What is meant by the phrase “democratic deficit” with regard to the European Union?

The meaning of this phrase is that there is not enough
real democracy in the European Union because its people do not really care about EU
elections and because there is not a great deal of respect for its governmental
institutions.

The EU has a weak government because it is
not really a sovereign state.  Each of the EU countries continues to have a fairly
strong national identity and people do not necessarily identify much with the EU
government.  Because of this, they do not care about the government a lot and do not
really see it as their own
government.

Because the people do not have much faith in
the government and do not have that much influence over it, the EU is said to have a
democratic deficit.

Compare The Dead: Belphegor and Proposition Player by Matthew Ritchie.

The Dead: Belphegor is a drawing in
ink and graphite on plastic.  A figure of a demon is represented with a skeletal head
and a rather human body.  The body is filled with brownish, yellowish swirls and
abstracted objects that appear to be eye balls.  The figure is throwing its hands up in
a gesture of either frustration or discovery.  There are lines radiating from parts of
the picture that are reminiscent of lines from charts, maps, or possibly engineering
blue prints.

Proposition Player is a
far more complicated piece to describe.  It is not really one piece, but an entire show,
in which Ritchie attempted to depict the entire universe; how it came to be; and how we,
as players, contribute to it.  Within the exhibition Proposition
Player there are drawings hanging on the wall, painted on the wall, painted
on the floor, suspended above the floor, and projected in various parts of the space. 
As you can imagine, this definitely gives the effect of viewing something extremely
expansive.  Ritchie admits in an interview with the PBS series Art
21 that at the heart of Proposition Player is the idea
of risk.  There are parts of the exhibit where the viewers are invited to participate in
a kind of game which is intended to make them think about the randomness of the
universe.  Ritchie wants to emphasize that moment in a game of chance, between placing
your bet and finding out if you have won.  He says this is the point where creation
happens and anything is possible.

The Dead:
Belphegor is a more recent manifestation of the same ideas Ritchie was
dealing with in Proposition Player, created one year later.  He
felt the next step in the course of his art was to give his ideas figures to make them
more real and understandable, possibly the same way that the Greeks and Romans needed
their gods to have a human like manifestation.  In his Art 21
interview Ritchie talks about the relationship between figuration and abstraction
compared to the relationship between ourselves and everything else in the universe. 
Consequently, I would interpret The Dead: Belphegor as a 2D version
of what is going on between the installation and the viewer in Proposition
Player.

You can view the Art 21 interview with
Matthew Ritchie at href="http://video.pbs.org/video/1239615688">http://video.pbs.org/video/1239615688
.

What is the morality of Sir Gawain when he us on his journey?

I think we should examine what Sir Gawain represents
first. Gawain is the perfect medieval knight. He is Arthur’s loyal servant and we see
this in the poem. It was against the knight code of chivalry for Arthur to accept a
challenge from anyone while his men sat back chowing down on chicken or pheasant.
Actually it took Gawain awhile to step up to the plate. It was only after the Green
Knight mocked Arthur for a while, basically calling him girly pants, that Gawain took
the Green Knight's challenge. Still, as this was part of the morality/ honor code of
Round Table Knights, Gawain does his moral duty.

Chivalry,
and the morality involved, is tested further when Gawain gets to the Green Knight's
castle. The deal is, of course, to exchange anything each man obtains while the master
(Green Knight) goes hunting. Mrs. Green Knight (sorry I forget her name) attempts to
seduce Gawain. Now it's not that Sir Gawain didn't consider jumping into the sheets with
the Knight's wife, apparently she was not bad looking. Gawain was constrained by his
damn moral code of chivalry, so he settled for some kisses instead (good thing he was
not Tiger Woods!) The Green Knight is really a Pagan fertility/ vegetation God who comes
to test the Christian morals of these super knights .These morals are what save Gawain's
life in the end. Apparently The Green Knight doesn't mind Gawain borrowing his wife's
clothing (the invincible garter belt) and is impressed with Gawain’s honesty. So, if
you’re a knight, remember this little morality tale in case this happens to
you!

Please solve: -5*(6x^3 - 4x^2 + x-3) = 0 and -(-x-9) -4 [3x-2(6+x) +5] = 0

You are only allowed to ask one question at a time, your
question has been changed accordingly.

To solve -5*(6x^3 -
4x^2 + x-3) = 0

-5*(6x^3 - 4x^2 + x-3) =
0

=> 6x^3 - 4x^2 + x-3 =
0

=> 6x^3 - 6x^2 + 2x^2 - 2x + 3x  - 3 =
0

=> 6x^2(x = 1) + 2x(x - 1) + 3(x - 1) =
0

=> (x - 1)[6x^2 + 2x + 3] =
0

x1 =1

6x^2 + 2x + 3 = 0
gives us

x2 = -2/12 + sqrt(4 -
72)/12

=> -1/6 + i*sqrt 68 /
12

=> -1/6 + 2*i*sqrt 17 /
12

=> (-1 + i*sqrt
17)/6

x3 = (-1 -i*sqrt
17)/6

The solutions of the equation are: (1,
(-1 + i*sqrt 17)/6, (-1 -i*sqrt 17)/6)

Use two different methods to find the solution for x in the equation 2x^2 -7x + 6=0.

We have the quadratic equation: 2x^2 - 7x + 6 =
0

We can solve using the quadratic formula or by
factoring.

1. using the quadratic
formula:

x = [ -b +- sqrt(b^2-4ac)]/
2a

==> x1= [ 7 + sqrt(49-4*2*6 ] /
4

            = [ 7+ sqrt1 ) / 4 = 8/4 =
2

==> x2= ( 7-1)/4 = 6/4 =
3/2

2. Solve using
factoring.

==> 2x^2 - 7x + 6 = (
2x-3)(x-2)

==> x1=
3/2

==> x2=
2

Then the solution is x = { 2,
3/2}

What features of the trial could be considered ironic in Book the Second, Chapters 1-6?A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

During the trial of Charles Darnay for treason in England,
the most salient ironic instance is that of situational irony:  Lucie Manette and her
father, Dr. Manette are witnesses for the prosecution.  Innocently, Lucie repeats the
events of the night on which she and her father shared with Darnay the Dover coach.  The
evidence that incriminates Darnay is Lucie's testimony that papers were exchanged
between Darnay and another man.  Also, she testifies that Darnay told her that he has
traveled back and forth between France and England many times, a fact that arouses great
suspicion in this most inauspicious time.

In another ironic
twist, the testimony against Darnay comes into question because the identification of
Darnay as the true suspect becomes dubious. 

readability="15">

"Did you ever see anybody very like the
prisoner?" Mr. Stryver asks the witness who has claimed that the prisoner and some
fellow-plotter took the Dover mail one night to a garrison where he "collected
information."

Not so like (the witness said), as that he
could be mistaken.

"look well upon that gentleman, my
learned friend ther," pointing to him who had tossed the paper over [Carton] "and then
look well upon the prisoner.  How say you? Are they very like each
other?"

Mr. Sydney
Carton bears a strong resemblance to Charles Darnay.  Many of the on-lookers note the
resemblance, as well.  After deliberation, the verdict comes back "ACQUITTED." It is,
indeed, ironic that Mr. Carton should bear such a strong resemblance to Mr.
Darnay.

In addition to these instances of irony, it is
ironic later on that Dr. Manette again must testify in Darnay's defense, but in France,
instead.  And, again later in the narrative, Sydney Carton saves Charles Darnay when he
is to be executed as he was to be drawn and quartered in
England.

I need the text of The Connection by Jack Gelber.

American playwright Jack Gelber (1932-2003) wrote his
renowned avant garde existential play, The Connection, in 1959. It
revolves around a group of drug-addicted jazz musicians in New York City. Produced by
the off-Broadway group, the Living Theatre, The Connection won an
Obie Award in 1960. It was later made into a film in 1961 (and was banned in New York
state as being obscene).

I'm not sure that The
Connection is available for online download, but you can definitely pick up a
copy of the play from any number of Internet sources. I have provided a link below where
several different copies are available for a nominal
price.

href="http://www.amazon.com/Connection-Jack-Gelber/dp/0394172221/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304704414&sr=1-2">http://www.amazon.com/Connection-Jack-Gelber/dp/0394172221/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304704414&sr=1-2

What is the significance of the Monitor vs. Merrimac?

The battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac (This was
the ship's name when it was a US Navy ship.  The CSA renamed it the Virginia) was the
most famous naval encounter of the American Civil War.  It is important because it
showed that the era of wooden ships was coming to an
end.

This battle happened in March of 1862 at Hampton
Roads, VA.  It was significant because it was the first time that two ironclad ships
ever fought each other in a battle.  Most ships of that time were made of wood.  These
two, however, had iron plates on their exteriors, effectively armoring them against
cannonballs of the time.

This battle is mostly significant
because of its impact on naval technology of the future.  As the link below tells us,
the battle

readability="9">

convinced naval experts around the world that the
era of the wooden warship was over. It also persuaded the North to use its vast
factories and shipyards in the production of additional ironclad ships. As these vessels
were put into service, the Union was able to further strengthen its control of the
seas.

How has the writer used the viewpoint of the child to sustain the reader's interest in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?

John Boyne is able to use the children's viewpoint quite
effectively in his work.  Part of the reason why this stylistic technique works is
because, like the children, the reader struggles to understand this world.  The
construction of Auschwitz and the Holocaust, in general, baffles the imagination.  Boyne
takes the traditional idea of "Why is this happening" and examines it from a child's
point of view.  In doing so, he allows the reader to retreat into a childhood state, and
this increases the effectiveness of the novel.  We understand Bruno and see the world
through Bruno.  In experiencing his own connections with Shmuel and others, Boyne allows
us to experience what is happening without dwelling on the historical context, which we
know is there, but are able to forgo that by following Bruno, who is unaware of what is
happening.  The real effective element here is, of course, the ending.  When Bruno
burrows to the other side and becomes, for all practical purposes, "a prisoner," the
reader is forced to recognize two elements.  The first is the absolute horror of the
Holocaust.  The second is how there can be beauty in the midst of such terror.  The
transcendental quality of friendship, something that permeates, the horrific reality of
Auschwitz is something that creates a dual experience in the reader, sustaining interest
and increasing empathy simultaneously.  This experience is only heightened at the end,
seeing the boys walk into the gas chamber hand in hand.  At this point, Boyne has been
able to merge the narrative and the history in one stunningly powerful
moment.

Describe two limitations in the Articles of Confederation.The Arts. of Confed. spelled out states' power and Congress' powers, serving as the gov...

As you indicate, there were many ways in which the
Articles of Confederation set up a national government that was too weak.  Two of the
major limitations on the national government were that it A) had no executive branch and
B) did not have the power to tax the people.

The lack of an
executive branch meant that the national government could do little or nothing to carry
out the laws that it made.  This meant that it would have to rely on states to enforce
the laws and the states could simply ignore laws if they did not like
them.

The inability to tax meant that there was no way that
the government could reliably raise revenue to fund any government operations (even
essential ones such as defense).  The national government had to ask the states for
money and the states could easily refuse.

These were two of
the major ways in which the national government was limited under the Articles of
Confederation.

circular pool w/ circumference of 23 ft. Pool is surrounded by a fence 2.5 ft apart from edge of the pool. What is the circumference of the fence?

Given the circumference of the pool is 23
feet.

Let us calculate the
radius.

==> C = 2* r *
pi

==> 23 = 2*r *
pi

==> r= 23/2pi = 3.66
ft

Now we need to determine the circumference of the
fence.

First lest determine the
radius.

We know that the radius is the pool is
3.66

Also, the fence is 2.5 ft from the
pool.

Then the radius of the fence is 3.66 + 2.5 =
6.16

Now we will calculate the
circumference.

==> C = 2* r * pi = 2* 6.16 * pi =
38.708 ft

Then the circumference of the fence
is 38.708 ft.

What is the cause of INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION in England?

A major cause of the Industrial revolution was the
agricultural revolution which preceded it. The agricultural revolution was part of the
Columbian Exchange, when new crops such as maize (corn) and potatoes were exported to
England. These new crops led to increased health and less infant mortality resulting in
a population explosion in England. Also, the basic price of food went down and a much
smaller percentage of a family's income was needed to purchase food; which left more
money for clothes, etc. More people with less expense for food created a demand for
manufactured products which had not existed before, and gave rise to industrialization;
first in the textile industry. It should be noted that England was ripe for
Industrialization not only because of its population but also because of its stable
government, its abundance of navigable waters which could be used not only for
transportation but also in the production of steam; and also a large amount of iron ore
deposits near the surface which were easily accessible. So when the Industrial
Revolution began in England, it found itself on very fertile
soil.

What is the plot of "The Most Dangerous Game?

Given that plot in its simplest definition is the
structure of what happens in a story as arranged by an author. This being said, the plot
of "The Most Dangerous Game" is as follows:

Introduction:
Rainsford, a world-renowned hunter falls off of a
ship.

Rising Action: Rainsford finds himself of an isolate
island which belongs to General Zaroff. Zaroff welcomes Rainsford given their common
liking of hunting. Zaroff tells Rainsford of his "new prey"-humans. Zaroff tells
Rainsford that he will hunt him. Rainsford goes into the forrest to hide from
Zaroff.

Climax: Rainsford
"dies".

Falling Action/Conclusion: Rainsford kills
Zaroff.

So, there you go. Typical to many short stories,
the Falling action and Conclusion are combined.

Verify if the result of multiplication (2+5i)(4i-3) is a real number?

To verify the nature of the result, we'll have to remove
the brackets.

For this reason, we'll use the property of
distributivity of multiplication over the
addition.

(2+5i)(4i-3) = 2*(4i-3) +
5i(4i-3)

We'll remove the brackets from the right
side:

(2+5i)(4i-3) = 8i - 6 + 20i^2 -
15i

We'll keep in mind that i^2 = -1 and we'll substitute
in the expression above.

(2+5i)(4i-3) = 8i - 6- 20 -
15i

We'll combine like
terms:

(2+5i)(4i-3) = -26 -
7i

We notice that the result of
multiplication of the given complex numbers is also a complex number: (2+5i)(4i-3) = -26
- 7i.

Evaluate the impact of issues raised in the article.http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/04/18/3192585.htm?topic=

The article is fairly persuasive in its idea that warming
of the Earth's waters could hold profound impacts on fish and other marine organisms. 
The global interdependence of any change in an ecosystem holding connection to other
elements within it is demonstrated.  The article's impact is to speak to a potential
danger of global warming.  If the Earth's temperature increases even in the slightest,
this disrupts the ecological balance of the fish and they will either migrate beyond
their comfort zone, stop growing, or even die out entirely.  The article's suggestion
that cooler waters helped the fish live is a relevant evidential claim that supports the
idea that global warming can carry profound impacts that might not have been fully
grasped.  In the end, the article's impact is that it proves supportive of the side in
the global warming debate that argues the validity of the
problem.

What was the common goal of the sit-in movement and the Freedom Rides?A) to seek legal remedies to inequality // B) to end segregation in public...

Your correct answer is C, to end segregation in public
areas, such as restaurants and restrooms. A cannot be correct because they did not use
legal means, such as lawsuits, etc. to seek redress. They rather chose to publicly draw
attention to their cause by public demonstrations such as sitting at restaurant counters
or riding on public transportation which previously was segregated. Segregation in
public schools was accomplished by legal means, namely the Supreme Court Case of Brown
v. Board of Education in which the Warren Court held that segregation had no place in
American society. The sit in movement and Freedom riders certainly had no motive to
force segregationists to respond violently, although many of them did, often by terrible
means. The protesters sought to bring about change by peaceful, non-violent means which
would preclude violent responses.

Describe how a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapies might be used to treat an anxiety disorder.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a hybrid form of treatment
that uses the tools and resources of both cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy.
Cognitive therapy seeks to help the patient become more aware of his own cognitive
processes and to correct false notions of himself and the world. Behavioral therapy
challenges the patient to experience the world differently: he learns to handle
challenging situations by invoking specific behaviors or by changing his
habits.

Cognitive-behavioral therapists often use
journaling, behavioral cueing and role-play when treating anxiety disorder. In
journaling, the patient simply writes down all his thoughts, feelings and actions
throughout the day. In sessions, he and his therapist might discuss his behavioral
patterns and notice whether they are effective or not. Usually, the way the patient is
attempting to deal with his anxiety is counterproductive. That is, the anxiety-resolving
mechanism he employs actually produces more stress and anxiety. A good example is a
person who overeats out of stress and anxiety, and then in turn becomes stressed out
about overeating. Journaling often helps the patient to notice these patterns for
himself.

Behavioral cueing is a method of developing new
habits. The therapist may instruct the patient to do breathing exercises, visualization
exercises, or merely to say a specific phrase when he's feeling anxious. Sometimes
simply acknowledging anxiety reduces it. In the case of the overeater, the therapist may
instruct: "Every time you open the refrigerator, ask yourself 'am I hungry, or am I
trying to resolve my anxiety?'"

Finally, the therapist may
use role place to help the patient practice making good choices. If a person experiences
anxiety disorder and debilitating shyness around his social and professional superiors,
the therapist may engage in role play in which he pretends to be the patient's boss. The
patient can then practice asserting his needs in a positive and healthy manner. This
practice makes it easier for the patient to control his anxiety when he is with his boss
in real life.

What is the symbolism of jackets buttoning in the back, jackets buttoning in the front, and the bikes in The Giver?

Each of those items represent another step toward
self-sufficiency, becoming increasingly more independent as one grows
older.

As very young children, they are taught to help each
other and to ask for help from others when it is needed by being given clothing that
requires assistance - someone else has to button the jackets in the back. As children
grow older, their advancing age and ability to assume more responsibility for themselves
is symbolized by jackets that they can put on and button independently because the
buttons are in the front. Pockets in those jackets signify the beginning recognition
that they might have items to keep in their personal possession rather than depending on
someone else to keep their things.

Receiving their own bike
is the recognition that the child has achieved an age in which s/he is able to be
trusted to go places independently, to treat the bike responsibly, to ride safely, and
to accept duties that might involve needing transportation other than
walking.

In Macbeth, explain how the vision of eight kings in a line, with a bloody Banquo, could have helped Macbeth realize the truth about the prophecies?

Macbeth should have realised that the line of kings from
Banquo's son onwards would seem perpetual. Those members of the audience with a
knowledge of history would be aware that the monarch at the time the play was performed,
James I, was directly descended from Banquo's line. In this way Shakespeare is utilising
some (but certainly not all) of the historical events upon which the play is loosely
based. Also, as Macbeth had disrupted the Natural Order and the Divine Right of Kings
which were strong beliefs of the time, it was to be expected that his hold on the throne
would be brief, and his audacious plan to subvert God's Will would be
punished.

In the light of this vision, the prophesies as
given to Banquo in Act I scene iii become clearer in their
meaning-

Lesser than Macbeth, and
greater.

Thou shalt get kings,
though thou be none.

Banquo himself
does not live to be king, but his bloodline does.

how does the poem la belle dame sans merci highlights the aspect of the supernatural elements of mystery and fear?

The theme of mystique and fear are highlighted
in “La Belle Dame sans Merci,” written in 1819, by the depiction of a knight-at-arms who
has been seduced and abandoned by a capricious fairy. Told in the form of a dialogue,
the poem recounts the experience of loving dangerously and fully, of remaining loyal to
that love despite warnings to the contrary, and of suffering the living death of one who
has glimpsed immortality.
At the start and the end of the poem,the night
remains Tcold hill's site,' a world devoid of happiness or beauty,waiting for his lover
to return.The element of mystery and fear are in juxaposition since he is in love with a
'faery's child' and this changes the expectations of the tale’s outcome and causes
readers to reinterpret the nature of the knight’s desolation. Literature and myth are
filled with examples of humans who fall in love with gods, and with little exception,
such relationships bode disastrously for the mortal party.Fear lies in the fact that the
story is symbolic of the plight of the artist,who,having fallen in love with beauty ,
cannot fully accept the mundane.Furthermore, the more one entertains feeling of beauty
and love,the more empty and painful the world becomes.
After his
fairy-romance, the world is pale and devoid of charm, yet to the poem’s initial speaker
the knight’s vigil, however inevitable, seems to be pointless and grim.

What was their purpose in The Shawshank Redemption and lesson(s) learned from: Warden Norton, Brooks, Andy Dufresne, and Red?

The Shawshank Redemption
(1994) has become one of America's most acclaimed films
despite its weak showing upon release. Nominated for seven Academy Awards, it was
overshadowed by the year's two most popular films: Forrest Gump and
Pulp Fiction. 

ANDY
DUFRESNE.  The film's protagonist, Andy is wrongly convicted of a double
murder and given two life sentences. His intelligence and inner strength help him to
deal with his dilemma, and his ultimate escape reveals that he has spent several decades
slowly creating a tunnel that will provide his exit. He portrays a man who never gives
up and, despite his assistance in Warden Brooks' fraud schemes, eventually gains justice
when he turns over records that will condemn the warden. His dream of living out his
life on a beach in Mexico eventually comes true, thanks to his determined resolve to
maintain a humane civility under the trying circumstances of prison
life.

WARDEN NORTON.  Norton
is the Bible-thumping prison revisionist and primary antagonist of the film. Norton's
apparent do-good character is a cover for the illegal kickbacks he receives for
providing cheap prisoner labor. Amidst the murderers that fill the prison he
administers, he is just as evil as his prisoners: He orders a murder and deliberately
hides evidence that may free the innocent Dufresne. He serves as a reminder that some
men eventually get their just reward; when officials come to arrest him, he commits
suicide instead.  

BROOKS. 
Brooks is the old lifer, a kindly man who loves books. He is eventually released but is
unable to adjust to the life of a free man; he eventually commits suicide, hanging
himself from the rafters of his rented room. He is a tragic character, liked and
respected by all the prisoners, but an outcast in the outside
world. 

"RED"
REDDING.  Red becomes Andy's best friend, a sly businessman
inside the prison walls who, like Brooks, cannot adjust to life outside prison when he
is finally released. Contemplating suicide himself, he decides to visit Andy's secret
spot in Buxton. There he finds the money that enables him to join Andy in Mexico, where,
hopefully, the two friends live life happily everafter. Red serves as a character who is
able to adjust to prison life and even make things livable and profitable. As the
narrator, he serves as the conscience of the film: a noble character who, despite his
flawed past, will not make the same mistakes if given a second
chance.

What happened at Dunkirk in May 1940?

What happened at Dunkirk (France) in 1940 was the
evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (and a fairly large number of French and
other continental European soldiers to England.  This evacuation was hugely important
because it allowed the British army to continue being a part of the war and it allowed
for the creation of a "Free French" force.

In the spring of
1940, the Germans had swept across Western Europe in the "blitzkrieg."  The British
Expeditionary Force and the French Army had been unable to do much to resist.  By late
May, the remnants of these forces were trapped in Dunkirk.  If the Germans had either
killed or captured these people, the war might well have been
over.

However, the British were able to evacuate 338,000
soldiers from Dunkirk.  This was one of the most significant events of
WWII.

What are the complete chemical properties of matter?

Unlike the physical properties, the chemical properties do
change a substance into a new one, with another composition, different from the original
one.

One of the properties of matter is reactivity. For
instance, when two substances are mixed together, there are happening some changes which
indicate that the substances are reacting. For instance, the rusting phenomenon occurs
when iron reacts with oxygen.

Another chemical property is
flammability. For instance, to change the wood into ash, you'll have to burn it. If wood
would not be flammable, this change could not be happening.

What figure of speech or rhetorical device is exemplified by Ceasar's famous "Et tu, Brute?-Then fall Ceasar!"William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

In Act III, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's Julius
Caesar as the conspirators approach and Caesar asks why Brutus kneels
uselessly, Casca exclaims, "Speak hands for me!" and he and the others stab Caesar. 
Caesar sees his friend Brutus and asks the rhetorical question, "Et tu
Brute?" which is Latin for "And, you,
Brutus?"

A rhetorical question differs
from another type of question used in rhetoric, hypophora, in that
it is asked without the expectation of a response.  Caesar, completely surprised by the
conspirators, is even more amazed to see Brutus as part of them.  The reader will
remember that Caesar has mentioned to Marc Antony in Act I that he is wary
of the appearance of Cassius who has a "lean and hungry look."  However, Caesar has
never entertained the idea that Brutus may wish to assassinate him; instead, Caesar
believes Brutus an ally and friend.  His rhetorical question, therefore, expresses this
surprise and disbelief, as well as it expresses a disappointment in the noble Brutus. 
It is, indeed, more of an emotional expression that a question per
se.

What is the main purpose of the sodium potassium pump in the nervous system?Are signals transferred across the axon via the na/k pump or does it...

The Sodium-Potassium Pump (Na-K Pump) was discovered in
the 1950’s by Skou, who won the Nobel Prize in 1997.  It is the mechanism used by the
cell to preserve a high intracellular concentration of Potassium and low concentration
of Sodium, compared to opposite concentrations in the extracellular fluid.  The cell
membrane has a protein channel that uses ATP energy to create the Na-K gradients for
cell function.  The channel has an affinity for sodium ions.  When they enter the
channel the protein changes shape, allowing potassium to move against gradient.  The
process is reversible.

Highly excitable cells such as
neurons are able to respond to stimuli and transmit impulses, and the Na-K Pump is
needed for this activity.  Neurons preserve their membrane potential by creating high
intracellular potassium and low sodium.

The Na-K Pump
resets the neuron to its resting potential after an action potential has been
transmitted.  Thus, it is not the Na-K Pump that transmits the signal, but instead it
resets the cell membrane to allow it to transmit another action potential.  The
electrical impulse of the action potential triggers the release of neurotransmitter at
the synaptic gap.  It is the neurotransmitter, which crosses the gap and fires the
second neuron.

The Na-K Pump maintains a nerve in a
polarized state (also called resting potential), ready to be triggered by an Action
Potential.  With passage of the Action Potential there is a sudden depolarization of the
neuron, causing opening of voltage-activated channel at which point the Na-K Pump
reverses and resets the membrane to resting potential, ready for the next Action
Potential.  During the reset process the neuron is in a refractory
period.

Thus, the Na-K Pump sets and resets the cell
membrane to allow it to transmit the Action Potential.  The Action Potential causes the
release of the neurotransmitter, which passes the signal to the next
nerve.

What is the US disarmament issue??

To get a good answer, it would be better to ask a more
specific question.  Are you talking about disarmament issues today or at some point in
the past?  I will talk about the present because your question is in the present
tense.

Right now, disarmament is not a very big issue for
the United States.  The US does want other countries to engage in nuclear disarmament if
(like North Korea) they have their nuclear weapons in violation of international
agreements.  However, there is little talk of the US itself doing any real nuclear
disarmament.  There has been an issue over cluster bombs and land mines.  The US has
declined to participate in a treaty banning anti-personnel land mines and one that
prohibits the use of cluster bombs.

During the later stages
of the Cold War, disarmament was much more of an issue than it is
now.

What is a character sketch of Orlando in As You Like It?

Orlando is a strong young man who is greatly gifted in the
physical art of wrestling and who is full of energy and enthusiasm. Yet his education in
academic subjects, the arts and manners has been neglected in all regards. This is
demonstrated when he loses his temper in Act I, Scene I and grabs the villainous Oliver
in a wrestling hold and later when he storms in on Duke Senior in Arden forest demanding
food.

Orlando is also a romantic young man who falls in
love at first sight and writes attempts at poetry that he heralds all over Arden forest.
His versifications are very poorly done but, remember, he had no formal education of any
kind because of Oliver's villainy.

It is this same eruption
of pent up birthright that leads Orland to agree to be schooled in the formal art of
courtship by Ganymede/Rosalind (never mind he doesn't recognize Rosalind beneath
Ganymede's clothes; he'd only seen her once, and there were restrictions on gender
clothing, so no one would ever suspect Rosalind of wearing a men's clothing disguise)
that led to the eruption of bad poetry littering Arden
forest.

Orlando has great moral and ethical integrity even
though he hadn't been taught the philosophies espousing human dignity as others had. His
behavior toward his old servant Adam bespeaks the genuine sincere goodness of his
heart.

Explain why, in spite of Sydney Carton's brilliance, he is content to remain the employee of Stryver.A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

In Chapter 5 of Book the Second of A Tale of Two
Cities, it is a dissipated Sydney Carton, the "jackal" who allows himself to
be exploited by the lion, C.J.Stryver. In Victorian times, alchoholism was considered a
character flaw rather than a disease, so it would seem that Carton's weakness is his
drinking.  But, it seems that this drinking comes from his disappointment in himself
that he is too submissive.  Even when he was in law school, Carton did the work of
others and neglected his own. While Carton complains of his luck, Stryver, much like
Brutus's friend Cassius in Julius Caesar,  chastises Carton for
failing to create his own fate. Further, Stryver recognizes the personality weaknesses
in Sydney Carton:

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“the old seesaw Sydney. Up one minute‚ and down
the next; now in spirits‚ and now in
despondency!”

Apparently,
Carton lacks the self-confidence of Stryver, who "shoulders" his way through life, by
exploiting others and by literally pushing his competitors out of the way.  Carton is
not content with himself; he knows that he could be more, but for whatever reasons, he
lacks either the drive or the real desire to be in a position such as Stryver.  Perhaps
he is too meek, perhaps he is not secure enough with his talents.  But, for whatever
reason Sydney Carton has not been successful and dynamic.  Dickens writes that he has
"waste forces within him, and a desert all around him."  But, briefly, there is "a
mirage of honourable ambition, self-denial, and perseverance."  As he lies down in his
"neglected bed," Sydney Carton sheds "wasted tears" for what he knows he could have been
if he had been stronger and more driven.

In O'Connor's "Revelation" what do you conclude from Mrs. Turpin’s conversation with the black farmhands? Why does she dismiss their flattery?

Mrs. Turpin, in Flannery O'Connor's "Revelation," has a
clear sense of where people belong within society's hierarchy. She is forever having
conversations in her mind and with Jesus about where she fits in,
and she always wants to be in a better place than those she feels are not as "good" as
she is. She has little debates as to what would be easier; for instance, would she
prefer to be white trash or black—if Jesus ever gave her the choice between only those
two things. In this case, she would choose to be black, but not a "trashy" one. When she
reflects that Jesus did not make her black, white trash or ugly, she praises his name
with great thanksgiving, which infers as to how she really feels
about those she considers beneath her.

Mrs. Turpin is quick
to praise the blacks that work for her, but she is still prejudiced when discussing
them, that they are lazy and have life so good that they would never want to return to
Africa. Although Mrs. Turpin continually pats herself on the back, she is a hypocrite.
She says she will help anyone in need, black or white, but her statement shows that in
her mind there is a distinction. Helping someone white would not be a big deal, but she
makes a point to acknowledge that she could even be generous with a black person if
necessary.

When the surly girl in the doctor's office
attacks Mrs. Turpin and calls her names, Mrs. Turpin goes home with darkness hanging
over her soul. The words take root and Mrs. Turpin has a hard time brushing them aside.
When she shares the news of these unpleasant events to the black workers from the
fields, they say all kinds of pleasant and supportive things about her, standing up for
her in the face of such hateful treatment that has been directed at her. The more they
sympathize, the less Mrs. Turpin listens or believes what they have to say; finally she
leaves them.

Perhaps what is happening is that Mrs. Turpin
doesn't believe what they say of her because she—in her heart—has little sympathy for
these people. She really does not care about them—despite what she
has said to the contrary, but simply speaks of the kindness she has extended to the
blacks in order to make herself look benevolent. As they speak to
her...

Mrs.
Turpin knew just exactly how much Negro flattery was worth and it added to her
rage.

Mrs. Turpin may see the
truth of herself in the words of the black farmhands that work for
her: how true is Mrs. Turpin's flattery about others? Mrs. Turpin
"talks a good game," making herself out to be someone special…someone open-minded and
kind. In truth, her satisfaction comes from her personal images of herself, and not from
any respect or concern she has for others. Seeing within herself a harsh judgment of
others, perhaps she expects that others will feel about her the
same way she feels about them—though she hides
these secret feelings from the eyes of others.

Why do you think Charles Dickens decided to include Mr. Joe's visit to London?Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Since Joe Gargery has been a surrogate father to Pip, he
naturally thinks that Pip will be delighted by a visit from home.  However, when Pip
receives a letter written by Biddy, he becomes very
anxious

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...with considerable disturbance, some
mortification, and a keen sense of incongruity. If I could have kept him away by paying
money, I certainly would have paid money to prevent a visit from
him. 

Pip worries that Joe
will disapprove of his spendthrift habits, and he is most concerned that Bentley Drummle
will disapprove, not to mention Herbert Pocket, his roommate. When Joe does arrive, he
is most uncomfortable because he senses that Pip disapproves of his being in London. 
Realizing that Pip is now a gentleman who does not wish to be associated with a
blacksmith, and addressing Pip as "Sir,"Joe tells Pip he will not
return,

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"Diwisions among such must come, and must be met
as they come. If there's been any fault at all to-day, it's mine. You and me is not two
figures to be together in London; nor yet anywheres else but what is private, and
beknown, and understood among friends....You won't find half so much fault in me if,
supposing as you should ever wish to see me, you come and put your head in at the forge
window and see Joe the blacksmith, there, at the old anvil, in the old burnt apron,
sticking to the old
work...."

It is this
admission of social inferiority that makes Pip feel ashamed. Instead of being
subservient to those of the upperclass like Pumblechook, though, Joe displays "a simple
dignity" as he informs Pip that he will not return to London, but, instead, remain at
the forge where Pip can visit him.

Clearly, Pip has become
snobbish because of his wish to be a gentleman, feeling now that he is superior to those
who do not have money and education.  He is concerned with his social position, even
worrying what the boorish Bentley Drummle might think if he should see Joe, who,
ironically, is more of a gentleman in his heart than Pip.  It is only when Joe mentions
that Miss Havisham has asked him to tell Pip that Estella wishes to see Pip, that Pip
shows interest in what Joe says during his visit.  Nevertheless, after Joe has departed,
Pip does try to catch him, but Joe has gone too far.

With
Great Expectations as a satire of what Dickens considered a
frivolous aristocracy, there are several targets of this satire in Chapter
XXVII.

Please analyze the quote below from "The Chrysanthemums." "Far ahead on the road Elisa saw a dark speck. She knew. She tried not to look as they...

Let us remember what has happened to Elisa through her
meeting with the tinker man. She, through his interest in her and her chrysanthemums,
suddenly feels free to imagine a different life where she is not so oppressed and
profoundly limited. Note the sexually charged moment when she contemplates reaching out
and holding on to his leg. The apparent interest that this stranger shows in Elisa and
the subsequent questions that she asks him about his way of life and how attractive it
seems to her shows her desire to break out of her confining situation. Her gift of the
chrysanthemum shoots symbolises something of this desire to be liberated and free.
However, as she drives off with her husband, she sees that the man has thrown the shoots
and the earth on the ground. In a crushing epiphany, she recognises that he was only
being polite to her to try and gain some custom and that he didn't really care either
about her or about her flowers. This of course represents a dual betrayal, as she sees
how the man has betrayed her, but how, much more importantly, she has betrayed herself
by allowing herself to be taken over by her romantic ideas of freedom and release. The
tears that result come from the re-imposition of the limitations of her life, that even
the thought of going to see the fights or having wine with dinner cannot shake
off.

What do we learn about the narrator as a character through her narrative techniques in "Saint Marie" by Louise Erdrich?

In Louise Erdrich's collection, Love
Medicine, and specifically the chapter entitled, "Saint Marie," the narrative
technique most evident is the use of "voice," showing what Marie is and what she is not.
(Erdrich also uses flashback, another narrative
device.)

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Through use of realism and evocative visual
imagery, Erdrich captures the contemporary
audience.

Voice
is the way in which the character speaks to the audience. Marie
seems to be a reliable narrator: she is realistic to the point of
cynicism, holding up the irony in the world around
her.

...the
narrator is not the author but a created persona with a personality, a behavior pattern
and special reasons for telling the story in the manner it is being
told...

Marie is a
fourteen-year old who can spot hypocrisy a mile away. She wants to join a convent, but
is not concerned with piety—simply with making a break with her
Native American heritage and getting the nuns to idolize
her.

Marie
is upfront and honest about her situation and her world view. She describes herself as a
girl who would do just about anything to get out of the bush and into
town.

I had
the mail-order Catholic soul you get in a girl raised out in the bush, whose only
thought is getting into
town.

With Marie's literary
voice, she describes the truth of the human condition. Marie describes a "windbreak"
that has been constructed in front of the bar, within the sight of the convent.
Allegedly installed for "the purposes of tornado insurance," Marie is having none of it:
she knows it is there so people can drink without being observed by the
sisters.

Marie goes to the convent and she is taken in.
Marie says:

I
was that girl who thought the black hem of her garment would help me rise. Veils of love
which was only hate petrified by longing—that was
me.

Marie is taken under the
wing of Sister Leopolda, who believes that Satan is alive and well. (Most of the other
nuns have lost track of him.) As the story continues, Sister Leopolda becomes obsessed
with reaching Marie's soul and keeping it from Satan, who Sister says wants Marie's soul
badly. Her "lessons" come in the form of Sister's physical abuse. Ultimately Sister
burns her; soon after, Marie tries to push Sister into the oven; it is then that Sister
hits Marie and stabs her in the hand with a fork. Unconscious, Marie is taken in to the
couch in Mother Superior's office.

The reader is aware of
the irony of the situation when Marie learns that Sister Leopolda has explained the
wound to Marie's hand as a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stigmata">stigmata ("bodily
marks or pains resembling the wounds of the crucified Jesus and sometimes accompanying
religious ecstasy"). Marie is being worshipped by the other sisters! This was what Marie
wanted all along! Marie's cynicism is obviously warranted: Sister Leopolda has saved
herself by making Marie the center of a "trumped up" miracle. She
realizes, too, that she has Sister Leopolda exactly where she wants her—but then takes
pity on her, saying nothing. Here, too, is irony as the "devilish" Marie is the one to
take pity on the sinful Sister Leopolda who all along has been telling Marie how hard
the devil has worked for Marie's
soul.

In the end, the adult voice of Marie, once again
recognizes the difference between appearance and reality. She realizes she is no saint,
but simply dust. And this is no place for her. She leaves the convent, turning her back
on Christianity when she states "Rise up and walk! There is no limit to this
dust!"

Analyze "The Road Not Taken" with a formalism and neo criticism perspective.

For ages hence, or for many years now, the narrator
wonders what would have happened if he had taken the other road. In fact, he tarried
where the two roads diverged. He stared down both roads. Why is the narrator hesitant
and unsure of which road to take?

No doubt, this poem is a
"what if" type of poem. Notice the title is about the road the narrator did not take. He
is writing about the road he did not take. He is wondering what would have happened in
his life if had taken the other road.

By the last stanza,
the reader is speculative about the author's "sigh." Is he sighing in a relieved sigh or
is he saddened by the fact that he did not take the other
road?

I shall
be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages
hence:

It is true that the
narrator desired to take both roads. He is torn between the two
roads:

And
both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden
black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way
leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come
back.

Sadly, the reader could
not take both roads. The road one takes in life determines so much about one's life. Did
the narrator take the right road? Would the other road have made a difference in his
life?Ultimately, the narrator "sighs" in reflection, but claims that the road he took
has made the difference.

Truly, by the end of the poem, the
reader gathers that the poet is mostly satisfied with his choice of the two roads. He
admits that he took the road that less people traveled and that has made all the
difference:

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Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I
took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the
difference.

In life, often
the road less traveled by is the best road. It is difficult to take a road less traveled
by for the grass is much taller. It is easy to walk where others have already tread down
the grass. Though the less traveled by road has difficuly in passage, it is the road in
which the traveler will not be persuaded to follow the crowd. Obviously, the narrator
knew which road to take all along. That does not mean we will not be tempted in
life.

What are the sacrifices Romeo and Juliet have made in order to be together?William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Certainly, Romeo and Juliet both sacrifice much in their
daring and "star-crossed" love.  For, they both abandon the safety and security that
comes from being children of aristocrats in Renaissance Verona, Italy. Their impassioned
love drives them to risk death on more than one
occasion.

Indeed, by attending the masquerade held in honor
of Juliet, Romeo challenges the edict of the Prince, who in the first scene of the play
forbids the Montagues and Capulets to disturb the "quiet of our streets" under pain of
losing their lives.  For, by entering the Capulet home, Romeo risks death at the hands
of the fiery-tempered Tybalt, who identifies him.  Later, in the second scene of Act II,
Romeo scales the walls of the Capulet orchard in the hope of again seeing Juliet; in so
doing, he risks death if any of the Capulet servants notice him.  When she walks out
onto the balcony, Juliet tells Romeo, 

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How cam'st thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?

The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death,
considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen find thee here.
(2.2.66-69)

Their subsequent
pledge of love and hasty marriage also endanger the young lovers.  For, Romeo and Juliet
have clearly sacrificed their security within their own families, and they both have
risked the wrath of both of their families by this marriage. 

In Act III, therefore, the danger of their having married
their enemies presents itself as Tybalt and Mercutio argue and the newly married Romeo
attempts to intervene.  Pledging his love for Tybalt now as the in-law of the Capulets,
Romeo raises the ire of Tybalt who is ignorant of this new development; he raises his
sword and Romeo impedes Mercutio from defending himself.  This tragic action causes
Romeo then to be banished from Verona by the Prince.  Thus, by marrying Juliet, Romeo
has lost his very citizenship in the Verona community and must separate himself from his
new wife.  So, he has to sacrifice any comforts he might have as the husband of
Juliet.

With Romeo banished, Juliet finds herself in a
situation which calls for self-sacrifice.  Since she cannot be with Romeo, her new
husband, and she cannot marry the Prince as her mother and father desire, Juliet loses
the security of her earlier life and must sacrifice her safety and comfort.  She turns
to Friar Laurence and drinks his potion to forestall any marriage between her and the
Prince.  With this potion, the friar plans, she will sleep as though dead; meanwhile the
friar will talk with Lord and Lady Capulet, informing them that their daughter cannot
marry Paris since she is already married.  However, the plan to notify Romeo in time
goes awry and the two lovers despair; finally, they pay the ultimate sacrifice of their
lives for the love of each other. 

What does John Smith do that amazes the Indians?

John Smith amazes the Indians with gunfire. The Indians
had never seen guns or gunpowder. This is a new phenomenon. The Indians were amazed by
the guns and gunpowder as you can see in the account published by John Smith in
1624:

Two
days after, Powhatan having disguised himself in the most fearfulest manner he could,
caused Captain Smith to be brought forth to a great house in the woods, and there upon a
mat by the fire to be left alone. Not long after, from behind a mat that divided the
house was made the most dolefulest noise he ever heard; then Powhatan, more like a devil
than a man, with some two hundred more as black as himself, came unto him and told him
now they were friends, and presently he should go to Jamestown, to send him two great
guns, and a grindstone, for which he would give him the county of Capahowosick, and for
ever esteem him as his son
Nantaquoud."

Truly, the
Indians were in total amazement at the guns. This is a type of weapon that they had not
seen or used before. The guns were fierce. Having only used bows and arrows, the guns
represented stronger warfare. Powhatan is willing to give up land in exchange for
guns.

The colonists had power over the Indians with the
guns. The Indians desired to have the guns to be able to compete with the colonists.
John Smith was amazing, but his guns were more amazing.

Why is it important recognize the distinction of the roles of "head of state" and "head of government?"

There is a very distinct difference between a head of
state and a head of government. The head of government generally oversees the actions of
a "cabinet," as is the case with the Prime Minister with the Parliament in England. In
this case there is a non-executive head of
state, but that person (Elizabeth II) does not exert the power that
the Parliament does. This has not always been the case, as seen with English monarchs.
Until Charles I was unseated and executed in the 1600s, the monarch always held the
supreme power within the government. At this time—1649—when the Protectorate was formed
and there was no longer a monarch, the power came into the hands of Parliament, and it
has been so since. Even when Charles II returned from exile to take the throne,
Parliament held onto its power, and monarchs had...

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...limited executive
authority.

This is a very
different situation as compared to the executive head of state who
is...

...a
chief public
representative...

The head of
state does not always have the title of "president," however, where the Americas are
concerned, there is a president who is the head of state: this is
called the "presidential system." In some instances, a head of state may be someone who
has assumed power in a non-democratic way, as is the case with dictators. However, the
head of state has executive power and is separate from the legislative branch of the
government. However...

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Presidential governments make no distinction
between the positions of  head of state and head of government, both of which are held
by the president.

Therefore,
my understanding is that the head of government is a person who
oversees a cabinet—this cabinet makes the decisions under the
guidance of the head of government—who has no executive power.
Whereas a head of state is...

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...any head of state who actually governs and is
independent of the
legislature.

The power rests
in two very different places with these distinctive types of leadership. The head of
government does not rule independently, while the "executive" head of state does. It is
important to make this distinction in order to understand who is actually responsible
for leading a country: based on the political hierarchy in place within a certain
country.

Additional
Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_England

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_I_of_England

Is there any summary of Rip Van Winkle and "The Legend of the Sleepy Hollow"? Please provide the main characters and themes of the story.

The story opens with the narrator describing the little
Dutch village and the surrounding country, a quiet and magical place. We are introduced
to the local schoolteacher, the gawky Ichabod Crane, considered to be the most learned
man in the area. He is particularly fond of witchcraft and magic, including the local
tale of the headless Hessian who rides through the area at night looking for his missing
head.

Crane is enamored with Katrina Van Tassel, a local
lass whose house also provides wonderful food. He dreams of Katrina--and the food--but
she has another suitor: Brom Bones, a handsome man who is quite the opposite of Ichabod.
Brom decides to play a series of pranks on Ichabod. One night at a party at the Van
Tassels, Ichabod becomes so overwhelmed by the good food that he decides to ask for
Katrina's hand in marriage. He is turned down, however, and he sadly begins his ride
home.

While on the road, Ichabod encounters the Headless
Horseman (actually Brom Bones), who chases him and finally knocks Ichabod from his horse
with his severed head (actually a pumpkin). When Ichabod does not show up to teach his
class the next morning, a search party investigates. All they find is his hat and a few
of his belongings alongside a broken pumpkin. Brom marries Katrina, but Ichabod is never
seen again.

The primary themes of the story have to do with
the differences between witchcraft and tall tales, and realistic beliefs; and how the
lives of country folk differ from city life.

Discuss the maturation of George Willard in "An Awakening," in Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio.

In the story entitled, "An Awakening," by Sherwood
Anderson in his collection, Winesburg, Ohio, George Willard's
maturation is short-lived. He is initially carried away with this "awakening" of his
potential. In seeing it in his mind, in hearing his voice say the words, he believes
that an entirely new world has been opened to him.

However,
as he begins to see these things, we get the sense that he is child-like in his approach
to this revelation, indeed to life, and it doesn't seem as if this man has what it takes
to embrace his new-found confidence and hold fast to it—regardless of the obstacles he
may face.

First, it might be important to note how Willard
reacts to the words when he first hears himself utter them. The narrator points out that
George is:

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Hypnotized by his own
words...

Hypnosis is an
action practiced on a receptive second party. The one hypnotizing his subject is in
control. The spell is broken by the one in control, and the state of being hypnotized is
temporary. This makes me wonder about George's state-of-mind, and we might see this
detail as foreshadowing, for he does not seem to be in control. Take Belle Carpenter as
an example. She is a source of hopes unrealized. George admits that in the past he felt
that Belle used him. Their time together has left him feeling
dissatisfied.

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In the past when he had been with her and had
kissed her lips he had come away filled with anger at himself. He had felt like one
being used for some obscure purpose and had not enjoyed the
feeling.

Even recognizing
this, George feels empowered by this new "vocabulary" with which he defines himself.
Armed with a belief that he has reinvented himself, George approaches Belle again, but
he ignores the very real "gut feeling" he had before; he plans to pursue her because he
thinks he has changed—Belle, however, has not. She is much more
interested in making the bartender, Ed Handby, jealous than worrying about George's
feelings.

Then, when the true test confronts him in the
form of Hanby, all of George's resolve disappears. It does not happen at once. He is
pushed down by Hanby three times, but only gets up twice. After the third time, Ed drags
Belle away, and George is humiliated and devastated. This is the
telling moment: can George's newfound self stand up to the trials and obstacles that
life throws in an attempt to knock one down, or at the very least, see what one is truly
made of? Perhaps George's "maturation" is too young. Perhaps he has not tried long
enough to embrace it. Maybe he could have succeeded if he had started
small—experimenting with a friend. However, having thrown himself into this change so
completely, with dreams of a new place in the world, George's words and ideas, as dear
as they are to him, cannot stand up against the harsh reality of the
world.

George has learned to speak new words out loud,
about himself—trying them on for size. It seems a good fit, but
like a new pair of shoes, when he tries to implement his new ideas of self into the
world, he wobbles and falls down. Perhaps the saddest thing of all is that it doesn't
seem that George will rethink what happened and try again.
This would be true maturity—but his
self-confidence disappears, and he returns home, totally
disenchanted.

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When his way homeward led him again into the
street of frame houses he could not bear the sight and began to run, wanting to get
quickly out of the neighborhood that now seemed to him utterly squalid and
commonplace.

What makes each of the regions in Asia Minor, the Middle East, distinct from the others?

Fundamentally, I would say that one of the major reasons
why the Middle East region is different than all others in the world is because of its
spiritual or religious significance.  The region is the birthplace to three of the
world's most dominant religions.  Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all owe the start of
their narratives to the Holy Land, located in the Middle East.  If one contemplates the
significance of this, it is quite staggering.  Billions of people all over the world,
and even more since recorded time, owe their spiritual allegiance, in great part, to the
areas of the Middle East.  It is for this reason that I would say that it is different
from all other regions in the world.  Convergence of three major religions is what
differentiates this region from all others.  Yet, it might be for this reason that there
is so much turmoil in the region.  Any area that claims the spiritual heritage of three
different religions in the world of such significance is bound to arouse deep seeded
resentment and anger amongst people on religious grounds.  Since the belief in religion
is usually a heartfelt conviction for which people have little problem waging war or
open conflict, this becomes one of the reasons why the region is so turbulent, despite
its powerful claim to transcendence.

In Julius Caesar Explain how Antony is able to work the crowd up into a frenzy with his speech.

One of the many aspects of Shakespeare's masterpiece
Julius Caesar is the theme of the manipulation of language.  Even
at the top of the play, the tribune Marullus sways the plebeians from celebrating to
mourning Caesar's triumph over Pompey.  This speech at the beginning exactly foreshadows
how Mark Antony later sways the populace from accepting his version of Ceasar's
assassination rather than that of Brutus.  His speech attempts to appeal to the reason
of the crowd, wherein he explains the assassination to have been motivated by what was
best for Rome. On the other hand, Antony's speech, which immediately follows, appeals to
the emotion of the crowd and paints Brutus and the conspirators as "honorable men" --
used sarcastically to incite the crowd into condemning the conspirator's actions.
 Antony point by point refutes Brutus, suggests to the crowd that Caesar was not
"ambitious," had the good of Rome as his guiding principle, and implies that the
conspirators should be punished for their deeds.  He further appeals to the crowd's
powerful emotion of greed, by presenting Caesar's will.  He moves them to pity, by
describing then showing Caesar's wounds.  Finally, he appeals to their gratitude by
describing the parks that Caesar has left for the masses.  Clearly Antony knows he is
manipulating the crowd through his words; at the conclusion of his speech, he says,
presumably to himself, "Mischief, thou art afoot, Take though what course thou
wilt."

Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare, Gramercy
Publishing, 2003 ed., pg I-297.

Identify second degree equation if the solutions are coordinates of the center of circle x^2+y^2+6y-4x=36.

We know that we can form the equation of second degree
when it's roots are known.

The quadratic is represented by
the general form:

x^2 - Sx + P = 0, where S = x1  + x2 (sum
of the roots) and P = x1*x2, product of roots.

Since the
roots of the quadratic are represented by the coordiates of the center of the given
circle, we need to determine them, first.

We'll create the
standad equation of the circle:

(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 =
r^2, where h and k are x and y coordinates of the center of circle and r is the
radius.

We'll take the terms in
x:

x^2 -4x

We'll add and
subtract 4:

x^2 -4x+4 - 4

The
first 3 terms represent the perfect square (x-2)^2

(x-2)^2
- 4

We'll take the terms in
y:

y^2 + 6y

We'll add and
subtract 9:

y^2 + 6y + 9 -
9

The first 3 terms represent the perfect square
(x+3)^2

(x+3)^2 - 9

We'll
re-write the equation of the circle:

(x-2)^2 - 4  + (x+3)^2
- 9 - 36 = 0

We'll combine like
terms:

(x-2)^2 + (x+3)^2 - 49 =
0

(x-2)^2 + (x+3)^2 =
49

Comparing, we'll get the coordinates of the center C (2
; -3) and the radius of the circle: r = 7

Now, since we
know the coordinates, we can create the quadratic
equation.

First, we'll determine the sum and the product of
the roots.

S = 2 - 3 = -1

P =
2*(-3) = -6

The quadratic equation, whose
roots are the coordinates of the center of given circle, is: x^2 + x - 6 =
0.

Is survival a theme in the book A Thousand Splendid Suns?And how is it a theme?

Survival is definitely one of the themes of the novel, and
the art of surviving becomes an essential part of the lives of Laila and Mariam. In
addition to the war which wages throughout Afghanistan for years, the two women face the
threat of injury or death on an almost daily basis from their abusive husband, Rasheed.
Mariam's mother, Nana, has already struggled with the daily rigors of surviving the
poverty of her own life, living in a simple hut just a few miles from Mariam's wealthy
father. Nana takes the easy way out, hanging herself rather than face a life without her
daughter.

The women face the hardships of starvation,
imprisonment, and psychological cruelty during their time under the roof of husband
Rasheed, who also savagely beats them. Laila is forced to accept Rasheed as a mate after
her own parents are killed in an explosion, leaving her with little other way of
surviving on her own. Mariam eventually dies at the hands of the Taliban, refusing to
implicate Laila in Rasheed's death so that her life may
continue.

Other characters must also deal with the threat
of an early death in Afghanistan. Tariq, who has already lost a leg to the war, is
forced to become a drug mule; he survives his stay in prison and returns to Kabul to
find his true love, Laila.

What does Thornton Wilder's Our Town have in common with ancient Greek drama and the Dionysiac cycle?

Although the Greek tragedies were based on legend and
history and the stories were of kings and heroes and their fall, Wilder told the story
of the common man.

That said, each act of Our Town conforms
to the Greek rules of time, place and action.  Act one is a day in the life of the town.
 The location is a single place (the town), it takes place in 24 hours and a single
story is told.  Like a Greek play in a trilogy, it could stand
alone.

Act two is the wedding and again we see a single
story being told and it is told in one day and again one
location.

Act three, the funeral, competes the "trilogy"
and again conforms to the rules.

The Stage Manager acts as
the chorus which in Greek theatre would explain, comment, interact,
etc.

So, although Wilder does not tell a story of heroes
and kings and their fall from power due to pride (hubris), he does conform to the
structure used by the Greeks.

what was the role of America in both the World Wars? it is really basic.

America only entered World War I in Spring, 1917 when
Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare. Prior to that time, the U.S. had
attempted to maintain neutrality. At the time the U.S. entered the war, both the Allied
and Central Powers were exhausted and locked in a stalemate. With fresh troops and the
strength of its economy behind it, the U.S. entry into the War played a key role in the
collapse of German lines. Primary American commander in World War I was General John J.
"Black Jack" Pershing; who presumably said upon landing in France, "Lafayette, we are
here." The war ended November, 1918; so U.S.participation was not that lengthy, but was
important.

The U.S. danced around neutrality originally in
World War II; although it was more involved than the government would like to admit. The
U.S. furnished Britain with "overaged" naval destroyers and also stopped shipments of
oil and scrap metal to Japan before it became actively involved. Japan had already
determined that war with the U.S. was inevitable and planned the attack on Pearl Harbor
to destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

The U.S. entered the war
after the Japanese bombed the fleet at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This was one
day after the German advance on Stalingrad was halted on December 6. Two days after the
U.S. declared war on Japan, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. American role in
World War II was much more decisive than in World War I. Dwight D. Eisenhower, later
president of the United States, was Supreme Commander of the European Theater of
Operations and personally directed the D-Day invasion of Normandy. In the Pacific
Theater, General Douglas McArthur commanded ground forces and Admiral Chester Nimitz
commanded Naval forces. The war ended after an American plane dropped an Atomic bomb on
Hiroshima and later Nagasaki in August, 1945.

What is x if the numbers 2*square root(x-1), 3+square root(2x-6), 2*square root (x+4) are the terms of an arithmetical progression?

If the given numbers are the consecutive terms of an
arithmetical progression, we could use the arithmetical mean
theorem:

3 + sqrt(2x-6) =
[2sqrt(x-1)+2sqrt(x+4)]/2

3 + sqrt(2x-6) = sqrt(x-1) +
sqrt(x+4)

We'll raise to square both
sides:

9 + 6sqrt(2x-6) + 2x - 6 = x - 1 + 2sqrt[(x-1)(x+4)]
+ x + 4

We'll combine like terms both
sides:

3 + 2x + 6sqrt(2x-6) = 3 + 2x + 2sqrt(x^2 + 3x -
4)

We'll eliminate 3 + 2x both
sides:

6sqrt(2x-6) = 2sqrt(x^2 + 3x -
4)

We'll divide by
2:

3sqrt(2x-6) = sqrt(x^2 + 3x -
4)

We'll raise to square both sides to eliminate the square
root:

9(2x-6) = x^2 + 3x -
4

x^2 + 3x - 4 - 18x + 54 =
0

x^2 - 15x + 50 = 0

The roots
of the quadratic are x1 = 5 and x2 = 10.

The
given numbers are the consecutive terms of an arithmetical progression if the values of
x are: x = 5 or x = 10.

How to find the lower an upper quartile given an even set of data?Take 2, 2.5 ,4,5.5,6,7 as an example!...

Quartiles are basically measures of central tendancy in a
group of data that divide it in four subgroups by three quartiles Q1, Q2 and
Q3.

Q1 - First Quartile - seperates first 1/4th data from
remaining 3/4th data (located at 25th
precentile)

Simillarly Q2 and Q3 are located 50th and 75th
percentile.

Now, the formula for finding quartile is i =
(P/100)*n where p = percentile and n = number of terms in
data.

If we get i=whole number, we take the quartile as the
average of ith term and (i+1)th from the data, eg. if i obtained is 3, we take average
of 3rd and 4th term as quartile

If "i" obtained is not
whole number, we simply take next term as quartile, eg. if i obtained is 3.75, we take
4th term as quartile.

In your
example,

Date = 2, 2.5, 4, 5.5, 6,
7

Q1(Lower Quartile), p=25, n=
6

i = (25/100)*6 = 1.5,

Since
i obtained is not a whole number, we take 2nd number as quartile, therefore Q1 =
2.5

Simillary for Q3(Upper Quartile), p=75,
n=6

i = (75/100)*6 = 4.5

Since
i obtained is not whole number, we take 5th number as quartile, therefore Q4 =
6.

Ans.:-

1) Lower Quartile Q1
= 1.5

2) Upper Quartile Q3 = 4.5

In the context of the American Dream, discuss Lennie's own hopes in Of Mice and Men.

Lennie's own vision represents the desire for domestic
happiness which is a part of the "American Dream."  While a significant part of the
American Dream is the idea of being able to generate wealth and develop a sense of
autonomy in one's life, I think that another part resides in domestic tranquility and
happiness in the personal realm.  This component of the American Dream builds on the
idea of private happiness, or finding a realm of comfort that cannot be intruded upon by
the outside world.  Certainly, Lennie desires for this.  From the start of the novel, he
wishes to own this farm with George where he can "tend the rabbits."  The ability to
feed, pet, and take care of the rabbits becomes the representation of his own happiness
in his American Dream.  Lennie does not covet money or power, but rather the
establishment of the private realm where his happiness lies.

What is the definite integral of y = square root(1-x^2) if x=0 to x=1.

I'll suggest to replace the variable x by the function sin
t.

x = sin t

We'll
differentiate both sides and we'll get:

dx = cos t
dt

We'll change the limits of integration,
too:

x = 0 => t = 0

x =
1 => t = pi/2

The definite integral will be
evaluated using the Leibniz Newton formula:

Int sqrt[1 -
(sin t)^2] cos t dt = F(pi/2) - F(0)

But, from Pythagorean
identity, we'll have:

1 - (sin t)^2 = (cos
t)^2

We'll take square root both
sides:

sqrt [1 - (sin t)^2] = sqrt (cos
t)^2

sqrt [1 - (sin t)^2] = cos
t

Int sqrt[1 - (sin t)^2] cos t dt = Int (cos t)^2
dt

Int (cos t)^2 = Int (1+cos
2t)dt/2

Int (1+cos 2t)dt/2 = Int dt/2 + (1/2)*Int cos 2t
dt

Int (1+cos 2t)dt/2 = t/2 + sin
2t/4

F(pi/2) - F(0) = pi/4 + sin pi/4 - 0 + sin
0/4

sin pi = 0

F(pi/2) - F(0)
= pi/4

The definite integral of the given
function is: Int sqrt(1 - x^2) dx = pi/4

can someone tell me how to work this question out? need to know for exam. A drink stall sells small,medium and large cups of fruit drink for...

Let S, M and L stand for small, medium and
large. 

So S(1.5) + M(2) + L(2.5) = 1360.  This means each
size cup times its price, all added together equals the entire amount of
$1360.

 But you can't solve with three different variables,
so you have to get everything so you only have one variable.  Let's see what you
know:

3S=M    3 times as many medium drinks as small or,
turning it around, 1/3M=S.

L= M-140    Number of large cups
is 140 less than the number of medium

Now, plugging in: 
1/3M(1.5) + M(2) + (M-140)(2.5) = 1360.

By working out the
value of M mathematically, you will know how many medium cups were sold.  1/3 of that
number will be the number of small cups, and the number of Medium - 140 will give you
the number of large cups.

In "Dusk" by Saki, what is the meaning of "jostling ranks of those who enjoyed prosperity or struggle for it?"

In "Dusk," by Saki, the narrator shares the main
character's disposition. The reader understands what Gortsby is
thinking:

So
Gortsby's imagination pictured things as he sat on his bench in the almost deserted
walk.

Gortsby believed the
defeated came out at dusk. He is feeling defeated at the
moment:

He was
in the mood to count himself among the
defeated.

If the defeated
show up at dusk, why is Gortsby out at this time of the evening? While some people who
come out at dusk have money problems, this is not the case with Gortsby. He did not have
financial issues:

readability="8">

Money troubles did not press on him; had he so
wished he could have strolled into the thoroughfares of light and noise, and taken his
place among the jostling ranks of those who enjoyed prosperity or struggled for
it.

In this passage, jostling
means to push or shove or to brush shoulders or elbows. Gortsby can fit in with the
wealthy who brush elbows in upper class events. The jostling ranks would be the upper
class people who enjoy money, those who rub elbows because of their prosperity. The
jostling ranks consist of people who attend upper class events because they are wealthy.
The jostling ranks have money through inheritance or through a struggle of hard
work.

Gortsby is thinking that he can push and shove with
the best of those who have money. He can brush shoulders or elbows with those who enjoy
money or struggle for money. In other words, money is not the issue. Gortsby can hold
his own when it comes to financial situations. Gortsby has
money.

Gortsby is sitting on the park bench for another
reason. He is preoccupied with something, but it is not a money issue. He can take his
place with those who rub elbows in high ranked positions of
society.

Analyze the quote below from Oedipus Rex.What is the significance/importance of this quote? What does it mean? "Then I shall begin again and...

One of the major distinguishing features of this amazing
play is the way that practically almost every line is full of dramatic irony concerning
the way in which Oedipus sets out on a kind of detective quest where he is unaware that
it is actually himself who is the criminal. This quote you have highlighted is a perfect
example of how this operates, as Oedipus publicly declares his intention to find the man
responsible for the death of the former king of Thebes, and ironically states that he
does this to protect himself. Note how he utters the fear that the murderer might wish
to punish Oedipus himself.

Such a quote therefore
highlights the way in which Oedipus is clueless about the impending discovery and the
tragedy that this unveiling of his own involvement in the present calamity faced by
Thebes. The dramatic irony is sharp and biting when Oedipus says that his motive for
finding the murderer is to stop himself being harmed and punished, when we know that the
very process of finding out the identity of the murder will be the ultimate undoing of
Oedipus.

How and when did American writers and poets respond to the Civil War?This is for my 11th grade english class, second semester, chapter 4.

If your definition of literature includes speeches and
historical documents, Lincoln's Inagural Address together with the Gettysburg Address
and the Emancipation Proclamation are certainly worth looking at. In these documents,
Lincoln illustrates the irreconciliable arguments on slavery that have led to the
conflict between the Union and the South. You can also look at Frederick Douglass's "An
American Apocalypse" (1861) to see that the Union was not so easily persuaded that the
abolishment of slavery should be one of the main points of their agenda and preferred to
see the conflict as an effort to preserve the unity of the nation. Common people such as
soldiers and civilians also wrote about the trauma of the civil war in journals and
memoirs. The second links takes you to a comprehensive list of these contributions and
primary sources.

As with other traumatic historical events,
the American civil war has continued to attract the attention of writers well beyond its
conclusion. In The Red Badge of Courage (1895), Stephen Crane used
the memoirs of civil war soldiers, filtered through the war stories by Russian writer
Tolstoy, to give a naturalist reconstruction of the civil war. To this naturalist
foundation, Crane also added psychological depth and symbolic overtones. The war is
potrayed in all its horror and the narratives emphasizes the alienation and loneliness
of soldiers as well as the lack of free will and personal
choice.

For a Southern perspective on the civil war, you
could look at Thomas Dixon's novel The Clansman (1905), which
served as the basis of D. W. Griffith's film Birth of a Nation.
Making African Americans little more than caricatures, the novel exemplifies
the appeal for white supremacy that characterized the post-reconstruction era. Margaret
Mitchell's bestseller Gone with the Wind (1936) also offers a
Southern perspective on the war together with a focus on the gender and class structure
of Southern society and how this organization is affected by the
conflict.

Which two conflicts does Lear face during the storm in King Lear?

It is clear that the storm that dominates in Act III is
symbolic of the turmoil that is engulfing Lear's kingdom and Lear himself. It appears
that the two major conflicts Lear faces in Act III scene 2 are internal and external.
His increasingly unfocused and bizarre comments suggest that he is facing an internal
conflict to maintain hold of his sanity. Lear himself recognises that his "wits begin to
turn" as he rages against his two ungrateful daughters that have cast him
out.

Secondly, Lear obviously faces and comments upon the
external conflict he has with his daughters, which has resulted in his exile status as
he wanders through the countryside seeking shelter. Notice how Lear addresses the storm
in regard to this external conflict:

readability="22">

Rumble they bellyful! Spit, fire! Spout,
rain!

Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire, are my
daughters.

I tax not you, you elements, with
unkindness;

I never gave you kingdom, called you
children.

You owe me no
subscription.

Because the
storm does not "owe" Lear anything, he encourages it to rage on, in contrast to his "two
pernicious daughters," who owe their father a great deal but have done nothing to help
him, and instead have spurned him, throwing him out of their
houses.

Are the battles in Macbeth good examples to explore the theme of violence and masculinity?

I would definitely want to argue that this is the case. I
think one of the best parts of the play you can use to argue this is actually at the
beginning of the play, in Act I scene 2, when Duncan is hearing the report of the battle
between the forces of Norway and the treacherous Thane of Cawdor. Note how the exploits
of Macbeth, who is called "Bellona's bridegroom," are
conveyed:

For
brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name),

Disdaining
Fortune, with his brandish'd steel,

Which smok'd with
bloody execution,

Like Valour's minion, carv'd out his
passage,

Till he fac'd the
slave;

Which ne'er shook hands., nor bade farewell to
him,

Till he unseam'd him from the nave to
th'chops,

And fix'd his head upon our
battlements.

What is
important to realise is that we have not actually been introduced to Macbeth yet. This,
then, is our first introduction to his character. And note what a bloody, violent
character he is presented as being. His blade smokes with "bloody execution" and he is
reported to have violently and perhaps excessively killed the Thane of Cawdor, chopping
him in two and beheading him. Yet note Duncan's response to this violent
deed:

O
valiant cousin! worthy
gentleman!

It appears that
from the beginning of the play such acts of gratuitous and aggressive violence are
linked with an approved sense of masculinity. To be a "man" who is worthy of preferment
and the King's notice, it is suggested, you have to be willing to perpetrate such acts
of violence.