In what ways are friendship and trust demonstrated throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

Friendship and trust are explored in the novel through various character's interactions with one another during particularly adverse situations. Miss Maudie displays her friendship and trust by supporting the Finch family before and after the controversial trial of Tom Robinson. She is quick to encourage Jem following the trial and stands up for Atticus' decision to defend Tom during the missionary circle. Jem and Scout's relationship with Dill also demonstrates friendship and trust. They not only play together but also get themselves into several precarious situations. The three children trust each other and stick up for one another whenever threatened with punishment. Jem is quick to deny the fact that they are acting out Boo's life story, and Dill lies to the adults after they raid the Radley's yard.

Other members of Maycomb's community portray the themes of friendship and trust throughout the novel. Sheriff Tate and some locals visit Atticus' home to warn him about the Old Sarum bunch, and Walter Cunningham's friendship with Atticus allows him to see the error in his actions. Boo also seeks to gain the children's friendship by giving them gifts in the knothole of his tree and comes to their defense when they are attacked by Bob Ewell. Harper Lee uses the character's friendship and trust towards one another to illustrate the small town, intimate setting of Maycomb.

How does Mercutio die in Romeo and Juliet?

Mercutio dies when he is stabbed by Tybalt who reaches under Romeo's arm. After this Tybalt flees with his followers.

In Act III, Scene 1, Mercutio, Benvolio, a page and servants enter a public place. Because of the heat and because the Capulets are also walking around Verona, Benvolio urges Mercutio to "retire" to their homes so that they will not become involved in a brawl. But, Mercutio, who is very short-tempered on this hot day, accuses Benvolio of getting angry at almost nothing when he is in a mood to be angry, so he should not criticize any one else.

This argument between friends sets a threatening tone for the scene. Then, as Benvolio and Mercutio quarrel, Tybalt enters with some other men. He asks to have a word with Benvolio and Mercutio. Annoyed by Tybalt's intrusion, Mercutio taunts him with puns until Romeo enters. Tybalt then turns his attention to Romeo, calling him "a villain," but since Romeo has married Juliet and is now related by marriage, he speaks kindly to Tybalt, saying that he "tender[s]" the name Capulet and loves him.
Not knowing why Romeo says these things, Mercutio is incensed--"Oh, calm, dishonorable, vile submission!"(3.1.44), and he draws his sword. He and Tybalt exchange insults and Tybalt draws his sword, too. With the intention of ameliorating things, Romeo steps between them, urging them not to fight because the Prince has forbidden "this bandying in Verona streets" (3.1.56), but Tybalt reaches under Romeo's arm and fatally stabs Mercutio.

How is Mr. Hoodhood affected by the Vietnam War in Gary Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars? How was Holling affected? How was Heather affected?

In Gary Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars, Mr. Hoodhood is somewhat emotionally affected by the Vietnam War because he sees what terrible losses the war is leading to, but in general, Mr. Hoodhood emotionally distances himself from the war because he is an emotionally distant person, mostly concerned with being a successful businessman.

We can see how emotionally affected Mr. Hoodhood is by the war when, each night, he watches Walter Cronkite on TV reporting the latest news of the troops in Vietnam. By March, rates of casualties are even higher, and Mr. Hoodhood begins voicing his emotions. In March, 5,000 marines were trapped in the Khesanh base. They could only receive supplies from helicopters, and the helicopters were frequently shot down by the 20,000 Vietcong troops surrounding the base. The Vietcong launched 500 mortar shells per day at the troops and filled tunnels with explosives. During the news reports, Mr. Hoodhood would sometimes "shake his head and whisper, 'Five thousand boys trapped. Good Lord. Five thousand'" and reach for his wife's hand, which shows how emotional he was about the news.

As a businessman, Mr. Hoodhood is a conservative who does not oppose the decisions of the government, including decisions to go to war. His greatest desire is to be elected the Chamber of Commerce Businessman of 1967. Because he wants the title, he warns his liberal daughter, who is becoming increasingly involved in the hippie movement, not to do anything foolish to prevent him from receiving the honor.

It is not an honor that is awarded to a man who has a daughter who calls herself a flower child. So go wash your face ("October").

While he finds the war emotionally distressing, Mr. Hoodhood generally refuses to become emotionally involved in the war because his priority is his work.

What led the United States to build its military forces after winning a successful war? Were the Soviets afraid of Americans as much as Americans...

After World War II, the U.S. was convinced that it had to build up its military forces to combat the growing threat from the Soviet Union. Even during the end of World War II, the Soviets had stopped their attack on Warsaw, Poland, which was then controlled by Nazis, to defeat anti-Communist forces in Poland. The U.S. had detonated two atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, in August of 1945 in an attempt, some historians believe, to frighten Soviets at the beginning of the Cold War. Therefore, the origins of the Cold War lie within the end of World War II. According to historian David Trowbridge, author of U.S. History, Volume 2, "both nations came to view the other as aggressive and committed to global domination by the early 1950s." Therefore, there is research that suggests that the Soviets were just as afraid of American aggression, in part resulting from the detonation of the atomic bombs, as Americans were afraid of Soviets. 

I'm not sure which documents you are referring to in the question, but the American Cold War policy was guided by documents such as NSC-68, written in 1950 by the National Security Council. This document stated that the Soviets wanted “to impose its absolute authority over the rest of the world.” NSC-68 established an aggressive approach to fighting communism. These types of approaches would likely not be successful in fighting current or recent threats, such as al-Queda, because terrorist groups are not a conventional enemy. It is therefore difficult to know how to oppose their expansion. 

What role does technology play in archaeology and history?

When we think of archaeology we may think of adventure, Indiana Jones, and hired help painstakingly brushing away dust and dirt from the precious relics of times past.  This is not the case for the modern archaeologist, though adventure is still part of the thrill.  Modern technology has allowed archaeologists to use advanced excavation techniques, enabling greater recovery of fragile artifacts.  Using technology that ranges from lidar to x-ray guns, archaeologists can view sites without disturbing the soil and the objects beneath.  This allows for greater care and planning so that archaeologists can evaluate the layout of the excavation site to allow for maximum preservation of the artifacts, skeletons, and structures.  It also allows for preventing unnecessary excavation, preserving the surrounding landscape of the site.  Using advanced techniques, we have been able to peer deeper into the past than ever before.  A perfect example of this would be the study of the condition of the teeth and bones of ancient people through the eyes of modern dentistry and medicine.  Using their remains, we gain an insight into the health, diet, lifestyle, and cause of death of the subject.  As medical science advances, every bone that is recovered tells a piece of their story.

Why does W. B. Yeats use an ambivalent tone and attitude in his treatment of the political uprising in his poem "Easter, 1916"?

"Easter, 1916" is a poem in which Yeats expresses his feelings about the Irish uprising against British rule led by reactionaries he knew personally. The poet or speaker is trying to come to terms with both the revolutionaries' violence and subsequent executions by the British government. The poem's speaker struggles between his distaste for violence in general and his admiration for the ultimate sacrifice made by these rebels. Several lines in the poem are ambiguous in nature and serve to express these conflicted feelings. The first is "A terrible beauty is born." This line is mentioned at the end of the first, second, and final stanza. This line is preceded in each case with a mention of change

All changed, changed utterly

The first stanza describes the ordinary lives of the rebels and the poet's casual encounters with them before the uprising. He would often pass them with "a nod of the head" or an exchange of "polite meaningless words." Now, all this is changed. In what way and for better or worse, the poet does not say. He just knows a "terrible beauty" is born. This oxymoron reflects the poet's ambivalent tone, as the speaker seems to fear and admire the transformation of "meaningless words" to action.  

The second stanza contributes even more to this ambivalence, as the speaker compares the rebels to stones that remain steadfast in their cause in the midst of a world that seems to be vacillating or changing "minute by minute." The speaker cannot resolve for us whether this steadfastness is good or bad, but it does set the uprising's leaders apart from the world in which they live.  

The last stanza refers to the sacrifices made by these rebels. Is it enough to "know they dreamed and are dead"? Were they excessive in their love for a cause? Were their deaths "needless"? The poet will not say, but he does go on to name each of these reactionaries—MacDonagh, MacBride, Connolly, and Pearse, acknowledging with respect that their "excess of love" for their country led to their deaths, but questioning whether their sacrifices were necessary. Did these revolutionaries inspire others with their deaths? Will more "needless deaths" occur as a result? The impact of the uprising and the resulting executions has yet to be determined. Perhaps all that can be claimed at this point is the ambivalent declaration that the Irish people ("whenever green is worn") have "changed, changed utterly." 

I included some links below that provide a deeper and more thorough understanding of the events that led to the emotions expressed in the poem.  

The product of two numbers X and Y is 3 less than the sum of the numbers. How many such integer pairs of X and Y are possible.

First we need to write the problem in mathematical language i.e. we need to write an equation.

Product of two numbers `xy,` sum of two numbers `x+y` and since the product is less by 3, we have

`xy=x+y-3`

Write `y` in terms of `x.`

`xy-y=x-3`

Factor the left side.

`y(x-1)=x-3`

Check whether `x=1` gives an integer solution.

`0=-2` 

`x=1` does not gives us an integer solution so we can assume that `x ne1` which allows us to divide by `x-1.`

`y=(x-3)/(x-1)`

Now we know that in order to get an integer solution `x-3`  must be divisible by `x-1,`  bearing in mind that `x` is an integer as well. The only thing remaining to do is to check whether those two numbers are divisible for some values of `x.`  We will start with values of `x` such that `x-1=-1` or `x-1=1` because those are certainly integers.

`x=0`

`y=(-3)/(-1)=3`

`x=-1`

`y=(-4)/(-2)=2`

`x=-2`

`y=(-5)/(-3)!inZZ`

`x=-2` is not a solution. If we keep trying with the smaller and smaller numbers we will get fractions that get closer and closer to 1, but we will never get an integer.

Let us try greater numbers. We already know that `x=1` is not a solution so we will skip that.

`x=2`

`y=-1/1=-1`

`x=3`

`y=0/2=0`

`x=4`

`y=1/3!inZZ`

Again, we see that `x=4` is not a solution and nor is any integer greater that 4.

We can conclude there are 4 such integer pair numbers and they are

`(-1,2), (0,3), (2,-1)` and `(3,0).`                    

In "Self-Reliance," how did Emerson view the prayers of the people?

Emerson complains that mainstream prayer practices are petty and self-serving. He also complains that they presuppose a patron-client relationship with God. People often use prayer as an opportunity to act or beg God for a favor. Emerson sees prayer as a letter asking an external benefactor for outside help:

Prayer looks abroad and asks for some foreign addition to come through some foreign virtue.

This sharply contrasts with Emerson's ideas of what true prayer should be:

Prayer is the contemplation of the facts of life from the highest point of view. It is the soliloquy of a beholding and jubilant soul. It is the spirit of God pronouncing his works good.

If we unpack Emerson's words, we find several points. First, true prayer isn't supposed to be about registering personal dissatisfaction and asking for a remedy. It's supposed to be about contemplating the big picture and rising above one's immediate circumstances to appreciate the excellence of God's works in general. It's supposed to be an expression of joyful approval, not a letter of complaint or plea for help.

Second, the whole notion of God as a separate entity is wrong. When we pray, we should be turning inward to the part of ourselves that is part of God. We share God's spirit, see things from God's point of view, and rejoice in creation.

The common approach to prayer is entirely off the mark. It separates human beings from the spirit of God, and turns prayer into a petition for a bail-out.

What happened in Virginia in 1619?

The first slaves were introduced into what eventually became the British colonies in 1619. Approximately twenty slaves arrived in Jamestown in 1619, which eventually led to the growth and development of slavery throughout the British colonies in North America.

Another important event that occurred in 1619 was the creation of the Virginia House of Burgesses. This body was the first elected lawmaking branch in the land controlled by Great Britain in North America. The Virginia House of Burgesses met for the first time on July 30. The first law it passed dealt with the sale of tobacco. As time passed, other colonies were created, and they established their lawmaking bodies, too. These lawmaking bodies gave the colonists some say in how the colonies were run. 

Another event that occurred in 1619 was the decision by the Virginia Company to send unmarried, white women to Virginia. The colony was made up of mainly single men who didn’t want to remain single. Thus, women began to arrive in Virginia. These women married the men and began to raise families.

What is the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?

The Second Continental Congress adopted the Northwest Ordinance in 1787 as a result of settlers spilling into the area after the U.S. had gained the territory in the Revolutionary War with the 1783 Treaty of Paris. The ordinance stated that the new territory would be admitted to the union as no more than 5 and no less than 3 states. This territory went from the Ohio River in the south to the Great Lakes in the north and to the Mississippi River to the west. The territories would use a three-step process of becoming states. First, they would be administered by a governor, secretary, and three judges appointed by Congress. Then, in the second phase, they would have a non-voting member of Congress and an elected assembly when the male voting population reached 5,000. When the population reached 60,000 (in all), the territory would draft a state constitution and ask to be admitted as a state to the union. In addition, the ordinance stated that rights would be granted to members of the territory, including the right of free speech and religion, the right of habeas corpus, and right to a jury trial. This process of becoming a state was used for all subsequent states that came into the union. Finally, the ordinance stated that slavery was not allowed in the Northwest Territory, so the Ohio River became the dividing line between slave and free states until the Civil War.

Where exactly does Karl Marx or Friedrich Engels describe the eventual demise (or implosion?) of capitalism?

The inevitability of capitalism's destruction is prevalent in much of Marx's writing.  However, its direct mention can be seen in the opening chapter of Marx's and Engels's The Communist Manifesto.

An essential component of Marx's thesis is the inevitability or dialectical materialism.  He argues that history progresses in this unstoppable unfolding that allows the conditions for change to take place. Essentially, this means, that capitalism will eventually disappear.  Marx opens The Communist Manifesto with such an idea.  He believes that capitalism is progressing with so much speed that a breakdown is bound to happen:

Because there is too much civilisation, too much means of subsistence, too much industry, too much commerce. The productive forces at the disposal of society no longer tend to further the development of the conditions of bourgeois property; on the contrary, they have become too powerful for these conditions, by which they are fettered, and so soon as they overcome these fetters, they bring disorder into the whole of bourgeois society, endanger the existence of bourgeois property. The conditions of bourgeois society are too narrow to comprise the wealth created by them.

Marx sees capitalism as a "runaway train."  The industrialists' desire for wealth has created a world of "too much industry."  Marx sees this unfettered desire for wealth as unsustainable.  Eventually, a world of "too much commerce" will run out, creating the conditions for its eventual destruction.

At the same time, Marx sees capitalism's destruction in the consolidation of the people who suffer the most under it.  Marx believes that for every industrialist benefitting from capitalism, there are many more who do not.  When these individuals unify, Marx sees the implosion of capitalism as inevitable:

The lower strata of the middle class — the small tradespeople, shopkeepers, and retired tradesmen generally, the handicraftsmen and peasants — all these sink gradually into the proletariat, partly because their diminutive capital does not suffice for the scale on which Modern Industry is carried on, and is swamped in the competition with the large capitalists, partly because their specialised skill is rendered worthless by new methods of production. Thus the proletariat is recruited from all classes of the population.

The recruitment of the proletariat from "all classes of the population" is why Marx feels that capitalism is doomed. He believes that once all of those toiling under capitalism realize they are not alone and pull together as one, they will be an unstoppable force.  Marx goes on to explain that "what the bourgeoisie therefore produces, above all, are its own grave-diggers."  Each success the wealthy experience means hardship for more people.  Marx believes that the proletariat will not suffer in silence, but rather consolidate as one entity.  They will be united in their shared disdain for capitalism and resoundingly call for change.  This is the reason why capitalism's "fall and the victory of the proletariat are equally inevitable."

What would be a critical appreciation of "To a Skylark" by Percy Bysshe Shelley?

Before tackling this question, it helps to understand what a critical appreciation is. A critical appreciation is a knowledgeable evaluation of a piece of literature or poetry. For instance, the reader must have enough relevant knowledge about the particular piece in order to construct an informed opinion about it. It's worth noting that a critical appreciation can like or dislike the piece of literature being examined; the important thing is to know enough about the work to give good reasons for why you like or dislike it. 

With this knowledge in mind, let's look at "To a Skylark" by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Your critical appreciation will depend on the particular context from which you approach the poem, and also on what you like or dislike about it. It's still possible to provide some examples, though. For instance, you could say you like the poem because it skillfully uses a skylark as a metaphorical representation of the natural world. Conversely, you could say you dislike the poem because its archaic language makes it difficult to read and comprehend. Whatever the case, you'll need to back up your particular opinion by offering a careful and insightful analysis of the poetic characteristic you're discussing. Your opinion does not necessarily matter, as long as you back it up with a sound evaluation of the work in question. 

In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, why does Ralph call a meeting?

Ralph holds several assembly meetings throughout the novel. In Chapter 2, Ralph holds the first official assembly meeting where he tells the boys that they are on an uninhabited island with plenty of fruits and pigs for them to eat. He also tells the boys that they will need to make up rules, such as not speaking when someone else is holding the conch during assembly meetings. Ralph proceeds to explain the importance of maintaining a signal fire and encourages the boys by telling them that there is a good possibility that they will be rescued.

Later on in the novel, Ralph holds another important assembly meeting to discuss how the boys have been neglecting their responsibilities. Ralph mentions that the boys have stopped helping him build the shelters and filling the coconuts with water, and addresses how they relieve themselves near the fruit. Ralph continues to stress the importance of maintaining a signal fire and tells the boys that they need to discuss the existence of the "beast." The boys are unable to come to a definite conclusion in regards to the identity and existence of the "beast," and the assembly ends after Jack and his hunters storm out.

What happens to the lawyer at the end of the story "The Bet"?

In the end of the story, "The Bet," the lawyer despairs of life, and he reneges on the wager with banker.

In their bet about which is crueler, live-long imprisonment or capital punishment, the banker and the lawyer wager their futures. The young lawyer argues that life on any terms is better than death. In his hubris, the lawyer raises the bet that he can stay in isolation from five years to fifteen. 
And, so, the banker, who reminds his young foe that "voluntary confinement is a great deal harder to bear than compulsory," arranges for the lawyer to dwell in a small lodging in the his garden. The prisoner is allowed a musical instrument, and he is permitted to write letters and smoke and drink wine. 

The first year the lawyer is very lonely. In the second year, his piano remains untouched, and he stops reading. He writes copious letters long into the night; in the morning he rips up what he has written. By the sixth year, the lawyer begins to study languages. He also reads the works of many of the great minds of the world, only to find that "the same flame burns in all of them." Some years he reads, then others he does not. Then, in the last two years, he reads books of all kinds indiscriminately. Finally, he writes a long letter to the banker, stating,

I despise freedom and life and health and all that in your books is called the good things of the world.

Further, he declares that he has traveled and done many things vicariously through books. In addition, books have given him wisdom. 
But, he despises it all: 

It is all worthless, fleeting, illusory, and deceptive, like a mirage. 

From all his readings, the lawyer has learned the vanity of human desires; certainly, the desire for material gain corrupts the soul. The lawyer has spent the last fifteen years searching for meaning in life and not found it. Moreover, he feels life is beyond comprehension. So, he writes that he will prove how he despises all that people live by in renouncing "the two million of which I once dreamed as of paradise and which now I despise." He declares that he will leave a few minutes before the time fixed so that he will break the contract.

So, in the end the lawyer departs as he has written that he will, breaking the contract. On the following morning, watchmen run to the banker, telling him that they have witnessed the lawyer climbing out of a window, going to the gate, and disappearing. Hearing this, the banker goes to the lodging and grabs the lawyer's long letter, locks it up in a fireproof safe, and says nothing of it.

in "The Black Cat," how does Poe develop the character of the narrator to create suspense and tension?

The narrator of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat" gradually changes from a man of sane, congenial nature to a psychopathic man.

In the beginning of the story, the narrator seems quite genial in nature:

From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions.

As a young man, the narrator marries young and finds a wife who makes him happy because she possesses a disposition "not uncongenial with my own." Because she notices how much her husband loves animals, she takes the opportunity to procure several pets for him. He prefers a large and "sagacious" black cat over the others, and Pluto, as he names it, becomes his favorite pet—even a playmate. For several years this cat follows him about the house.
But, when the narrator begins to drink, his disposition alters and he becomes impaired in empathy. While he remains rational, the narrator loses any affection for his pets; in fact, he is abusive and neglectful towards them. He also turns his abuse upon his wife. Still, he restrains himself for awhile around his favorite pet, Pluto. But, one evening when the cat bites him slightly, the drunken narrator describes a flight of his soul from his body:

...a more than fiendish malevolence, gin-nurtured, thrilled every fiber of my frame.

Then, with his pocket-knife, he cuts one of the cat's eyes from the socket. The horror of this act certainly creates suspense and tension in the narrative as the reader wonders what may occur next.

After some time, Pluto recovers, but he flees in terror from the narrator whenever the man gets near him. The narrator states that he feels himself overcome with "the spirit of perverseness." He feels a strong urge to do wrong for "wrong's sake only"; so, one morning he slips a noose around the cat's neck and hangs it.

After his house burns and the cat is found somehow inside the house, although he has hanged it in the garden, the narrator begins to feel not remorse, but some regret for having killed Pluto. Because of this regret, he finds a cat that resembles his first pet. However, he begins to dread the new cat when he realizes that it, too, is missing an eye. At this point, the narrator begins to descend into the darkness of irrationality, and tension is generated in the story.

One day as the narrator goes down the steep stairs of his cellar, the cat follows him and nearly trips him. This act "exasperated [him] to madness." He lifts an ax to strike a blow at the cat, but, instead, his wife arrests his swing. Flying into a rage "more than demoniacal," the narrator embeds the ax in the brain of his wife. Once this happens, the narrator acts with "entire deliberation." Like a psychopath, he remains rational and very aware of his actions: "Many projects entered my mind." The narrator finally decides to bury his wife in a projected area where a false chimney or fireplace may have been, but has been filled up. After having displaced the bricks and placing the corpse inside, he walls her in, but later comments, "The guilt of my dark deed disturbed me but little."

Here, then, the tension definitely increases as the reader wonders what actions are next. When the police come to his house, the narrator "felt no embarrassment whatever." In fact, when the officers can find no evidence of wrongdoing, the narrator observes,

The glee in my heart was too strong to be restrained. I burned to say a word, by way of triumph, and to render doubly sure their assurance of my guiltlessness.

In his boldness, then, which is typical of a psychopath, he raps upon the brickwork where his wife's corpse stands. The tension increases here until "a howl, a wailing shriek" issues from behind the wall. For there atop the wife's head sits the

...hideous beast whose craft had seduced me into murder and whose informing voice had consigned me to the hangman. I had walled the monster up within the tomb!

Still feeling no remorse for his behavior, the narrator exhibits the antisocial behavior of a psychopath in this suspenseful and tense narrative.

In Chapter One of Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond, where could I find the answer to the following question:"What was the Great Leap...

The answers that you are looking for can be found beginning on p. 39 of Guns, Germs, and Steel.  This is where Diamond starts to discuss the Great Leap Forward.

Your first question had to do with what this leap actually was.  Diamond answers this on p. 39, though he does not define the leap in one single sentence.  As you can see on p. 39, Diamond says that humans before the leap lived very simple lives.  This changed with the leap.  After the leap, humans started to have more sophisticated stone tools, tools made of things other than stone, multi-piece weapons, sewn clothing, houses, jewelry, and even art.  The Great Leap Forward was the change in humans that allowed them to become so much more sophisticated.

I will address your third question next, since this is how Diamond does it.  On p. 40, he speculates about what led to this leap.  He is not certain, but he thinks it was an anatomical change.  He says that he has argued in the past that the leap was caused by

the perfection of the voice box [which was] the anatomical basis of modern language, on which the exercise of human creativity is so dependent. 

He says that other people think it was brain development that led to language.  In either case, it appears to be the development of modern language that catalyzed the Great Leap Forward.

Finally, you ask which people were affected.  Diamond poses this question on p. 40.  He asks whether one group of people experienced the leap and then moved out around the world and spread their culture or whether people everywhere experienced parallel changes.  Over the rest of p. 40 (and a little bit of p. 41) he says that we still do not know the answer to this question.

Diamond’s answers to the questions you pose are not stated very explicitly in the text, but you can find them beginning on p. 39.

What are the disadvantages of liquidation strategy to the organization and the society?

Liquidation is a corporate level strategy that is one of four retrenchment strategies implemented when a company is experiencing difficulties in operations after growth has faltered and because the available stability strategies, such as "pause and then proceed," have failed due to a hostile, changing or unclear economic situation.

Disadvantages may not always be considered because of the last-chance nature of liquidation retrenchment, although a significant advantage, i.e., self-directed options versus court order mandates, is often the driving force behind the choice to liquidate. Harvard Business School research, reported in 2013 and conducted by Harvard professor Ananth Raman and doctoral student Nathan Craig, indicates some surprising disadvantages besides the commonly discussed ones:

Disadvantages:
1. Principals of the company (also called directors) may be held liable for misconduct if mandated liquidation investigations show misconduct on their parts.
2. Principals may be held liable for all the company's debts.
3. All the company's assets will be sold to pay for liquidators' fee and to cover a portion of all debts outstanding. This precludes the possibility of using the assets should the principals want to reopen in the same business.
4. All personnel, staff and production teams will be made redundant. Most often, this results in the scattering of human resources so expertise is lost should--as in the above item--the principals want to reopen in the same business.

Disadvantages: Raman and Craig Research
The disadvantages to liquidation recognized by Raman and Craig indicate that approaching liquidation from the accepted emotional (right-brain) approach, the 100 percent liquidation approach and the math-free approach leads to less than optimum profitability from liquidation. They show that logical strategy (left-brain), changes in markdown discounts at the beginning and end of liquidation and implementation of mathematical algorithms to make decisions and predictions about moving inventory between stores and customer behavior throughout the liquidation process off-set these disadvantages with increased profitability (hence increased debt payment) after liquidation.

Disadvantages to Society:
The most often felt disadvantages to society are illustrated by the 2012 liquidation of Borders book stores. A significant social resource for readers and gift givers was removed along with a social gathering place for community groups. A sense of loss was generated in many levels of society by Borders liquidation. A more dramatic social disadvantage was the loss of jobs, financial security and personal pride for the employees of Borders who had to reassess their skills and work histories to find a new fit with employment in a different industry.

Another disadvantage to society is illustrated by the 2008 liquidation of Linens 'n Things, which--along with the above social disadvantages--resulted in a significant loss of selection (some items not being picked up by other retailers) and price-point merchandising, since the Linen 'n Things price-point was accessible to working class families.

"Strategy Formulation," Rex C. Mitchell, Ph.D., California State University, Northridge (DOC)

What is the theme of "The Listener" by Billy Collins?

This appears to be a poem about death, or specifically, the thoughts of someone remembering and thinking of someone who has died. It is a subtle poem, so one must read it closely and examine the imagery to understand it is full of metaphors and symbols, even though it seems fairly straightforward.

For example, there are several images referring to carved stone: a granite counter, a marble floor, and a white stone building of silence. These could all be said to conjure the image of a tombstone, especially the first two images, which are also connected to the person the speaker is thinking of: their wineglass set down on the granite counter, their cut hair falling to the marble floor. The white stone building of silence is a powerful image that also describes a tomb.

The poem is also about sounds and silences. It describes soft sounds made when the speaker (the listener) makes efforts to be quiet, such as turning down the jazz on the radio, or sitting and waiting for the poem's subject to wake from their dream. The domestic sounds described portray an intimate relationship (a cough from the bedroom, the rustle of a blanket), and this further reinforces the idea that the poem describes a loved one—a family member or spouse, perhaps—who has died. In the last line, the speaker said he will listen to an ant who beats his dead comrade across the floor, the "noble sounds of his tread and his low keening," and we know this signifies the speaker's attempt to identity with the ant, who is also mourning a loss ("keening" being a word that refers specifically to the intentional sounds made during mourning).

How do the political, economic and social characteristics of the Americas today differ from those of 1750?

The Americas are very different today than they were in 1750 in terms of political, social, and economic characteristics. In 1750, various European powers were ruling the Americas. The British, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and the Netherlands were some countries that had colonies throughout the Americas. In 2016, the Americas are independent countries. In some countries, democracies exist with political parties representing different viewpoints. Few people in the Americas could imagine another country controlling or ruling them today.

There are also major economic differences. In 1750, the colonies existed to benefit the European colonial powers economically. For example, the British got resources from their American colonies and then sold the finished products back to the colonies. The British could make most products cheaper and more efficiently than the colonies could make them. The British also had rules that the colonies were expected to follow. For example, certain products had to be bought from Britain and transported on British ships. Today, the American countries have established and developed their own economies. While all countries trade with other countries, American industries and American products have a worldwide presence. The American economies have a tremendous influence in the world.

There have also been many changes socially. In 1750, there was very little diversity in the Americas. Slaves were used and most people practiced some form of Christianity. Today, there is more diversity. People practice many religions. There is a greater tolerance of the differences between people today than in 1750. Women have a much larger role today than they had in 1750. In 1750, women were expected to be reserved and to stay in the background. Today, women play more active roles. They lead companies and are active in politics. Cities have also grown significantly over the years. As more people moved to the Americas, the population of cities increased. For the first time ever, a South American country, Brazil, is hosting the Summer Olympics.

Calculate the number of atoms and volume of 1 gallon of helium gas at stp.

Hello!

STP means standard temperature and pressure. Denote the temperature as `T` (in Kelvin) and the pressure as `P.` They may be different for different standards.

The formula we need is  `PV = nRT,` where `V` is the volume of a gas, `n` is the number of moles and `R` is the ideal gas constant, about `8.3 J/(mol*K).` The volume is also given, it is `1 gallon approx 3.8*10^(-3) m^3.`

From all this data we can find the quantity of helium in moles:  `n = (PV)/(RT).` The number of atoms in each mole is a constant called Avogadro's constant, `N_A approx6*10^(23) (mol)^(-1),` so the number of atoms is `n*N_A = (PV)/(RT)*N_A.`

Let `T = 273 K` and `P = 10^5 Pa,` then the number of atoms is about

`(10^5*3.8*10^(-3)*6*10^(23)) / (8.3*273) approx 0.01*10^(25) = 10^23.`

This is the answer.

When does Scout act courageously in To Kill a Mockingbird?

In Chapter 15, Atticus leaves his home to sit outside of Tom Robinson's jail cell to prevent anyone from attempting to harm Tom before the trial. Jem, Dill, and Scout search for Atticus and find him reading the newspaper in front of Maycomb's jailhouse. Suddenly, several cars arrive from the Meridian highway and a group of men begin to surround Atticus. Scout sneaks out from their hiding place and runs into the middle of the group of men. Unaware of the dangerous situation she has just entered, Scout tries to make casual conversation. Jem and Dill follow Scout and Atticus tells Jem to go home. However, Jem refuses to go home and leave his father's side. One of the men from the Old Sarum bunch grabs Jem by the collar of his shirt and says, "I'll send him home" (Lee 94). Scout yells, "Don't you touch him!" and kicks the man in his groin (Lee 94). Atticus then tells Scout to calm down and not kick folks. Scout responds by saying, "Ain't nobody gonna do Jem that way" (Lee 94). Scout acts courageously by defending her brother to the best of her ability. She saw that Jem was being harassed and she came to his aid by kicking a much older man as hard as she could. 

In The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare, why is Joel's sister, Malthace, referred to as Thacia later on in the story?

For the first five chapters of the novel The Bronze Bow, Thacia is either referred to by her full name, Malthace, or her nickname, Thace. In Chapter 1, Joel introduces his sister to Daniel as Malthace. Malthace is suspicious of Daniel and is rather distant. In Chapter 2, Daniel tells Joel and Malthace to hide behind a bank of rocks to avoid being seen while Rosh's band attacks a traveling caravan. Joel turns to Malthace and says,

"Thace---you heard him! Get up there---quick---as far as you can...Hurry, Thace!" (Speare 17).

In this situation, Joel refers to his sister informally because Thace is easier to say than Malthace.

Later on in the novel, Daniel visits Joel's home and meets Malthace again. Malthace is rather arrogant towards Daniel and does not go out of her way to talk to him. Joel then tells Daniel,

"Don't mind Thacia...She's putting on city airs lately" (Speare 61).

Thacia is a name that only people very close to her use. Joel is her brother and refers to her as Thacia, while Daniel is a stranger and calls her Malthace. After Malthace cares for Daniel in her home when he escapes from Roman soldiers, she becomes closer to him, and Speare begins to refer to her informally as Thacia. Thacia also takes on a more predominant role in the story, and it is clear that her relationship with Daniel is significant. The change from using Malthace at the beginning of the novel to referring to her as Thacia later on in the story correlates with Thacia's relationship with Daniel and her significance to the plot.

What is the central idea of the poem "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley?

The central idea of the poem is the resilience of the human spirit in the face of extreme personal torment.

To start, the poem has an interesting title, Invictus. This Latin word is translated as unconquerable or invincible. During Henley's childhood years, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis of the bone, which essentially caused him to lose his left leg below the knee. In 1873, when his right leg also became infected, Henley was put under the care of Dr. Joseph Lister, who later came to be known as the father of antiseptic surgery. It was Dr. Lister who pioneered the practice of sterilizing surgical instruments and spraying carbolic acid in operating rooms to limit the spread of infection. His methods were revolutionary, and under his care, Henley's right leg was saved from amputation.

Henley stayed under Dr. Lister's care for two years at the Edinburgh Infirmary. During this time, the poet wrote Invictus and other poems. In his poems, Henley paid tribute to the human spirit and to the power of courage. In the first stanza of Invictus, he thanks "whatever gods may be" for his "unconquerable soul." Here, Henley acknowledges that personal courage often depends upon faith in a higher power. He does not name a particular god, leaving it up to his readers to relate his words to their own personal experiences.

In the second stanza, he tells us that he has not once "winced nor cried aloud" when burdened with extreme suffering. His "head is bloody, but unbowed"; his stoic proclamation is one of the most famous lines in poetry. Henley pays tribute to all those who refuse to surrender to defeat despite seemingly insurmountable odds.

In the third stanza, Henley maintains that he's ready for whatever challenges he needs to face, whether here on earth or in the afterlife. He's as unafraid of the "Horror of the shade" as he is of an earth full of "wrath and tears." It isn't quite clear what "Horror of the shade" refers to; Henley leaves the meaning obscured, but we can speculate that the phrase refers to what awaits someone in the afterlife. Since there is no clear consensus evidencing what the afterlife is really like, Henley is perhaps suggesting that the afterlife may prove as much of a challenge as life on earth.

In the fourth and last stanza, Henley assures his readers that no matter what comes, he's the master of his fate and the captain of his soul. Instead of relying on circumstances to define his responses and attitude, he submits that he will be the one to decide his destiny. In short, the central idea of the poem is about the power of the human spirit to overcome despondency and defeat in the midst of extreme trial.

What are the poetic techniques in the following monologue? "God’s bread! It makes me mad. Day, night, hour, tide, time, work, play, Alone, in...

In this monologue, Lord Capulet is raging on about his daughter, Juliet's, lack of obedience to him.  He has ordered her to marry Count Parris, and she has refused. 

He employs hyperbole, or exaggeration, in order to express how carefully he has attempted to find her a spouse who would be her match.  He says, "Day, night, hour, tide, time, work, play, / Alone, in company, still my care hath been
/ To have her matched."  It's as though he has only ever thought of this and nothing but this, and he tries to show how much thought has been put into his decision (compared to her careless rejection of it). 

Capulet then compares Parris to something "Stuffed," like a doll (since humans are not "stuffed"), via metaphor, saying that he is "Stuffed [...] with honorable parts" and made to perfect proportion.  Then, in his next metaphor, he compares Juliet to an empty puppet, or a "whining mammet," one who is weak and stupid and yet objects to this wonderful fortune her parents have made for her.

In Animal Farm, how does Orwell create a sense of panic and fear in chapter 7? What language does he use to show this?

In chapter seven of Animal Farm, Orwell is able to create a sense of panic and fear through his description of the pain of starvation and the terror of Napoleon.

The opening to chapter seven details how the difficult winter led to food shortages.  Orwell refers to the "dry frosty weather" and how the animals hand to endure "cruel work."  This toil was different than what they had experienced before because they did "not feel so hopeful about it as they had before."  At this point, the reality of Animal Farm is settling into the animals' psyche.  The post-revolution euphoria is gone as the animals were "always cold, and usually hungry as well."  With such a physical description, Orwell is able to establish the fearful mood that grips the animals.

This is enhanced with Napoleon's response to the food shortage.  Orwell describes how rations were reduced and further hardship was brought to bear on the animals so that the outside world would not realize how bad things were on the farm. Orwell describes how "starvation seemed to stare them in the face."  

Reminding us of how bad things are for the animals only sets up how much worse it is going to get.  Animals like the hens and the Minorca pullets who protest Napoleon's actions are dealt with severely and brutally. Napoleon orders all the animals to the courtyard in order to publicly address the rising tide of insurrection.  Orwell's language reflects the fear that the animals have as "They all cowered silently in their places, seeming to know in advance that some terrible thing was about to happen."

Fear turns into panic once the animals witness Napoleon's brutality.  Orwell describes how the dogs act on Napoleon's orders in dealing with "traitors." The dogs attack their victims as they are "squealing with pain and terror," and bring them to Napoleon's feet.  The animals stare in horror as the "dogs had tasted blood and for a few moments they appeared to go quite mad."  As different animals confess, "the dogs promptly tore their throats out."  Orwell conveys what the animals see in harsh detail: 

They were all slain on the spot. And so the tale of  confessions and executions went on, until there was a pile of corpses lying before Napoleon's feet and the air was heavy with the smell of  blood, which had been unknown there since the expulsion of Jones. 

After seeing all of this, the animals were "shaken and miserable," shocked by "the cruel retribution they had just witnessed."

In detailing Napoleon's cruelty, Orwell is able to create a sense of panic and fear.  Weakened by hunger and terrorized by Napoleon's brutality, the animals are besieged with negative thoughts.  They are a very long way from "Beasts of England."  The chapter closes with the hungry animals walking into an future filled with fear and doubt.

What reason does Salerio give as the possible cause of Antonio's melancholy attitude?

In the opening scene of the play, Antonio laments about his melancholy attitude and wonders why he has become so depressed lately. Salerio suggests that Antonio is worried about his merchant ships that are out to sea. Solanio joins in the conversation and comments to Antonio that he would also be depressed at the thought of his precious ships being tossed by the treacherous sea. Salerio goes on to mention that if he were in Antonio's situation, every little thing he did during the day would remind him of the possibility of losing his ships. Salerio says that blowing on his soup would remind him of the stormy winds, and that he would ponder whether or not his ship ran aground by simply looking at the sand in a hourglass. Salerio clearly believes that Antonio is in a melancholy mood because Antonio fears losing his merchant ships which are out on a treacherous sea.

What aspects of Shakespeare's character does Sonnet 18 reveal?

In Sonnet 18, Shakespeare states that his verse is more powerful than death. He begins by asking whether he should compare his friend to a summer's day and then decides he should not, as summer does not last forever and is not perfect. Occasionally, there are winds in summer, and sometimes the clouds obscure the sun. Unlike the summers that people experience, "thy eternal summer shall not fade," meaning that the friend's prime will never go away because Shakespeare will immortalize his friend's perfection in verse. He says that by immortalizing his friend in verse, the friend will never die. As long as people still populate the earth, "So long lives this and this gives life to thee." In other words, Shakespeare's sonnet will endure, as long as people can read it. Shakespeare believes in the power of his own words and believes the poet is more powerful than even death. His message suggests that Shakespeare was confident about his ability to produce verse that would stand the test of time. 

What were the issues involving slavery in the writing of the Constitution?

There were two significant issues involving slavery in the writing of the Constitution. The first issue was how to count slaves for the purpose of determining the number of a state’s representatives in the House of Representatives. The North didn’t want the slaves to count at all while the South wanted the slaves to be fully counted. Since political power was at stake, each side wanted its view to prevail. A compromise, called the Three-Fifths Compromise, was reached. Every five slaves would count as three people for the purpose of determining a state’s population for the number of representatives the state would have in the House of Representatives.

Another issue that needed to be resolved was the issue about the slave trade. There was some question if slave trading should be ended. An agreement was reached that no action would be taken regarding the trading of slaves until at least 1808.

These two issues dealing with the topic of slavery were resolved during the writing of the Constitution.

When and where was Helen born? What do you know about her family?

Helen Keller was born in the small town of Tuscumbia, Alabama.  It was located in the northern part of the state.  She was born on June 27th in the year 1880.

In her autobiography, The Story of My Life, Helen describes her family background in detail.  Her father was Arthur H. Keller, a Confederate captain turned newspaper editor.  He had been married with children previously, before he had become a widower.  Later, he married the young Kate Adams.  With Kate, they had Helen.  

Casper Keller was a relative of Helen Keller.  He originally hailed from Switzerland before moving to Alabama.  It was through him that Helen was related to"the first teacher of the deaf in Zurich... [who] wrote a book on the subject of their education" (Chapter 1).  Helen found this fact to be "rather a singular coincidence; though it is true that there is no king who has not had a slave among his ancestors, and no slave who has not had a king among his."  She recognized the importance of her ancestor's contributions to the education of the deaf.  Some of these contributions later helped her.  Helen also wrote about her grandparents and other relations who she was descended from.

Which numbers are assigned to Jennings during his stay at the foster homes in the book They Cage the Animals at Night?

The answer to your question is fairly simple:  12, 17, and 27.  These numbers, however, require a bit of explanation. Jennings is placed in quite a few different group homes and foster homes.  Many of these places give Jennings a number in order to identify him.  In the first group home, Jennings number is 27.

She pushed me through one of the dark doorways. ... 'Your number is twenty-seven.  Don't forget it!'"

We see Jennings following that particular number for a while.  For example he lifts "the pair of pajamas off of the hook number twenty-seven" and quickly begins to identify himself as that number instead of by his name which reveals his real identity.  In fact, Jennings even refers to himself as the number when speaking to the other children.

"Who are you?"  A voice jolted me.  There were four boys standing around me. ... "Twenty-seven," I said without thinking.  They roared with laughter before I could correct myself.  "Jennings.  My name is Jennings," I said over their laughter.

Here we can see how important it is for a person (and especially a child) to continue understanding his or her own identity even when he or she is referred to only as a number.  Depending on the group home or foster home Jennings finds himself in, he is always referred to as number twelve, seventeen, or twenty-seven.  It is a way to organize the children in the homes, but it is also a way to make them feel insignificant and unimportant.

How can I calculate the root mean square speed of carbon dioxide molecules at STP?

Hello!

As we know from the kinetic theory of gases, the mean kinetic energy of gas molecules is proportional to its absolute temperature `T.`  Because the kinetic energy of a molecule is `(m v^2)/2,` the root mean square is proportional to `sqrt(T).` The exact formula is

`v_(rms) = sqrt((3RT)/M),`

where `R approx 8.3 J/(mol * K)` is the ideal gas constant and `M` is the molar mass of a gas. `M` must be expressed in `(kg)/(mol).`

We know the relative atomic masses of  `O` and `C.` They are `16` and `12,` and we can compute the molar mass of `C O_2:` 

`12 + 2*16 = 44 (g/(mol)) = 4.4*10^(-2) ((kg)/(mol)).`

STP usually means `0` degrees Celsius, or about `273 K.` Now we can obtain the numerical result:

`v_(rms) = sqrt((3*8.3*273)/(4.4*10^(-2))) approx 393 (m/s).`

What is the definition of depletion of natural resources? What are the reasons for the depletion of natural resources?

Depletion of natural resources is generally accepted to be when natural resources are consumed at a greater rate than they are produced. Classic examples would be the use of oil or the harvesting of trees on a large scale from forests.

Oil takes an estimated hundreds of thousands of years to produce, but the world uses roughly 90 billion barrels of oil (petroleum) each day. Given how long it takes to produce oil, we may as well ignore the rate of production when considering how much we use! 

Trees are an example of a natural resource we were depleting, but we have found a solution to their loss. Trees take years to develop from lowly seeds, but they take mere seconds to cut down with modern technology. Deforestation, which is a loaded term that basically means cutting down more trees in a given area than are produced in a given period of time, became such a concern that now alternatives have decreased the rate of tree loss. Awareness of the issues caused by deforestation has encouraged sustainable use of wood; however, we have a ways to go before our consumption is less than or equal to the natural production of timber.

What are 3 arguments as to why Macbeth is a tragic hero?

Let's look to Aristotle for some basic characteristics of a tragic hero.  

Characteristic #1 -- The tragic hero is of noble birth and seen as great by common people.  This is true of Macbeth.  He is not some common foot soldier.  He is a military leader with a great big castle/house of his own complete with servants.  Even King Duncan wants to come and see Macbeth and Macbeth's place. Kings don't do that for common plebeians.  

Characteristic #2 -- The tragic hero has some kind of character flaw.  This is often called "the tragic flaw."  It makes the character more relatable because while the character is of great and noble birth, he's also flawed like the "rest of us."  Macbeth's flaw is his ambition.  I have ambition too, so I understand Macbeth's desire to be greater than he already is.  Unfortunately for Macbeth, his ambition doesn't have an off switch.  It's completely unbridled ambition.  He is willing to kill to secure greater power, and he is willing to continue killing in order to keep his newly gotten power.  

Characteristic #3 -- The hero's downfall is only partially his fault.  This is also true of Macbeth, and it ties in with the tragic flaw.  Macbeth can't help himself, because of his tragic flaw.  He has unbridled ambition, which is much more dangerous than "normal" ambition.  Additionally, I often think that if Lady Macbeth were not present, Macbeth might have been able to keep his ambitions in check.  Unfortunately for Macbeth, his wife pushed her husband to the tipping point, and his desire for power took over from there.  

Why is studying geography relevant in 2016?

Although currently falling out of favor in public education, geography is still a very relevant subject in the 21st century.  With the increased globalization of the marketplace, it is important to know about various cultures and countries.  More and more Americans are expected to share the workplace with individuals around the globe.  In order for global business interactions to run smoothly, employees are expected to understand the nuances of cultural diversity.  Furthermore, geographic knowledge is often used by corporations to decide on business locations and sales markets. 

Map reading skills, typically taught in Geography, are increasingly important as we have a variety of maps available to us through the internet and various mobile applications.   With a smart phone, individuals can instantly see a map of their destination with a few clicks. 

Geographical knowledge is extremely important in our future as we search for solutions to some of our current world issues.  A clear grasp of geography is needed to examine our current climate change crisis.  Solutions to our future energy needs also require an in-depth knowledge of available energy sources at various locations.  The understanding and importance of conserving our natural resources is an important component of geographical studies. 

Although the need to memorize state capitals or fill in countries on a blank map may be obsolete skills in our current reality, knowledge about various cultures and geographical locations will still be valuable as we move into the future. 

Which came first, electricity or the electric bulb?

The flow of electricity is not a new thing; people have been using electricity since the ancient Greek discovery of static electricity and charge. One the other hand, we know exactly when the light bulb was discovered. In 1802, incandescent light was made for the first time with several thousand batteries and a strip of platinum. Edison patented the light bulb in 1872 using a carbon filament instead of a metal.

Electric current can be detected in a number of ways without a bulb. One of the most obvious is when large charges interact to make an arc. These are very bright and loud, and indicate high charge. Another way is through an ammeter or amperemeter, which uses magnetic field to detect and measure current flow. Finally, the pain of touching a live wire could be used.

After M. Gillenormand turns Marius out of his home, how does Marius continue to change as a young man on his own in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables?

In Book 5 of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, after Marius's political views changed, leading his grandfather M. Gillenormand to dismiss him from the household, Marius becomes a very caring, independent person, able to deal with poverty.

We particularly see Marius's caring nature when he learns from the old woman he pays to clean his room that the poor family who lives in his building, the Jondrettes, will be evicted for being 20 francs behind on their rent. Marius gives the woman 25 out of 30 francs he has saved to pay for the family's rent and to give them a little extra:

"Here," he said to the old woman, "take these twenty-five francs. Pay for the poor people and give them five francs, and do not tell them it was I." (Bk. 5, Ch. 4)

He also learns to deal with poverty. Though his aunt sends him money each month, per his grandfather's instructions, Marius refuses it, preferring instead to make it on his own. On his own, he studies law and is admitted to the bar. With the help of his friend Courfeyrac, Marius gets a job in a publishing house that earns him 700 francs a year.

What is the importance of studying history?

The “importance" of anything is dependent on the circumstance – the “importance” of sugar depends on whether you are baking cookies or Zweiback; the “importance” of auto brakes depends on whether you are stopping or parked, etc.  So the “importance" of history is that the events of the past, large and small, have formed the present.  In order to use the present to shape the future (as far as we are capable of influencing the shape of the future), we need to see the forms, the structure, the actions that are universal in human nature and in the laws of physics/mathematics, and that are available to us to give a favorable substance to the future.  Studying history brings those forms and actions to our awareness, and they can then act as tools to give the future its shape.  For example, Athenian democracy and its actions that caused the Athenians to survive the Persian attacks serve as examples and models for subsequent democracy experiments, such as in the United States and in France.  Communism in Russia served to give shape to Communism in China.  The studying of history does not confine itself to memorizing dates, but to discerning patterns, following the logical consequences of actions, and weighing the elements of past events -- Leaders? Geography?  Technology? etc. – to predict, or at least influence, future outcomes.  Studying wars, for example, may not be as important as studying the failure of Peace Treaties.  What happened to the League of Nations, for example, and how can the United Nations avoid a similar fate?  If the colonies could form the United States, and Europe could form the European Union, what forces would bring the South American nations together?  Studying history, the past, is the act of learning how to deal with the present to shape a desirable Future.