In Lord of the Flies, what did Jack promise?

When Jack, who has been tasked to provide food for the "tribe" of boys on the island, first has an opportunity to kill a piglet, he cannot bring himself to slaughter the animal.  When the boys talk about the hunt, Jack explains away his inability to kill the pig this way:

"I was choosing a place," said Jack. "I was just waiting for a moment to decide where to stab him."

But the other boys know better. They know the real reason that Jack could not kill the pig is

because of the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into living flesh; because of the unbearable blood.

Jack is humiliated by his self-defeat. Ralph has recently won out over Jack as leader of the boys, and Jack wants desperately to prove himself. He becomes even more determined to succeed:

"I was choosing a place. Next time--!"  He snatched his knife out of the sheath and slammed it into a tree trunk.  Next time there would be no mercy. He looked round fiercely, daring them to contradict.

His promise of killing a pig "next time" is fulfilled, as he goes on to kill several pigs--and, indirectly, a lonely boy named Piggy.

What is the distance between two points?

Distance, in simplest terms, can be defined as the measure of difference in location of two points. When we say, I walked 10 m or ran a 100 m race, what we really mean is we traveled a distance of 10 m or 100 m, respectively (assuming motion in longitudinal direction only). In geometry, points are represented by the x and y (and z) coordinates. If the position (or location) of the two points A and B is given as (x1, y1) and (x2, y2), then the distance between them can be calculated as:

`AB = sqrt((x_2-x_1)^2 + (y_2-y_1)^2)`

For example, in the cases earlier stated (walking 10 m or running 100 m race), there is no y-component and hence the distance is only the difference between the longitudinal components (x2 and x1). 

Distance is used to determine speed of an object, as the ratio of distance traveled and time taken. Distance has units of meter or m.

Hope this helps. 

What points can be made about conflict in Macbeth?

There are really two separate types of conflict in Shakespeare's Macbeth. The first type is external, in which characters struggle against other people or circumstances. The second type of conflict is internal, in which characters struggle primarily against their own natures. What makes the play so interesting is primarily the way Macbeth and Lady Macbeth struggle to overcome their better natures. 

When Lady Macbeth observes the approach of Duncan, she says:

... Come, you spirits ... unsex me here,

And fill me from the crown to the toe topful

Of direst cruelty!

By this she means that as a woman she is naturally kindhearted, malleable, and nurturing but that to advance her plot and make Macbeth king, she needs to steel herself to act in an unwomanly manner by helping kill Duncan. Thus we see her struggle against her natural inclinations in this passage. This conflict though, eventually drives her mad.

Macbeth, who initially was described by Lady Macbeth as having a nature "too full o' th' milk of human kindness" becomes stronger and more evil as the play progresses, overcoming his internal conflicts, with each evil act making it easier to think and behave in an evil fashion.

The external conflicts consist of Duncan's justified suppression of the rebellion, Macbeth's murders of Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff's family, and the eventual overthrow of Macbeth by Malcolm and Macduff.

I need five events that happened in the story "Young Goodman Brown."

A lot happens in that story, which is amazing, because it is a fairly short story.  I'll try and pick 5 main events that walk you through some of the highlights.  

Event one: Young Goodman Brown leaves his house.  His wife begs him to stay, but he leaves anyway claiming that his travels need to happen right then.  

My journey, as thou callest it, forth and back again, must needs be done 'twixt now and sunrise.

Event two: Young Goodman Brown comes across a man waiting for him in the forest.  The reader will soon find out that the man is the Devil.  

Event three: The Devil tells Goodman Brown that all kinds of people have communion with the Devil. 

The deacons of many a church have drunk the communion wine with me; the selectmen of divers towns make me their chairman; and a majority of the Great and General Court are firm supporters of my interest. The governor and I, too—But these are state secrets.

Event four: Young Goodman Brown is shown all kinds of people that he thought were good Christians.  Each person he is shown has had dealings with the Devil.  People like Goody Cloyse and even the minister have had dealings with the Devil.  

Event five:  Goodman Brown resists the Devil but is mentally and spiritually destroyed when he sees that his wife communes with the devil as well.  

Event six.  Goodman Brown returns to the village a broken man.  He trusts nobody ever again.  Not even his wife.  

When the minister spoke from the pulpit with power and fervid eloquence, and, with his hand on the open Bible, of the sacred truths of our religion, and of saint-like lives and triumphant deaths, and of future bliss or misery unutterable, then did Goodman Brown turn pale, dreading lest the roof should thunder down upon the gray blasphemer and his hearers. Often, waking suddenly at midnight, he shrank from the bosom of Faith; and at morning or eventide, when the family knelt down at prayer, he scowled and muttered to himself, and gazed sternly at his wife, and turned away.

Why must they creep "like animals" through Kruger Park?

In The Ultimate Safari the little girl narrator and the group she travels with must traverse through Kruger Park. 

"He said we must move like animals among the animals, away from the roads, away from the white people’s camps."

The main reason they must move like animals among animals is to avoid detection. She states that there are wardens, police, and white-people camps, and if the group were to be found traveling through the park, they'd be sent back to where they came from—but where they came from has no food. This is why they must avoid the roads and not build fires while they travel through the park. 

Furthermore, the group doesn't wish to draw any attention to themselves because of the many deadly animals that reside in the park. The group has a particularly close encounter with a group of lions in the night but manages to escape unscathed. 

What was life like for a heroin addict playing bebop in the late 1940s?

Life was precarious for such musicians and would-be musicians. Their life expectancies were short. There was very little work for musicians who wanted to play that kind of modern jazz. If they got work as musicians, they were usually forced to play other kinds of music such a Country-Western and what they called "Businessman's Bounce," that is, night club music. When they played be-bop it was after hours when they would get together in some back room and play for nothing. Even some of the famous jazz musicians like Charlie Parker had a hard time getting by. Outside of New York, be-bop was not popular. The aspiring be-boppers naturally imitated musicians like Charlie Parker and Lester Young. Charlie Parker was addicted to heroin, so the younger be-boppers developed heroin habits, thinking this would make them play better, which was a bad mistake. Billie Holiday was also heavily into drugs and widely imitated. Young jazz musicians lived in the cheapest places they could find. They were often in a criminal environment and got involved in criminal activities such as selling marijuana and heroin. The life of be-boppers in those days was not much different from what Mezz Mezzrow describes in his very interesting book Really the Blues (1946), which was about a much earlier era in the 1920s and 1930s. The Forties and Fifties were a time of great prosperity for Americans--but not for be-bop musicians!

Why do Marullus and Flavius take decorations off Caesar's statues?

Marullus and Flavius are horrified by the citizens’ celebrations upon Caesar’s return to Rome after the defeat of Pompey. Pompey was a hero whom the citizens loved and his opposition to Caesar led to a civil war. Caesar prevailed, and the citizens, once loyal to Pompey, now “strew flowers in his [Caesar’s] way” to celebrate Pompey’s defeat. Marullus and Flavius are angry at how easily the citizens’ loyalty shifts and how quickly they forget who they support in favor of whoever is in power. As the tribunes of the people, Marullus and Flavius likely petitioned the Senate on behalf of the citizens in support of Pompey in the past; with Pompey now dead and Caesar ascendant, Marullus and Flavius find themselves worryingly on the losing side. Their fates are far from certain, and to add insult to possibly fatal injury, the citizens they represent have double-crossed them and expediently switched their allegiance to Caesar. Marullus and Flavius can’t stand the idea of Caesar being triumphantly welcomed and decide at the very least (though Marullus is a bit hesitant) to take the celebratory wreaths and garlands off the statues. Later on, Casca reports that both of them were “put to silence,” an enigmatic statement that suggests that they were right to fear for their lives under a Caesar regime.

What is the significance of the setting in The Lord of the Flies? How does the island help to convey the novel's theme?

The novel is set on an uninhabited island, free from the taint of human occupation. As such, the island is uncorrupted and pure. It has survived and flourished without human intervention. The island exists in its natural and original state, providing sustenance to its flora and fauna.

Since the island is isolated and far removed from human interference, it becomes the ideal setting in which to place our characters since it is here, in such a pure and uncorrupted environment, that man's true nature can be explored. The boys' arrival on the island is symbolic of man being placed in unfamiliar surroundings, free from rules, dogma and religion. When the boys arrive, there are no adults to supervise, guide or discipline them. They are young and carefree, free from society's restrictions.

It is this aspect which makes the boys vulnerable to whatever inherent weaknesses they might have. Being on the island allows them the time to discover the good and the bad about themselves, since there is no authority to intervene or advise. They are entirely separated from what we understand as civilization. The boys have to establish their own, rudimentary civilization to ensure their survival and ultimately, their rescue. As far as the first is concerned, the boys fail miserably. The second occurs, ironically, as a consequence of the first.

This is the point Golding wishes to emphasise: That in the right circumstances and conditions, man ultimately turns to his baser instinct - savagery. Man's inherent desire to dominate and commit evil finds an outlet in situations where civilization does not exist. It is clear from events in the novel that reason (as represented by Piggy, Ralph and Simon) is quickly ignored and replaced by irrational savagery and evil (Jack, Roger, Maurice and the hunters). Evil, if it is not contained, triumphs, and only chance or some other intervention may save those who are exposed to its destruction (as illustrated by the fire burning out of control and the arrival of the captain).

In choosing an island as the setting, Golding makes it clear that it is man's inherent evil that corrupts everything he touches. Before the boys' arrival, the island was a paradise. Its natural beauty is at once destroyed by the arrival of humans. When the plane crashes, it creates a massive scar - denoting the first damage the arrival of man causes. The island is literally invaded by the boys who further taint the pristine environment by dragging wood to make a fire, using the flora to feed and to build shelters.

They encroach on the animals' territory and hunt the pigs that had probably been free of natural enemies, threatening their existence. They disturb the natural rhythm on the island, practically destroying it in the end when the fire to smoke out Ralph runs out of control. Their arrival spells destruction and doom.

Can you explain why is it not worthwhile to produce under region three of production function?

First, let's review what the three regions of a production function are. That's about half of our answer right there.

We assume that we have one fixed factor of production---let's say capital---and one variable factor of production---let's say labor.

We can then graph the production function as the number of total goods produced as a function of the amount of labor we employ.

Region 1 is where marginal productivity of labor is increasing. Each new person-hour of work produces more than the last. As long as there is enough demand, we'd be silly not to continue producing more stuff---our production gets more efficient the more we make. This could happen because workers are complements for each other---we need a certain number of people to work each assembly line, and if we don't have enough we end up using a less efficient production process. Both capital and labor are used more efficiently as we add more labor.

Region 2 is where marginal productivity of labor is decreasing, but positive. Each new person-hour of work is less efficient than the last, but we do still produce more if we add more people or work them more hours. Most businesses in the real world operate in this regime---you may have already hired all the most qualified people, so adding new workers means reducing their average productivity, and if you work the people you have harder they get tired and don't do as much good work in the later hours. As we add more labor, the labor gets less efficient; but the capital gets more efficient because we're producing more overall output with the same fixed amount of capital.

Region 3 is where marginal productivity of labor is negative. Adding more person-hours actually makes our overall production worse. It's not simply that new workers aren't as good---that would be region 2. They are actively detracting from our productivity, perhaps by distracting other workers, or getting in their way, or producing substandard work that needs to be corrected. Or perhaps you're working your current workers so hard that they don't get enough sleep and start doing shoddy work all day long. Both capital and labor get less efficient as we add more labor.

Why is it rational to produce in regions 1 and 2 but not in region 3? Well, think about what we just said above: In region 3, as you add more person-hours your output gets worse. You are spending more money to make less product. It would never make sense to do that. You might do it by accident, thinking you are still in region 2; but you'd never do it on purpose if you're trying to maximize profits. A perfectly-rational business would never operate in region 3, but sometimes real-world businesses do because they don't realize it. In my opinion, any software company that works its programmers more than 40 hours per week (and many do) is in region 3---coding well requires thinking well, and thinking well requires resting well. (Of course, I could be wrong; maybe it's still region 2.)

Alexander spread the ______________ Culture throughout Greece, Asia Minor, Egypt and Persia.

The word that you are looking for to fill in this blank is “Hellenistic.” The Hellenistic Culture was the culture that was spread across the areas you mention as Alexander the Great and his armies conquered a vast amount of territory in the 4th century before the Common Era.

The Hellenistic Culture ultimately derived from Greek origins. Alexander the Great himself was not Greek, but he was Macedonian and the Macedonians were neighbors of the Greeks and were heavily influenced by their more “civilized” neighbors. Alexander himself was famously tutored as a youth by the great Greek philosopher Aristotle.  Because Alexander and the Macedonians were so steeped in Greek culture, they took it with them as they conquered in the Near East. The Greek-influenced culture became the dominant culture of the areas that Alexander conquered and Greek became the area’s lingua franca.  Therefore, “Hellenistic” is the word that you need to use to fill in this blank.

If any teacher here specializes in literature, I want some original subjects for research projects.

Generally, original literary research projects are quite narrow in scope and respond to an existing gap or problem in the study of literature. Since the only way to figure out what has not been done is to be intimately familiar with what has been done, the more broadly and deeply you read in your chosen literary field, the more likely you are to arrive at original ideas.

The first thing you should consider when selecting an area for research is your own skills and knowledge. As there are many literary critics writing about English-language literature, as well as about literatures associated with major western languages, if you know a language with a small number of native speakers, that would provide opportunities to do original work. 

Even within English, the best known authors tend to be widely covered in existing criticism. It is quite difficult to do original work on Shakespeare or Chaucer because thousands of books and articles have already been written on these authors; you are more likely to be original in writing about less well known authors. 

The type of research most likely to be original is that which works with rare archival materials. For example, many newspapers print reviews of books and plays; some also print poems and other literary works. You might look at a single local newspaper published in your town and read through a full year's print run and then do an analysis of all the literary materials that appeared in that newspaper over a year. Such a study would reveal the popularity of and attitudes about many types of literary works. Another possibility would be looking at a single day over a period of fifty years, say 14 February 1900 to 2000. You might use such research to talk about shifting literary visions of love over that period. 

How do cells use glucose for energy?

Glucose is converted to energy molecules, ATP (adenosine triphosphate) by the process of cellular respiration. The chemical reaction involved in cellular respiration is given as:

`C_6H_12O_6 + 6 O_2 -> 6 CO_2 + 6 H_2O + ATP`

The breakdown of the glucose can take place either in the presence of oxygen (aerobic respiration) or absence of oxygen (anaerobic respiration). In aerobic respiration, oxygen is consumed by the cells and carbon dioxide and water are formed, along with energy molecules. Aerobic respiration's energy production is very high as compared to anaerobic respiration. Under aerobic conditions, each molecule of glucose releases around 38 molecules of ATP. In comparison, anaerobic respiration generates only 2 ATP molecules. Part of aerobic respiration takes place in an organelle known as the mitochondria (that is why mitochondria is also called as the power house of the cell).

Hope this helps. 

`(13pi)/12` Find the exact values of the sine, cosine, and tangent of the angle.

`sin((13pi)/12)=sin(pi/2+pi/3+pi/4)`

As we know that `sin(pi/2+theta)=cos(theta)`

`:.sin((13pi)/12)=cos(pi/3+pi/4)`

Now use the identity `cos(x+y)=cos(x)cos(y)-sin(x)sin(y)`

`sin((13pi)/12)=cos(pi/3)cos(pi/4)-sin(pi/3)sin(pi/4)`

`sin((13pi)/12)=((1/2)(1/sqrt(2))-((sqrt(3)/2)(1/sqrt(2)))`

`sin((13pi)/12)=(1-sqrt(3))/(2sqrt(2))`

`sin((13pi)/12)=(sqrt(2)-sqrt(6))/4`

`cos((13pi)/12)=cos(pi/2+pi/3+pi/4)` 

We know that `cos(pi/2+theta)=-sin(theta)`

`:.cos((13pi)/12)=-sin(pi/3+pi/4)`

using identity `sin(x+y)=sin(x)cos(y)+cos(x)sin(y)`

`cos((13pi)/12)=-(sin(pi/3)cos(pi/4)+cos(pi/3)sin(pi/4))`

`=-(sqrt(3)/2*1/sqrt(2)+1/2*1/sqrt(2))`

`=-(sqrt(3)+1)/(2sqrt(2))`

`=-(sqrt(6)+sqrt(2))/4` 

`tan((13pi)/12)=sin((13pi)/12)/cos((13pi)/12)`

plug in the values evaluated above,

`tan((13pi)/12)=((sqrt(2)-sqrt(6))/4)/(-(sqrt(6)+sqrt(2))/4)`

`=(sqrt(2)-sqrt(6))/(-(sqrt(6)+sqrt(2)))`

rationalizing the denominator,

`=((sqrt(2)-sqrt(6))(sqrt(6)-sqrt(2)))/(-(6-2))`  

`=(sqrt(12)-2-6+sqrt(12))/(-4)`

`=(2sqrt(12)-8)/(-4)`

`=(2*2sqrt(3)-8)/(-4)`

`=2-sqrt(3)`

What character trait does Loretta Lee have in Freak the Mighty?

Because Loretta Lee is a character who changes during Freak the Mighty, I think it is important to share at least two character traits about her.  Loretta Lee is both tough and brave. 

First, Loretta Lee is a tough character.  She lives in the tenements with her husband Iggy.  Perhaps a product of her environment, Loretta has a ragged, worn appearance as she smokes and drinks incessantly.  Her tough exterior reveals a tough interior when Max and Kevin visit Loretta (in order to return her purse), and she does not exactly treat them with kindness.  In fact, she insults Kevin by calling his dad a "magician" because he disappeared as soon as he heard Kevin was going to have a birth defect.

However, Loretta Lee is also very brave.  Max is eventually kidnapped by his dad Kenny "the Killer" Kane.  Killer Kane ties Max to the boiler in the basement where Max is unable to get free.  Loretta risks her life to save Max.  She is the only one brave enough to go down there.  As Loretta cuts the ropes that hold Max, her hands shake violently.  When Killer Kane appears, he begins “squeezing [Loretta’s] neck...[with his] two big hands.”  The only reason he lets go is that Max begins telling the story of his dad killing his mom.  At this point, Killer Kane switches his attention to hurting Max instead.  Thus, Loretta must care about both Max and Kevin deep down inside of her.  She risks her own life to save Max.

What stops Nick from calling to Gatsby at the end of chapter one? What does Gatsby’s “trembling” suggest?

The end of Chapter I of Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is the first time we actually see Gatsby. He is standing alone on his lawn, looking out over the water. Nick describes him as emerging from the shadow of his house, and describes his movements as "leisurely" (25). His hands are in his pockets and "the secure position of his feet upon the lawn" tell Nick this is Gatsby, the lord of all he surveys (25). Nick is about to call out to him, to introduce himself to his neighbor, but then Gatsby stretches out his arms toward the water, in the direction of a distant green light across the bay. He seems to be trembling. Nick sees this is clearly an intensely private moment and decides to leave Gatsby to it. Then Gatsby, having emerged from a shadow, slips back into one, and Nick is left alone in the night. We do not know why Gatsby might be trembling at this point, but we can feel in that tremble that he is yearning intensely for something, and that something is represented by the green light across the bay.

What is Atticus' response when the children ask him to borrow a gun?

In Chapter 23, Bob Ewell approaches Atticus, threatens to kill him and spits in his face. Atticus, as always, handles the situation very calmly and hardly reacts at all. Jem and Scout are completely terrified that Bob Ewell will follow through with his threat and kill Atticus. They feel that Atticus should have a gun to protect himself, so they ask if they can borrow one. Atticus responds by saying that the idea is nonsense. He continues to explain that Bob Ewell was serious when he made the threat, but would not follow through with it. He says that he took away Mr. Ewell's last bit of dignity and that he has every right to be angry at Atticus. Atticus also says that he would rather Mr. Ewell take his anger out on him than on the Ewell children. Atticus assures Jem and Scout that Mr. Ewell would not have much of a chance to do anything secretive in a town like Maycomb and that they should not worry. After that, they feel much better.

In the story "Miss Brill," it says, "...she unclasped the necklet quickly, without looking, laid it inside. But, when she put the lid on, she...

Katherine Mansfield's Miss Brill is truly a story of denial. The main character is in complete denial of the loneliness and isolation from which she suffers. Throughout the story, she people watches and judges certain characters without realizing the things she finds odd or off about them are qualities she herself has, such as the odd people she sees who are alone at the park. Even the woman with the ermine toque is practically a mirror image of Miss Brill.

When she gets home and puts the fur away, she thinks she hears it crying. But what if it is her that is crying, and her denial is in such an advanced state that she refuses to admit that it is her crying that she hears? That is what I have always thought about the end.

For more information on Miss Brill, check out the link.

In the story "Through the Tunnel" by Doris Lessing what two lessons did Jerry learn?

I think Jerry learned more than only two lessons in the story.  

One lesson that he learned was the importance of training.  I think he always knew the importance of training, which is why he worked so hard to build up his lung capacity and ability to hold his breath for long periods of time.  

That day and the next, Jerry exercised his lungs as if everything, the whole of his life, all that he could become, depended upon it.

His training paid off and Jerry was able to hold his breath for the necessary two to three minutes

“Mummy,” he said, “I can stay under water for two minutes, three minutes, at least… It came bursting out of him.

Related to the lesson learned about training is what the training is symbolic of.  The second lesson that Jerry learned is the importance and power of his own determination.  He goes about his goal with a single minded focus.  He achieves success, and Jerry no longer feels a deep need to prove himself to the other boys.  

It was no longer of the least importance to go to the bay.

Why would it no longer be important to be with those other boys?  After all, he screamed at the top of his lungs for them to simply notice him earlier.  

And now, in a panic of failure, he yelled up, in English, “Look at me! Look!” and he began splashing and kicking in the water like a foolish dog.

It's no longer important because the lesson that Jerry learned is that what others think is unimportant.  He met and achieved his own goal.  He proved it to himself and that is much more important to him than anything else. 

I believe that Jerry learned one more lesson.  I believe that Jerry learned that independence from his mother doesn't mean that she must be absent from his life.  From the beginning of the story, Jerry desperately wants to assert his independence from his mother.  He does this by spending as little time with her as possible.  When she forces Jerry to stay put, it chafes and grates on him.  He doesn't take it well.  

Again his nose bled at night, and his mother insisted on his coming with her the next day. It was a torment to him to waste a day of his careful training, but he stayed with her on that other beach, which now seemed a place for small children, a place where his mother might lie safe in the sun. It was not his beach.

But by the end of the story, Jerry has stepped across a threshold to manhood, and he no longer sees his mother as an enemy combatant.  

I don’t think you ought to swim any more today.” She was ready for a battle of wills, but he gave in at once.

Previously, Jerry would have fought his mom on that comment.  But since learning those other things about himself, Jerry doesn't feel the need to establish his independence by distancing himself from his mother. 

What are the negative effects on the rise of capitalism?

There are some negative effects of the rise of the economic system of capitalism. In a capitalist economy, supply and demand determine many things. The prices of products, the wages of workers, and the availability of products are based on supply and demand. With little or no government regulation, it is possible for a consumer to pay really high prices for important items or for a worker to have to deal with poor working conditions or low pay.

In a capitalist system, it is possible there may not be assistance for those who need help or aid due to circumstances beyond their control or circumstances that are no fault of their own. These people could be left to fend for themselves if there is no involvement by the government or by charitable organizations or individuals.

There are times opponents of the capitalist system point to these flaws as a justification for having a different economic system, often with less individual choice and more government control, imposed upon the people they rule.

How does the name "Freak the Mighty" help Max to become a more confident person?

The "name" of "Freak the Mighty" is not really the thing that gives Max more self-confidence. “Freak the Mighty” is simply a label for the powerful friendship and incredible team that exists between Max and Kevin. It is that friendship that empowers Max.

Max has the problem of a lack of self-confidence from the beginning of the book. Even from a very young age, Max is a child acting out because he does not feel smart enough to be among his peers. Max retreats “down under” into Grim’s and Gram’s basement in order to escape the world. Max initiates the friendship between the two boys by offering to get a toy out of a tree for Kevin. The two soon team up in order to have adventures and beat the “bad guys” who end up being Blade and his gang as well as Max’s own father, Kenny “Killer” Kane.

The literal name of “Freak the Mighty” is the description of Kevin sitting on Max’s shoulders. Max is the “mighty” one here. Kevin has always been nicknamed “Freak” because of his birth defect. The name means nothing next to the power of the two boys together. In reality, they could have simply been called “Max and Kevin” or something else. The bond between the two boys would have been the same and would still have boosted Max’s self-confidence.

Max’s new self-confidence due to the friendship continues even after Kevin dies. At this point, Max can no longer be “Freak the Mighty” with Kevin. However, Max can immortalize his friend by writing down their adventures.

What are some examples of microeconomics?

As you can see in the link below, microeconomics can be defined as the study of the constituent parts of the economy.  Macroeconomics studies the “forest,” or the whole economy.  By contrast, microeconomics studies the “trees,” or the smaller parts that make up the whole economy.  Let us look at some examples of microeconomic questions.

• Does an increase in the minimum wage lead to more unemployment among young people?  This question looks at young people, who are only a part of the overall economy.


• If gas prices go down for a long time, will people buy more cars that are large and have bad gas mileage?  The market for these cars is just one part of the overall economy.


• If the price of a particular pharmaceutical rises, how much will the quantity demanded of that pharmaceutical drop?  The market for that pharmaceutical is a small part of the overall economy.

All of these questions have to do with parts of the economy rather than the economy as a whole.  Therefore, they are examples of microeconomic questions.

What are the human-like traits of Rikki?

I think one key human-like trait of Rikki is the fact that he is insatiably curious.  He's so curious that he isn't necessarily afraid of things that he should be wary of.  Kipling tells his readers about Rikki's curiosity fairly early on in the story.  

It is the hardest thing in the world to frighten a mongoose, because he is eaten up from nose to tail with curiosity. The motto of all the mongoose family is "Run and find out," and Rikki-tikki was a true mongoose.

Readers learn from Rikki's actions that he is very curious as well.  In fact, Rikki's curiosity is what keeps him at the human house in the first place. 

"There are more things to find out about in this house," he said to himself, "than all my family could find out in all their lives. I shall certainly stay and find out."

Another human characteristic of Rikki is his bravery.  There are times when Rikki is fighting for his own personal protection, which demands some bravery but not nearly as much bravery as Rikki choosing to follow Nagaina into her den.  

It was dark in the hole; and Rikki-tikki never knew when it might open out and give Nagaina room to turn and strike at him. He held on savagely, and stuck out his feet to act as brakes on the dark slope of the hot, moist earth.

Lastly, Rikki is loyal.  The reader needs to remember that Rikki is not a human, despite how human he can act at times.  He's a mongoose, and he doesn't owe the family anything.  Rikki could leave the humans and the humans might be hurt, but they wouldn't question it.  They know that Rikki is an animal.  Rikki could leave, keep his own safety, and let the humans worry about the snakes.  But Rikki doesn't do this.  He stays fiercely loyal to his human family and is willing to lay his life down in order to save them.  That's an incredibly human thing to do.  

Why did the Romans go to war with Carthage?

The three wars between Rome and Carthage are known as the Punic Wars (264-146 BC.) Carthage was the strongest power in the Mediterranean Sea at the time. The expanding Romans really wanted that role. Rome looked to the island of Sicily off its western coast to relieve its population pressures. Carthage controlled part of the island and wanted more of the land. Sicily was very fertile which was important for agriculture and food supply for an expanding empire. It was also an ideal location for fishing industries to develop. Having said all of this, the Punic Wars were fought primarily for economic purposes.

Rome won the first Punic War and signed a treaty with Carthage. The treaty called for Carthage to pay a hefty fine over the course of fifty years and agree not to show aggression to any of Rome's allies.

Carthage, with all of its wealth, could easily pay the fine, but it could not stomach the constant raids of its lands by Rome's allies. Having lost patience with the looting by the Numidians, Carthage acted out against them. This angered Rome, which convinced the empire to declare war again. At the end of the Punic Wars, Carthage was completely in ruin and essentially extinct. This allowed for unfettered expansion throughout the Mediterranean for the Romans.

Why do we learn that the man who does the imprisoning is a banker and that the prisoner is a lawyer? Why not a factory owner and a baker? Do their...

Chekhov gave the two men their occupations for valid reasons. The dude who initiates the bet is a banker because he has lots of money and can afford to pay two million rubles if he loses. The prisoner is a lawyer because he knows the law. If he wins the bet he must feel sure he can force the banker to pay him the money. The bet was not written down as a formal contract, but it was made in front of many witnesses. The lawyer could take the banker to court and sue him for "unlawful detainment," "breach of contract," or something else. It doesn't have to be called gambling. It could be described as a form of employment. The banker agrees to pay the lawyer two million rubles for staying in solitary confinement for fifteen years. This is why their professions do matter. 

However, the author specifies that there are a number of important men at the party who are all witnesses. 

The majority of the guests, among whom were many journalists and intellectual men, disapproved of the death penalty. 

In a good short story even detail counts. If the banker lost the bet and refused to pay, he would be disgraced. The journalists would spread the story all over Russia. And the banker would still get a judgment against him for two million rubles anyway. He can't get out of paying the lawyer tomorrow, and if he pays him he will be wiped out.

Pretty weird bet. I agree. But Chekhov takes considerable pains to make the reader believe in it. One of the tricks Chekhov uses for this purpose is to have the banker himself reflect more than once during the story that it was a crazy bet. For example:

And now the banker, walking to and fro, remembered all this, and asked himself: "What was the object of that bet? What is the good of that man's losing fifteen years of his life and my throwing away two million? Can it prove that the death penalty is better or worse than imprisonment for life? No, no. It was all nonsensical and meaningless. On my part it was the caprice of a pampered man, and on his part simple greed for money ..."

Chekhov is writing this sort of internal dialogue for the reader's benefit-- including yours. He knows the bet is crazy, but he has to sell his idea to the reader. This premise is called a donnee. There should be an acute accent over the first e in donnee, but I don't know how to make one. It has been said that we have to allow the writer his donnee. We certainly do that with other writers, including Ray Bradbury. 

I don't think we are supposed to identify with the lawyer. Chekhov keeps the entire story in the banker's point of view (POV), so we can only identify with him. It is his problem and his POV. These are the two ways a fiction writer gets the reader to identify with a character.

Chekhov doesn't say anything about booze. But this bet is made at an all-male party. There must have been a lot of drinking being done. They would drink vodka before dinner, wine during dinner, and more wine or vodka or brandy after dinner. The bet only got made because both men had been drinking. But Chekhov didn't want to suggest that they were intoxicated (although the dialogue makes them sound intoxicated) because that would sort of invalidate the bet and make it too easy for both of them, or either of them, to call it off when they were more sober. The banker actually does try to get out of the bet, but he wants to do so by persuading the lawyer to call it off.

"Think better of it, young man, while there is still time. To me two million is a trifle, but you are losing three or four of the best years of your life. I say three or four, because you won't stay longer. Don't forget either, you unhappy man, that voluntary confinement is a great deal harder to bear than compulsory. The thought that you have the right to step out in liberty at any moment will poison your whole existence in prison. I am sorry for you."

The banker feels sure he is not risking anything because he believes the lawyer won't be able to stand solitary confinement for more than three or four years.

Finally, the lawyer wants the two million rubles. He would be set for life. Some people would find it easier to tolerate solitary confinement for fifteen years than others. Some people are introverts and some are extroverts. The lawyers behavior while in confinement shows he is an introvert. He reads six hundred abstruse books in a number of different languages, and he has to teach himself the languages in order to read many of the books. Furthermore, he is not kept in a dungeon but in a comfortable lodge where he can have virtually anything he wants except human companionship. He can even have wine with his meals if he wants it. He probably eats the same food as the wealthy banker. All this makes his acceptance of the bet somewhat more credible.

Why was the Cold War important? I just need a brief but clear explanation.

I will give you two reasons why the Cold War was important.  One has to do with the time when the Cold War was happening.  The other has to do with the way the Cold War ended.

While it was happening, the Cold War was important because it shaped the world.  Essentially every country in the world had to choose whether it was going to side with the US or with the USSR.  The two superpowers tried hard to get countries on their side, giving them aid, but sometimes also creating civil wars within the countries.  Wars like the Korean War and the Vietnam War occurred because of the Cold War.  People around the world worried about nuclear war because of this conflict.  The Cold War completely shaped the world as it was happening.

Now that it has been over for some years, the Cold War is important mainly because it destroyed communism. Where there were once many communist countries, today only a very few can truly be called communist.  The Cold War helped to defeat communism.  By doing so, it changed the lives of huge numbers of people in the countries that were once communist.

What details in "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe indicate the narrator's fears?

The narrator's general attitude of fear and paranoia is suggested by the first lines of "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe. He opens his narrative by stating: 

TRUE! —nervous —very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?

This tells us two things, first that he is nervous and fearful, and second that among the things he fears is being thought insane. 

The next thing the narrator fears is the old man's eye. Strangely—this narrator is crazy after all—he does not fear the old man himself, who is harmless and with whom he has an apparently friendly relationship. The narrator says of the eye: "Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold."

The narrator is also portrayed as abnormally sensitive to sound and prone to frightening auditory hallucinations. Even when the old man is sleeping, the narrator imagines that he can hear the sound of the old man's heart from across the room, and thinks:

And now a new anxiety seized me—the sound would be heard by a neighbour!

This anxiety about the sound of the heart continues even after the old man is dead and dismembered. The narrator still thinks he can hear a beating heart, and the sound terrifies him.

What is the best example of irony in The Story Of Edgar Sawtelle?

Irony is a literary device in which the opposite of what is expected occurs. A character may possess an unexpected attribute or behave in a way that is unexpected. Dramatic irony occurs when the reader is aware of circumstances about which one or more of the characters is unaware.

One of the most prominent examples of irony in The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is Edgar's proficiency with language. Born mute, Edgar is unable to communicate with others. His biggest struggle is that he cannot reveal the events he has witnessed or explain his actions. However, the irony is that he has a love and mastery of language that few others do. When he is given a litter of puppies to care for at his family's kennel, Edgar peruses the dictionary for the perfect name for each dog. His precise use of language is a means to exert control over one aspect of his life when much of his life is beyond his control. He is even able to train the dogs using sign language commands.

Another example of irony occurs through the character of Edgar's uncle Claude. After Edgar's father dies, his mother becomes ill and two of the dogs are injured in a fight. Claude appears to be their savior, caring for the dogs when they cannot afford a vet and nursing Edgar's mother back to health. The irony, however, is that Claude himself murdered Edgar's father and is attempting to seduce his mother. Edgar is the only one with any evidence of Claude's guilt, but he is unable to voice his accusations. When Edgar attempts to confront Claude, he unintentionally causes the death of an innocent man and must flee the scene.

What does John resolve to do after he becomes chief priest in "By the Waters of Babylon?"

The answer to this can be found at the very end of “By the Waters of Babylon.”   At the end of the story, John resolves that he will make fundamental changes when he is the chief priest.  His people will no longer hold to their current superstitions.  They will not fear the “dead places” or believe that there were gods who lived in the Place of the Gods any longer.  Instead, they will understand the truth and they will “build again.”

At the time that this story takes place, John’s people know very little about the civilization that had existed before them.  They enter the “dead places” to get metal but for no other reason. They believe that the massive ruins to the east (where they were not allowed to go) had been the home of gods. They  are quite primitive in terms of beliefs and technology.

At the end of the story, after John has stayed in the Place of the Gods for a night, he resolves that he will change things when he is chief priest. He has figured out that 

they were men who built the city, not gods or demons. They were men.

He has realized that it was human beings who had all this technology and the ability to build tall buildings and great roads.  When he realizes this, he wants his people to progress. He wants them to learn more. He wants them to go back to “newyork” and learn more about the ancient civilization.  Above all, he wants them to become more technologically advanced. As he says in the last line of the story, “we must build again.”

In Much Ado About Nothing, what are some examples of gullible characters that make bad decisions or take rash actions?

As is frequent in Shakespeare's work, many of the characters are easily fooled in this play. Deception is neither good nor bad in every case; sometimes it is destructive, while sometimes it is wonderful.

Beatrice and Benedick are tricked into following in love with one another when Don Pedro and his friends hatch their plot to bring the couple together. The two falling in love may be rash, but it ends up being great for the couple. Hero's gullibility is also good at times. Don Pedro convinces her that he is Claudio, which allows him to bring the two young lovers together. Both of these gullible characters are tricked into doing something that makes their lives happier.

Trickery has a dark side in the play too, however. Don John tricks Claudio into believing that Don Pedro wants Hero for himself, and later even convinces him that his fiancee has been unfaithful. This causes him to condemn Hero on her wedding day, which causes a rift between the characters in the play. Hero loses Claudio and Beatrice demands that Benedick kill Claudio. The damage is only undone by yet another case of deception later in the play.

Deception is a key theme in Much Ado about Nothing and in Shakespeare's work overall. 

How many courts and judges are in the Supreme Court? Also, what types of cases do they receive?

While the jurisdiction of the United States Supreme Court is largely appellate, it does have what is called original jurisdiction in a few instances. This means that the Supreme Court acts as a trial court, taking evidence as any trial court does.  This jurisdiction is set forth in the second paragraph of Article III, Section 2:

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction.

This does not come up very often, but the Constitution makes clear that if an issue arises over certain kinds of public officials who are involved in international diplomacy, the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction.  Similarly, disputes between states fall under the original jurisdiction of this court.  I have included two links to two different cases in which the court had original jurisdiction over the states as parties. These are probably the most recent examples.

What is the proper government response to an economic crisis such as the Great Depression? Use evidence from the text to support your answer. ...

If the text in the link is all we have to go on, there is very little evidence as to the correct way for a government to respond to an economic crisis like the Great Depression.  We can infer that “welfare capitalism” is the correct response, but there is no clear evidence that this is the case.  We can also say that governments should not engage in protectionism in response to crises.

The first paragraph of the text is evidence that it is bad to engage in protectionism.  It tells us that countries raised trade barriers against one another.  You might think that this would be good because it allows countries to keep more jobs in their domestic economies (instead of supporting other countries’ economies by importing).  However, the text says that global trade dropped by 30% and it implies that this harmed people all over the world.  Thus, one lesson that we can draw from this is that governments should continue to allow free trade.

The next four paragraphs talk about political responses to the Depression.  These paragraphs imply that the proper response to such an economic crisis is welfare capitalism.  By instituting welfare capitalism, countries like Britain, France, and the US prevented themselves from falling under military dictatorship, communism, or fascism.  Since all of these three systems are terrible, we can infer that the best response to an economic crisis is to institute a system of welfare capitalism.

Of course, this does not tell us what a government should do if it already has a system of welfare capitalism when it is hit by an economic crisis.  There is no evidence in the text that can tell us the proper response for such a situation.

Compare and contrast the father-son relationship of Chingachgook and Uncas with the father-daughter relationship of Munro and his daughters....

The major action in the novel centers on Cora and Alice Munro's journey from Fort Edward to Fort William Henry, where their father, Lt. Colonel Munro is commander of the forces. The girls are accompanied by Major Duncan Heyward and their Indian guide, Magua, a Huron who has been exiled from his tribe. Along the way, they meet David Gamut, a psalmodist, Natty Bumppo (also known as Hawkeye) and his two Mohican friends, Chingachgook and his son, Uncas.

In Chapter 3, we get an idea of the kind of relationship Chingachgook has with his son, Uncas. Even though the father and son relationship is a close one, a proud heritage as warriors prevents both from demonstrating undue physical affection for the other. Instead, the unspoken bond of male camaraderie is exhibited in quiet respect and regard. It is clear that both warriors are comfortable working and fighting side by side. Bolded words below are mine.

At the next instant, a youthful warrior passed between them, with a noiseless step, and seated himself on the bank of the rapid stream. No exclamation of surprise escaped the father, nor was any question asked, or reply given, for several minutes; each appearing to await the moment when he might speak, without betraying womanish curiosity or childish impatience. (There is no coercion in Chingachgook and Uncas' relationship; both accord each other respect and consideration in every interaction).

The instant the father seconded this intimation by an expressive gesture of the hand, Uncas threw himself on the ground, and approached the animal with wary movements. (Here, Chingachgook gives the order for Uncas to track and to kill a deer for their supper. Uncas, although a grown man and warrior in his own right, submits himself to his father's authority without question).

These Mohicans and I will do what man's thoughts can invent, to keep such flowers, which, though so sweet, were never made for the wilderness, from harm, and that without hope of any other recompense but such as God always gives to upright dealings. (Here, Chingachgook and Uncas, at great danger to their lives, demonstrate honor and decency in their resolve to ensure Cora and Alice Munro's safety).

On the other hand, Lt. Colonel Munro's relationship with his daughters, although just as intimate, is filled with open affection and warmth. This is evident in Chapter 16 when the girls are happily reunited with their father at Fort William Henry. Munro is also an indulgent father, for he permits his daughters to make the dangerous journey to Fort William Henry after they plead with him to assent to their desires.

Major Heyward found Munro attended only by his daughters. Alice sat upon his knee, parting the gray hairs on the forehead of the old man with her delicate fingers; and whenever he affected to frown on her trifling, appeasing his assumed anger by pressing her ruby lips fondly on his wrinkled brow.

As with any father of daughters, Lt. Colonel Munro is extremely protective of Cora and Alice. So it is that when the hapless Major Heyward initially attempts to ask for permission to court Alice, Munro is incensed. He thinks that Heyward has rejected Cora, his eldest daughter, because of her darker skin. Troubled at the turn in conversation, Major Heyward awkwardly protests at such an unfair characterization of his purposes. Undaunted, Munro proceeds to subject Heyward to a history lesson about Cora and Alice's background.

But could I find a man among them who would dare to reflect on my child, he should feel the weight of a father's anger!..."And you cast it on my child as a reproach! You scorn to mingle the blood of the Heywards with one so degraded—lovely and virtuous though she be?" fiercely demanded the jealous parent. 

"Heaven protect me from a prejudice so unworthy of my reason!" returned Duncan, at the same time conscious of such a feeling, and that as deeply rooted as if it had been ingrafted in his nature. "The sweetness, the beauty, the witchery of your younger daughter, Colonel Munro, might explain my motives without imputing to me this injustice."

In Chapter 17, Magua abducts both Cora and Alice after the massacre at Fort William Henry. Munro again exhibits his care for his daughters by joining in the search for them. Despite his grief and physical suffering, he pushes on bravely beside Heyward, Chingachgook, Uncas, and Hawkeye, as they race against time to retrieve the girls from Magua's clutches. In Chapter 33, Chingachgook and Munro share a common grief: the death of a much loved child. Yet, both exhibit the quiet dignity of aged warriors in the face of death and loss:

"I understand you, sir," returned Munro, with a voice of forced firmness; "I understand you. It is the will of Heaven, and I submit. Cora, my child! if the prayers of a heart-broken father could avail thee now, how blessed shouldst thou be! Come, gentlemen," he added, looking about him with an air of lofty composure, though the anguish that quivered in his faded countenance was far too powerful to be concealed, "our duty here is ended; let us depart."

"Why do my brothers mourn?" he said, regarding the dark race of dejected warriors by whom he was environed; "why do my daughters weep? that a young man has gone to the happy hunting-grounds; that a chief has filled his time with honor? He was good; he was dutiful; he was brave. Who can deny it? The Manitou had need of such a warrior, and He has called him away. As for me, the son and the father of Uncas, I am a blazed pine, in a clearing of the pale faces.

If you compare the two passages, you will see that Chingachgook and Munro are able to grieve the loss of their children while maintaining consideration and compassion for those who still look to them for leadership in a difficult time. The demonstration of dignified bereavement testifies to the character and strength of both men.

What are some examples of a lack of communication in Acts I, II or III of Romeo and Juliet, preferably Act I or II.

Shakespeare uses dramatic irony throughout his play Romeo and Juliet. Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something which one or more of the characters is unaware of. Because of this, misunderstandings and lack of communication are prevalent.

The biggest lack of communication is between Romeo with his parents and Juliet with her parents. Nether is able to discuss the most important things in their lives. In fact, there is no scene in which Romeo talks with his parents. For Juliet, it is always a one way discussion with her parents basically telling her what to do and think. Romeo also lacks true communication with Mercutio and Friar Lawrence.

In Act I, Lord Montague has no idea why Romeo is acting so moody and depressed. Rather than talk to his son directly he asks Benvolio to discover Romeo's problem. Lord Montague fails to realize his son is quite the romantic and falls in love easily. It never seems to occur to Romeo to communicate with his father about the fact he has fallen in love with a Capulet.

Even though they are best friends Romeo lacks communication with Mercutio in Act I, Scene 4. Romeo has had a disturbing dream foretelling his imminent death. When he tries to tell Mercutio, his friend, always wanting to be the center of attention, launches into his Queen Mab speech, forgetting to listen to Romeo. At the close of the scene, Romeo tells the audience about his dream. In an aside he says,

I fear too early, for my mind misgives
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date
With this night’s revels, and expire the term
Of a despisèd life closed in my breast
By some vile forfeit of untimely death.
But he that hath the steerage of my course
Direct my sail. On, lusty gentlemen.

The audience may assume that since Mercutio is his closest friend Romeo would discuss his private feelings with him. But Romeo never mentions Juliet to Mercutio. Maybe he is afraid because Mercutio is so committed to the feud and hates the Capulets. 

Romeo also lacks communication with Friar Lawrence. The Friar agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet because he thinks it may end the feud. He advises Romeo to take things slow and ease into his love with Juliet. He says in Act II, Scene 4, 

Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.

And later when he performs the marriage he reiterates his feeling that Romeo should calm down and reflect on what is happening. He fears that Romeo is rushing into something that may backfire. He says, in Act II, Scene 5,

These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which, as they kiss, consume. The sweetest honey
Is loathsome in his own deliciousness
And in the taste confounds the appetite.
Therefore love moderately. Long love doth so.
Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.

Romeo, of course, never listens. He plunges into his love for Juliet without communicating with anyone in his family, and in Act III he impulsively flies into a rage when Tybalt kills Mercutio. 

Was Sicily subject to the Spartans before the Peloponnesian War? Or was it an ally?

As an island off the coast of Italy, Sicily did not have any major interactions with the Spartans before the Sicilian Expedition because the Spartans preferred to stay as close to Sparta as possible. However, the people of Syracuse, the biggest and most powerful state on the island of Sicily, were of Doric origins, which was something they had in common with the Spartans. Athens wanted Sicily because they viewed it as a threat; if the Sicilians gave their help to the Peloponnesians, it would be disastrous for the Athenian side of the war.

Their expedition to conquer the island was overall not successful for multiple reasons (such as the uncertainty about the expedition in the first place and its main supporter being recalled to Athens for a trial), but they did have some victories at the beginning. Syracuse did not react to the Athenian invasion, which led them to almost be conquered before the Spartan general Gylippus arrived and forced the to react.

The Sicilians were not involved with the Spartans before the Peloponnesian War, but because of the attack by the Athenians, they gained Sparta as a new ally, along with Sparta's other allies.

In Twelve Angry Men, what is the last thing the jurors hear that might influence their thinking when deciding the defendant's guilt or innocence...

Before he dismisses the jury to their deliberations, the judge tells them that if they find the defendant guilty, the bench will not entertain a motion for leniency in sentencing; the death penalty is the mandatory sentence that will follow from a guilty verdict. This is an important fact that must influence the way the jurors think about the case. They know that what they decide will either preserve this boy's life or end it via the electric chair. Juror 8 specifically takes this information to heart. He votes "not guilty" from the beginning, not because he believes the boy to be innocent, but because, as he says,  "I don't think it's right to send a boy to the electric chair without at least talking about it first." When Juror 8 is making a connection between the passing of the el train and what the old man testified he heard, Juror 3 says, "Nobody can be that accurate." Juror 8 responds, "I think that testimony that could put a human being in the electric chair should be that accurate." Later, Juror 8 "baits" Juror 3 by telling him he is a sadist for wanting to be the boy's executioner. These quotes show that, especially for Juror 8, the judge's statement regarding the mandatory death penalty constantly influenced the thinking of the jury.

Summarize Squeaky's thoughts about the way girls act toward one another in "Raymond's Run."

In Toni Cade Bambara’s short story “Raymond’s Run, the protagonist, Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker, known as Squeaky, feels that many girls are superfluous. She is a girl who does not have to do housework, her mother does that, but she is charged with caring for her disabled brother.

She is particularly troubled by the girls in her class who put up false pretenses. For example, she describes how Cynthia Procter pretends not to care about practicing for spelling bees or her piano lessons. She says, “I could kill people like that.” Squeaky is proud of the time she spends practicing her running and makes no pretenses about it. She feels that girls should be honest with each other and proud of their accomplishments.

When she sees a group of girls walking toward her on the street she expresses her opinions about each of the girls and how difficult it is to have true relationships with them. As she thinks about it, she realizes that young women do not always have good examples set for them.

Gretchen smiles, but it’s not a smile, and I’m thinking that girls never really smile at each other because they don’t know how and don’t want to know how and there’s probably no one to teach us how, cause grown-up girls don’t know either.

It is not until after the May Day Race that Squeaky realizes that she can be true to herself while being friends with other girls. Gretchen gives her a run for her money in the race. Raymond strides with her step by step and she realizes that she is more than she gives herself credit for. In addition, Squeaky realizes that woman can be friends when they set their ideals on the more important things in life. She explains her encounter with Gretchen after the race.

And she nods to congratulate me and then she smiles. And I smile. We stand there with this big smile of respect between us. It’s about as real a smile as girls can do for each other, considering we don’t practice real smiling every day, you know, cause maybe we too busy being flowers or fairies or strawberries instead of something honest and worthy of respect . . . you know . . . like being people.

In the story "Flowers For Algernon" by Daniel Keyes, what evidence is there that Charlie is superstitious in his progress report from March 10?

In "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes, we see evidence of Charlie's superstitious nature when he writes his progress report on March 10. He admits to being scared because he is about to have the operation that will change his life. In his progress report he writes about how the nurses, and the people who took part in testing him, brought him candy and wished him luck while he was waiting for the operation. 

Charlie is worried because on his way to the hospital a black cat crossed his path, and he is sure that will bring him bad luck. He also has taken with him to the hospital his rabbit's foot and lucky penny--both symbols of luck. Charlie writes about Dr. Strauss' reaction to his lucky symbols  and Charlie's own reaction to Dr. Strauss in his report. In his words: 

"Dont be supersitis Charlie this is sience. Anyway Im keeping my rabits foot with me" (Keyes 6).

Though Charlie trusts Dr. Strauss, he is not quite ready to give up this particular talisman!  

What makes society fair and just in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451?

By leveling the intellectual playing field and burning books, the society in Fahrenheit 451 is able to achieve social equality. Captain Beatty does a really good job explaining the history of how their society came to accept life without books. He teaches Montag that books did not go away by some government-led censorship program. The fact of the matter is that books went away because people didn't want them anymore. Book publishers slowly had to dumb down books, shorten content, and publish more comic books in order to stay in business. Movies and TVs also helped to take over the entertainment medium, causing people to want to watch rather than to read for pleasure. Without serious buyers, the market for books declined. 

As far as informational books are concerned, Beatty explains that they caused more problems than they solved because they contradicted one another. With different authors claiming different philosophies to be true, people were divided into separate groups and minorities popped up everywhere demanding recognition. Arguments ensued and the solution was simple: Get rid of the books that cause the differences. If there are no differences, then no one gets offended and everyone can be equal and happy. Beatty explains the issue of minorities as follows:

"You must understand that our civilization is so vast that we can't have our minorities upset and stirred. As yourself, What do we want in this country, above all? People want to be happy, isn't that right?" (59).

Beatty goes on to explain that the way to keep everything fair and just in society is to give people what they want, which is fun and happiness. Then take away the things that aren't fun. The society took away funerals, for example, because they aren't fun. The best analogy used to explain this is when he says, 

"You can't build a house without nails and wood. If you don't want a house built, hide the nails and wood. If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none" (60-61).

Ultimately, the rejection of books leads to people understanding the world in one way. If everyone agrees with each other, then there's not fighting; if there's not fighting, then everyone can be happy; if everyone is happy, then everyone is equal and all is fair and just. 

Who does Grim say Maxwell looks like?

It's more than just the way Maxwell resembles him, Grim says that night in the kitchen, the boy is like him, . . . "

The above quote is taken from Chapter One of Freak the Mighty. Max is introducing readers to himself and to his grandparents.  Max's grandparents are Gram and Grim, and Max lives in their basement. The reason that Max lives with his grandparents is because his mom was brutally murdered.  That's awful enough, but later in the book, the reader discovers that the murderer was Max's father. That's who Grim says that Max is starting to look like.  Max looks just like his father, which is not a great thing for Max's already low self esteem.  Max is a big kid, so he sticks out that way.  Plus, Max isn't that smart, so he stands out at school for being a terrible student too.  All of that adds up to give Max a very low opinion of himself.  He calls himself a "butthead" multiple times in the first chapter, so looking like his murderous father is just one more knock against poor Max.  

Why do you think William Sydney Porter built the character of Mister Behrman as a pathetic old artist?

O. Henry was was gifted with a rich imagination. In his story "The Last Leaf," he may have built the whole plot around a single ivy leaf he noticed still clinging to a vine on the side of a brick wall. If so, he would have had to invent characters to suit the needs of his plot. He probably felt he had to introduce the painter who would eventually paint an ivy leaf on the wall of a nearby brick building in order to keep a girl from dying. O. Henry might have considered it too obvious to invent a young painter who was in love with Johnsy and sacrificed his life for her. The author quite intentionally dispels that possibility in the conversation between the doctor and Sue.

"Has she anything on her mind worth thinking about twice—a man, for instance?”

“A man?” said Sue, with a jew's-harp twang in her voice. “Is a man worth—but, no, doctor; there is nothing of the kind.”

So there is "nothing of the kind" in Johnsy's life--but still the author needs a painter. So he introduces a man he calls Old Behrman. The reader will not suspect that this character would risk his life to paint an ivy leaf on a wall. For one thing, he is too old to climb a twenty-foot ladder. He hasn't painted anything in years. He is drunk on gin all the time. And most of all he pretends not to be sentimental and dismisses the notion that anybody could die just because a leaf falls from a vine.

“Vass!” he cried. “Is dere people in de world mit der foolishness to die because leafs dey drop off from a confounded vine? I haf not heard of such a thing. No, I will not bose as a model for your fool hermit-dunderhead. Vy do you allow dot silly pusiness to come in der prain of her? Ach, dot poor leetle Miss Yohnsy.”

It would spoil O. Henry's ending if the reader suspected that this funny old man might get the idea of painting a leaf on a wall. The fact that Old Berhman speaks such heavily accented English also helps to disguise his thoughts and intentions. But the factors that would appear to work against his deciding to paint a last leaf for Johnsy could also work in favor of his actually doing it. He is too old--but his life is all behind him, so what has he to lose? He is a heavy drinker--but being drunk might explain why he gets such a wild idea. He says Johnsy's idea is foolish--but his language is so hard to understand that he could be saying the opposite of what he really feels. He tells Sue, "No, I will not bose as a model for your fool hermit-dunderhead" when he has every intention of posing for her. The reader is effectively surprised when it turns out that it really was the old German immigrant who dragged a tall ladder over to the nearby building in the dead of night and a howling storm, and created his masterpiece at the cost of his own life.

But, lo! after the beating rain and fierce gusts of wind that had endured through the livelong night, there yet stood out against the brick wall one ivy leaf. It was the last on the vine. Still dark green near its stem, but with its serrated edges tinted with the yellow of dissolution and decay, it hung bravely from a branch some twenty feet above the ground.

What event determines that John will one day be a priest in "By the Waters of Babylon"? How does John's life change after this event?

John becomes a priest when he touches the metal without dying.

The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where we are considered gods.  The people are fascinated and afraid of these gods, but scavenge their former dwellings for metals and other valuables.  Most people feel that if they touch these metals they will die.  The priest class can touch them though.

John’s father is a priest.  One day he tests John to see if he has the ability to be a priest like his father.

Then my father came out with the metal—good, strong piece. He looked at me with both eyes but I had not run away. He gave me the metal to hold—I took it and did not die. So he knew that I was truly his son and would be a priest in my time. 

John is a special boy.  He has a vision of the place of the gods, and feels strongly enough about it that he has to follow it.  John is afraid, but determined.  He has to face many dangers on the way and does not know what he will find when he gets there.

John ends up in a place called newyork.  He sees many dead gods, and comes to a realization.  He returns home and tells his father what he found.

I said, "Father, they were men! I have been in the Place of the Gods and seen it! Now slay me, if it is the law—but still I know they were men."

John thought he was going to the place of the gods.  Instead, he went to New York City.

The story is a study of how we may misunderstand the past, and how we fear what we do not know.  The people of old did something that destroyed themselves.  That is probably why touching some of their stuff was deadly.  

What are some examples of compound machines that I could replicate for a school project?

A compound machine is a machine that utilizes two or more simple machines. A simple machine is a tool that changes a force's direction or magnitude. Simple machines are used to make a job easier. Levers, pulleys, wedges, inclined planes, wheels and axils, and screws are considered to be simple machines.

Below is a list of compound machine models that could be made for your school project.  Beside each compound machine are the simple machines that work together in order to make the item.

1. Bulldozer - wedge, lever, wheel and axil, and screws

2. Clippers or scissors - lever, wedge, and screw

3. Wheel barrel - wheel and axil, lever, and screws

4. Crane or tow truck - lever, pulley, wheel and axil, and screws

5. Garden hoe - lever and wedge

I hope this helps!

A 15,250 kg jet plane is pushed with a thrust of 2,347,000 newtons. What is the acceleration of the jet?

According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, the force can be calculated as a product of mass and acceleration. That is,

F = m x a

where, m is the mass of the object and a is its acceleration. In this case,

F = 2,347,000 N and m = 15,250 kg

The acceleration (a) of the jet plane can be calculated as:

a = F/m = (2,347,000)/(15,250) = 153.9 m/s^2

Thus, the acceleration of the jet plane is 153.9 m/s^2. 

This means that the jet plane would be propelled with an acceleration of 153.9 m/s^2. In comparison, our fast cars go from 0 to 60 km per hour in say 4 seconds or so and have an acceleration of 4.2 m/s^2. One can imagine how fast the jet plane accelerates, in comparison.

Hope this helps. 

In general, what are the causes and effects of war?

The effects of warfare are easier to discuss than the causes, so we will begin our discussion there. Warfare's most obvious effect is the cost of human lives. Depending on the scale and scope of warfare, the cost to human lives can be staggering. Death can find victims on the battlefield, through the transmission of disease, and through famine. Civilians that are caught in the crossfire are often killed.

In addition to death, warfare can disrupt the economies of the combatants. Resources are utilized to conduct war that would otherwise be used for civic or commercial purpose. Agricultural industries are inevitably disrupted. Warfare can often be profitable for some parties or countries as weapons and other supplies will be purchased by the government to conduct war. The economic effects of warfare can last for many years after the treaties have been inked.  

Warfare also has the ability effect national boundaries and global politics. Old states may perish and new ones take their place. The balance of power in the world has the ability to shift.  Bad feeling between combatants may endure, arising in further conflict in the future.  

Most wars in world history were caused by economic motives. Countries go to war if it can benefit their economic situations. This is especially true in the pursuit of resources and markets. Some conflicts are cultural in nature, particularly when religions are involved. Political and ideological differences are another motive for going to war.

Compare the American Dream theme in The Great Gatsby to the American Dream theme in Obama's 2004 speech at the Democratic National Convention.

The limitless possibilities of the American Dream is one comparison between Senator Obama's 2004 speech and The Great Gatsby.

The stories of Barack Obama's father and Jay Gatsby are similar in that both began poor.  Born in rural America to poor farmers, James Gatz had a strong dislike for poverty.  It left a lasting imprint on his identity.  This drives him to remake his identity as Jay Gatsby. Learning from Dan Cody's criminal self-made ways, Gatsby acquires wealth beyond measure, starting with very little and attaining a great deal.  

The opening to Senator Obama's speech focuses on life in Africa for Obama's grandfather, who was a "domestic servant."  Obama says that his grandfather held the "larger dreams for his son" that incorporated the limitless possibilities of the American Dream realized through education. Sent from Kenya to America to be educated, Obama's own father rose above the level of Obama's grandfather: "Through hard work and perseverance my father got a scholarship to study in a magical place, America, that's shown as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had come before him."  Because of his grandfather's hard work, diligent savings and private dream, Obama's father, like Gatsby, began with little and attained much.  Obama's mom and dad envisioned the same for their son:

My parents shared not only an improbable love; they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or "blessed," believing that in a tolerant America, your name is no barrier to success.

What is the significance of gender roles in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Most of the gender roles in To Kill a Mockingbird are very traditional for the timeframe the book is set. In other words, most of the characters fulfill the expectations of traditional gender roles. The one main exception to this is, of course, Scout.

Scout is a tomboy and very clearly not in any hurry to become a "lady." Her mother died when she was just a toddler, so she has had more male influence in her life than female. Although Calpurnia is around, she is not her mother and Atticus and Jem still have far more influence over her. She prefers to play with boys than girls, she hates dresses, and all of the expectations society has of "ladies" simply do not suit her. Unfortunately, her Aunt Alexandra is bound and determined to turn her into one:

"I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn't supposed to be doing things that required pants. (Ch. 9)

Aside from Scout, there are some other indications that not everyone is comfortable with the traditional roles that society sets forth. Miss Maudie is also quite happy in overalls and accepts Scout for who she is rather than trying to convert her to being more girlish. Miss Maudie herself is not as ladylike as many of the women in town and this is obvious to Scout, who seems to admire that trait in her. We also see Dill as a fairly effeminate little boy. He is small for his age and loves to talk and tell stories. He gets along great with Scout and Jem, but he does not seem to have any other friends who are boys outside of Jem.

Lee's subtext throughout the book is that there should be room in society for those who do not wish to conform to the traditional gender roles - as she herself did not, either. 

What does the light coming from the head of the Ghost of Christmas Past symbolize?

In the second stave of A Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas Past visits Scrooge. This ghost has a "bright clear jet of light" which protrudes from the "crown of its head." This light functions as a symbol of hope and of goodness in the world. It is created and prolonged by kind words and deeds and we see evidence of this in the first conversation between Scrooge and the ghost when Scrooge asks if the ghost will wear its extinguisher cap. The ghost responds by saying:

"What!" exclaimed the ghost, "would you so soon put out, with worldly hands, the light I give? Is it not enough that you are one of those whose passions made this cap?"

This idea is further reinforced when Scrooge revisits his former employer, Fezziwig. As Scrooge relives this experience, he is filled with good memories and joy which prompts the light on the ghost's head to burn "very clear." Similarly, at the end of the visit, Scrooge observes that the light burns "high and bright." This is because Scrooge has begun to reform his character and his happiness and joy has strengthened the light. 

If a solution of barium hydroxide contains 9.1x10^25 hydroxide ions, how many grams of barium hydroxide were originally dissolved?

The formula for barium hydroxide is Ba(OH)2. We know this because the charge of the barium ion is +2 and the hydroxide ion is OH-.

The steps to solving this problem are:

1. Calculate the number of moles of Ba(OH)2 that contain 9.1 x 10^23 OH- ions. One mole = 6.02x10^23, and we can see from the formula that there are two OH- ions in each formula unit of Ba(OH)2.

2. Calculate the molar mass of Ba(OH)2.

3. Calculate the mass of the number of moles obtained in step one. 

Moles Ba(OH)2 =

(9.1x10^25 OH- ions)(1 mol Ba(OH)2/2 OH- ions)(6.02x10^23 particles/1mol) = 75.6 moles Ba(OH)2

molar mass = 137.3g + 2(16.0 g/mol) + 2(1.01 g/mol) = 171.3 g/mol

Mass of Ba(OH)2 - (75.6 mol)(171.3 g/1mol) = 1295 g Ba(OH)2 

How do both Golding and Conrad display human nature?

In Lord of the Flies and Heart of Darkness we watch as formerly civilized people fall into a state of violence, barbarism, and evil. In Lord of the Flies the boys become superstitious of the beast, split into fighting groups, and eventually even burn the island in their quarrels. In Heart of Darkness, a man of great civilization becomes a murderer and a savage.

Both novels explore the lurking dark side of human nature. The heart of darkness, as it is described in Conrad's title is something evil in our nature that lurks just below the surface. Without the tempering of society and with the stresses of danger we will often revert to our darker nature. The terror of Heart of Darkness isn't what the men find among the Africans in the Congo; it is the darkness they discover lurking within themselves, particularly in Kurtz. This darkness was there long before traveling to the Congo, hiding beneath the surface. The same darkness exists to varying extents within all of us, including the characters in Lord of the Flies.

Left to their own devices, the same darkness that we see in Conrad comes forward in Golding. The boys turn to savage tactics to survive and gain control of one another.

How and why did the United States become involved in the Vietnam War?

Cold War politics of the day caused the United States to intervene in Vietnam. Two similar theories of containing communism were proposed by politicians in the United States. These ideas suggested action in Vietnam was necessary. The domino theory stated that if one nation fell to communism, all of the ones around it would fall. It was first proposed by President Dwight Eisenhower in a speech. The state department had endorsed a policy of containment proposed by George Kennan. Kennan stated that the United States should ignore the countries that have already established communist governments and focus on stopping the spread of Marxism to new areas.

The failure of the French to contain the communist government of North Vietnam in the 1950s meant that the United States would have to intervene. The United States intervened in a number of ways in Vietnam, as early as 1950. This was the year that the United States commenced the delivery of military aid to the French. In 1955, military advisors were sent to Vietnam. This is considered by historians to be the official start of the Vietnam War. The United States would eventually utilize all branches of the armed forces in a full-scale attempt to prevent the fall of South Vietnam to communist forces of the North.

What historical example of panic does Thomas Paine cite in The Crisis?

Thomas Paine speaks of the panic that Britain was subjected to because of the exploits of Joan of Arc.  The Maid of Orleans, as she has been called, was a young peasant girl that organized an army to rebel against British rule in France in the 1420's.  She scored some early victories but was captured and burned at the stake by British forces.  Paine facetiously wonders if a maiden will arise from New Jersey to have similar success in the colonial struggle against Britain.  

Paine feels that a panic may offer advantages because they tend to fade fast, and in the end, the panic may create a firmer resolve.  He also feels that panic tends to reveal the true intentions of a man for all to see, like a ghost witnessing a murder.