Blog: April 2016

What government regulations affect the fashion retail industry and retail clothing stores in particular?

For purpose of this question, we will discuss regulations separate from any general criminal law. Regulation of business usually serves the purposes of protecting the customers (consumers) of that business, protecting the employees of that business, and/or protecting society in general from potential adverse impacts arising from that business’s operation.

To keep it simple, consumer protection regulation requires that (a) products be safe to use, (b) key information about the product is accurately provided to...

To keep it simple, consumer protection regulation requires that (a) products be safe to use, (b) key information about the product is accurately provided to the consumer before they buy, and (c) terms for payment, refund, and defect or problem resolution be considered “fair.” In fashion retailing, the most salient regulations require proper labelling (both in terms of fiber content, care instructions, and place of manufacture; see the link for OTEXA requirements below) and product safety (in terms of the dyes and fibers and their safety for use). This latter point may include flammability standards, especially for apparel marketed for infants and small children. Note also that the place of manufacture information may be used by some consumers to avoid supporting textile industries in foreign countries which engage in practices which those consumers may consider inappropriate or unethical (e.g. child labor). In this latter capacity, the regulation is furthering the aim of protecting the societies in which the apparel is manufactured.

As far as employee protection is concerned, fashion retailing in most US locations is governed by the same laws and regulations covering any retail business. For the most part, these regulations are national in scope, and cover such things as working hours, minimum and overtime pay, and worker safety (OSHA standards).

Finally it is important to note that many of the purposes of regulation are in fact accomplished through the adoption of industry standards and practices. That is, fashion retailing, like most other major industries, works to avoid overt government regulation by “self-regulating” through trade associations and industry SOP. An example of this is industry moves to foster use of sustainable fiber technologies (such as sustainability in cotton agriculture).

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

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

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

In "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell, how is the language effective in showing emotion?

In "Shooting an Elephant," Orwell uses language effectively to convey the harsh realities of British imperialism. In the second paragraph, for example, Orwell uses imagery to describe the conditions of the Burmese prisoners. By using words like "wretched," "stinking" and "scarred," Orwell creates powerful images of violence and imprisonment to portray his sense of injustice towards these captive men.

Similarly, when Orwell shoots the elephant, he uses language in a way that enables the reader...

Similarly, when Orwell shoots the elephant, he uses language in a way that enables the reader to empathise with his moral dilemma. The elephant, for example, is portrayed as harmless and vulnerable:

He…climbed with desperate slowness to his feet and stood weakly upright, with legs sagging and head drooping.

By employing language in this manner, Orwell transforms the elephant from a raging, murdering beast into a helpless creature. The reader thus sees the situation from Orwell's point of view: he never wanted to shoot the elephant because he knew that it would eventually calm down. He did it because imperialism dictated that he act with authority, and this is the message at the heart of the story.

How did the U.S. change socially after World War I?

The United States changed socially in many ways after World War I ended. One way was with our dealing with immigrants.

After World War I ended, there was an effort on the part of the United States to pull back from our involvement in world affairs. We were concerned about the effects of immigration on our country, especially those immigrants coming from South and East Europe. We were concerned some of these immigrants were communists and anarchists. Partially because of these concerns, we passed very restrictive immigration laws that greatly limited immigration to our country, especially immigration from South and East Europe. The Emergency Quota Act and the National Origins Act are examples of two laws that were passed that limited immigration to the United States.

Women’s roles began to change. Women got the right to vote in 1920. Women began to appear in public with shorter dresses. They were more opinionated than in the past. They also were smoking and drinking in public. Women also began to work outside of the house.

Racial intolerance grew during this time. The Ku Klux Klan grew significantly after World War I ended. African-Americans suffered greatly, and lynching was common. Other groups, such as Catholics and Jews, also faced harassment and discrimination.

There were several social changes in our country after World War I ended.

How does money influence notions of gentility in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens?

This really has to do with the issues of class structure in Britain. In earlier centuries, there was presumed to be a fixed social hierarchy with the monarch at the summit, followed by the nobility, then the gentry, and finally commoners. Wealth was expected in most cases to follow this social hierarchy, with those on top being wealthier than those on bottom. Rich merchants or craftspeople could gradually become assimilated into the gentry by means of marriage. An alternative but quite rare way mode of moving up in class for the exceptionally talented was through education, followed by a well-regarded career (usually in the Church). As these modes of class mobility were gradual and relatively limited before the Industrial Revolution, families which rose in class had time to assimilate themselves to the manners and beliefs of upper-class culture.

With increased opportunities for great wealth to be obtained in the colonies and in manufacturing in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries came a decoupling of the relationships among birth, manners, and money. Magwitch is an example of one of the new rich; Mrs. Pocket and Miss Havisham, of an older social tradition of gentility. Pip is caught between these worlds and value systems.

How does sight and blindness contribute to unity, theme and character in King Lear?

In King Lear, there is a recurring theme of blindness and sight. This creates a unity in the text because it is a recurring subject that thematically connects a number of characters to one another. The Earl of Gloucester literally goes blind when his eyes are violently gouged out. He describes this blindness as a kind of sight:

I have no way, and therefore want no eyes;
I stumbled when I saw: full oft 'tis seen,
Our means secure us, and our mere defects
Prove our commodities.

Gloucester is referring to being deceived by his illegitimate son Edmund into believing that his son Edgar was out to kill him. Gloucester was blind to these deceptions, and he saw neither Edmund nor Edgar for who they really were. Edmund’s scheming lead to Gloucester’s horrible assault, so he finally “sees” Edmund’s true nature and Edgar’s innocence.

Gloucester also states, “'Tis the times' plague, when madmen lead the blind.” He believes that mad Tom is leading him, but it is really a disguised Edgar. This quote is significant because another major theme is madness, for the titular Lear becomes insane and demonstrates poor judgment. On top of that, the kingdom experiences a kind of insanity, for it is consumed in a violent power struggle.

This sense of blindness also refers metaphorically to King Lear. Like Gloucester, he misjudges his children, banishing the faithful Cordelia and giving his kingdom away to the flattering Goneril and Regan. The loyal Earl of Kent tells the king to “see better.” Lear sees better when he recognizes Cordelia for who she is, a kind daughter.

In the play, sight mainly refers to clarity and wisdom. A number of characters are blinded by ambition, madness, and naivete. Both Lear and Gloucester eventually see the truth and come to their senses, but they pay a horrible price for their misjudgments.

Describe three (3) organizational approaches toward managing stress, providing one (1) original example of each. Describe three (3) individual...

Describe three (3) organizational approaches toward managing stress, providing one (1) original example of each.

Job stress can be caused by a variety of factors, but tertiary prevention, secondary prevention and primary prevention are three examples of organizational stress management approaches that have been proven to be effective across groups. Tertiary prevention strategies are reactive in nature, minimizing stress that has already occurred. Secondary prevention works by monitoring the stress an individual is feeling in...

Describe three (3) organizational approaches toward managing stress, providing one (1) original example of each.

Employee assistance programs are a good example of effective tertiary prevention stress management strategies. These programs may include employee counseling and therapy, debriefing after a particularly stressful event or season within the organization, and medical resources extended to employees.

Team building exercises are a good example of secondary stress management approaches. These exercises are geared towards providing employees within the organization with a solid social support network and empowering them with stress management techniques they can use on a daily basis.

One of the most effective approaches to stress management through primary prevention is a steady workload. By establishing a predictable workflow that is designed to minimize employee stress, organizations can prevent stress before it becomes a problem in the workplace.

Meditation, biofeedback and hypnosis are three stress management approaches individuals can use to maintain a stable emotional state throughout stressful situations. Deep relaxation for 15 to 20 minutes each day has been proven to reduce the signs of stress, such as increased heart rate, blood pressure and emotional distress.

An example of a simple meditation used in individual stress management is to find a quiet and comfortable area in which the individual can relax and focus on his or her breathing for a period of 10 minutes or more. This simple exercise is highly effective when it comes to reducing stress and improving mental clarity.

One example of the biofeedback approach to stress management is for the individual to attend to his or her physical indicators of stress. This can include monitoring the heart beat, noting how the breathing changes with stress and paying attention to any negative physical feelings that accompany a stressor. By controlling the breathing and actively acknowledging how the body changes as a reaction to stress, the mood itself can be regulated.

An example of hypnosis as an approach to stress management is to listen to a guided hypnosis recording or attend a hypnosis therapy session to get an idea of the procedure. Once comfortable with hypnotic induction, the individual can use it on a daily basis to create a sense of relaxation and address the subconscious effects of stress.

A trial by the same government for a crime where the defendant was previously found guilty is called _____?

A person who has been acquitted of a crime and is tried by the same government for the same crime is being subjected to double jeopardy. In the United States and in many other countries, this is not permitted. In the United States, the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution prohibits this. However, as in most matters legal, this is not quite as straightforward as one might think.

First, this pertains only to criminal matters, not...

First, this pertains only to criminal matters, not to civil ones. Whether or not one might be sued twice for the same reason is a different matter entirely.

Second, there must have been a complete trial and disposition for double jeopardy prohibition to apply. A hung jury does not protect anyone from being tried again. Nor does some disruption of the judicial proceedings.

Third, in the United States, while most criminal law is state law, there is another layer of law at the federal level and different states are considered different governments in this context. Since these are scenarios involving two different governments, double jeopardy does not necessarily apply.

Fourth, many criminal acts are also what we call torts, civil harms against people or property. One criminal act can result in a criminal proceeding and a civil proceeding. An example of this is the trial of O.J. Simpson, who was found not guilty of murder but was then sued by his wife's estate in a civil proceeding, a proceeding in which he was found liable for her death. This was possible because the standard for guilt is "beyond a reasonable doubt," but the standard for liability in many states is that there is "substantial evidence" against the defendant. That is a much lower standard, so a jury found him liable, the criminal verdict notwithstanding.

How does the judicial branch affect me?

The judicial branch affects us in several ways. The judicial branch is the branch of our government that interprets the meaning of our laws.

The judicial branch impacts us because it protects us from laws that might violate the Constitution. When a court is asked to review a law, it must determine if the law is constitutional, meaning that it doesn’t violate the principles of the Constitution. You may be attending a school that is or was under a court order to desegregate. For many years, the courts ruled that separate but equal public facilities were legal. However, in 1954, in the Brown v Board of Education case, the Supreme Court ruled that separate but equal schools were illegal. Many schools were then ordered to desegregate.

The judicial branch also hears certain cases. You may be asked to be a juror for a court case. This is one of the responsibilities of being a citizen. The judicial branch will also determine what the punishment is for a person who broke the law. It may determine the damages a person has to pay if that person has harmed another person in some way. It may also determine if a person has to go to jail for breaking a law and for how long.

The judicial branch plays a very important role in our lives.

How does the Otis family treat the ghost in "The Canterville Ghost?"

At the beginning of the story, the Otis family denies the ghost's existence. In Chapter Two, however, the ghost makes his first appearance and Mr Otis reacts to him in a rather humorous way: he offers him some Lubricator to oil his noisy chains.

Later, in Chapter Three, the ghost attempts to scare the family by wearing an antique suit of armour. The family reacts with violence, as though the ghost is an unwanted visitor...

Later, in Chapter Three, the ghost attempts to scare the family by wearing an antique suit of armour. The family reacts with violence, as though the ghost is an unwanted visitor to the house. Mr Otis, for instance, pulls out his revolver:

The United States Minister...called upon him, in accordance with Californian etiquette, to hold up his hands!

In this scene, the twins also attack him with their pea-shooters. During his escape, he lets out a frightening groan which prompts Mrs Otis to offer him some tincture for his "indigestion."

In contrast, the only member of the family who treats the ghost with any kindness and sympathy is Virginia. She has a conversation with the ghost in Chapter Five in which she learns of his past and his desire to go to the Garden of Death. Unlike the other members of her family, she chooses to work with the ghost instead of trying to work against him.

What is a good quote about the conch from Golding's Lord of the Flies that shows the kids being civilized?

Two quotes about how the conch demonstrates civilization on the island include the boys coming when the conch is blown or listening to the person who is holding the conch.

The conch is a special shell that makes a loud sound when you blow into it. Ralph and Piggy find it, and Piggy tells Ralph to blow into it. When he does, all of the boys come to join him. The conch is the thing...

Two quotes about how the conch demonstrates civilization on the island include the boys coming when the conch is blown or listening to the person who is holding the conch.

Signs of life were visible now on the beach. The sand, trembling beneath the heat haze, concealed many figures in its miles of length; boys were making their way toward the platform through the hot, dumb sand. (Ch. 1)

The boys use the conch from then on to run their meetings. The person who has the conch is the one who talks, and the other boys are supposed to obey the conch and listen. It works pretty well for a while.

When the little kids are afraid that there is a Beastie on the island, one of the littlest kids speaks up at the meeting, which is unusual because they are normally dominated by older kids. This shows that the conch allows the boys to be more democratic, giving everyone a chance to speak.

“Let him have the conch!” shouted Piggy. “Let him have it!”

At last Ralph induced him to hold the shell but by then the blow of laughter had taken away the child’s voice. Piggy knelt by him, one hand on the great shell, listening and interpreting to the assembly. (Ch. 2)

The conch allows for civilization because it symbolizes order and power. It is what brought all of the boys together, so it has great meaning. The boys come when called. They raise their hands. They listen to the person who has the conch, no matter how small.

In the book Hatchet, how did Brian solve his raft problem?

Brian used logs that had branches protruding from them instead of clean logs, so he could bind them together more easily.

Brian needed a raft to reach the plane, where the survival pack was waiting for him. He knew that he would need to make the raft himself, but he was not sure how. Brian was able to find the logs, but he wasn’t sure how to combine the logs into a raft.

Keeping them...

Brian used logs that had branches protruding from them instead of clean logs, so he could bind them together more easily.

Keeping them together was the problem. Without rope or crosspieces and nails the logs just rolled and separated. He tried wedging them together, crossing them over each other—nothing seemed to work. (Ch. 17)

Brian decided that the problem was that the logs he was looking at were smooth, and he needed logs “with limbs sticking out.” He found some like that, and proceeded to “weave” them together. He named his raft Brushpile One. Then he had a new problem. How would he keep it from floating away?

Then he remembered his windbreaker and he found the tattered part he used for an arrow pouch. He tore it into narrow strips and tied them together to make a rope or tie-down about four feet long. It wasn't strong … but it should hold the raft to the plane. (Ch. 17)

The other problem Brian had, once he solved these two problems, was that the raft barely moved. It was dragging from its weight. Brian decided to be patient, and turn back and try again in the morning when he had more strength. Building the raft had taken a lot out of him.

Brian’s work with the raft demonstrates a great deal of personal growth, which is something even he realizes. He understands that he needs patience. He is able to stop and notice the beauty of the lake. Brian is able to put things in perspective. He is thinking about solving problems, and able to find solutions, without getting as easily frustrated as he used to.

In Boyne's The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, how is Bruno used as a symbol of innocence that contrasts with his reality?

Bruno's parents shield the nine-year-old boy from the reality of what their move from Berlin to Auschwitz means, implying that they understand, at least on some level, their complicity with evil--and want to protect their child from it. They simply will not answer his questions, except in generalities. So he has no context for understanding what is happening all around him, even when he moves next to the barbed wire concentration camp fence. Ignorance helps...

Bruno symbolizes how innocence can be manufactured by keeping people in the dark about what is happening in plain sight. His innocence also symbolizes the way context colors our perceptions: he comes from a very comfortable background. His Berlin home was large and his family had servants. He had never been hungry or forced to dress in rags or face death. Therefore, he has no experiential basis for understanding the plight of those behind the fence. His innocence also exposes the cruelly arbitrary nature of who suffers and who prospers in this world: his lack of ability to understand arises from the inherent irrationality of the system in which he lives. His ability to accept people as who they are, rather than to label, abuse, and kill them on the basis of a "racial" category, contrasts sharply with his culture.

What are examples of authority and responsibility in management?

In business, authority and responsibility need to be aligned appropriately, with the person responsible for certain outcomes having the authority to make them happen.

Authority refers to the official capacity to make a decision or take an action. For example, a manager might have the authority to make a hiring decision, decide to spend a certain amount of money on something, choose a supplier, set deadlines and priorities, or sign a purchase order. A secretary might have the authority to sign certain documents, schedule meeting rooms, or issue purchase orders for routine restocking of office supplies. Salespeople might have the authority to offer certain specific discounts to customers.

Responsibility means having a certain duty or obligation with a concomitant consequence for success or failure. A project manager may be responsible for the completion of a project in time and under budget. In other cases, the consequences can be severe. In the case of disasters such as the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger or the Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon oil spills, responsibility can be very serious, as the consequence of, for example, allowing a shuttle launch to go forward despite known issues with O-ring performance in cold weather resulted in the deaths of seven astronauts. Responsibility for disasters in some cases can lead to criminal convictions for individuals or huge fines for companies.

In That Was Then, This is Now by S.E. Hinton, how is Cathy involved in the separation of Bryon's and Mark's relationship?

Cathy is a part of the emotional change that leads Bryon to distance himself from Mark.

Cathy is a significant part of Bryon's emotional maturation. She enables him to see beyond the things that used to define him. Cathy allows Bryon to see that his life of hanging and hustling with Mark, living solely in the moment, and engaging in self-destructive behavior are not ways to live. Cathy encourages Bryon to embrace more sensitive and thought-provoking approaches. For example, he takes an active role in helping Cathy find her brother. Bryon displays care and warmth in her time of need. At the same time, Cathy is instrumental in helping Bryon understand his feelings of regret over Charlie's sacrifice. She allows him to expand his emotional scope.

Since Mark does not possess such a perspective, Cathy's influence over Bryon facilitates the brothers' separation. Cathy does not intentionally drive a wedge between them. She is not jealous or possessive. Rather, her goodness is contagious. It rubs off on Bryon and causes him to ask questions about the person he is and the one he is going to become. Cathy's effect on Bryon is evident in his betrayal of Mark as he can no longer passively watch what Mark does. He must take action against it. Cathy awakens a sense of duty and responsibility in Bryon that Mark lacks.

What did Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon have in common and what set them apart from each other?

Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon were all presidents during the Vietnam era in American history. All three presidents had strong civil rights records and helped end segregation.

Kennedy and Johnson were both Democrats whereas Nixon was a Republican. Johnson was a long-time senator before he was picked as Kennedy's vice-president. Nixon was vice-president under Eisenhower and lost the 1960 election to Kennedy before he won the White House in 1968. Kennedy won the 1960 election before he was assassinated in 1963. Kennedy also had the shortest political record of the three, having served just one term in the Senate. Nixon resigned in 1973 during the Watergate scandal. Kennedy is best known for his role during Bay of Pigs fiasco and the Cuban Missile Crisis in which he opened up better relations with the Soviet Union. Johnson is best known for his role in escalating the Vietnam War. Internationally, Nixon is best known for bringing about a closer American relationship with China.

Which part of Smith's analysis in The Wealth of Nations would Karl Marx reject?

Adam Smith's faith in the free market is one area that would provoke intense disagreement from Karl Marx.

A major component of Smith's analysis is his belief that the free market that can function without external control. Smith believes that the marketplace is where human happiness can be maximized. The free market is where human talents are recognized. It is where goods can be exchanged for compensation and services. Smith believes in the "laissez faire" approach to the marketplace so much that he rejects the idea of controlling it. For Smith, control is needed for something bad, and if the marketplace is where the greatest in human endeavor is realized, then controlling it would actually be a bad thing. Even if there are problems in the marketplace, Smith argues that the "invisible hand" of rationality and reasonability will solve everything, thereby rejecting the need for external control.

Marx would take issue with this emphasis on the marketplace needing to be free from external control. In Marx's mind, the freedom afforded to the marketplace has enabled economic exploitation. It is the freedom to have a small number of very rich people take advantage of the working class majority. Marx would challenge Smith's belief that the free market is where happiness can be seen. Workers in the free market configuration are not very happy when they are working long hours for little in way of compensation. Their happiness is not realized in Smith's "laissez faire." Marx would reject Smith's idea that the marketplace does not need external control. In a setting where economic exploitation is so rampant, Marx would argue that external control is needed in order to facilitate a new and more equitable economic system.

How does Romeo glorify Juliet's beauty?

When Romeo first sees Juliet at the Capulet ball, he is immediately enraptured by her beauty. He immediately asks the servingman at the party who she is. He says that Juliet stands out against the darkness like a jeweled earring in an Ethiopian. He says her "beauty too rich for use, for earth to dear." Compared to the other women at the party, Juliet is like a white dove among crows. He famously says he...

In Act II, during the famous balcony scene, Romeo glorifies Juliet's beauty by saying Juliet is the sun. He says even the moon is jealous of Juliet's beauty. He compares her eyes to the two brightest stars who had to go away but "do entreat in her eyes." He says her eyes are so bright and if they were stars that "that birds would sing and think it were not night." He refers to Juliet as "bright angel," "a winged messenger of heaven."

In "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" by Conan Doyle, where did Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson live?

Many of the Sherlock Holmes stories, such as "The Adventure of the Speckled Band," are set during the time that Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes were roommates at 221B Baker Street in London. And while Watson moves out of 221B Baker Street after he marries, Holmes continues to reside there, and several of the later stories begin at or involve this now iconic address.

Holmes and Watson first meet and take up residence at 221B Baker Street...

Holmes and Watson first meet and take up residence at 221B Baker Street in the novel A Study in Scarlet. The novel chronicles the meeting of Holmes, who was looking for a roommate, and Watson, who was also looking for a roommate and was introduced to Holmes by a friend, and then the first case on which Watson worked with Holmes. The early Sherlock Holmes short stories, as well as the most famous of the novels, The Hound of the Baskervilles, are set during the time (1881 - 1904) when the two were roommates at 221B Baker Street.

Interestingly, at the time Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the Sherlock Holmes short stories and novels, 221B Baker Street did not exist; the then existing numbering system did not go that high. Subsequent expansions of the numbering system created a block that would have included 221 Baker Street, but there was no exact matching address. In 1990, the address was assigned to the Sherlock Holmes museum, although the museum actually is located between 237 and 241 Baker Street.

Explain why there were no major witchcraft scares in the Chesapeake colonies and no uprising like Bacon's Rebellion in New England. Consider the...

When we attempt to answer questions like this, we are forced to speculate. We cannot know for certain why these things happened in some places and not in others. We can only make educated guesses. We can speculate that witchcraft scares did not happen in the Chesapeake because there was less emphasis on religion there. We can speculate that rebellions like Bacon’s Rebellion did not happen in New England because that region was more egalitarian.

We can say that witchcraft scares happened in New England because it was a tight-knit community dominated by the Puritans. Because religion mattered so much, people suspected that people who were different in some way must be evil. Therefore, they accused them of being witches. In the Chesapeake, religion was much weaker and the communities were not as tightly knit. Therefore, they would not have cared as much if people were different and might not have thought people who were different were in some way evil.

We can say that Bacon’s Rebellion happened because of class differences. We can say that it was a rebellion of the poorer, backwoods people against the richer people living on the coast. These class differences did not exist as much in New England. New Englanders were much more similar to one another than those in the Chesapeake. Therefore, there would not have been class resentments in New England to nearly the same degree as in the Chesapeake.

Thus, we can speculate that these different events happened in different regions because of the regions’ different religious and social makeups.

What is the 10,000-Hour Rule? What is the main claim of the chapters problematizing the concept of genius?

Malcolm Gladwell discusses this concept in the second chapter of Outliers. Even people who appear to have innate talent have to practice or work at their crafts for a long time in order to become proficient. It turns out that 10,000 hours is the amount you will need to put in to become an expert. According to neurologist Daniel Levitin, “It seems that it takes the brain this long to assimilate all that it...

The whole premise of Outliers is to debunk the stereotypical myth of the person who comes from nothing to claw his or her way up to the top of the field. The most successful people, even “geniuses,” are not just smart or talented. They don’t just put in the hours. They also often have cultural, historical, or linguistic advantages. Some of these are hidden and beneficial circumstances that they (and we) may not have even been aware of—until Gladwell brought the relevant research together for this book.

Which of the two do you think made the most significant contribution to the ancient world, Greek philosophy or Roman law?

While both historical events have strongly influenced modern thinking, Greek philosophy (more specifically Athenian democracy), beginning with Socrates, then building to Plato’s philosophy, and growing through Aristotle (especially The Poetics) to the military and political accomplishments of Alexander the Great, seem to be the most lasting influences on modern Western thought. While Roman law was a model for many subsequent legal structures, there have been numerous alterations to the structure of modern legal systems, including influences by other cultures, notably Oriental ideas. When we use logic, we are employing thinking tools originally designed by the Greek philosopher Socrates more than 2000 years ago; when we divide, discuss, or critique literature, we are using both the definitions and the vocabulary of Aristotle; when we try to imagine the duality of reality and imagination, we are going back to Plato’s allegory of the cave.

In Arms and the Man, what does "splutter at them" mean?

This is from the third act, when Catherine agrees to accompany Petkoff outside to help him deliver the orders. Petkoff wants to give the appearance that he will carry out Bluntschli's instructions with brisk self-confidence, but as he thinks it over, he seems aware of his inadequacy:

PETKOFF [officiously] Quite right, Bluntschli, quite right. I'll see to it. [He goes to the door importantly, but hesitates on the threshold]. By the bye, Catherine, you...

PETKOFF [officiously] Quite right, Bluntschli, quite right. I'll see to it. [He goes to the door importantly, but hesitates on the threshold]. By the bye, Catherine, you may as well come too. They'll be far more frightened of you than of me.

And Catherine uses the term "sputter" in response:

CATHERINE [putting down her embroidery] I daresay I had better. You would only splutter at them. [She goes out, Petkoff holding the door for her and following her].

The usage here refers to "sputtering" in the sense of saying something "rapidly, indistinctly, and with a spitting sound, as a result of anger, embarrassment, or another strong emotion" (Oxford English Dictionary).

Catherine knows her husband well, and can anticipate that he will feel too sheepish or awkward to speak to the men in the way that Bluntschli recommends. Earlier in the play, in his first conversation with Catherine, we've gotten a feeling for their relationship: She pressures him to take a more aggressive, active role, and he -- a naturally unambitious man who would prefer to avoid conflict -- protests that matters are beyond his control. ("Over my head, if you please," he says regarding Sergius's inability to get a promotion that Catherine thinks he deserves.)

In Act II, we've also been shown an example of Petkoff spluttering with irritation in response to Nicola's apparently bizarre behavior with the carpet bag.

PETKOFF [testily] First he shews Captain Bluntschli out here when he knew quite well I was in the--hum!--library; and then he goes downstairs and breaks Raina's chocolate soldier. He must--[Nicola appears at the top of the steps with a carpet bag. He descends; places it respectfully before Bluntschli; and waits for further orders. General amazement. Nicola, unconscious of the effect he is producing, looks perfectly satisfied with himself. When Petkoff recovers his power of speech, he breaks out at him with] Are you mad, Nicola?

So Catherine's pronouncement seems very apt. Petkoff is not likely to issue the commands in the clear, deliberate, and confident way that is needed.

How is family important to Ponyboy, Sodapop, and Darry in The Outsiders?

Family is extremely important to the three brothers in The Outsiders. Darry, the oldest boy, has custody of his brothers and together they are involved in The Greasers, a gang which is like an extended family for them. Without each other, they would have nothing, as they do not have parents anymore since they died in a tragic car accident. Sometimes, they show that family is the most meaningful thing to them in different ways. For example, there is one powerful point in the novel when Johnny kills the Soc that had been trying to drown Ponyboy, demonstrating that family is not just for blood relatives, and that family would do anything to save one another. Darry, on the other hand, slaps Ponyboy at one point in the book, but he does this because he cares about him and has a different way of showing it that the other "brothers" do. Ponyboy understands this, and knows that sometimes family isn't always perfect, even though it's something worth fighting for. Sodapop is the sensitive one, and shows his love through writing, such as when he writes Ponyboy a letter. There is also another poignant part in the book when Ponyboy is getting jumped and his brothers come to his rescue. Afterward, they take him home and care for him; this part really shows the strength and bond of the brotherhood that they feel for one another.

Discuss the positive and negative impact of acid rain on humans and the environment.

Why acid rain is harmful to humans and the environment.

1) Acid rain can contribute to respiratory diseases and exacerbate existing medical conditions. For example, the nitrogen oxide in acid rain leads to the creation of ground-level ozone, which in turn can contribute to respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and bronchitis.

2) Acid rain can increase levels of aluminum in the soil, which prevents trees from taking up adequate water. What is even more troubling...

Why acid rain is harmful to humans and the environment.

2) Acid rain can increase levels of aluminum in the soil, which prevents trees from taking up adequate water. What is even more troubling is that the higher levels of aluminum can eventually end up in streams and rivers. This in turn can prove fatal to aquatic as well as forest wild-life.

3) Acid rain has contributed to lower pH levels in streams and rivers across the United States, especially in the Northeast region. Most bodies of water have pH levels of about 6.5. Lower pH levels mean that the water is more acidic rather than alkaline. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that pH levels of water be between 6.5 to 8.5 for drinking purposes. Bodies of water with lower pH levels may have higher iron and sulfur deposits, which in turn can prove harmful to the health of wildlife and humans. Sensitive species of wildlife may experience higher than normal mortality rates if the pH levels of water move away from the optimum range.

The advantages of acid rain.

It has recently come to the attention of the science community that acid rain may have a positive impact on humans and the environment.

As a rule, carbon dioxide and methane contribute significantly to what is considered global warming. However, the sulfur dioxide in acid rain suppresses some portion of methane production in the atmosphere. Methane results from bacteria breaking down organic compounds, and the sulfur in acid rain appears to suppress up to 30 or 40% of methane production in wetlands areas. For example, tests by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center show that the sulfur in acid rain will continue to suppress methane production until at least 2030.

Other studies have shown that a rise in temperature, along with greater concentrations of nitrogen in the atmosphere, can contribute to higher growth in forests. For example, the nitrogen in acid rain allows the trees to store more carbon. This process is called carbon sequestration and is quite beneficial: higher carbon reserves allow a tree to produce the optimum level of sugars and carbohydrates necessary for growth. The National Institute for Climatic Change Research's Midwestern Regional Center has performed studies concluding that acid rain can contribute to forest growth.

For more, please refer to the links below.

What is the theme of "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman? Does it have a motif of creativity vs. insanity?

"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a quasi-autobiographical story about a rest cure prescribed for what was diagnosed in her period as a "nervous disorder". The protagonist of the story is portrayed as undergoing such a cure and going slowly insane over the course of the story. As we read it, though, we begin to understand that the so-called cure resembles something like the solitary confinement of prisoners or sensory deprivation, something we...

The main theme of the story is the tension between the active creative role of the artist or writer and the passivity expected and limited opportunities available for women in Gilman's period. As the protagonist is confined, her creativity manifests itself in creating a story born in hallucination rather than one crafted in words. Thus we are led to understand that the creative imagination when thwarted in its need to create may escape into insanity.

Shakespeare famously stated

... the poet’s pen ... gives to airy nothing

A local habitation and a name.

Gilman argues that the creative urge, when deprived of its outlet in artistic creation, will turn to madness.

`y = x ln(x)` Locate any relative extrema and points of inflection.

We are asked to locate any relative extrema or inflection points for the graph of `y=xlnx ` :

The domain of the function is x>0.

Extrema can only occur at critical points; that is when the first derivative is zero or fails to exist.

`y'=lnx+x*1/x ==> y'=lnx + 1 `

This function is continuous and differentiable for all x in the domain, so setting y'=0 we get:

`lnx+1=0 ==> lnx=-1 ==> x=1/e~~0.368 `

For 0<x<1/e...

We are asked to locate any relative extrema or inflection points for the graph of `y=xlnx ` :

The domain of the function is x>0.

Extrema can only occur at critical points; that is when the first derivative is zero or fails to exist.

`y'=lnx+x*1/x ==> y'=lnx + 1 `

This function is continuous and differentiable for all x in the domain, so setting y'=0 we get:

`lnx+1=0 ==> lnx=-1 ==> x=1/e~~0.368 `

For 0<x<1/e the first derivative is negative and for x>1/e it is positive, so the only extrema is a minimum at x=1/e.

Inflection points can only occur when the second derivative is zero:

`y''=1/x>0 forall x ` so there are no inflection points.

The graph:

Are there any good mothers in the Capulet family?

Not really, no. Lady Capulet is not what I would call a good mother. She is eager to force her daughter, Juliet, to marry at thirteen years old and to become a mother, despite the fact that this is what she did and her own marriage seems to have its issues. This makes her seem more concerned about what is socially appropriate or proper than what is best for her own child. Later, when Juliet refuses to marry Count Paris, Lady Capulet basically abandons her to Lord Capulet's wrath, saying, "I would the fool were married to her grave." Basically, then, she says that she wishes Juliet were dead rather than disobedient and ungrateful.

The nurse, I would argue, is a better mother figure than Lady Capulet is. She seems to genuinely care about Juliet in a way that her own mother does not. However, she does give Juliet bad advice, and helping Juliet to form a relationship with a forbidden young man -- especially when she knows that her parents are arranging another match -- is a serious error in judgment.

How does the story "The Bet" end?

The climax of "The Bet" is reached when the banker reads the letter in which the lawyer renounces the two million roubles he was entitled to receive for spending fifteen years in solitary confinement. The banker is humiliated because he was seriously planning to murder his prisoner in order to get out of paying the money. Then, true to his word, the lawyer disappears. There are witnesses to prove that he escaped voluntarily, and the...

Next morning the watchmen ran in with pale faces, and told him they had seen the man who lived in the lodge climb out of the window into the garden, go to the gate, and disappear. The banker went at once with the servants to the lodge and made sure of the flight of his prisoner. To avoid arousing unnecessary talk, he took from the table the writing in which the millions were renounced, and when he got home locked it up in the fireproof safe.

The bet has had a strong effect on the characters of both men. Fifteen years of solitude during which the lawyer spent much time reading and meditating have turned him into a sort of holy man and prophet. These same fifteen years, during which the banker was losing most of his fortune and becoming gradually more anxious about having to pay his stubborn prisoner two million roubles, have made the banker lose his self-confidence and even his own self-respect. The moral of Anton Chekhov's story might have been drawn from the New Testament. In the "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew 6, Jesus says:

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

What is the context of Byron's "When We Two Parted"?

The context of Byron's "When We Two Parted" is the dissolution of a relationship between two people.

It is not difficult to imagine Byron writing this poem from a personalized context. Byron had many affairs and experienced many relationships begin and end. As a result, the poem's context is the disintegration of a love affair.

While Byron writes from personal experience, the way he constructs the poem's emotional landscape makes it relatable to anyone who...

The context of Byron's "When We Two Parted" is the dissolution of a relationship between two people.

While Byron writes from personal experience, the way he constructs the poem's emotional landscape makes it relatable to anyone who has fallen in and out of love. For example, the context of the first two stanzas is a dying relationship. What used to be love and passion is now shrouded in "silence and tears." Byron skillfully suggests that relationships do not die when two people leave. Rather, there are elements that show emotional distance before the actual breakup. He communicates this dynamic in lines like "half broken-hearted/ To sever for years." Byron's imagery of "pale grew thy cheek" and "Colder thy kiss" suggests people part begin to part before they actually do. Byron speaks of "the warning" signs that show a relationship has run its course. These markers indicate love's death. They take place when "vows are all broken" and when a person's name illuminates "shame" where love once was.

The context of regret is illuminated in the final two stanzas. Byron experiences "a shudder" to the question of "Why wert thou so dear?" The questioning of why or how we could have loved someone is another stage of the process of love dying. Realizing this does not bring happiness, but rather "rue." It is a "silence" that accompanies how we "grieve" when someone so positive is now the source of so much hurt. Byron suggests there are no winners when love dies. The poem's closing context is a mourning and cavernous remorse at what once was.

The highly emotional context of "When We Two Parted" is part of its effectiveness. Its primacy on personal experience is what makes it Romantic. Byron's own personal context is able to generate an emotional field we walk through, surveying his pain and our own.

In "Once Upon a Time," how does the cat symbolize and support the theme?

The cat in "Once Upon a Time" symbolically supports three themes of the story.

First, the cat represents the couple's unquenchable fear. For most of the story, the couple keeps making "improvements" to their home that they think will make them more secure so they won't have to be afraid of break-ins and burglaries from the "people of another color." The cat is still able to get through the barred windows and over the extended...

The cat in "Once Upon a Time" symbolically supports three themes of the story.

Next, the cat symbolizes that the couple's fears are baseless. The cats in the neighborhood continually set off the burglar alarms. This represents the fact that the couple's fears are "false alarms." If anything, they are worried about the wrong thing. Instead of worrying about protecting their possessions and status, they should be worried about bringing justice and stability to their society by addressing the underlying causes of the social unrest that is wracking their community. This supports the theme that fear of "the other" is baseless; once people get to know each other, they can live in mutual respect in a win-win relationship.

At the end of the story, the cat represents wisdom and foresight. The husband assures his wife that the cat will not attempt to get over the wall with the Dragon's Teeth in place because "cats always look before they leap." This supports the theme that people must evaluate their actions in terms of those actions' future repercussions. Being short-sighted and caring only for one's own tribe at the expense of the larger society will produce tragedy in the end, as the couple finds out when their son dies by becoming enmeshed in the trap his parents created.

The cat symbolizes fear, false alarm, and foresight, reinforcing several themes in the story.

What are the characteristics of a just consequence? What are the characteristics of an unjust consequence?

Robert Louis Stevenson had something interesting to say about this:

Everybody, sooner or later, sits down to a banquet of consequences.

In other words, consequences aren't just for the guilty, they're for everybody. Our actions will, eventually come home to roost in the form of consequences: We will get what we deserve.

Which brings up the question, just exactly what will we deserve? What would a "just" consequence look like? Whether or not a consequence...

Robert Louis Stevenson had something interesting to say about this:

Everybody, sooner or later, sits down to a banquet of consequences.

In other words, consequences aren't just for the guilty, they're for everybody. Our actions will, eventually come home to roost in the form of consequences: We will get what we deserve.

Which brings up the question, just exactly what will we deserve? What would a "just" consequence look like? Whether or not a consequence is just depends on what you consider to be the purpose of a consequence.

If you believe that a consequence should be applied to bring about justice, then you might be thinking in terms of "an eye for an eye." The consequence should be equal to the offense. Thus, we might consider it right to put a man to death for committing murder.

However, some people think of consequences differently. Instead of achieving justice, consequences should "rehabilitate," or help improve a person's character. In this case, a just consequence might include some years of imprisonment for a murderer, but with the hope of someday getting out and living a better life.

Which consequence is "just"? It's a matter of personal opinion.

I think there is more likely to be a consensus on what constitutes an unjust consequence. Think of the recent controversy over nonviolent drug offenses in the United States. As American prisons have begun to overflow with these kinds of prisoners, the public has become increasingly willing to reduce the consequences for nonviolent drug crimes. The hope is that these criminals will be able to get out and live without drugs. Long stretches in jail for possession of drugs is no longer seen as just by many. This happens when the punishment does not fit the crime.

Did Governor Horatio Seymour and other Democrats orchestrate the New York City Draft Riot of 1863?

New York City's Governor Horatio Seymour and other Northern Democratic Party leaders certainly did have a hand in provoking the New York City Draft Riot of 1863, the "bloodiest outbreak of civil disorder in American history" ("On This Day," The Learning Network, The New York Times). Governor Seymour was one of the nation's Peace Democrat leaders. Peace Democrats were Northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War. Peace Democrats especially represented the working class Irish and German populations of New York City who feared slave emancipation would cost them their jobs. At the beginning of Abraham Lincoln's first term as President, Northern Democrats warned the working class that emancipation would enable freed slaves to move north and take over the labor force ("Copperhead," Encyclopaedia Britannica).

After the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, Northern Democratic leaders of New York City began "distributing pamphlets and organizing public rallies" and declaring public warfare against the "war, emancipation, blacks, Lincoln and Republicans." These protests began months before the anti-draft riot of 1863 ("On This Day"). In addition, Governor Seymour, acting as the leading voice against the draft, publicly warned the "bloody and treasonable and revolutionary doctrine of public necessity can be proclaimed by a mob as well as by a government" ("On This Day"). We can interpret Governor Seymour's words of warning as playing a major role in instigating the New York City riot.

Regardless of protests against the draft, the need for more men in the military was becoming increasingly urgent. Due to substantial losses in the Battle of Gettysburg, fought between July 1st to July 3rd of 1863, New York City had been left with no more than 550 men to defend 8 forts and not one single naval ship to defend its harbor, prompting a draft lottery to begin on July 11th, 1863. By July 13th, hundreds of white working-class men began marching in protest. The outbreak of violence resulted in the draft office being torched, an army squadron being forced to retreat, a police officer being brutally assaulted, telegraph poles being downed, train tracks being uprooted, homes of wealthy Republicans being attacked and looted, the city's arsenal being torched, the homes of African Americans on the west side of the city being torched, black laborers being lynched and torched, and many other bloody casualties ("On This Day").

The riot began at 6 AM on July 13th, and Governor Seymour is reported as having done little to end it. Reports say he tried to "negotiate with rioters," addressing them as "My friends" and promising to repeal the draft ("On This Day"). After Confederate General Robert E. Lee moved his soldiers to Virginia in retreat on July 4th, Lincoln's Secretary of War, Edwin McMasters Stanton, was able to send 5 regiments to New York City to put an end to the riot; troops did not arrive until July 15th. Fighting between soldiers and rioters lasted until the evening of July 16th, and the consequences of the riot were about 115 deaths, including a dozen African Americans, and millions of dollars of damage to the city.

Since Governor Seymour did little to end the riot, especially when it first began, and continued to fuel anti-war and anti-draft sentiments, it can be argued Seymour was a key instigator of the riot.

In addition, historians report Seymour as having written a letter to President Lincoln on June 30th that warned there would be a riot if Lincoln proceeded with the draft. Furthermore, historians report James R. Gilmore as investigating the instigators of the riot after it was crushed and reporting to Lincoln with knowledge learned from General Richard Busteed that the "riot was planned and set afoot by Govr Seymour, Fernando Wood [previous mayor of New York City], and a small coterie of leaders of their stripe" ("Response to Riots," The Lehrman Institute, Mr. Lincoln and New York).

What are the conditions that must be met in order for a war to be considered just? Was the 2003 war the United States waged against Iraq just based...

There are two basic criteria for a war to be justified under just war theory, which are usually given in Latin (for no reason I can think of other than to sound impressive): jus ad bellum, "justice toward war", and jus in bello, "justice within war".

Jus ad bellum requires that the reasons for war are justified. The usual standard is that the war must:

have just cause,

be a last resort,

be declared by a proper authority,

possess right intention,

have a reasonable chance of success, and

the end must be proportional to the means.

The Iraq War does not do very well on these criteria.

If Saddam Hussein had actually had weapons of mass destruction (particularly nuclear weapons, which are far more destructive than other weapons of mass destruction), that might have been just cause, but he didn't. US authorities did not have sufficiently reliable intelligence to believe he did.

The war doesn't seem to have been a last resort, as many US allies recommended other alternatives but the US government refused to take those alternatives.

It was almost declared by a proper authority — the US did seek a UN Security Council resolution, but the resolution was vetoed by France, who argued there were still better options available.

The war does seem to have possessed right intention; despite conspiracy theories to the contrary, I'm not aware of any credible historical evidence that the Bush Administration actually launched the war for personal gain or any other reason besides honestly trying to defeat Saddam Hussein's tyrannical regime and improve security in the Middle East.

Whether the war had a reasonable chance of success depends on what you mean by success. Simply defeating the Iraqi Army in combat and unseating Saddam Hussein was virtually guaranteed, and indeed happened almost immediately. The long-term goal of establishing a legitimate democratic government in its place and maintaining security in the Middle East was always a longshot, and the US did not have a particularly compelling plan for doing so at any point.

The ends do seem proportional to the means. Saddam Hussein was a murderous tyrant. If he really had access to weapons of mass destruction, he would have posed a serious threat to the lives of thousands if not millions of people in the region. It would be entirely reasonable to use full-scale military force to combat such a threat.

As a whole, then, the Iraq War does not seem justified in terms of justice toward war, jus ad bellum.

Jus in bello requires that the war itself be conducted justly. It has two basic criteria:

Discrimination between legitimate combatants and innocent civilians

Proportional and necessary force used to subdue enemy combatants

The Iraq War actually does quite well on these criteria, especially by historical standards. While US troops did kill thousands of people directly, and the war and its aftermath killed hundreds of thousands, these are actually remarkably small figures compared to past full-scale wars. US forces took care to use high-tech precision weapons, rather than the carpet bombing and napalm strikes deployed in Vietnam. US forces swiftly targeted key military infrastructure rather than seeking widespread destruction. They often tried to protect civilian populations from danger and avoided attacking densely-populated areas. The military even targeted buildings and facilities at night to minimize the number of people likely to be inside them.

It could be argued the military should have used even more careful discrimination, or the military force deployed was still heavier than necessary, but US military forces certainly did a lot better in Iraq than in Vietnam. A total failure of jus in bello would have been for the US to deploy some of its thousands of high-yield nuclear weapons; millions of Iraqis are alive today because they did not do that.

Therefore, I tentatively conclude that the Iraq War does actually satisfy the criteria for justice within war, jus in bello.

What is a good quote from Moneyball by Michael Lewis?

A good quote from Moneyball would describe how Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane approached the task of fielding a competitive team.

Beane's emphasis on sabermetric data is a significant reason why he was a successful general manager in Moneyball. However, I think that his success is also due in part to his approach to organizational management. One quote that shows this is reflected in his view towards trading for athletes:

No matter...

A good quote from Moneyball would describe how Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane approached the task of fielding a competitive team.

No matter how successful you are, change is always good. There can never be a status quo. When you have no money you can’t afford long-term solutions, only short-term ones. You have to always be upgrading.

Beane sought to challenge the existing attitude many held in the baseball community. One of those beliefs is that changing the makeup of a team should be undertaken with caution. Beane challenged this idea because he believed that, as a small-market team, he had to continually look for ways to improve. He knew that he would not be able to purchase the contract of a very high-priced free agent. Beane understood that the only way his team would be more competitive is through abandoning a fear of change. His quote shows how he looked for ways to develop a distinctive edge that could distinguish his organizations from anyone else. His approach to management embraced change. Working in his organization forced everyone else to accept it, as well.

Who is Storm in The Swiss Family Robinson?

Storm is the family's buffalo. He is tied to the harpoon rope in Chapter 9 so that Fritz can bring ashore an enormous sturgeon that is eight feet long. In this chapter, the family sets up a fishing operation, and they use a harpoon and bow and arrow to kill large fish. However, they can not drag the largest fish to shore, so Storm is very useful to them. The family often relies on Storm as they would rely on a horse. Later, Storm is used, along with the bull named Grumble, to carry the mother of the family in a basket that is slung between the two animals. Storm is also used, with Grumble, to carry off the deadly serpent that kills their ass, and he is later employed in carrying the basket with Grumble when the family is gathering corn. Storm is a reliable work animal for the Robinson family.

How does Odysseus longing to return to his wife eventually lead to his homecoming?

Odysseus spent two decades away from his wife, Penelope. The first ten were spent fighting in the Trojan War—against his will, according to legend. The latter ten were spent trying to return home. Seven of those years were spent on the island of Ogygia, trapped by the goddess Calypso. Calypso wanted to marry Odysseus, bear him children, and grant him immortality.

This was a compelling offer! Calypso was far more beautiful than Penelope, whose mortal...

This was a compelling offer! Calypso was far more beautiful than Penelope, whose mortal beauty could never rival that of a goddess. It would have been easy for Odysseus to let his memories of home and desire to return there fade over time, overshadowed by the beautiful goddess in front of him, but Odysseus remained fixated on his goal of returning to Penelope and refused the goddess' advances. As Homer wrote,

[H]is eyes were never dry of tears, and his sweet life was ebbing away, as he longed mournfully for his return, for the nymph was no longer pleasing in his sight. By night indeed he would sleep by her side perforce in the hollow caves, unwilling beside the willing nymph, but by day he would sit on the rocks and the sands, racking his soul with tears and groans and griefs, and he would look over the unresting sea, shedding tears.

Athena was moved by this and took pity on Odysseus. She eventually convinced Zeus to let Odysseus return home.

Does Squeaky's attitude change by the end of "Raymond's Run" by Toni Cade Bambara? If so, how?

In Toni Cade Bambara’s short story “Raymond’s Run,” Squeaky goes through a metamorphosis. Her attitude changes from a little girl who will do anything to maintain her reputation as the fastest runner in the neighborhood. She is a tough young woman who will stand up for her beliefs until she either has to fight or flee.

I’m ready to fight, cause like I said I don’t feature a whole lot of chit-chat, I much prefer to just knock you down right from the jump and save everybody alotta precious time.

She is fiercely protective of her brother Raymond, who lives with a developmental disability. Her only family responsibility is to care for him, and she protects him from the wrath of other neighborhood children. One of her important attributes is that she is willing to practice constantly to maintain her prowess as the fastest runner. In fact, she despises other girls who pretend they do not need to practice in order to excel.

She has a difficult time maintaining friendships with other girls, and believes role models are lacking.

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.

The day of the May Day race, Squeaky deposits Raymond on the playground and prepares for the race with no thoughts of anything but winning. As the race unfolds, Gretchen proves to be a formidable opponent who garners Squeaky’s respect. The two exchange a knowing glance and a genuine smile. Raymond, on the other side of the fence, matches Squeaky stride for stride in the race, which causes her to see him as more than her disabled brother. In her eyes, he becomes a person with possibility. Both of these events change Squeaky’s attitude from a self-involved, tough girl to a young lady who sees other possibilities for Raymond, and her relationships with other girls. She even considers asking Gretchen to coach Raymond with her, as her mindset changes.

And I look over at Gretchen wondering what the “P” stands for. And I smile. Cause she’s good, no doubt about it. Maybe she’d like to help me coach Raymond; she obviously is serious about running, as any fool can see. And she nods to congratulate me and then she smiles. And I smile. We stand there with this big smile of respect between us.

In "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs, how would you describe the appearance of the monkey's paw?

The monkey’s paw is a disembodied mummified monkey’s paw.

The monkey’s paw is a talisman that supposedly had a spell put on it by a fakir in India. You can wish on it, and your wish will come true. It just won’t come true in the way you intended. Sergeant-major Morris, who brings the Whites the paw, explains that the person who last had the paw wished for death after using it.

The sergeant-major describes...

The monkey’s paw is a disembodied mummified monkey’s paw.

The sergeant-major describes the paw as ordinary.

"To look at," said the sergeant-major, fumbling in his pocket, "it's just an ordinary little paw, dried to a mummy."

Basically, someone cut the paw off a monkey, and over time it has been mummified. The Whites seem to find its appearance disturbing even though Morris describes it as ordinary. However, due to the spell it now has magical powers.

The monkey’s paw may make the Whites feel disturbed because of the way Morris describes its powers, rather than how it looks. He makes it seem scary. Let’s face it, parts of monkeys are a little gross anyway.

After throwing the monkey's paw into the fire, Morris warned the Whites to leave it alone. They were curious though. They ended up making a wish, as a lark.

Mr. White took the paw from his pocket and eyed it dubiously. "I don't know what to wish for, and that's a fact," he said slowly. "It seems to me I've got all I want."

"If you only cleared the house, you'd be quite happy, wouldn't you?" said Herbert, with his hand on his shoulder. "Well, wish for two hundred pounds, then; that'll just do it."

They would later regret making this wish, because the Whites found out why the last person wished for death. The Whites got their first wish in the worst way, when they got the money but their son was killed. Then, Mrs. White wished him back to life. Her husband used the last wish to reverse that wish.

What is the basic contrast between the past and present of Ulysses' life in "Ulysses" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson?

Essentially, the main contrast between Ulysses' past and present is that, in his past, the king was a mighty warrior and adventurer, while, in his present, he is an aged statesman bored with his idle existence and unhappy with the companionship of his family and subjects. One of the major points of Tennyson's "Ulysses" is to describe this contrast, and it quickly becomes very clear that Ulysses glorifies his legendary past while regarding his present...

Much have I seen and known; cities of men

And manners, climates, councils, governments,

Myself not least, but honour'd of them all;

And drunk delight of battle with my peers,

Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy. (13-17)

From this description, it's obvious that Ulysses' past was filled with adventure, epic warfare, and great deeds worthy of legendary heroes. To contrast this thrilling description, take a look at how Ulysses describes his present:

It little profits that an idle king,

By this still hearth, among these barren crags,

Match'd with an aged wife, I mete and dole

Unequal laws unto a savage race,

That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me. (1-5)

It's clear that Ulysses regards his present life as boring, meaningless, and lacking in passion, and this dull assessment is emphasized by the king's sentimental assessment of his heroic past.

All in all, the main contrast here is that, in the past, Ulysses was a mighty warrior capable of great deeds, but he is now reduced to an old man who feels confined by his duties and his age. Thus, this poem is really about the aging process and how an elderly individual deals with the inability to live the life he enjoyed in his youth. By presenting this process in the legendary context of Ulysses and The Odyssey, Tennyson dramatically highlights its inherent difficulty.

What is the irony in the line from Macbeth, "hail, most worthy thane"?

Ross has been sent by King Duncan to tell Macbeth, the current Thane of Glamis, that he has been awarded the title Thane of Cawdor as well, for his tremendously loyal and brave services to the crown and country of Scotland. When Ross acquaints him with this news, he says to Macbeth, in part, "hail, most worthy thane." This line is ironic because, as we find out soon enough, Macbeth is not worthy or loyal, ultimately. Poor Duncan has already been deceived by the former Thane of Cawdor, a traitor, and now he believes that he is giving that man's title to another man with a completely different character. Alas, he's deceived there, too, because Macbeth is even more treacherous than his predecessor. While the old Thane of Cawdor turns traitor on the battlefield for all to see, Macbeth plots his treason privately, killing his king -- a king who's also his friend and kinsman and guest -- while he sleeps. Everyone is deceived, at this stage in the play, thinking Macbeth is "worthy" when he is not at all.

What is Scrooge's attitude towards having a responsibility to the poor in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens?

When two gentlemen stop at Scrooge's offices early in Stave I of A Christmas Carol, one of them asks Scrooge to make "some slight provision" for the "poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time." He adds there are thousands who are in need of just the common comforts.

Scrooge gruffly asks the man if there are not any prisons, or workhouses, and he is told that there are. Then Scrooge inquires...

Scrooge gruffly asks the man if there are not any prisons, or workhouses, and he is told that there are. Then Scrooge inquires if the Treadmill and the Poor Law are yet in effect. Now, the two gentlemen begin to understand the innuendos of Scrooge, so they tell him that those places do not furnish Christian cheer. They wish to buy some meat and drink, and "some means of warmth." When one of the men asks, "What shall I put you down for?" Scrooge says nothing, adding,

I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry.

Scrooge contends he supports the institutions about which he has asked and this support costs enough, arguing those who are badly off must go to these institutions. When one of the gentlemen says many people would rather die than go to these places, Scrooge coldly replies,

If they would rather die... they had better do it and decrease the surplus population.

In this passage, Charles Dickens mimics the words of Thomas Malthus and mocks his ideas about the dangers of population growth. Malthus contended that because people reproduce exponentially and the food supply only increases arithmetically, populations would eventually outgrow the food supply. Malthus argued population control would have to exist, whether in the form of disease, wars, or some other method, to decrease the surplus population. Also, Dickens satirically rails against the horrible conditions of the poorhouses and the workhouses in the Victorian Age. In fact, there was so much contagious disease in the poor and workhouses that many physicians refused to attend to the sick there.

I am having a hard time understanding Shakespeare's famous "To be or not to be" speech from Hamlet.

Hamlet's third soliloquy in Act III, Scene 1 differs from his previous two as it is less emotional and more philosophical, born of the prince's lingering melancholy, wrought from his grief and anger at learning of his father's murder, as well as his repulsion for his mother's marriage to his uncle.

Certainly, it is an existential question that Hamlet poses at the beginning: "To be or not to be"--To live, or to die. Hamlet deliberates...

Certainly, it is an existential question that Hamlet poses at the beginning: "To be or not to be"--To live, or to die. Hamlet deliberates the pros and cons of existence in the world. As he deliberates, he considers whether a person should choose death and end all the worries of his life. For, the quandary is that no one knows what comes after death. Thus, Hamlet ponders,

To sleep, perchance to dream, ay there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil
Must give us pause. There's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life (3.1.65-69)

Indeed, it is this fear of the unknown that prevents many from ending their lives. If one dies, is that all? Is the person going to exist in some peaceful manner, or suffer all the more? It is this not knowing what lies in the hereafter that prevents suicide. For, despite all the "outrageous fortune" and the "sea of troubles" that lie ahead in life, continuing to exist may yet be better than what happens after life is extinguished. Furthermore, as a Catholic, Hamlet also fears the punishment for the mortal sin of suicide--that "dread of something after death."
Considering all that he has brought to mind, Hamlet concludes, "Thus conscience doth make cowards of us all." That is, the fear of eternal punishment and the unknown prevents people from ending the sorrows of life.

In this soliloquy of Act III, Hamlet asks the question that is in the minds of all depressed people: Should one continue to live in misery or should one end one's misery despite not knowing what lies beyond life?

How did Atticus try to protect his family?

Atticus does his best to protect his family by absorbing an extensive amount of criticism from his community without negatively responding. Atticus' ability to control his emotions and behave in a tolerant, peaceful manner, protects his family by deescalating much of the tension surrounding the case. When Jem destroys Mrs. Dubose's camellia bushes, Atticus makes his son read to her as a punishment, even though Mrs. Dubose initiated the conflict. After the trial, Atticus lets Bob Ewell curse and spit in his face without responding. Atticus hoped that Bob would have got all the hate out of his system, and in doing so, Atticus was attempting to protect Jem and Scout. In Chapter 15, when Jem and Scout find Atticus sitting outside of Maycomb's jailhouse surrounded by a mob, Atticus is quick to tell them to go home. Atticus understands that his children are in a dangerous situation and attempts to protect them by telling Jem and Scout to leave. Throughout the entire novel, Atticus does his best to protect Jem and Scout from becoming prejudiced individuals like the rest of their community members. Atticus protects his children from becoming racists by standing up for what is right, giving them important life lessons, and courageously defending Tom Robinson.

In The Watsons Go to Birmingham, what are the strengths and weaknesses of the Watson family?

One of the great strengths of the Watson family is that they have a great sense of humor and can laugh together. For example, during the cold spell in Flint, Michigan in Chapter One, the dad starts talking "Southern-style" and making fun of Momma's former beau, "Hambone Henderson" (page 4). His sense of humor, and Momma's humorous replies, keep the family laughing and take their minds off the cold. The dad even makes the family's lack of money funny at times. For example, when their 1948 Plymouth starts up (this car is fifteen years old in 1963), the dad says, "the Great Brown One pulled through again!" (page 6). His humor makes everyone cheer, so he is able to turn their tribulations into camaraderie.

The weaknesses of the family is that Byron often makes life difficult for them, and Byron does not always support his family. For example, when Byron's mouth gets stuck on a frozen mirror, Kenny says, "If it had been me with my lips stuck on something like this he'd have tortured me for a couple of days before he got help" (page 13). Bryon does not always support his siblings, though they support him, and he even tries to beat Kenny up with his friend, Buphead. While the Watson parents are very loving, they don't know how to handle Byron, and they are often inconsistent in discipling him. Momma threatens Bryon to stop lighting paper on fire, but when Joetta cries, Momma lets Byron off the hook (page 43). As a result, Byron starts lighting fires again, endangering the entire family. Eventually, Momma has to threaten to burn Byron to make him stop lighting fires. Later, the Watson parents decide to take Byron to Momma's mother in Birmingham because they realize they just can't handle him. Byron's difficulty create a strain on the entire family, and they don't always know how to respond consistently and effectively.