never did tongue of child utter a sound/ So mournful." The narrator says, "her words fell on my ear," as if the words are physical objects that can land on his ear with a dispiriting thud.

In the last two stanzas, the focus shifts to the mother, who tells the narrator how she found out that her daughter is blind. One day, her daughter lay aside her needlework, and her mother reproached her for doing so. Her daughter then said, "I cannot work, mamma, now it is night," even though it was daylight. There are images of light and dark in the last stanza, as the daughter says it is night while light shines upon her. This contrast between light and dark is a literal and symbolic representation of the dark world in which the daughter now lives.  

In Chapter 7, Golding writes about "the other side of the island." How does Ralph's different perspective of the sea impact his view of their...

On the opposite side of the island, there is no barrier reef or lagoon, and there are no mirages that disrupt the view of the horizon. In Chapter 7, while the hunters are eating fruit before continuing their search for the "beast," Ralph looks out to the sea. Golding writes,

"On the other side of the island, swathed at midday with mirage, defended by the shield of the quiet lagoon, one might dream of rescue; but here, faced by the brute obtuseness of the ocean, the miles of division, one was clamped own, one was helpless, one was condemned, one was---" (111).

Upon looking out at the vast ocean, Ralph realizes the harsh reality of their situation. He essentially feels hopeless and depressed when he thinks about their chances of being rescued. The ocean is a massive barrier separating them from civilization and Ralph desperately wishes to return home. Ralph also notices how the ceaseless waves crash and retreat in a cyclical manner slowly eroding the island. The waves eroding the island represent how civility is gradually declining among the boys. Ralph no longer has a positive outlook on creating a structured society or being rescued.

A wave is incident on the surface of a mirror at an angle of 30° with the normal. At what angle will the outgoing wave reflect? 0° 30°...

Hello!

As I understand, a "wave" means "electromagnetic wave," or "light." These waves may reflect from a mirror (other waves also may reflect, for example waves on a water surface may reflect from a wall).

The main law of reflection is that an angle of reflection is the same as an angle of incidence. They are both measured from the normal at the point of incidence (normal is a straight line perpendicular to a mirror at the point of their intersection). For a plain mirror these angles might be measured from a mirror's plane, and such angles are also equal. All normals to a spherical mirror, for example, go through the sphere's center.

So the answer is: the angle of reflection is 30 degrees with the normal (the same as for an incident wave).

This week, we spent a lot of time discussing mass incarceration, the war on drugs, and racial inequity. In recent times, a racial justice social...

Black Lives Matter, frequently referred to as BLM, is a loosely and locally-organized movement unlike its civil rights predecessors, the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), which were centralized. Different factions generally engage in similar methods of protest, however. The disruption of traffic, for instance, is a common method of protest. I should note, too, that this method is not exactly new. Let us not forget how Dr. King, Coretta Scott King, Congressman John Lewis, and others marched across Edmund Pettus Bridge from Selma into Montgomery in 1965 to protest obstructions to the black vote.

BLM members stop traffic because they do not want Americans, particularly white Americans, to continue on with their quotidian lives without paying attention to the injustices committed against fellow Americans. The disruption of traffic is a small inconvenience, but it is one that impacts time managed and spent. It forces people to confront the ways in which police brutality and injustice disrupt, and all too often end, black lives.

Political speeches are disrupted for similar reasons. Some may remember the two young black women who disrupted a Bernie Sanders speech in Seattle earlier this year. Whatever one's feelings may be on their tactics, their purpose was to question the integrity of white liberals who claim to be advocates for civil rights causes but who do not wish to be confronted with their own white privilege. They may also not wish to be confronted by their own racism, which is pleased to see people of color in rally audiences, but perhaps less pleased to hear their voices questioning structural racism and white privilege. Political disruption forces predominately white audiences to deal with their feelings, however ugly or uncomfortable, about black people privileging their own voices even at supposedly inopportune moments.

Clearly, as any thread on a social media website will show you, a lot of people have a problem with this. If one is white and unconscious of the mechanisms of oppression, both large and small, one would be inclined to cite BLM members as troublemakers needlessly complaining and disrupting people's lives just because some "thugs" were shot by police. Such comments are common and reflect, however unknowingly, a racist bias. 

If you are female, particularly black and female, you may be exasperated with the ways in which BLM (an organization founded by a pair of black lesbians), reinforces patriarchy. This, too, is not new to civil rights struggles: the agonies and abuses of black men are addressed while those of black women are rendered invisible or are forgotten. We have seen this most recently with the death of Korryn Gaines. 

If you are queer, you might be annoyed with the ways in which BLM neglects or overlooks the deaths of LGBT people. However, it is often forgotten that BLM's major intention is to address police brutality and injustice -- not every racist abuse committed.

As with every civil rights organization that has ever existed, BLM has its flaws and blind spots; but its work is noble and necessary if we are earnest in our pursuit of a more just and equitable society.

What are water droplets found on a car in the early morning called?

When water condenses on a surface, it is commonly referred to as dew or condensate. 

When you leave a car outside, there is moisture in the air inside the vehicle. This air tends to be around 70 degrees if an ac unit is running, whereas the exterior air is a different temperature. If the air outside the car is colder than the air inside, then the windows will conduct the heat from the air inside into the air outside, causing water to condense on the windows.

This can happen in other places, too. Spiderwebs can catch dew on their strands, while tabletops and decks can accumulate puddles. Even bridges can gather dew. When the air drops below freezing, ice can form.

What is an example of an interior monologue in The Ballad of the Sad Cafe by Carson McCullers?

An interior monologue presents the innermost thoughts of a character in a direct way (which refers to a style in which the reader can hear the thoughts of the character directly) or in an indirect way (which means in a style in which the character comments or interjects). In The Ballad of the Sad Cafe, there are several examples of direct interior monologues, such as the following about Miss Amelia:

"She closed the place completely, lighted the lamps, and sat solemnly over her grits. The reason for this was not that Miss Amelia feared the snowfall. It was simply that she was unable to form an immediate opinion of this new event, and unless she knew exactly and definitely what she thought of a matter (which was nearly always the case) she preferred to ignore it" (page 57).

In this interior monologue, the reader gains access to what Miss Amelia is thinking about as the snow falls. The reader could not know all this information simply from reading about Miss Amelia's movements. Instead, the narrative gives the reader an understanding of what Miss Amelia's motivations and feelings are as she closes her cafe, sits over her grits, and thinks with uncertainty about the snowfall.   

Who wrote the United States Constitution? What role did James Madison play?

The Constitutional Convention occurred in 1787 with George Washington presiding.  James Madison created the foundational document for the U.S. Constitution.  He is considered the Father of the Constitution because of this.  Other Founding Fathers were also involved in the creation of the Constitution.  

James Madison's original document was called the Virginia Plan.  It contained a total of fifteen resolutions.  It discussed the separation of powers, which was a new idea compared to previous documents.  The document also suggested representatives based on population.

The ideas in the document which became the U.S. Constitution were also influenced by other great thinkers.  Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson were among those who wrote about liberty and freedom.  These ideas were important to the U.S. Constitution.  It is believed that a man named Gouverneur Morris put many of the ideas of the Constitution into words.  There were almost a dozen other men who also contributed to the writing and composition of the document.

Compare and contrast Jordan, Daisy, and Myrtle.

Daisy, Jordan, and Myrtle are all somewhat shallow and self-serving when it comes to romantic relationships.  Daisy obviously cheats on her husband, Tom, with Jay Gatsby, and Myrtle cheats on her husband, George, with Tom.  They both seem to feel that they can do better, at least for a time, that they can have more (whether that be more love or more money) with someone else.  Further, Nick tells us that Jordan "instinctively avoided clever, shrewd men" and that "She was incurably dishonest."  Thus, Jordan purposely chooses to be with men who aren't that bright, who cannot catch her (or at least would never accuse her) in the lies that she tells.  She always wants the upper hand.  Ultimately, all three are quite selfish in their relationships.

Daisy claims to be "cynical" now, after her few years of marriage and becoming a mother, but Nick describes her as almost the opposite, especially in contrast to Jordan.  He says that Jordan, "unlike Daisy, was too wise to ever carry well-forgotten dreams from age to age."  Thus, Jordan is in some ways the more cynical, or at least realistic, one, while Daisy is the one who is (or was) capable of a hopefulness similar to Gatsby's. 

Myrtle is ultimately hopeful as well, a trait conveyed by both the conversation at her party in the beginning of the novel as well as her behavior when she runs out to meet the car she believes Tom is driving toward the end of the novel.  Her sister, Catherine, tells Nick that neither Myrtle nor Tom "'can stand the person they're married to.'"  She says, "'If I was them I'd get a divorce and get married to each other right away.'"  Such statements make it sound as though Myrtle has discussed such things as a possibility, an extremely hopeful (albeit impossible) idea: she actually thinks that Tom might leave Daisy for her.  Moreover, running out to the car, thinking that she'll speak with Tom, makes it seem as though she believes that she could have such a huge impact on him -- again, we recognize this as highly unlikely, but Myrtle is unrealistically hopeful. 

How does Roland die in Unwind by Neal Shusterman?

Roland only dies if you believe unwinding actually results in death. The "Bill of Life" that appears in the very beginning of the book states the following about unwinding:  

However, between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, a parent may choose to retroactively "abort" a child . . . on the condition that the child's life doesn't "technically" end.

Many people in the society absolutely believe unwinding a child does not end that child's life, including a child, who says,

I was never going to amount to much anyway, but now, statistically speaking, there's a better chance that some part of me will go on to greatness somewhere in the world. I'd rather be partly great than entirely useless.

If you believe unwinding actually ends the life of the child, then Roland dies by being unwound toward the end of the book at the harvest camp where he, Connor, Lev, and Risa stayed.  

The clappers destroy a great deal of that harvest camp, and Connor's arm is injured so badly that it can't be saved. Without Connor's knowledge, he is given the arm of an Unwind. The arm he is given is Roland's arm, so perhaps Roland is still not entirely dead.

Why does Nicola call Louka a foolish girl?

Nicola thinks Louka is being irrational, acting in ways that undermine her personal goals. He sees that she aspires to climb the social ladder. She is interested in marrying her way into a higher social position. But she lets her rebelliousness and dissatisfaction show in ways that will turn off aristocrats and gentlefolk.

By being openly rude to Nicola ("sharp and impudent"), she doesn't give the impression that she is his social superior. On the contrary, she creates the appearance that she is on intimate terms with her fellow servant. We don't usually take such liberties with people unless we're close to them:

"[I]mpudence is a sort of familiarity: it shews affection for me…"

If Louka really aspires to become a lady, she needs to act like a lady -- someone who takes it for granted that she will be obeyed by inferiors:

"Act as if you expected to have your own way, not as if you expected to be ordered about."

Perhaps the most foolish aspect of Louka's behavior is that she has failed to appreciate how Nicola and his advice can benefit her. He was the one who showed her how to groom herself like a lady. When he points this out, she responds with disdain ("She tosses her head defiantly…") and he says:

"I've often thought that if Raina were out of the way, and you just a little less of a fool and Sergius just a little more of one, you might come to be one of my grandest customers, instead of only being my wife and costing me money."

So Nicola implies that Louka has misread his motives, and she is being a fool to reject his advice. He's trying to help her. She's letting her emotions cloud her judgment. He says he'll stand by her, and then proves it by "talking up" Louka to Sergius, hinting that the young woman is well-educated (an attainment that would make her a more acceptable marriage prospect):

NICOLA [in a smooth, elderly manner] Oh no, sir: thank you kindly. I was only speaking to this foolish girl about her habit of running up here to the library whenever she gets a chance, to look at the books. That's the worst of her education, sir: it gives her habits above her station.

In Siddhartha, what is a scene in which Hesse utilizes Buddhism? How is this scene used to direct the novel?

The novel's opening scene depicts Siddhartha's dukkha, one of the most essential components of the Buddhist religion.  

In Buddhism, "dukkha" takes place when a person has become aware of the transitory nature of existence. It dawns when a person realizes that what they thought was meaningful and lasting is actually illusory. The individual recognizes their attachment to reality is not real because reality, itself, is false. This awareness compels a person to change their view of the world and their place in it. It is essential to Buddhism, as it triggers the need for transformation. Dukkha causes a person to believe there is something more than what is around us.

Dukkha defines the opening scene in Siddhartha. It is seen when the "handsome prince" realizes everything around him is not fulfilling. He understands there must be more than what exists in his world. He realizes the "rosy paths of the fig tree garden" will give way to time. Additionally, despite "everyone's love and joy," Siddhartha still "lacked all joy in his heart." The recitation of the "verses of the Rig-Veda, being infused into him, drop by drop from the teachings of the old Brahmans" was merely ceremonial. They lacked any real and sustainable meaning for Siddhartha. There was noticeable "discontent in himself" as Siddhartha realizes that "the love of his father and the love of his mother, and also the love of his friend, Govinda, would not bring him joy for ever and ever, would not nurse him, feed him, satisfy him." Siddhartha experiences the dukkha of being in the world. He is unsatisfied with the impermanence that surrounds him, causing him to embrace one of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism.

Siddhartha's understanding of dukkha drives the novel's opening scene. This religious conception enables us to see how Siddhartha is going to change. He fully understands the Buddhist idea that what is around us is not reality. It is simply illusion. To strive past it becomes the goal of every being.  Siddhartha displays this in the novel's opening scene and throughout the novel.

In order to reduce the length of Shakespeare's Hamlet, what scenes could be cut and what themes or issues might be affected in the play?

After having watched dozens of versions of Hamlet, I find it really interesting to answer this question.  There are a few scenes that are commonly cut and others that are greatly trimmed down in order to save time.  Most of the time, these scenes have to do with the minor characters (such as servants or friends) and do not have much to do with the main characters (Hamlet, Ophelia, the ghost, Polonius, Gertrude, and Claudius).  Sometimes these scenes have to do with the conquests and battles of Denmark.

Act 1, Scene 1 can be trimmed down.  There is a lot of conversation here between the characters on watch about the country's conquests.  The important part of this scene is the appearance of the ghost.

Act 2, Scene 1 can be trimmed down.  At the beginning of this scene, Polonius is asking Reynaldo to spy on Laertes in France.  Even though this event shows Polonius is fond of spying, it is not important to the main characters and could be cut.  The important part of this scene is Ophelia’s observation of Hamlet’s behavior.

Act 2, Scene 2 can be trimmed down with the news about the ailing King of Norway and other military decisions removed.  Everything else from this scene should remain.

Act 3, Scene 1 can be trimmed down.  The most important part of this scene is Hamlet’s interaction with Ophelia, so the length of conversation between the king and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern can be edited.

Act 4, Scene 2 could be completely removed in that it is about Hamlet simply speaking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about the disposal of Polonius’ body.  The scene does serve as a good example of Hamlet’s “antic disposition” because he obviously knows Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are spying here.

Act 4, Scene 3 can be trimmed down.  Again, the discussion of Polonius’ body is superfluous (with the exception of the worm comment made to Claudius).  What is important about this scene is that Hamlet is being sent to England to his death.

Act 4, Scene 4 could be completely removed as long as the director doesn’t mind removing the character of Fortinbras.  This is about the conquests of Denmark.  Even the comparison of Hamlet’s conquests and Denmark’s conquests are not necessarily important to the plot.  The only real importance is that Hamlet discusses his inaction.

Act 4, Scene 6 could be completely removed.  It is about Horatio and the sailors.  They do talk of Hamlet, but the scene becomes unimportant when Hamlet returns.

In regards to the second part of your question, the themes and issues affected here all have to do with the everyday doings of the Danish court and the country of Denmark.  Instead, most of the meat of this play  has to do with the doings of the main characters.  None of the main themes or issues would be affected.

Livestrong has a number of products that it has trademarked and copyrighted, including a line of “Livestrong” exercise bikes. Now that Lance...

The short answer is that Lance Armstrong could be sued by Livestrong for infringement or disparagement in connection with his false statements concerning his use of performance enhancing drugs and medical techniques, but neither cause of action would likely succeed. Under the U.S. legal system (other legal systems will vary), a lawsuit can be initiated by anyone or on behalf of anyone about anything. Whether a lawsuit will survive dismissal or will result in a favorable outcome are different questions. So, the better question here is whether Livestrong would prevail in a lawsuit alleging infringement and/or disparagement on the part of Lance Armstrong. To examine this, we need to break the response into two parts: the infringement issue and the disparagement issue.

Part 1: Infringement

Infringement is a claim that someone has made unauthorized use of the intellectual property of another. In the copyright context, infringement involves the unauthorized copying or use of all or part of a work protected by copyright. In the trademark context, infringement typically involves the passing off of goods or causing confusion as to the source of goods. Additionally, some state trademark laws, as well as federal trademark law, contain anti-dilution provisions designed to protect famous marks from activities that would impact the distinctiveness of that mark.

In the matter in question, Lance Armstrong’s admissions that he made false statements concerning his use of performance enhancing drugs and medical techniques do not appear on their face to implicate either copyright or trademark law. His admissions appear to neither copy/use protected works under copyright, nor do they attempt to pass off goods or cause confusion as to the source of goods under trademark. Further, while his admissions likely lessened the value of the intellectual property of Livestrong, the distinctiveness of Livestrong trademarks was likely not impacted; it may even be the case that any such trademarks of Livstrong are more distinctive than before due to increased notoriety. Thus, it is unlikely that either state or federal trademark anti-dilution provisions would apply.

Put more informally, Armstrong’s admissions of making false statements simply do not themselves implicate intellectual property law. Copyright and trademark law are intended to protect the value of intellectual property with respect to the unauthorized use of that property by another. They do not protect against acts that may devalue the goodwill of that intellectual property but that do not actually infringe on the intellectual property rights of the owners of the intellectual property in question.

Part 2: Disparagement

The tort of disparagement is a claim brought when someone has made a false statement or statements against a business and said false statement or statements  incur an economic injury for the business (it is not a claim made with respect to intellectual property, which the original question seems to contemplate). The typical context of a disparagement action is a person publishing (either orally or in writing) false information about a business and its products and/or practices. These false statements must have a negative impact on the economic status of the business. This contrasts with the tort of libel, which involves false statements that result in damage to the reputation of a person or business.

In the matter in question, Lance Armstrong’s admission concerning prior false statements about his athletic endeavors may have indeed had a negative impact on Livestrong’s economic interests, but the statements do not likely meet the definition of disparagement for two reasons. First, the statements admitting prior false statements were not statements about Livestrong or its operations and products/services. They were admissions that Lance Armstrong previously lied about his use of performance enhancing drugs and medical techniques during his professional cycling career. Thus, while Armstrong’s admissions may damage the value of Livestrong’s goodwill and may have a negative economic impact on Livestrong’s economic status, the admissions were not statements about Livestrong.

Second, Armstrong’s admissions are not false statements. They are true statements about his prior false statements. Even if Armstrong’s admissions could be found to be statements about the business and to have caused it economic harm, the truth of a statement is a complete defense to a disparagement claim.

Conclusion:

While it seems quite likely that Armstrong’s admissions regarding his prior false statements had some impact on Livestrong’s economic status and goodwill, such damages would not be compensable through an action for infringement of copyright or trademark or for the tort of disparagement.

Please note that the above analysis is in response to the parameters set forth in the question and merely constitutes information regarding the possible causes of actions proposed in the question. It is not a legal analysis of the situation in question, nor does it address the possibility of other causes of actions. It is intended for informational purposes only.

What is the critical angle for a light ray traveling from diamond into glass?

The critical angle is defined as the highest angle of incidence that does not result in total internal reflection; it is the angle at which refraction will occur at pi/2 radians (90 degrees), the light traveling along the boundary between the two media.

By Snell's Law, we know that angle of refraction and refractive index are related as follows:

`n_1 sin (theta_1) = n_2 sin (theta_2)`

At the critical angle, by definition `theta_2 = pi/2`, so `sin(theta_2) = 1`.

`n_1 sin(theta_1) = n_2`

Solving for theta_1 gives us the critical angle in terms of the refractive indices:

`theta_1 = sin^{-1} (n_2 / n_1)`

Notice how this will be undefined if `n_2 gt n_1`; total internal reflection (and thus, a critical angle) only occurs when light travels to a medium with a lower refractive index. All we need now is to know the refractive indices of glass and diamond. Diamond we know quite precisely as 2.417; glass varies a bit depending on its precise composition, but is usually about 1.5.

`theta_1 = sin^{-1} (1.5/2.417) = sin^{-1}(0.62)`
`theta_1 = 0.67 rad = 38 deg`
The critical angle is about 38 degrees.

How would you describe Bryant's understanding of death as expressed in "Thanatopsis"?

William Cullen Bryant expressed his views about death most clearly in two of his poems: "Thanatopsis" and "To a Waterfowl."  Often associated with the English Romantic poets, Bryant, like them, turned to nature for an understanding of death.  In nature, Bryant saw a way of accepting the inevitability of death.  Let's start with "Thanatopsis," whose title literally means "a view of death." 

This poem begins with praising nature, which has the ability to comfort us with its beauty and vastness:

When thoughts

Of the last bitter hour come like a blight

Over thy spirit . . .

Go forth under the open sky

But in our contemplation of nature, we are also reminded that we will return to Earth and in our death "mix forever with the elements."  The consolation comes from the idea that the earth is a wonderful eternal resting place where we will lie down with all the great people of the past and be surrounded by the rivers, woods, and meadows.  It is the place to which all must eventually go, and because of this fact we will not be alone:

The speechless babe, and the gray-headed man--

Shall one by one be gathered to thy side

By those, who in their turn shall follow them.

We, then, should not be afraid of death but go to our graves as if we are lying down to begin "pleasant dreams."  In this poem, Bryant stresses the fact that becoming one with nature and with all past living things is our solace for death. He does not refer to the afterlife, except obliquely, when he connects dreams and death.  

In "To a Waterfowl," Byrant uses the flight of a bird to explain how we should feel about death.  This poem has a more religious tone that "Thanatopsis."  In the latter poem, Bryant mentions a "Power" that guides the waterfowl to its "summer home, and rest."  As he watches the bird's "certain flight" through "the cold, thin atmosphere" until it disappears in the "abyss of heaven," he applies this journey metaphorically to himself.  As he walks the long way alone, he knows that there is a power that guides him, that 

Will lead my steps aright.

The two poems express similar ideas about death.  Nature is a way of understanding and accepting our own mortality.  In the first, nature becomes our final peaceful resting place; in the second, nature becomes more of a metaphor that teaches us how we should view death. The second has more religious overtones than the first in its mention of a supernatural power that guides both the bird and the speaker to the heavens.

I have posted two links below that should provide more ideas about Bryant's understanding of death.  

Find `sin(tan^(-1)(x+1)).`

Hello!

The domain of this function is all real numbers, because `tan^(-1)(x),` and therefore `tan^(-1)(x+1),` is defined for all `x in RR.`

By the definition, `tan^(-1)(y)` is the number `w in (-pi/2, pi/2)` such that `y = tan(w).` Knowing `tan(w),` we can find `sin(w) = sin(tan^(-1)(y)),`

namely

`(tan^2(w))/(1+tan^2(w)) = ((sin^2(w))/(cos^2(w))) / (1+(sin^2(w))/(cos^2(w))) = sin^2(w).`

This way `sin(w) = +-(tan(w))/sqrt(1+tan^2(w)) (= +-y/sqrt(1+y^2)).`

Note that for `w in (-pi/2, pi/2)`  `cos(w) gt 0,` hence the signs of `sin(w)` and `tan(w)` are the same. The formula becomes  `sin(w) = (tan(w))/sqrt(1+tan^2(w)).`

So we obtained that  `sin(tan^(-1)(y)) = y/sqrt(1+y^2).`

Thus the answer for our question is (substitute `y = x+1` )

`sin(tan^(-1)(x+1)) = (x+1)/sqrt(1+(x+1)^2)`

for all `x in RR.`

What do Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and Poe's short story "Ligeia" have in common?

A central theme in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird concerns the killing of innocent people, both symbolically and literally, due to prejudices. While the central theme in Edgar Allan Poe's short story "Ligeia" concerns the strength of the human will, a minor theme in Poe's short story also concerns the killing of innocents.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, author Lee uses the mockingbird as a symbol of innocence because the only thing mockingbirds do all day is "make music for us to enjoy" (Ch. 10). Lee uses this symbol to represent Tom Robinson, who is unjustly tried and convicted of rape due to the racial prejudices of his jury, though obviously innocent. He is then killed trying to escape prison, tired of waiting for true justice to be served and wanting to try to take matters into his own hands. In addition, Lee uses the symbol of the mockingbird to represent the innocent and benevolent Arthur (Boo) Radley, who is persecuted because people are unable to respect and understand people's differences such as his desires to remain indoors.

Similarly, in Poe's short story, the innocent Lady Rowena is inadvertently murdered. The narrator of the story had first married and been deeply in love with the beautiful, dark-haired, and exotic Ligeia, who fell ill soon after their marriage. Before her death, she intimated her belief that death can be overcome through strength of will. Overcome with grief after her death and trying to ease his loneliness, he tries to replace Ligeia by marrying the fair-haired and lovely Lady Rowena. Though Rowena has her fair share of beauty, she is ordinary compared to the exotic Ligeia; therefore, she is not enough to distract the brokenhearted narrator. Soon, the narrator shuns Rowena and turns to thoughts of Ligeia, specifically to thoughts of trying to raise her from the dead. As soon as the narrator begins thinking so heavily about raising Ligeia from the dead, the innocent Rowena falls ill and, before her death, speaks nearly hysterically about her feelings of being haunted. After her death, while grieving by her side, the narrator sees her return to life and transform into the lost Ligeia. Hence, due to the strength of the narrator's and Ligeia's mutual wills, the innocent Rowena is inadvertently murdered just so that Ligeia can return to life.

It can also be said that it was out of prejudice that the narrator shunned and eventually killed the innocent Rowena. Since Rowena did not look the same as Ligeia, the narrator rejected her love without truly knowing her, without having any true reason to reject or dislike her, which fits the very definition of prejudice.

In the book of 1 Kings 18:43, how did nothing become something?

1 Kings 18:43 states that:

“Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked. “There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

Prior to the verse, Prophet Elijah had sent King Ahab to go and eat, for there was a storm coming. This was a strange, almost unbelievable claim coming from Elijah, seeing how the sky was clear, with no traces of dark clouds. Elijah went up Mount Carmel and crouched, with his face between his knees (a sign of prayer). He then instructed his servant to go and look towards the sea, for any signs of clouds. The servant went seven times and on the seventh time, he saw a small cloud coming from the sea. Judging from its size, it was unexpected that the cloud could produce rain, let alone a storm. The next verses state how the little cloud ended up covering the entire sky, and there was a heavy downpour that day. Out of nothing (a clear sky), came something (a torrential downpour). From nothing, Elijah’s faith in his God did not waver; he knew his God would not fail him. Consequently, out of nothing, there was Elijah’s belief in the Almighty, and his God did not disappoint as he rapidly multiplied the small clouds to dark ones, enough to warrant a heavy rain.

In A Walk in the Woods, what is Bill Bryson's longstanding impression of the woods?

In A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson spends a great deal of time meditating on the state of America's wilderness. He has many different feelings when faced with the vast woodlands of the Appalachian Trail, and it could be said that his longstanding impression of the woods is one mixed with fear, awe and admiration. At first, Bryson provides the reader with an extensive catalog of all the ways that the woods can kill a hiker. However, as he grows more familiar with the environment, the book becomes a love letter to the wilds of America, and his extensive description of the history and biology of the Appalachian wilderness exhibits his amazement and love of the region. As such, it might be most accurate to say that Bryson believes one should love the woods, but also be smart enough to maintain a healthy level of fearful respect for them. 

Why do we use glycerol bath, instead of water bath in melting point determination? If glycerol were not available, what can we use instead? Suggest...

Glycerol, a common coolant fluid, is used to determine melting point because unlike water, glycerol has a very high boiling point. Water will boil off at 100 degrees Celsius in standard pressure, whereas glycerol stays liquid up until 290 degrees Celsius.

Other liquids you could use would be best with similar properties. This means liquids like oils, which can stay liquid at high temperatures, will be great for melting point determination. Motor oils, which function around the intense heat of an engine, or cooking oils, which far surpass the boiling point of water, would work well here.

For things that need to be even hotter, liquid mercury could be used, as it has a boiling point at 355 degrees Celsius.

If you find yourself needing just a bit more heat than your liquid accommodates, you could add a salt to raise the boiling point slightly.

What is real time processing in information technology?

Real time processing technology captures and processes and responds to data as the events generating that data are happening in the real world. Unlike batch processing, real time processing deals with a continuous stream of inputs and has hard deadlines for completing tasks. 

A good way to understand the difference between real time and batch processing would be to think about data processing for airplanes. A scientist might study aircraft landings by having sensors collect data as a plane approaches the airport and lands, and then after the plane lands, process the data as a batch. For the scientist, there is no need to get results immediately. At the opposite extreme, imagine software that is used in autoland systems for aircraft in low visibility. The software has to process information concerning altitude in real time and correct the airplane's speed of descent in response to that information. A delay of a few seconds could result in the plane crashing.

Most forms of process control software, whether ones that help run complex machinery or ones that enable you to play video games, must operate in real time. Other types of software, such as banking applications or back office software packages, are usually handled by fast batch processing, which increases efficiency by grouping together large numbers of similar operations. 

Impacts of the War of 1812: Finding a Middle Ground. In this discussion, you will expand your investigation and identify topics of the War of...

The War of 1812 was in part an outgrowth of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe. The U.S. decided to declare war on Britain in part because the British Navy was impressing Americans into serving on their ships; impressment of about 10,000 American merchant sailors was one of the major irritants that led the U.S. to declare war. In addition, the Chesapeake-Leopard incident, in which the British ship the HMS Leopard pursued the American frigate the USS Chesapeake off the coast of Virginia in 1807, was another cause of the war. The crew of the Leopard was apparently looking for deserters from the British Navy, and the ships were involved in a short battle. Afterward, the British government refused to back away from impressment, which was a vital issue at the time because the Royal Navy was such a brutal institution that many sailors tried to escape to other nations' boats, and Britain was involved in a war with France.

After the Chesapeake-Leopard incident, the public response was a cry for war, but Jefferson, who was President at the time, tried to use diplomatic solutions, to no avail. He passed the Embargo Act of 1807, which was intended to end all American imports to Britain and France. The U.S. wanted to trade with both countries and remain neutral. However, the Embargo Act largely only hurt American shipping. The other causes of the war were the desire for America to expand west, while the British gave support to Native Americans along the western frontier to prevent American expansion.

The war included attacks by the Royal Navy along the coast, including along the Chesapeake, leading to an attack on Washington, D.C. and the burning of the White House, U.S. Capitol, and Navy Yard. Once Napoleon left power in 1814, Britain and France became allies, and one of the causes of the war had ended.

Today, wars abroad also involve the U.S. For example, the devastating civil war in Syria, which has been going on since 2011, has resulted the migration of millions of immigrants to Europe and some to the U.S. Ongoing unrest in the Middle East has resulted in violence in the U.S. For example, al-Queda claimed that American support of Israel was in part the reason behind the 9/11 attacks, in addition to the American involvement in the Persian Gulf War. As the War of 1812 involved attacks on American soil, such as the burning of the White House and U.S. Capitol, the events of 9/11 also included attacks on domestic targets such as the Pentagon, in addition to hijacking planes. 

Is becoming a lawyer a good idea? I'm really keen on studying law once I've finished high school, but I don't know if it's a good idea or not.

No one career is either good or bad for everyone. Whether a particular career is a good fit for you depends on your skills and interests. 

The first thing about becoming a lawyer is that it takes a long time. You would need to complete a four-year undergraduate degree followed by three years of law school. It can also be quite an expensive undertaking; many law schools can cost over $150,000 for a three-year program, as you can see using a law school cost calculator. In general, admission to law school requires an undergraduate GPA of 3.8 or above and good scores on the LSAT exam. 

If you are a good student who enjoys analytical thinking, writing, and extensive reading, law might be a good career choice. However, it might be best to choose an undergraduate major that would prepare you for a broad range of careers, but which includes several courses in writing, oral communication, and logical reasoning, all essential skills for lawyers. Among the most highly recommended undergraduate majors for aspiring law students are history, English, politics, philosophy, and economics. 

As you are just finishing high school, you have a few years before you need to decide whether to apply to law school. A good strategy might be trying to find a summer internship at a law office to see what lawyers actually do during their work days so you can decide whether it is a career you would enjoy. 

Did the isolation of the Island of the Blue Dolphins affect its inhabitants?

The Island of the Blue Dolphins focuses on a group of people living on an isolated island off the coast of California. The story is based on the life of a real woman who lived alone on a California island until 1853. During this time period, it would have been more difficult to find and map this tiny island. This causes the characters in The Island of the Blue Dolphins to be cut off from modern advances and technology. For example, they refer to the Russians' ship as a "giant canoe" because they are unaware of the correct term for it.  

The island's inhabitants also rely on hunter-gatherer roles, in which men hunt and women take over more domestic duties. This means that when Karana is left alone on the island in the story, she has to take over the more "male-oriented" responsibilities.    

How does Utnapishtim attain immortality?

According to the Epic of Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim was the only man to escape death and receive immortality from the gods (his wife was also granted immortality). Many years before the events in the story, the gods had sent a flood to punish humanity. Similarly to the story of Noah's ark, the gods told Utnapishtim to build a boat which would preserve both human and animal life. Utnapishtim obeyed, and all who sailed on The Preserver of Life were saved from the flood. Once the waters receded, Utnapishtim made a sacrifice to the gods and then released the animals back into nature to repopulate the earth. The gods rewarded Utnapishtim for his faith and obedience by deifying him and granting him immorality.

What was the second prophecy in Macbeth?

The witches’ second prophecy is that Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor. 

After the battle, Macbeth and Banquo hear prophecies from three mysterious witches. They are women with beards and are known as the “weird sisters.” The witches tell Macbeth three prophecies in Act I, Scene 3:

First Witch

All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!

Second Witch

All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!

Third Witch

All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!

Macbeth is currently the Thane of Glamis, and becoming Thane of Cawdor would be a promotion. Macbeth will get this promotion because he defeated and killed the last person to hold that title in the battle. When Macbeth finds out the witches were right about the promotion, he is surprised.

ROSS

And, for an earnest of a greater honour,
He bade me, from him, call thee thane of Cawdor:
In which addition, hail, most worthy thane!
For it is thine.

BANQUO

What, can the devil speak true?

MACBETH

The thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me
In borrow'd robes? (Act I, Scene 3)

The Thane of Cawdor promotion is not enough for Macbeth. He wants to be the king. That was the third prophecy, and Macbeth now wants it to come true like the others have. This seems less likely when King Duncan announces his son, Malcolm, will succeed him on the throne. This prompts the beginning of Macbeth's path to destruction.

Before the witches' intervention, Macbeth seems to have been a loyal soldier. The prophecies make him greedy. When one came true and the other seemingly did not, Macbeth became upset. He decided he was going to become king, one way or another. He would have to kill in order to make it happen, but that didn't matter to him.

After seeing clips from the documentary Crude, what is the general role a specialist in health behavior and health promotion could serve in this...

Crude is a 2009 documentary about an Ecuadorian oil pollution crisis allegedly perpetrated by Chevron and Texaco. As a result of the ongoing crisis, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Chevron, which is the documentary's primary focus. While investigating the lawsuit, filmmaker Joe Berlinger uncovered many terrible stories about people suffering from ill health, which they attributed to the pollution.

A specialist in health behavior and health promotion could fill a variety of roles on either side of this issue. As someone on the ground in Ecuador, for example, the health specialist could assess the various factors present in the community and find ways to improve public health in the area. He or she could consult the locals on ways to make themselves healthier or lessen the effects of those harmful factors. The specialist could identify resources to help and advocate for the community if he or she felt there was a serious health hazard committed by Chevron/ Texaco or any other company.

On the other hand, a specialist working for Chevron/ Texaco (or one who assessed the situation and determined they were not at fault) could identify other possible causes for the community's health issues. He or she could testify as an expert to what else could be making people sick. 

In either situation, a specialist could also organize educational programs and train people on healthful living.

Where was the center of the Roman Catholic Church located during the Middle Ages?

From 1309 until 1377, the pope resided in Avignon, France.  Before and after this time period, the pope resided in Rome.

Clement V was elected as pope.  He was French, and he refused to relocate to Rome.  He did not want to leave France.  He established the papal court in Avignon, France.  After Clement's death in 1314, six more popes resided in Avignon.  All of these popes were Frenchmen.  During this time, the pope and the French monarchy were closely aligned.

In 1377, the pope's residence moved back to Rome.  After this move back to Vatican City, there were tensions between French Catholics and Italian Catholics.  These tensions led to an unofficial split, as the French elected their own pope.  This new pope resided in Avignon, while the official pope continued to reside in Rome.

What is your opinion of the idea that the expectations of Jing-mei's mother influenced Jing-mei's behavior?

Because this is an opinion question, you can take whatever stance you would like.  The important part of your opinion is to defend why you have that opinion.  

In my opinion, I agree with the statement that the expectations placed on Jing-mei influenced her behavior.  I believe that the early expectations of Jing-mei's mother influenced Jing-mei in a very healthy manner.  I do not think that Jing-mei would have tried to be the child genius that her mother was encouraging her to be without her mother's prodding.  

In fact, in the beginning I was just as excited as my mother, maybe even more so.

Jing-mei really did try in the beginning too.  Every day the two of them would work together in order to figure out exactly what Jing-mei's genius niche might be.  

Unfortunately, as Suyuan's frustration and disappointment in her daughter grew, Jing-mei's willingness to work hard for her mother faded.  Eventually, Jing-mei got to the point where she just refused to do what her mother asked simply because her mother had asked.  

The girl staring back at me was angry, powerful. She and I were the same. I had new thoughts, willful thoughts - or rather, thoughts filled with lots of won'ts. I won't let her change me, I promised myself. I won't be what I'm not.

The harder Suyuan pushed, the harder Jing-mei pushed back.  The result was a relationship that stayed broken for years to come. 

Suppose a father of blood type A and a mother of blood type B have a child of type O. What types are possible in their subsequent children?

A child with blood type O must be homozygous for this trait. The only possible combination of genes that can produce blood type O is if an individual receives two O genes--one from each parent.

We already know that one parent is blood type A and the other is blood type B. Since the genes for type A and type B are co-dominant and the gene for type O is recessive, each parent must be heterozygous for blood type.

This implies that one parent has the gene combination AO and the other parent has the gene combination BO. In a Punnet square, there are four possible offspring that this couple could produce. AO which is type A, BO which is type B, AB which results in type AB or OO which results in type O.

Therefore, if this couple ever produces more offspring there is a 25% chance of producing each of the four blood types.

I have included a link which shows how the Punnett square is solved for this problem.

Is bureaucracy a hindrance or convenience in implementing government orders and policies?

This is a great question, I think, and often sets off a lively debate.   There are many who think that bureaucracy is a terrible hindrance to the functioning of government, particularly those who have run afoul of it for one reason or another, like Yosarian in the famous Catch-22 (Heller). However, as someone who has actually worked for government in a policy-making position, I have seen for myself the value of bureaucracy and come down squarely on the convenience side, along with the prominent sociologist, Max Weber.  At the very least, I consider myself to be in good company.

Imagine, if you will, that at the change of an administration every four years, for example, a new president or a new governor,  the new president or governor hires all new federal or state employees.  Each department and agency will have only new employees.  The chaos that would ensue would stop all government functions in their tracks.  The attorneys in the Attorney General's office would have to take over cases they had no knowledge of, the people who are responsible for federal housing programs would have a steep learning curve, and the state's program for the aging would take months and months to get back up to speed. No one would have any idea of how to do anything, no one would have any institutional wisdom accrued, and consequently, the government would not be able to perform the myriad tasks for which it is responsible, essential or otherwise.  

According to Weber, the bureaucracy solves these problems, and I have personally observed this to be true.  If you have a cadre of people who are trained for the job of carrying out the government's policies, that cadre carries on no matter what.  There is turnover, to be sure, but less than you might think, usually far less than the turnover in many major corporations.  The clerks are on the job, processing papers, fielding phone calls, maintaining websites, and doing all the work of government that could never be done if people started anew every four years.  That is the beauty of the bureaucracy.  The wheel need not be reinvented.  Policy-makers will come and go; policies will change.  But the bureaucracy is seldom slowed by this, since much of the work it does is repetitive in nature and changes are usually just incremental.  I worked for a state agency in which commissioners came and went, all with their own ideas, but the bureaucracy of the agency, its investigators, secretaries, and IT people went about serving the people all the time, day in and day out. 

I would be the first to admit that there are bureaucrats who can be unbelievably annoying, those who blindly carry out tasks without making any allowance for the human element, or sometimes without even logic, and that is not the kind of bureaucracy any government needs, nor is it the kind Weber contemplated.  The bureaucracy is a perfect concept, but since it is carried on by human beings, it will remain imperfect.  Still, it is so much better than the alternative, which is to start anew in every administrative change and have hundreds of know-nothings who will need two years to get up to speed.  

What are the themes found in Chapter 8 of Golding's novel Lord of the Flies?

Golding examines several themes throughout Chapter 8, including fear, leadership, manipulation, and inherent wickedness. Ralph's lack of leadership allows Jack to leave the group and start his own tribe without any repercussions. Ralph does not know how to effectively motivate the boys, while Jack skillfully promises them that they will only have to play and hunt. Seeking a better leader, the majority of the boys leave Ralph's camp to join Jack's tribe and indulge in their carnal desires.

Other prominent themes in Chapter 8 deal with fear and manipulation. It is the fear of the beast which acts as the catalyst of the boys' descent into savagery. Jack also uses the fear of the beast to manipulate his tribe into following his demands. Once they savagely kill a pig, Jack orders his hunters to severe its head and leave it as a sacrifice for the beast.

Golding also examines the theme of inherent wickedness throughout Simon's encounter with the Lord of the Flies. The Lord of the Flies confirms Simon's belief that the beast was actually each person's inherent wickedness.

What are three differences between ancestral housing and modern housing?

Housing has changed and evolved over the last few millenia and if we take a closer look, we will see that there is one major difference between how ancestral homes were constructed versus how modern homes are constructed. That difference lies in the choice of material. For example, ancestral homes were often built from natural materials, particularly with what was available in the immediate environment of the people who were constructing the homes. In contrast, modern homes are often built out of synthetic materials or a combination of both synthetic and natural materials. Some of the most popular modern building materials include cement composites, glass, fabrics, plastics, and foam. 

Another difference, which is related to the use of natural materials, is that ancestral homes were usually worked into the landscape of the surrounding land, as opposed to modern homes, which work against the natural landscape and require people to make extensive changes to the land that they wish to build on. Ancestral Puebloans, for instance, were an ancient Native American people who built defensive homes carved from the sides of cliffs in Arizona. These people also constructed apartment-like complexes out of stone, adobe, and other local materials. 

The last and most obvious difference would be the fact that ancestral homes would often house more than one generation of a family, perhaps even with different units attached for aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. These dwellings were often part of a larger community of compact dwellings in which the communities resided. Modern housing, however, tends to be mostly separate and private, whether we are talking about apartments, condos, or homes. These dwellings are constructed with smaller family units in mind: a mother, a father, and a few children. They tend to be more spacious as well, with more square foot per person than ancient dwellings might have had. 

What is a character sketch of Tom Canty in The Prince and the Pauper?

Tom Canty in The Prince and the Pauper is a young man whose childhood was characterized by extreme poverty and abuse from his alcoholic father. Tom is relatively educated considering his class standing, because Father Andrew taught him how to read and write. Utilizing the characters and situations from the books he reads, Tom uses his imagination as a coping mechanism, inserting himself into these fantastical stories. He explores the castle grounds due to his curiosity about royalty, and it is when Prince Edward stops the guards from punishing him that the two realize their uncanny resemblance and decide to swap lives. When Tom switches places with Prince Edward, he proves himself to be a kind and merciful leader. At his coronation, before he switches back to his old life, he declares an end of the law of blood and promises mercy to his subjects. In general, Tom is characterized as intelligent, educated, imaginative, and empathetic.

In Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis, why do you think it is difficult for Bud to cry?

At the beginning of the novel, Bud is told that he will be leaving for another foster home, and he mentions that for some reason his "eyes don't cry no more." Later on in the novel, Bud meets Herman Calloway for the first time, and Herman is rather rude to him. Bud mentions that if he were a regular kid he would be crying buckets, but his "eyes don't cry no more." Bud also tells Steady Eddie that his "eyes don't cry no more" after Eddie tells Bud that he is a tough kid for not crying while the band members teased him. The reason it is difficult for Bud not to cry is because he's experienced so much tragedy throughout his life that he is able to repress his emotions and control his tears. Bud has lost his mother, lived in various foster homes, and wanders the streets homeless during the Depression. These heartbreaking experiences have made Bud tough and taught him how to control his negative emotions. Bud is essentially used to experiencing tragedy and protects his emotional well-being by repressing his feelings and not crying.

Why did banks often close in economic crises through the late 1800s?

There are two main reasons why banks often failed during economic crises in this time period.

First, banks were weaker during economic crises because they often lost money on loans they made. When people deposit money in banks, the banks do not simply hold on to that money for them. Instead, the banks make money by loaning out the money people deposit. The problem comes if the people who borrow the money cannot repay it. If that happens too often, the banks can get in trouble because they have lost the money that people have deposited. This weakens them and could potentially cause them to fail. This can happen more often during economic crises because more businesses that borrow money cannot repay the loans due to poor economic conditions.

The second reason why banks often failed is related to the first. During an economic crisis, people might start worrying about whether they will be able to get their money back from the bank in which they deposited it. If too many people start to worry, they might all go to their banks and demand their money. The banks have to give them their money back because that money belongs to them. If too many depositors come and demand money, they might demand more than the bank actually has (because the bank has loaned it out and the loans have failed). At that point, the bank will have to close because it is out of money. (People no longer do this today because their deposits are insured by the FDIC so they do not have to worry. They will get their money back even if their bank fails.)

Because of these two factors, banks sometimes closed during past economic crises.

Is chocolate milk homogenous or heterogenous?

A mixture is defined as a physical combination of two or more substances. Mixtures are typically organized into two different categories: homogeneous or heterogeneous. Homogeneous means uniform or the same through out and an example of this would be sugar water. Once the sugar is dissolved into the water you can no longer see the sugar and the water separately; they become one or uniform. A heterogeneous mixture is the opposite: you can see all the components separately when combined together. An example of this would be Italian salad dressing. When you shake the bottle everything mixes up, but you are still able to see the garlic, oil, seasonings, etc. Therefore, chocolate milk would be a homogeneous mixture. Since there are two components, chocolate and milk, and when they are mixed together there is no obvious separation of the two substances, everything is uniform. 

You are the director of a business development consultancy. Your team is required to represent data in the next board meeting on sale trends in the...

As you work on this assignment, you need to think carefully about how to ensure that:

• All relevant data is presented


• The elements of the presentation are consistent with each other


• There is no repetition or redundancy

This means that your first task is to create a standard format or template to be used by all team members and sent as an attachment. This should specify such things as colors, fonts, and spacing, which will ensure the presentation will have a seamless visual effect rather than look like a random mess.

Next, you should carefully specify in the email which team is responsible for creating which individual slides, handouts, spreadsheets, and graphs. That will ensure all the proper information is represented with minimal overlap.

Finally, as you will need to analyze the data to prepare an executive summary, you should clearly set a deadline several days before the meeting to allow time to work on your own contribution and to request revisions if the materials prepared by one or more teams are not usable. 

When in Gulliver's Travels by Swift does Gulliver realize that travel was his "fortune to do"?

Gulliver tells us that it is his "Fortune" to travel after he has gone to study at Emanuel College in Cambridge (from age fourteen to seventeen) as well as after he has been apprenticed to Mr. James Bates for four years.  Therefore, we can understand him to be about twenty-one years old when he is making decisions to learn as much as he possibly can about the kinds of knowledge most needed for those who undertake voyages.  However, what he says is that he has "always believed" that it would be his fortune to travel at some time or another, and so he must have actually had this realization at a very young age, so young that he cannot remember a time before it because he says now that he's always known it.

What is the main theme of friendship in Theodore Taylor's The Cay? How different are the friendships between Phillip and Henrik vs. Phillip and...

As the story in Theodore Taylor's The Cay develops, we see that Henrik van Boven is not a true friend of Phillip but rather a superficial friend, the sort of friendship developed that never lasts. Henrik is not a true friend because he does not protect Phillip's best interests. In contrast, Timothy turns out to be the best friend Phillip ever knew because, while alive, Timothy not only protected Phillip but helped him grow as a person.

We first see that Henrik is the sort of superficial friend who doesn't protect others' interests when we see that, after the torpedo bombing, Henrik still influenced Phillip to play with him at the fort. Phillip had been ordered by his mother to stay close to home that day, but as soon as she was distracted, Phillip "stole away down to the old fort with Henrik van Boven" (p. 11). More importantly, Henrik does nothing to protect either himself or Phillip but rather encourages Phillip to play where it could be dangerous. Had Timothy been in Henrik's shoes, he would have encouraged Phillip to stay home. In addition, when Phillip learns his mother wants to leave for America, Phillip reflects that "Henrik and his mother would think us cowardly if we left just because a few German submarines were off Curacao" (p. 20). A true friend would never think another person cowardly but rather acknowledge it is okay to be afraid.

In contrast to Henrik, Timothy demonstrates true friendship by helping Phillip learn to cope with his blindness by helping him learn how to move around the island and do things on his own. In contrast to Henrik, when Phillip feels brave enough to try and climb the coconut tree, Timothy stands underneath, ready to catch him if he falls and calls up to him, "'Tis no shame to ease your own self back down to d'san'," which is Timothy's way of telling Phillip that there is no shame in being afraid, especially when Phillip has put in his best effort. According to what Phillip says about Henrik, it is unlikely Henrik would have said the same wise, caring, and compassionate remark. Most importantly, Timothy sacrifices his life to protect Phillip from the severest blows of the hurricane, something Henrik never would have done.

Taylor contrasts the two friendships to develop the central theme that true friendship is colorblind, nurturing, and even sacrificial.

Why does James Hurst set "The Scarlet Ibis" during the war?

James Hurst's "The Scarlet Ibis" is the story of two brothers growing up in coastal North Carolina in the early part of the 20th century. The mention of war at a midway point in the story is symbolic of the war which is going on between the brothers. During the story, Hurst makes reference to the battles of World War I and the boys' mother prays for a fallen soldier who was a neighbor. The allusion comes at a point in the story when the brothers are at a crossroads in their lives. The older brother wants Doodle to become physically vigorous and has designed a regiment of activity which he hopes will make Doodle the equal of the other boys at school. Above all, the brother doesn't want Doodle to embarrass him. Their relationship during this time is antagonistic and stormy (the weather is also a symbol of this struggle). Doodle questions why he needs to be as physically strong as his brother. His inclination is to be more sensitive and to simply appreciate the wonders of nature. The brother, however, is not to be dissuaded and he eventually pushes Doodle too far. His pride and stubbornness in remaking Doodle ends in tragic circumstances as Doodle dies of internal bleeding by exhausting himself after chasing his brother during a rainstorm.