In "Okay For Now," what does the metaphor "dark woods" represent?

In the book, the Yellow Shank bird is associated with the dark woods. However, the metaphor "dark woods" represents the defining moment of confrontation between Doug and his abusive father. To Doug, the "woods" is a treacherous and frightening place; to confront his abusive father, he must venture into this dark place alone, as no one else in his family dares to accompany him.

In Chapter Five, we learn that Doug's father has appropriated the hundred dollars and signed baseball that Doug won at the Trivia Contest. Later, Doug confronts him, despite knowing that he's putting himself in physical danger by doing so. Mr. Swieteck lies about having received the prizes, but Doug knows what Mr. Ballard told him.

At this time, Doug is ready to call his father a liar (because that's what Mr. Swieteck is), but he's afraid. Doug has never openly challenged his father before. Suddenly, in a moment of inspiration, he remembers the Yellow Shank and how the bird stands facing the dark woods ahead of him. Doug imagines that the Yellow Shank will eventually walk towards the woods, despite the uncertainty that awaits him.

He's staring into this dark place, and he's just about to cross the river that divides him from it...he knows what he's getting into, but he does it anyway, calm and smooth and straight. He's going to step into the middle of the picture, where he should be, with the light in back of him and the dark ahead. His whole world is waiting for him to do that.

He's so inspired by the Yellow Shank that he goes ahead and tells Mr. Swieteck that he's a liar. Mr. Swieteck lunges at Doug, but he misses him three times; he only manages to clip Doug slightly when the boy pushes through Ernie Eco's arms. Apparently, Ernie Eco isn't too successful either in his efforts to help Mr. Swieteck corner Doug. For his part, Doug counts the confrontation a victory. Despite his fears, he has braved the "dark woods," and he's justifiably proud of himself for confronting his abusive father.

What happened on October 5, 1957?

As you can see from the link below, nothing happened on October 5, 1957 that is particularly noteworthy in the history of the world.  I wonder, however, if you might be thinking about the previous day, October 4, 1957.  That date is very important in world history as it was the date on which the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth.

The launch of Sputnik was important because it was a scientific/technological breakthrough, but it was also important for geopolitical reasons.  At this time, the US and the USSR were locked in the Cold War.  Each side wanted to outdo the other and each side wanted to gain a military advantage over the other.  The launch of Sputnik was important in this context.  It made the US look bad and the USSR look good because the latter had been first to manage to launch a satellite.  It was also militarily important because the launch showed that the Soviets had the ability to build rockets that could be used to carry nuclear warheads.  For these reasons, the launch of Sputnik was very important to Americans of the time.

Because Sputnik was such an important event, and because there is nothing really important that happened on October 5, 1957, I wonder if the launch of Sputnik is the answer for which you are looking.

What is the summary of chapter one of the book The Oz Principle?

There are many interesting details in Chapter 1 of The Oz Principle, but a summary is best served by focusing on the main messages of this introductory chapter:

1. the potentially global repercussions of rejecting accountability in business


2. characteristics of accountability


3. definition of victimization


4. introductory preliminaries presented in a "you will hear" section highlighting case histories formatted to illustrate points


5. differences between victimization (blaming externals) and accountability (facing hard facts of failures)


6. citing Charles Sykes' book A Nation of Victims as authority for victimization versus accountability approach


7. presenting Above the Line Accountability (hard work) versus Below the Line Victimization (blaming, excusing)

Using well known business failures, such as Lucent, Enron and AT&T, and successes, such as Nortel and Intel (fewer successes are named) Connors, Hickman and Smith illustrate how a corporate failure can impact the global economy. Intel and Enron being good examples of good impact on global economy and bad impact, respectively. In conjunction with these examples, they present the characteristics of accountability and the definition of victimization:

• Accountability: Face bad news head on; don't pass blame onto external economic or other conditions; don't be enamored of a love affair with favorable Wall Street analyst reports; do the hard work of finding solutions, as Intel did.


• Victimization: I am, and the company is, the victim of external circumstances; I am not the cause of failures around me and within the company, as the CEO of Xerox said.

After cautioning against the "magic" of fads and management "wizards," they present scenarios of personal failure and success stories that will ripen their message of accountability, not victimization: "you will hear" about an executive "fighting for the life" of his company, about the General Electric CEO who took responsibility for failures, about "low level" employees facing genuine performance obstacles and many other personal experiences that convince of the magnitude of accountability.

The chapter culminates with a contrast between accountability and victimization, remarks on A Nation of Victims and the explanation of their theory of Above the Line Accountability and Below the Line Victimization. This introductory chapter aims to enliven energetic interest in the pursuit of accountability: an approach that changes results though accountable thinking.

In the novel The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, how do Bruno and Shmuel exhibit heroic attributes?

Throughout the novel, both Bruno and Shmuel exhibit heroic attributes through their selfless and courageous actions. Bruno risks getting into trouble when he takes food to give to Shmuel on his trips to visit his friend. Bruno has been told numerous times that he is not allowed to be near the fence, but he continues to venture outside in order to visit with Shmuel. Shmuel also displays courage by meeting with Bruno, who is on the other side of the fence. Shmuel risks being caught by the Nazi soldiers, who will more than likely physically punish him. Both boys enjoy being around one another and overlook the negative consequences of being caught visiting each other. Bruno also displays bravery and selflessness by helping Shmuel find his father. Bruno puts himself in harm's way by climbing underneath the fence and entering the concentration camp to help his friend. While the boys are searching for Shmuel's father, they are summoned by Nazi soldiers to march. Instead of running away, they continue to search for Shmuel's father. When they enter the gas chamber, both boys hold hands in order to comfort each other during the terrifying situation.

According to Two-Bit, why don't the Socs fight fair in The Outsiders?

Two-Bit says the Socs do not fight fair because they gang up on a guy. 

When Johnny, Pony, and Two-Bit are at the movies with two Soc girls, Cherry and Soc, it is an usual experience for all of them.  It is not common for Socs and greasers to hang out together, but the girls have ditched their boyfriends for being drunk and they are being polite to the greasers. The girls find Pony and Two-Bit’s conversation about Dally and Tim Shepard interesting.  Two-Bit says that Shepard is looking for whoever slashed his tires, but there will be a fair fight.  Greasers fight fair, he says, but Socs do not. 

"A fair fight isn't rough," Two-Bit said. "Blades are rough. So are chains and heaters and pool sticks and rumbles. Skin fighting isn't rough. It blows off steam better than anything. There's nothing wrong with throwing a few punches. Socs are rough. They gang up on one or two, or they rumble each other with their social clubs. (Ch. 2) 

Basically, when two greasers have a problem, they fight.  The Socs gang up on one person as a group.  These are not fair odds.

The differences between Socs and greasers are many.  They are constantly feuding, with territory firmly drawn.  Cherry tries to explain to Pony that Socs are not all the same, and they have problems too.   She thinks that Two-Bit and Pony are being prejudicial, painting all Socs with the same brush and assuming they have all of the advantages. 

"I'll bet you think the Socs have it made. The rich kids, the West-side Socs. I'll tell you something, Ponyboy, and it may come as a surprise. We have troubles you've never even heard of. You want to know something?" She looked me straight in the eye. "Things are rough all over." (Ch. 2)

After the movies, Cherry asks Pony about Darry.  Pony gets defensive, even insulting Johnny when he gets involved, telling him that he isn't wanted at home.  Pony and Two-Bit discuss how the greasers "have all the rough breaks!"  Pony realizes that he forgot that the Soc girls were there.  They may have problems too, but the greasers and Socs will always be different.

In "There Will Come Soft Rains," what are the timed activities in the house?

In "There Will Come Soft Rains," the house's timed activities reflect the routine of the average family.

The first event of the house's timed sequence of work takes place at seven in the morning.  The house wakes its inhabitants.  Nine minutes later, the house prepares breakfast.  At a minute past eight, it reminds the children to get ready for school. The attached weatherbox explains to the children what clothes they will need based on the climate outside.  In today's case, they need to prepare for rain.  

At half past eight, the house starts its process of cleaning. The first area is the kitchen as it removes the uneaten food.  At a quarter past nine, the cleaning extends to the whole house with vacuuming and dusting.  By ten, the house is clean.  Its focus moves to the house's exterior fifteen minutes later. At noon, the dog is allowed into the house, something that is not going to happen again because it dies.  

The house offers a time reminder at two.  Fifteen minutes later, the dog's body is incinerated, while at 2:35, the house prepares for bridge.  Tables emerge, and playing cards materialize along with martinis and sandwiches. The game ends at four in the afternoon, which is the same time as the children's hour.  The house draws a bath at five in the evening.  

The evening activities commence for the next three hours. This involves a fire in the hearth, the lighting of cigars and taking out the dishes for evening supper.  Bedtime is at 9:00 when the beds are warmed in anticipation for people going to sleep.  Five minutes later, the house recites a poem.  At 10:00 PM, the house begins to recede into slumber, winding down its activities for the day.  These activities mirror what a typical family would experience.  The times and activities at each interval reflect a day in the life of an average family.

What are the best and the easiest ways to recycle batteries?

In states other than California, it is legal to dispose of single-use alkaline and lithium batteries in the trash, as they do not contain heavy metals. However, it is advisable from an environmental point of view to recycle them. In addition, automotive and rechargeable batteries (such as lead acid batteries, Li-Ion, Ni-MH, Ni-ZN, Ni-Cd) batteries should be recycled.

Many cities have events or locations at which they collect hazardous waste (see the link for New York City below). You can find out more about these events by visiting the website of your town, county, or city. In addition, you may be able to mail hazardous waste materials such as batteries to a collection site that will recycle them. Single-use batteries contain materials such as steel and zinc that can be recycled. When you bring in non-alkaline batteries to be recycled, place clear tape (not opaque tape) over the terminals to prevent the risk of fire. Place each battery in a bag. You do not need to bag or tape alkaline batteries.