In what ways can Beatrice be seen as a pawn of the men?

Beatrice can be seen as a pawn of the men because she makes relatively few decisions for herself in the story; most of the story's action takes place as a result of her father's and Giovanni's choices.  For example, her father, we learn at the end of the story, has essentially orchestrated the entire relationship between his daughter and Giovanni.  He never consulted her, he only spied on her as a means to understanding her feelings for the young stranger. 

Moreover, Giovanni, after he learns that he has become almost as poisonous as Beatrice is, cannot simply stay in this strange Eden with the woman he loves.  He has to change her, and so he asks her -- in order to prove her love and honesty -- to drink the antidote Professor Baglioni gave him that will change her nature, irrevocably changing her from the woman he fell in love with.  Although, I suppose one could wonder if he really was in love with her if it was so easy for him to turn on her.  Giovanni could have drunk the antidote first, to make sure it was safe, but he manipulated her feelings with his suspicion so that she would volunteer to go first. 

For these reasons, even if she doesn't realize it, Beatrice is usually acting as a part of someone else's plan, someone else's experiment or goal. 

Why does gravity exist? And how does it work to be good at football?

The question of why gravity exists is not a scientific inquiry, rather it is a religious line of questioning.  Although science can explain the theory of gravity well, it cannot fully explain the entire concept of gravity or its uniqueness in the universe.  Science can basically answer how it works and when it should be expected to occur, but it cannot answer why it exists no more than science can answer why the universe exists.

Gravity is the force of attraction. It is the measurable amount of pull between two objects in the most basic sense. It is theorized that everything with mass has gravitational pull when acting in concert with another object with mass.  This is because the mathematical formula for gravity includes mass as an integral part. The mathematical formula for gravity is:

Fgrav = Gm(1)m(2) / r^2

Using the gravitational constant (G), it is possible to determine the gravitational pull (or force) based upon the mass of two objects. While gravity is understood and widely accepted as a universal force, it does have its own unique properties. For example, the speed of gravity is not fully understood. The theory of relativity suggests a curvature of space-time limiting the speed of gravity to that of light.  However, if operating on theories where such an indent is not accepted, then gravity must travel faster than the speed of light.

Gravity does not help or hurt any part of the game of football (American or European). Gravity is part of the game. However, understanding gravity can help a player improve at any given moment in the game. In additional to understanding gravity, understanding geometry and physics will aide a player. 

Football has a ball with a defined weight parameter to be accepted by the league (supposing it is played professionally). Therefore, the ball will continue to act in the same manner every time unless another parameter changes. Gravity is a constant force on the ball and cannot be changed by the players, therefore limiting the actionable parameters. To best understand let's look at a scenario of kicking the ball. Once the ball is kicked gravity will continue to pull the ball downward. This creates an arc when the force of the kick propelling the ball is overcome by the force of gravity pulling back toward the ground. Even a mediocre player can calculate the landing zone for the kick based on the first half of the arc. The ball will continue on an arcing path downward which will mirror the ascending arc. The only parameter affecting the ball which will greatly affect the landing zone is wind resistance pushing the ball. Mastering the art of arc calculation will help any football player.

Another area where gravity is important is the one-on-one struggle in football. American football has a lot more contact than European football (soccer), but there is still some contact. Because gravity is always working to pull bodies down, people will naturally fall if gravitational pull overcomes our muscular-skeletal ability to hold an upright posture. When two people collide the person who is able to manipulate the other into a position of compromise will win by forcing the other person to fall or slow down to compensate for the gravitational pull on the body.

Why doesn't Venus have any moons?

Earth's moon was formed from a huge collision with another planet billions of years ago when it was still extremely young. This impact threw up an enormous cloud of debris and temporarily shifted Earth's gravitational field by warping the shape of the newly formed planet. This shift in gravitational pull allowed for the debris to remain in orbit long enough to come together into a moon. The pull of the moon on our oceans creates the daily tide fluctuations that we experience. The water itself is not advancing or receding; it is actually the Earth rotating underneath the tidal bulge created by the moon. The tides and Earth itself influence the moon's orbit as well by acting back on it. Because of this gravitational interaction, the moon has slowly been receding since it formed.

One theory about Venus's lack of moon, attributed to Caltech's David Stevenson and Alex Alemi, suggests that Venus had a moon of its own at one point, formed through this same process. Rather than drifting away until it was unleashed from Venus's pull, which would have taken billions and billions of years, the moon careened back into Venus and was destroyed. The first impact that formed this moon reversed Venus's spin and the moon behaved as Earth's has and still does today. However, a second impact cancelled this counterclockwise spin and changed the gravitational interaction between Venus and its moon. As a result, the moon was drawn towards the planet, where it collided and was obliterated.

Why do we need a manometer?

A manometer is a scientific instrument used to measure pressure in either air or liquids.  At its most basic, it is a U-shaped tube that contains a liquid like water or mercury (in older instruments) in the U-bend.  A pressure differential applied across the system will cause the liquid levels on either side of the U-bend to be uneven and the pressure applied to the system can be calculated from the measured distance between the two levels.  A classic example is an old mercury barometer for measuring air pressure.

Manometers can be used today to measure pressures inside closed systems that involve either air or liquid flows.  They are inexpensive to build and can be easily attached to pressure flow systems.

What is Golding's message about civilization in the novel Lord of the Flies?

Throughout the novel, a group of civilized boys quickly descends into savagery after crash landing on an uninhabited island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. One of the predominant themes throughout the novel examines humanity's primitive instincts and inherent wickedness. Jack and Roger personify humanity's affinity for violence and savagery. Golding believed that every human was inherently evil and, given the opportunity to live in a community without laws and regulations, barbarism would reign. Golding suggests that without restrictions and rules, humans would act upon their primitive instincts, which would create a lawless, dangerous society. Regarding civilization, Golding suggests that organization, structure, laws, and democracy are essential aspects to maintain civility in society. Without order and individuals to enforce the law, civilization would crumble and cease to exist.

How can I describe Romeo and Juliet?

Because Romeo and Juliet is a play rather than a novel,we do not have a narrator giving us an authoritative description of the two characters. Instead, much is left to the creativity of the actors and director; as readers we must use our own imaginations. Because of this, your description should be based on how you imagine these characters as you read through the play.

What we do know is that the play is set in late medieval Verona. We know Juliet to be 13 years old. In the Elizabethan theater the role would have been played by a man, although modern stagings usually cast women in the role. Romeo's age is not specified, though he is described as relatively young. He could be anywhere from his late teens to early twenties. 

Both characters were members of the nobility, from powerful, wealthy families with numerous servants. Neither of them has anything resembling a job. Both seem impetuous, likely to act on impulse without thinking. Both are willing to defy and lie to their families in order to have relationships with people they have barely met, and so we can surmise that they tend to act on emotions rather than thinking and to put their own immediate emotional desires above loyalty to family and friends. 

What is a duodenal ulcer?

Definition

A duodenal ulcer is a peptic ulcer that is located in the duodenum, the
upper part of the small intestine where it attaches to the stomach. The ulcer is a
sore on the lining of the duodenum.

Causes

More than one-half of the cases of duodenal ulcer are caused by
infection with a bacterium called
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Aspirin and ibuprofen are examples of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) that can also cause duodenal ulcers. Rarely, tumors
that are benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) may cause ulcers. Eating
spicy foods, stress, smoking, and drinking alcohol do not cause, but do often
worsen the symptoms of, ulcers.

Risk Factors

Infection with H. pylori is common. Infections can develop in childhood without causing symptoms until later in life. Drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food increases the risk of taking in the bacterium. Food that is not properly washed or cooked increases the chance of infection. Contact with the saliva, vomit, or feces of an infected person may also transfer the bacterium.

Symptoms

Discomfort in the abdomen is the most common symptom, but some people have no
symptoms or mild symptoms only. Discomfort may be a dull or burning pain
(heartburn) that lasts a few minutes or hours when the
stomach is empty, and episodes may continue for days or weeks. Discomfort may
improve after eating or taking antacids. Weight loss, lack of appetite, burping,
bloating, nausea, and vomiting are all common symptoms. If sharp, persistent, and
severe pain or bloody vomit or bowel movements occur, one should consult a doctor
immediately.

Screening and Diagnosis

A physician usually makes the diagnosis by taking a careful history of drugs
used, especially prescription or over-the-counter NSAIDs, and by testing for
H. pylori. A breath test or stool test are more accurate at
finding H. pylori than are blood tests. If symptoms are severe, a
thin, lighted tube with a camera on the end (endoscope) is threaded down the
throat and through the stomach to the duodenum to look at the area
(endoscopy). Radiology (X-ray) tests of the upper
gastrointestinal tract may also be done.

Treatment and Therapy

The primary treatment for NSAID-related duodenal ulcers is stopping the drug
and using medicines that reduce stomach acid to decrease pain and promote healing
and coat the ulcer to protect it from stomach acid. For duodenal ulcers caused by
H. pylori, antibiotic therapy for ten to fourteen days usually
heals the ulcer. Different antibiotic regimens are used throughout the world
because the H. pylori bacterium has become resistant to some
antibiotics. This means that the drug is no longer effective
in killing the bacterium. Medicines to reduce acid and coat the ulcer are also
used. About four weeks after treatment, the person is tested again to see if the
H. pylori bacterium is gone.

Prevention and Outcomes

While it is not known how H. pylori spreads, the bacterium can be avoided with careful handwashing, especially after using the toilet and before eating, washing, and cooking food; drinking clean water; not sharing drinks and food with others; and using gloves when cleaning up vomit or bowel movements. Taking NSAIDs in recommended doses or only when needed may also prevent a duodenal ulcer.

Bibliography

Feldman, Mark, Lawrence S. Friedman, and Lawrence J. Brandt, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. New ed. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Saunders/Elsevier, 2010.

Kapadia, Cyrus R., James M. Crawford, and Caroline Taylor. An Atlas of Gastroenterology: A Guide to Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis. Boca Raton, Fla.: Pantheon, 2003.

Kirschner, Barbara S., and Dennis D. Black. “The Gastrointestinal Tract.” In Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics, edited by Karen J. Marcdante et al. 6th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders/Elsevier, 2011.

McColl, Kenneth E. L. “ Helicobacter pylori Infection.” New England Journal of Medicine 362 (2010): 1597-1604.

Please discuss "Young Goodman Brown" as an allegory.

"Young Goodman Brown" can be read as an allegory of the Christian soul and what happens when the soul chooses to turn away from God -- for even the briefest amount of time.  Goodman is the Puritan Mister, but it also seems symbolic of Brown's potential for goodness, should he make the right decisions.  Likewise, Brown is such a common surname that it helps the character to seem like a kind of everyman figure. 

Goodman Brown's wife's name is Faith, and she symbolizes his Christian faith in God.  However, he chooses to abandon her at home, leaving his faith behind him.  He even says that "'after this one night, [he'll] cling to her skirts and follow her to Heaven.'"  But this is not how faith works: the truly faithful do not abandon their faith when it suits them.  When Goodman Brown abandons his faith, planning to have just one more sinful night, he makes a mistake that he can never fix. 

A Christian cannot abandon his or her faith and then expect it to be waiting  whenever they decide to be faithful and good again.  Although one might fail, a dedication to always trying to remain faithful and avoid sin is required.  However, because Brown abandons his faith, he is never again able to reclaim it, and he spends the rest of his life in misery and solitude, separated even from God.

A car travels at an average speed of 50km/h to reach its destination which is 17km away. How long did it take a car to reach its destination?

Since you know the average speed is 50km/h, this means that:

if the car travels for 60 minutes, then it travels 50km. We can write this as 60n=50km

then we solve for n, which is 5/6.

Next, we want to find the blank for: if the car travels for x minutes, then it travels 17km. so we can write that as x(5/6)=17km. x=17/(5/6). x=20.4.

Therefore, it takes 20.4 minutes to travel 17km.

In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, why is it surprising that Rebecca Nurse is charged with witchcraft?

It is absolutely surprising that Rebecca Nurse is charged with witchcraft because, as Miller writes when he introduces her and her husband, "the general opinion of her character was so high [...]."  She is widely known to be pious and humble and godly.  Her mere presence is enough to quiet Betty Parris who is strangely sick in bed.  She insists that if there is some problem in Salem then the townspeople should examine themselves to learn its cause; she wishes to avoid any hysteria caused by a fear of witches. 

When Mr. Hale arrives, never having met Rebecca before, he recognizes her because, as he says, "I supposed you look as such a good soul should."  He claims that everyone in Beverly, a town or two over, has heard of Rebecca's good works.  Her reputation is so sterling that people even know her in another town and that this man of God can recognize her simply because she seems so holy.  In Act Two, he insists that "if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing's left to stop the whole green world from burning."  She is everything that is charitable and good, and so the idea of her being accused seems ludicrous to anyone who is likewise honest.

Why was oil a valuable resource during the war?

Oil was of course of great importance to all the countries involved in World War II. But some countries had plenty of it, while getting oil was a huge problem for other countries. The United States had more than enough oil, but the biggest concern was getting it to where it was needed. The United States was shipping oil to Great Britain in tankers. It was especially needed to be refined and to fuel aircraft. The Germans were trying to cut the flow of oil to Britain by using large packs of submarines to torpedo the tankers, and this remained a problem throughout most of the war.

The U.S.S.R. had plenty of oil as well as lots of other resources in its vast territories. However, the Germans were trying to capture the Soviet oil fields in order to have the oil for themselves as well as to deprive the Soviets of their own oil. Japan, like Britain, had no domestic oil resources. But they had captured a huge amount of territory during the early part of the war, and they were importing oil mainly from what was then called the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). Later in the war the U.S. was able to hurt Japan badly by using submarines to torpedo tankers bringing extremely vital oil to the Japanese. Oil fueled war industries, fueled tanks, ships, and especially aircraft. Germany was at an extreme disadvantage towards the end of the war because it was running out of oil. Their huge panzer tanks were useless without the oil which they consumed in large quantities. Their aircraft were grounded without high-octane gas refined from oil.

Explain the concept of "incarnation" in this passage: "...One autumn night, five years before, they had been walking down the street when the...

The definition of an "incarnation" is when a god or deity becomes human.  So, this question implies that Gatsby is a god made human.  

There are elements in this quote from Chapter 6 that show Gatsby in an ethereal light.  For instance, the description of the moonlight shining and the mixture of darkness and seeing the stars.  The color "white" is also mentioned in this passage, which tends to be equated to purity and divinity.  

The last line of the passage is especially significant.  Only Gatsby sees this ladder that climbs upward, like toward heaven, and once he is there, all the wonders of the world will be revealed to him.  The last line gives the impression of omniscience to Gatsby, that he is as all-knowing as a god might be.

It is also significant that this passage takes place when he first meets and falls in love with Daisy.  The next paragraph reads:

His heart beat faster and faster as Daisy's white face came up to his own.  He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God.  So he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning-fork that had been struck upon a star.  Then he kissed her.  At his lips' touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete.

This passage almost reads like the story of Adam and Eve--when they take a bite from the Tree of Knowledge, all is revealed to them in that moment, but it is also the start of their fall from grace.  So, too, will this kiss be the beginning of Gatsby's fall.

In The Giver, what was the unidentified aircraft at the beginning of the story?

The unidentified aircraft that flew over the community was a jet plane.

One day a “needle-nosed single-pilot jet” flies over the community.  This causes fear in Jonas and everyone else, because planes are not allowed to fly over the community.  The Speaker orders everyone to stop what they are doing and seek shelter immediately. 

He had seen it both times. Squinting toward the sky, he had seen the sleek jet, almost a blur at its high speed, go past, and a second later heard the blast of sound that followed. Then one more time, a moment later, from the opposite direction, the same plane. (Ch. 1) 

The pilot-in-training is released for his error.  He flew over the community by accident.  The community is very intolerant of error, especially when it causes fear or discomfort for everyone.  The Elders considered shooting the plane down, but The Giver urged them to be cautious and wait for more information. 

The plane might have been a search plane.  When Jonas and Gabe escape, they are dogged by planes who are searching for them, looking for their heat signature.  Jonas is terrified of getting caught.  He uses the memories to hide their body heat, making them both cold. 

He knew they were search planes. They flew so low that they woke him with the noise of their engines, and sometimes, looking out and up fearfully from the hiding places, he could almost see the faces of the searchers. (Ch. 21) 

Eventually, the planes give up when they do not find Jonas and Gabe.  The plane Jonas remembers in the beginning of the book foreshadows this later trouble.  Jonas is convinced that he will be released if the search planes find him.  He has already broken too many rules and caused too much trouble.

What does the saying that "knowledge is justified, true belief" mean?

The formulation that "knowledge is justified, true belief" is basically a recasting of Plato within the framework of modern analytical philosophy, and scholars disagree about whether, in fact, in Plato knowledge can be described as true belief or contrasted to the notion of belief. In the many Platonic Greek texts, "doxa" (belief or opinion) is normally contrasted with "episteme" or knowledge, with one being temporary and contingent and the other timeless and absolute. 

The formulation of "justified true belief" accounts for how we come to have knowledge. We have many beliefs or opinions. For example, I might believe that Brand X oatmeal is cheaper than Brand Y oatmeal at my local supermarket on the basis of advertising and the price I pay at the checkout counter. That is an opinion supported by evidence and thus is "justified belief". One of my friends, however, points out that the Brand X package contains less oatmeal than the Brand Y one, even though the packages appear to be the same size. Thus my belief about the relative prices would be false. My friend's statement that "Brand Y oatmeal is actually cheaper than Brand X if you calculate cost per ounce" would be a justified true belief. 

The work of Edmund Gettier and a subsequent set of analyses challenge the analytical formulation of this definition of knowledge on the general basis that one can know something true about X and have a belief about X which is true but that the two may be independent of one another. The arguments against the formulation of knowledge as true belief by Gettier and his successors are known as Gettier problems. 

`int (sin^3(sqrt(x)))/sqrt(x) dx` Evaluate the integral

`int[(sin^3sqrtx)/(sqrtx)]dx=`

Integrate using the u-substitution method. For this problem the u-substitution method will be used twice. The first time we substitute, let's use the variable y.

Let

`y=sqrtx`

`(dy)/dx=1/(2sqrtx)`

`dx=2sqrtxdy`

`int[(sin^3(y))/y*2sqrtxdy=`

`2int[(sin^3(y))/(y)]*ydy=`

`2intsin^3(y)dy=`

`2intsin^2(y)sin(y)dy=`

`2int(1-cos^2(y))sin(y)dy=`

The u-substitution method will be used a second time. We will use the variable u.

Let

`u=cosy`

`(du)/dy=-sin(y)`

`dy=(-sin(y))/(du)`

`2int(1-u^2)sin(y)[(du)/(-sin(y))]=`

`-2int(1-u^2)du=`

`-2[u-1/3u^3]+C=`

`-2u+2/3u^3+C`

Substitute in for u. `u=cos(y)`

`-2cos(y)+2/3cos^3(y)+C` 

Substitute in for y. `y=sqrtx`

`-2cos(sqrtx)+2/3cos^3(sqrtx)+C`

The final answer is:  `-2cos(sqrtx)+2/3cos^3(sqrtx)+C`

Describe two times in the past when The Giver used his memories to advise the Committee of Elders in Chapter 14.

The Giver advised the committee on expanding the population and dealing with the jet plane that flew over the community. 

Jonas asks The Giver what the purpose of the memories is, because he has difficulty with the painful ones.  The Giver explains to Jonas that the memories give them wisdom, and that the community needs to be able to ask for advice. 

An example The Giver demonstrates is when the Elders considered adding more members to the population, and giving some family units an additional child.  The Giver reflects, and experiences memories of starvation and warfare.  He does not tell the Committee this, he just advises them. 

"They don't want to hear about pain. They just seek the advice. I simply advised them against increasing the population." (Ch. 14) 

The Committee members have no idea where the wisdom comes from.  They just know that the Receiver of Memory knows things they don’t.  It is a position of honor, but not power.  They listen to his advice, and then make their own choices. 

Another example is the jet plane that flew over the community.  It was an accident, because a pilot in training was lost.  The Committee had asked The Giver for advice then too. 

“… They prepared to shoot it down. But they sought my advice. I told them to wait."

"But how did you know? How did you know the pilot was lost?"

"I didn't. I used my wisdom, from the memories. I knew that there had been times in the past--terrible times--when people had destroyed others in haste, in fear, and had brought about their own destruction." (Ch. 14) 

In this case, the plane was not shot down.  The pilot was still released.  He committed an error the community considered unforgivable and had to be punished.  Since no one in the community has memories of death, they have no idea what they are doing when they release someone.

In what ways does Lennie fail to meet George's needs in Of Mice and Men ?

Based on the information that the character of George verbalizes throughout the novella, it is safe to say that George's needs are the following:

• Stability- In more than one occasion we hear George complain about having to move from one place to another because of Lennie's issues. It is impossible to blame him. He has had to run from town to town all because of transgressions that he had not even committed. It is frustrating to him, and with good reason, to never find a place to stay and flourish. It is very hard to make a plan, and carry it on, where there is no solid ground upon which to base it.

Steinbeck - Of Mice and Men

I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn’t have you on my tail.

• Compassion- George complains a lot in the novel, but he has every reason to do so. He does not ask for anything for himself and he always keeps Lennie by his side. Yet, even in his conversations with Slim, there is a degree of vulnerability that betrays his want for the world to understand and appreciate what he goes through with Lennie on a daily basis. 

Therefore, it is very hard to be George. You have to be compassionate and full of patience, accepting, flexible, and willing to sacrifice. 

Do today's music, fashion, and TV/movies challenge and change the social norms in the same way that music in the 1960s influenced people to change...

Every generation defines itself in relation to the generation that came immediately prior. The young people of the 1960s were children of parents who survived the Great Depression in the U.S. and they sought to create lives that contrasted with the lives of their parents. The older generation had gotten young men (mostly) engaged in a war that seemed to be a fruitless waste of human life and some of that older generation resisted the changes brought along by the Civil Rights Movement. Fashions of that period of time, the music, and other forms of popular culture reflect these conditions and more. For example, young men began wearing their hair long as a contrast to the clean cut look of both the 1950s and the Armed Services. Protest songs reflected social conditions during the time, as did rock and roll, particularly as rock became more avant garde. Television and movies were more conservative but they still responded to the youth movements, whether through expressing support, bewilderment, or downright dislike.

At the same time, not only did popular culture respond to youth culture, but it also drove youth culture. Music brought new people into awareness of social conditions, which inspired some to join the counter culture. Television shows such as Rowen and Martin's Laugh-in made groovy partying into a good thing. 

The same is true of today's young people and popular culture. Our high-tech age makes certain kinds of movies (think special effects), music, fashions (wearable tech), and so forth possible, so that is one way that cultural production influences people's lives. Imagine what life would be like without social media, which has profoundly changed the lives of many young people, particularly in contrast to the lives of young people in a time where the height of tech was having a stereo phonograph. Another influence is the fact that the conditions that young people face currently are very different from those faced in the 1960s. Today's economy is struggling a lot more than it did in the post–World War II years and today's young people not only have trouble finding a job, but they also may have significant debt for a college education. A significant line of thinking in the 1960s was utopic; this is where communes came into play.

Of course, we have about forty years of intervening history between today and the height of the 1960s, so we have the value of hindsight in considering the culture of the 1960s. In about 40 years, we should be able to provide many more examples; in the meantime, the answer to your question is yes, popular culture influences each generation and also that each generation influences popular culture. 

What are the four olds in Red Scarf Girl?

The four olds are old ideas, old habits, old customs, and old culture. In the novel, Red Guards under the jurisdiction of the Communist Party terrorize the populace by ransacking their homes and confiscating any belongings considered to be 'four olds.' Apparently, the idea is to be rid of the 'four olds,' so that they can be steadily replaced with the 'four news': new culture, new customs, new habits, and new ideas. With this in mind, even stores and establishments with 'four olds' names are renamed by party officials.

In the story, what is considered 'four olds' seems to be based on arbitrary rules. Ji-Li's interaction with her classmates illustrate this fact: a boy named Du Hai, whose mother is the Neighborhood Party Committee Secretary, argues that the old Confucian habit of showing respect to elders and people of higher rank is a bourgeois attitude, unworthy of a Communist. Ji-Li herself is accused of being a capitalist exploiter because her family has a housekeeper.

Meanwhile, telling fortunes is also considered part of the old superstitions and religion. When An Yi and Ji Li try to ascertain what the future holds by writing different things on pieces of paper, they must do so in secret. Firecrackers are also considered 'four olds' and is banned during Chinese New Year. When the Red Guards come to Ji Li's home, Ji Li has her prized stamp collection album confiscated by a Red Guard leader. To add to her pain, the Red Guard leader cruelly accuses Ji Li of being a xenophile, a lover of all foreign culture and beliefs.

Even photographs and clothes are not exempt from the draconian rules. All long gowns, silk ties, pointed shoes, and mandarin jackets are considered 'four olds' and to be destroyed. In the story, Ji Li laments the fact that her family has to burn all incriminating photographs, whether they have sentimental value or not. One picture, a favorite of Ji Li's, is especially precious to her. It shows her grandmother in her youth, dressed in a fur coat and standing next to Ji Li's father, then a little boy of about six or seven. Ji Li's father is seated on a camel in the photograph. To Ji Li's despair, her mother throws the picture into the fire because Ji Li's grandmother is wearing a fur coat in the photograph. Also, Ji Li's mother fears that the family will be accused of being wealthy because Ji Li's father was seated on a camel.

So, you can see that the campaign against the 'four olds' targeted all that was familiar and beloved to the populace during the Cultural Revolution.

What evidence would you cite to defend the actions of Papa in Chapters 11 and 12 of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry?

Papa was justified in setting fire to the cotton because he was trying to protect his family and the Averys. 

Papa had to do something because things had become very serious.  The Wallaces were determined to hang as many of them as they could in response to the robbery of the Barnetts.  Starting the fire was a desperate but necessary act.

T.J. arrives injured at the Logan house in the middle of the night.  As Cassie listens to Mr. Morrison, T.J. shows up. He explains that he has been beaten up by the Simms.  He says something is “busted.” 

“Tell me how come they did this to you.”

“’Cause... ’cause I said I was gonna tell what happened.”

Stacey and I looked at each other, then together leaned closer to T.J. “Tell what?” we asked (Ch. 11).

T.J. is worried because he thinks his father will throw him out if he finds out, so he went to the Logans for help.  Stacey makes him explain what happened, and he tells them that he and the Simms boys broke into the store and attacked the Barnetts, where he stole a pearl-handled pistol.  When T.J. said that he was going to tell what happened, the Simms boys turned on him. 

The children go to T.J.’s house.  They see the Wallaces drag the Averys out of their house.  They even attack T.J.'s brother Claude, injuring him badly. The children are frightened and want to get help.  The Wallaces see T.J. and drag him out.  He still has the gun from the store and they know he was one of the robbers. 

Mr. Jamison arrives at this time, and the Wallaces are annoyed he is interrupting.  They tell him not to interfere, and he says that Hank Wade, the sheriff, is on his way.  Wade tells them Mr. Granger does not want any hangings on his place.  Stacey asks Cassie to go get her father. 

Cassie tells her father what happened, including what happened to Claude.  He is worried because Stacey is still there.  Papa starts to get a shotgun, but Mama argues with him. 

“You fire on them and they’ll hang you for sure. They’d like nothing better.”

“If I don’t, they’ll hang T.J. This thing’s been coming a long time, baby, and T.J. just happened to be the one foolish enough to trigger it. But, fool or not, I can’t just sit by and let them kill the boy. And if they find Stacey—” (Ch. 12) 

Papa has a problem because his son is in danger and he does not want the Averys to be hanged. How does he stop the violence without causing more himself?  Mama is right.  Shooting would just elevate the situation and make things even worse.  It would also make Papa at fault.  The justice system does not favor people of color; it favors the whites. 

Papa leaves, telling Mama he will do what he has to do, and so will she.  He has an idea, but does not tell her what it is.  They smell smoke and realize the cotton is on fire, presumably because the lightning hit it. 

The children are watching the fire when Jeremy Simms arrives. He had been sleeping in a tree and saw the fire.  He tells them his father is helping put out the fire.  

Jeremy looked rather shamefaced, and shrugged. “Well, anyway, I was and I smelled smoke. I knew it was comin’ from thisaway and I was ’fraid it was y’all’s place, so I run in and told my pa, and him and me we come on up here over an hour ago” (Ch. 11).

The children are stunned white people would be working together with them.  They now have a bigger problem than lynchings.  Besides destroying the Logans’ crop, the fire could spread to other people's lands.  At that moment, everyone has a common goal to put out the fire. 

Papa’s solution to end the violence is to burn his own cotton.  That crop is very valuable, but not more valuable than human life.  The cotton burning creates an emergency that causes everyone to stop the violence and work together.  Papa is able to save T.J. this way, even though he risks financial ruin.  

Other than losing the cotton, what Papa did was not too risky.  The fire went away from the house.  Everyone assumed lightning started it, so he would not be blamed.  He used a creative solution to a very difficult problem, and it bought him enough time to save lives.

How did Thomas Jefferson convince the people that it was a good idea to move to the West Coast?

From his earliest years as a political leader, Thomas Jefferson believed that America's future depended on westward expansion.  His greatest accomplishment to that goal and the action that greatly encouraged westward expansion was the Louisiana Purchase.  In 1803, against his own reservations, due to it implications on anti-federalist ideology, Jefferson purchased over 500 million acres of land from the French.  He paid $.04 per acre for the land. Jefferson immediately organized the Corps of Discovery to explore the new purchase and chart the future of the United States.  This expedition was led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.  Jefferson believed that liberty depended on private ownership of land and the small farm was the quintessential representation of freedom.  For this reason, he implored Americans to move west and settle in the new lands acquired by the Louisiana Purchase.

Compare the Parliamentary And Presidential forms of government with reference with U.K. and U.S.A.

The parliamentary system of government is the system of government in the United Kingdom whereas the presidential system is the style of government in the United States.  In the presidential system, the president of the United States is elected by the people through the electoral college every four years.  In the parliamentary system, the prime minister is selected from the House of Commons and is normally the leader of the party that has the most seats in this house.  The manner in which the president is elected is established by the U.S. Constitution whereas the manner in which the prime minister is selected is established by tradition not through a written constitution or law.  

Because the prime minister is selected from the House of Commons and answers to that house, there is no separation of powers in the parliamentary system as there is in the presidential system.  Thus, the prime minister must maintain the confidence of the parliament which he represents and can be removed at any time with a vote of no confidence; a president, however, must be impeached in order to be removed from office.  In addition, the prime minister has the power to dissolve parliament, unlike the president of the United States who cannot dissolve Congress.  Furthermore, it is easier to have legislation passed in the parliamentary system than in the presidential system due to the fact that the prime minister is part of parliament and from the controlling party.  The U.S. president, on the other hand, can be from a party other than the one with the most congressional seats; this may result in the president being in opposition to many bills that are proposed in or passed in Congress.  Thus, many people consider the parliamentary system to be more efficient.

Why do political realists and liberals conflict in how they understand war?Under which of these theories are we more likely to have war?

"Realists" believe national governments are best understood as entities that act in their own self-interest. The internal composition of the government is unimportant, as are the particulars of its political institutions. Realists are above all concerned about the balance of power. They believe war is least likely when power is balanced, and most likely when there is one country that has overwhelming power and can therefore expect to win any conflict.

Liberals believe that national governments are best understood by the principles that define their laws; they believe that democratic countries are inherently more peaceful because most people desire peace. Liberals are not concerned about the balance of power, but instead the composition of national governments; they believe the best way to avoid war is to make every nation into a democracy.

Both theories are trying to avoid war, so whichever theory is right would result in the least war if it is properly followed. If realism is right and we follow liberalism, a powerful enemy could emerge and destroy us while we were undefended because we were so naive. If liberalism is right and we follow realism, nations will start internal wars (that could potentially involve other nations) because of uneven power structures, conquering other countries for no reason and slaughtering thousands needlessly.

Empirically, who is right? Well, neither is completely wrong nor completely right, but the liberals are generally a lot closer. The world is currently the most peaceful it has ever been, and this appears to be because of the economic, technological, and military hegemony of the United States. This makes sense on a liberal theory: a democratic country is perceived by much of the world as "in charge," so there is less war. This makes absolutely no sense on a realist theory, however; the hegemony is supposed to conquer whatever other countries it wants because that would be in its self-interest. According to realists, it's a bipolar world like the Cold War that's supposed to be maximally peaceful.

To be fair, a lot of realists try to redefine "self-interest" so that the US can try to spread its markets or its values around the world, which it indeed does seem to do. At that point, though, we really lose the distinction between realism and liberalism; liberals always said that democratic countries can and should want to spread their values around the world by peaceful means. What made realists distinctive was their claim that much more narrowly defined interests like acquiring territory and natural resources were supposed to define the behavior of a nation, regardless of its internal structure. That's simply false. Nations do have particular values that they try to spread around the world, and it makes a difference whether those values are democratic or authoritarian.

We do still maintain a certain realist stance in some respects—the strongest military in the world, various diplomatic, military, and espionage compromises that advance national security while propping up regimes like the one in Saudi Arabia—but on the whole, liberalism has been the policy of the United States and it seems to be working.

What were some forms of punishment during the Middle Ages and how effective were they?

During the Medieval Period, Europe was very loosely organized in terms of government, including law codes. Law and justice were mostly carried out by those who worked for the local King or Lord, and the most severe crimes were those which affected this ruler. For example, a peasant who stole from their neighbor was likely to receive a far less severe punishment than one who stole from the King.

As with any sort of punishment for a crime, the intent of punishment in the Medieval Period was to deter people from ever committing that crime again. There were not rehabilitative forms of penance, as there are in some countries today. People who committed crimes might be subjected to anything from a fine to dismemberment. Those who were repeat offenders might begin with a rather tame punishment (such as banishment) and progress to something more severe with further crimes (like being burned at the stake.) 

Punishments were often designed to "fit" or reflect the crime a person had committed. Someone with repeated instances of theft, or one very hefty instance of theft, might have their hands cut off. Some crimes were punished by torture or the use of various devices, especially when one was believed to have committed a crime yet would not confess. People were subjected to such bodily pains as burning, being eaten alive by rats, or being locked up in public stocks to be beaten by others.

On the whole, Medieval forms of punishment were so psychologically and physically damaging that if a person did not die as a result of their punishment, they most certainly did not commit that crime again. And if they did, there was always execution. 

What does Aunt Alexandra say about Walter Cunningham Jr. that makes Scout extremely upset?

In Chapter 23, Atticus is discussing the trial with his children and mentions that one of Walter Cunningham's relatives was on the jury, and he initially voted to acquit Tom Robinson. Before he leaves the room, Atticus explains how the Cunninghams come from a respectable family. Scout makes the comment that as soon as school starts, she's going to invite Walter Cunningham Jr. over for dinner. Aunt Alexandra says, "We'll see about that" (Lee 299). Scout looks surprised and asks why not, and Alexandra tells her that the Cunninghams are not their "kind of folks." Alexandra elaborates by commenting that someone can wash Walter and put him in a new suit, but he'll never be like Jem. She also says there is a drinking streak in Walter's family, and Finch women aren't interested in that sort of people.

Scout continues to argue with Aunt Alexandra and asks her again why she cannot play with Walter. Alexandra snaps and says,

"Because--he--is--trash, that's why you can't play with him. I'll not have you around him, picking up his habits and learning Lord-knows-what. You're enough of a problem to your father as it is" (Lee 301).

Fortunately, Jem is there to grab Scout and walk her out of the room before she loses her temper. Alexandra's comments depict her prejudiced feelings towards individuals from the lower-class. Rather than judge Walter on his integrity and character, she views him with contempt because he comes from a poor family. Scout is deeply hurt that her Aunt will not let her play with Walter. Scout learned from her father to treat everybody -- regardless of race or social class -- with respect, which is why she disagrees with Alexandra's views about Walter Cunningham Jr.

Why did Claudius leave Hamlet alive after taking the throne?

In order to become king of Denmark, Claudius murders his brother. One might wonder, as you have, why he wouldn't also kill the deceased king's son, Hamlet, as well. Hamlet could obviously be a potential threat to Claudius' reign - wouldn't it be better to be rid of him? Claudius's reason for sparing Hamlet (aside from the fact that a king and his son dying around the same time would probably raise a few eyebrows) are both personal and political -- and Claudius explains all this in Act IV, scene 7.

The scene begins with a conversation between Laertes and Claudius. Laertes demands of Claudius why Hamlet wasn't more severely punished for murdering Laertes' father, Polonius. In explaining his reasons for not punishing Hamlet for that crime, Claudius also offers us insight into why he left Hamlet alone when first usurping the throne.

Claudius has "two special reasons" (line 9). The political reason Claudius can't harm Hamlet is because of the "great love the general gender bear him" (line 18). In other words, the people of Denmark adore Hamlet, going so far as to "Convert his gyves [defects] into graces" (line 21). Claudius knows that going after Hamlet would be political suicide.

The personal reason has to do with what Claudius won in addition to the throne, namely Hamlet's mother: Gertrude. He loves Gertrude, and she loves Hamlet, to the point that she "lives almost by his looks" (line 12). Claudius confesses that he loves Gertrude so much that he doesn't have the strength to hurt her by harming Hamlet.

For these two reasons, Claudius is unable to harm Hamlet. And so, Hamlet is able to eventually avenge his father's foul murder.

What is the process of licensing and certification for CAM practitioners?

Requirements for Practice

Licensure is a process in which the government reviews and verifies the credentials of a health care practitioner and then grants a license to practice within a given state. Certification is a credential issued by a professional organization that represents a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) specialty. Persons seeking certification must pass a test of their knowledge of the specialty. Licensing is required to practice, but credentialing may not be.

In the United States, licensure for CAM practitioners is provided by the state in which the person seeks to practice. Licensure most often requires educational credentials and the passing of an examination that demonstrates the practitioner’s knowledge. All licensed CAM practitioners are required to complete a specified number of hours of continuing education annually to maintain their licenses. Licensure and certification requirements for CAM practitioners vary with the CAM field. The CAM practices discussed here are chiropractic, acupuncture, homeopathy, osteopathy, naturopathy, midwifery, massage therapy, and hypnosis.

Licensing

Chiropractors. Chiropractors are licensed by all fifty
U.S. states and the District of Columbia. To be licensed, a chiropractor must
complete four years of chiropractic education and then must
pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners examination or a state-prepared
examination.

Acupuncturists. Physician acupuncturists, as distinguished from
nonphysician acupuncturists, can practice in any state and are, according to the
American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, required to have medical training and two
hundred hours of acupuncture training. Nonphysician acupuncturists receive
different credentials depending on the type of acupuncture training program they
attended. A nonphysician acupuncturist can be a certified acupuncturist, a
licensed acupuncturist, a diplomate of acupuncture, or a master or doctor of
Oriental medicine.

Training in acupuncture takes from two to four years and often includes clinical internships. Licensing of nonphysician acupuncturists varies from state to state. Many states license certified acupuncturists, but a few states have no regulations regarding acupuncture. Some states permit only physician acupuncturists to practice.

Homeopaths. Arizona, Connecticut, and Nevada are the only states
that license homeopaths; homeopaths in these states are required to be medical
doctors. Rhode Island, California, and Minnesota permit homeopaths to practice
without a license under the new health freedom laws. Homeopaths are not permitted
to practice in the remaining states. General homeopathic
education lasts four years, but it is shorter for already licensed medical
doctors.

Naturopaths. The states of Alaska, Arizona, California,
Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Montana, and New Hampshire,
and the District of Columbia, license naturopaths. For licensure, the naturopath
must complete four years of naturopathic medical college and pass the Naturopathic
Physicians Licensing Examination. Several of these states also require that
naturopaths be qualified to practice natural childbirth or acupuncture or to
dispense natural substances. In Tennessee and South Carolina, practicing
naturopathy is illegal. The remaining states do not license
naturopaths and do not permit them to practice.

Osteopaths. Osteopaths are licensed as medical
doctors in all U.S. states. Medical licensure requires graduation from an
accredited medical or osteopathic school, an internship and residency, and,
possibly, a fellowship in a specialty. In addition, they must pass either the U.S.
Medical Licensing Exam or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing
Exam.

Massage therapists. Massage therapists are licensed in
thirty-seven U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The requirements for
licensure vary from state to state, but many states require that massage
therapists pass an examination and be certified.

Midwives. Midwives can be either nurse-midwives or non-nurse
midwives. Most midwives in the United States are nurse-midwives. Non-nurse
midwives are permitted to practice only in a few states (such as Arizona).
Non-nurse midwives can attend a midwifery school and then serve as an
apprentice to a licensed midwife. In Arizona, they must pass a state examination.
Nurse-midwives must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in
nursing with a concentration in midwifery. They must pass a nurse licensing
examination and an advanced-practice nursing examination, then must work as an
intern or apprentice for about two years in an emergency room, clinic, hospital,
or obstetrician’s office. To be licensed, nurse-midwives must pass the American
Midwifery Certification Board exam.

Hypnotists. The states of Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, and
Washington require licensure for hypnotists. Each state has its own criteria for
licensing. Indiana has an educational requirement for licensing, but the other
three states do not. Some of the remaining states have regulations regarding the
practice of hypnosis; others require that the hypnotist have other
medical credentials; and others treat hypnotists as business persons and require
no credentialing.

Certification

No formal certification process exists for chiropractors. Nonphysician acupuncturists have to be certified to be licensed, but physician acupuncturists do not. To be certified, nonphysician acupuncturists must pass the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine examination.

Medical doctors and osteopaths who become homeopaths can be certified by the American Board of Homeotherapeutics. They must be educated in homeopathy and must pass oral and written examinations. Nonphysician homeopaths can achieve certification by passing the examination of the Council for Homeopathic Certification. This credential is not required for state licensure.

Naturopaths do not have a certification process. Osteopaths can become board certified in their specialty, but it is not required for licensing. Massage therapists must be certified to practice. They can become certified by passing the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards examination or by passing one of the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork examinations.

A certification process exists for hypnotists, but it is not required for state licensure. The American Council of Hypnotist Examiners certifies hypnotists who pass its examination. Nurse-midwives must be certified to be licensed. Non-nurse midwives may become certified by the North American Registry of Midwives after completing their education.

Arizona Department of Health Services. “Midwife Licensing Program: News and Updates.” Available at http://www.azdhs.gov/als/midwife. A summary of Arizona law on the licensing of midwives.

Chiroweb. “Licensure and Legal Scope of Practice.” Available at http://www.chirowweb.com/archives/ahcpr/chapter5.htm. Discusses the state licensing of chiropractors in the United States.

Tierney, Gillian. Opportunities in Holistic Health Care Careers. Rev. ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. This book addresses the job outlook, educational requirements, regulation, and salaries for many CAM practitioners.

In the first line of the story "Rules of the Game," Waverly talks about "invisible strength." In the second paragraph, her mother tells her,...

"Rules of the Game" is a story about figuring out what the rules are and then using those rules to succeed, both literally as a competitor in the game of chess, and more figuratively as newcomers to the United States who are learning the social rules of life here and using those to find social and financial success.

When Waverly and her mom think of strength as something invisible, they mean that through silence, restraint, dedication, and the willingness to manipulate others by hiding your own knowledge and intentions, you can get what you want from your social relationships.

Whether or not a reader agrees with this idea will be strictly a matter of opinion: yes, no, maybe, it depends, both yes and no.

Personally, I think Waverly's mom and Waverly herself do make a good point about how strength can be silent, but I don't think it applies in all situations. If you view the world as essentially one big competition, and if you think that in life there are winners and losers and a limited amount of prizes, then you might agree with these characters' definition of strength as a sneaky tool with which you manipulate others. But if you view the world as a more cooperative place, and if you think that our goal in life is to help each other, then no, you would disagree with the idea and state that strength can be something shared in a social space, and further, that strength can be used for something other than personal advancement.

Here's an example if you agree with Waverly and her mom. Let’s say someone is teasing you, but you decide not to tease that person back or even respond at all. You ignore it instead. This type of silent restraint really takes a lot of strength: on the inside, you’re angry and annoyed, but on the outside, you maintain your dignity and avoid allowing the situation to escalate.

And here’s an alternate example if you disagree with the women in this story. Let’s say you notice that someone is treating someone else unfairly. Someone is cutting in line, or taking someone else’s food without asking. You summon your strength and say to the aggressor, politely but firmly, “Excuse me, but you shouldn’t…” This takes a lot of strength, too! You’re risking embarrassment, and you might make an enemy for yourself. But your open display of strength is just as important as someone else’s silent strength.

What quotes are there to prove Macbeth is irrational?

Prior to the murder, Macbeth hallucinates a dagger, and he does actually recognize that it is a hallucination.  He calls it "a false creation, / Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain" (2.1.39-40).  Even in very stressful moments, it is not normal to hallucinate.  The hallucination, then, makes it seem as though Macbeth is no longer rational.

Then, after the murder, Macbeth flips out.  He feels like he heard a disembodied voice shouting out in his house, "'Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor / Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more'" (2.2.42-43).  This is an irrational fear, to think that because he murdered someone while they were sleeping that he will no longer be able to sleep.  If anything prevents him from sleeping, it will most likely be guilt. 

Lady Macbeth realizes that Macbeth has brought the murder weapons out of the room with him instead of leaving them with the grooms they plan to frame, but Macbeth refuses to go back into the room with Duncan's body.  He says, "I’ll go no more: / I am afraid to think what I have done; / Look on ’t again I dare not" (2.2.50-53).  It is irrational to be willing to commit a brutal and bloody murder and yet not even be able to look at the body of the victim.  His qualms are seriously misplaced. 

Finally, he fears that if he plunged his hands into the ocean, the quantity of blood on them would turn the green sea red.  He wonders, "Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather / The multitudinous seas incarnadine, / Making the green one red" (2.2.61-64).  Such a thought could simply be an exaggeration that he makes in order to express just how guilty and awful he feels, but even his wife has warned him against dwelling on what has occurred in order to preserve his own mental state.  She says, "These deeds must not be thought / After these ways. So, it will make us mad" (2.2.33-34).  Initially, at least, Macbeth is not able to take this advice, and he seems quite irrational both before and after the murder.

What is the subject matter of Romeo and Juliet?

By "subject matter" I think that you are asking about what the play's universal themes might be.  

One major theme of Romeo and Juliet is the theme of love.  Shakespeare presents a few aspects of love during the play as well.  Yes, absolutely, the play is full of romantic love.  Romeo and Juliet are constantly gushing about what the other person means to them and explain in flowery language how beautiful the other person is.  The play also explores the notion that death and dying for love is better than living without your true love.  Winnie from Tuck Everlasting would disagree.  She chose to live without Jesse Tuck, but I digress.  

But the play does more than explore the love between Juliet and Romeo (or Romeo and Rosaline).  Their is no doubt that Shakespeare also wrote about parental love.  Juliet's parents clearly love her and want the best for her.  Lord Capulet clearly respects Juliet's feelings and wants her to marry somebody that she likes.  That's why he tells Paris to wait until Juliet is older.  Lady Capulet is the same way.  She believes that Paris is a good match for Juliet, but Lady Capulet wants Juliet to see that too.  That's why before the party Lady Capulet tells Juliet to keep an open mind about Paris.  

Romeo and Juliet is also full of revenge and hatred themes.  The Capulets and Montagues hate each other.  What's important for the reader to note is that the feud has been going on for a long time, and nobody seems to remember what initially started it.  The two families just go about hating each other.  Then, once Tybalt kills Mercutio, the rest of the killings follow an eye for an eye revenge motif.  Romeo kill Tybalt, which pits the entire Capulet family against Romeo.  It even pits Paris, a man who hopes to be part of the Capulet family, against Romeo.

What is a complete blood count (CBC)?

Cancers diagnosed: All

Why performed: The CBC is a common screening test. It does not determine a specific type of cancer. The results may lead the physician to order other blood tests and imaging studies that determine the presence of cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments may affect any or all of the tests that make up a CBC. Therefore, a CBC or any part of it is used to monitor treatment.

Patient preparation: No special preparation is needed.

Steps of the procedure: A small sample of blood is collected from a vein and placed in a tube. In children, blood may be obtained from a capillary in the heel or finger.

After the procedure: A small gauze or cotton ball is applied at the site of needle insertion. The patient is asked to apply pressure. The person collecting the blood observes the site for bleeding and may apply a bandage. The bandage may usually be removed in thirty to sixty minutes.

Risks: The risks of CBC include bleeding, bruising, hematoma (bleeding under the skin), fainting, light-headedness, or multiple needlesticks to obtain a sample.

Results: Normal CBC levels vary by the patient’s sex and age and the analyzer used. Each laboratory establishes a set of normal ranges based on this information. The physician receives a report of the test results with the normal values. CBC results may be higher or lower than normal depending on the type of cancer, treatment, any bleeding, or infectious processes taking place.

Bibliography

Amer. Assn. for Clinical Chemistry. "Complete Blood Count." Lab Tests Online. AACC, 5 Sept. 2014. Web. 19 Sept. 2014.

Amer. Soc. of Hematology. "Blood Basics." Hematology.org. ASH, 2014. Web. 19 Sept. 2014.

Basten, Graham. Blood Results in Clinical Practice. Keswick: M & K Update, 2013. Digital file.

Dugdale, David C. "CBC." MedlinePlus. US NLM/NIH, 19 Mar. 2012. Web. 19 Sept. 2014.

Natl. Heart, Lung, and Blood Inst. "What Do Blood Tests Show?" NHLBI.NIH.gov. NHLBI/NIH, 6 Jan. 2012. Web. 19 Sept. 2014.

Provan, Drew. Oxford Handbook of Clinical Haematology. 3d ed. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2009. Digital file.

What are 5 applications of math used in the movie Apollo 13?

Five applications of math used in the movie Apollo 13 are:

1. Space flight - math is used to calculate the course of vessels through space.

2. Communications - the Apollo 13 spacecraft communicated with Houston by radio. The equipment they used to do so could not have been constructed without mathematical calculations.

3. Keeping the crew alive - the ground crew used calculations of the amount of oxygen available, the respiration rate of the crew members, and the CO2 removing ability of the filter to keep the crew alive. 

4. Solving the entry problem - a calculation of the remaining energy was required to determine the re-entry procedure. 

5. Recovery - after splashdown, the module was recovered by a US Navy vessel. Math is used to plot the course of ships.

How did the townspeople finally solve the problem with the smell in "A Rose for Emily"?

Though the townspeople talk a lot about the smell coming from Miss Emily's home, it's not the townspeople that "solve" the problem with the smell. The smell is solved by time...though the townspeople likely think they solved the problem by spreading lime around the grounds. 

The smell is first mentioned at the beginning of part two: 

So SHE vanquished them, horse and foot, just as she had vanquished their fathers thirty years before about the smell.

That was two years after her father's death and a short time after her sweetheart--the one we believed would marry her --had deserted her. 

This is an excellent example of foreshadowing; readers know at the end of the story that "her sweetheart" had not "deserted her" at all. In fact, the smell was coming from his decomposing body, which she had laid to rest in her bed. 

The townspeople are aware of the smell and discuss some possible options to deal with the problem. They blame it on the fact that a man, Miss Emily's house man, Tobe, can't "keep a kitchen properly." One woman asks a judge in town to deal with the problem.

"But what will you have me do about it, madam?" he said.

"Why, send her word to stop it," the woman said. "Isn't there a law? "

"I'm sure that won't be necessary," Judge Stevens said. "It's probably just a snake or a rat that nigger of hers killed in the yard. I'll speak to him about it."

The judge gets two more complaints:

"We really must do something about it, Judge. I'd be the last one in the world to bother Miss Emily, but we've got to do something." That night the Board of Aldermen met--three graybeards and one younger man, a member of the rising generation.

"It's simple enough," he said. "Send her word to have her place cleaned up. Give her a certain time to do it in, and if she don't. .."

"Dammit, sir," Judge Stevens said, "will you accuse a lady to her face of smelling bad?"

At this point, the judge orders several men to go to Miss Emily's house at night and sprinkle lime around the outside of the house and the grounds. They do all of this without confronting or discussing it with Miss Emily. She catches them in the act and they sneak away quickly. 

The problem appears to have been solved: "After a week or two the smell went away." Readers may be led to believe throughout the majority of the story that the townpeople actually did fix the problem with the lime and that it was caused by a rat or poor housekeeping, but, by the end of the story, readers know the truth. 

Why does Mars Bar run with Maniac Magee in Chapter 44?

Mars Bar and Maniac used to both jog in the morning, and since they both are in the same place they start to jog together. 

Maniac and Mars Bar jog together every morning.  At first, Maniac thought he heard someone else’s footsteps, but was not sure.  Then he realized it was Mars Bar, but neither boy said anything.  They just were in the same place at the same time, seemingly by coincidence. 

Although the two never speak, they actually are in tune with each other. 

Though each face showed no awareness of the other, they were in fact minutely sensitive to each other. If Mars Bar cranked up the pace just a notch, Maniac would pick it up within a stride; if Maniac inched ahead, Mars Bar was there. If one veered to the left or right, the other followed like a shadow. (Ch. 44) 

The two boys run together until they reach the end of the route, and then Maniac goes one way, and Mars Bar goes to his neighborhood.  Again, there is no communication or plan to meet.  They just meet. 

When the working people began leaving their houses, the daybreak boys diverged, Mars Bar to the East End, Maniac to wherever. A week passed. A second week. Morning after morning. Stride for stride, breath by breath. Never a word, never a glance. Each believing the other simply happened to be going where he was going. (Ch. 44) 

This is how Maniac and Mars Bar are together when Piper comes to them to tell them that his brother is in trouble.  The boys were playing on the trolley trestle when Russel froze, afraid to move back.  Manic does not want to go out on the trestle, because of the way his parents died.  

Mars Bar saves Russel, even though he is white and Mars Bar is black. He was a boy in trouble, and that was all that mattered.  Maniac’s attempt to bind the races seems to be working.

In chapters 16-19 in The Giver by Lois Lowry, what question does Jonas ask his parents? How do they respond and what is his reaction to their...

Jonas learns about family and love in Chapter 16 after receiving a memory about Christmas. He witnesses a family with parents, children and grandparents giving gifts to each other and he feels the warmth of love. After the memory, the Giver clarifies what Jonas learns from the memory, which makes the boy wonder about his own family. Later that night, back at his dwelling with his family unit, Jonas asks his parents, "Do you love me?" (127). After an awkward silence, Jonas's father laughs and then asks him to remember to use precise language. Jonas does not laugh and asks him to clarify. Mother steps in and says the following:

"Your father means that you used a very generalized word, so meaningless that it's become almost obsolete" (127).

Jonas is a little surprised that his mother would use the word "meaningless" to describe a word that is associated with one of the most meaningful memories that he has ever had. His mother continues to say that in order for the community to function properly, they need to use precise language. Then she proceeds to tell him another way to say the phrase, such as, "Do you enjoy me?"

Based on his parents' reaction to the word "love," Jonas realizes that he is on a different level of understanding than they are. Mother asks him if he understands what she is teaching him, but he responds by telling his first lie, "Yes, thank you, I do" (127).

What is the meaning and effect of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf's moratorium on carrying out executions of prisoners?

When Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf was running for office in 2014, among his campaign promises was a moratorium on capital punishment, the process or act of putting to death prisoners convicted of particularly heinous crimes, almost always involving murder, and sentenced to die as a result. Soon after being sworn in as governor of Pennsylvania, Wolf implemented his decision, placing a moratorium on the execution of prisoners in his state. By implementing this decision, he not only further illuminated his opposition to capital punishment, but he also ensured that the 181 convicts in Pennsylvania's prison system sentenced to die would remain on "death row" for a continued indeterminate amount of time.

Whether one supports or opposes capital punishment, there is no denying the fact that the legal processes that typically play out following the imposition of a death sentence are extremely protracted and financially costly. Capital punishment is highly emotional and divisive issue across much of the United States, and the appeals processes established to ensure that such sentences were rendered fairly often take many years, even decades. In the meantime, condemned prisoners sit in prison cells awaiting either their execution, which may never come because of the appeals processes, or some commutation of their sentence. 

Another issue, and a big one, is the perception among some of the public that the criminal justice system is fundamentally prejudicial towards ethnic minorities, mainly African Americans. Discussions concerning capital punishment are a microcosm of the broader debate regarding the role of race in American society as a whole. Then-candidate, now-Governor Wolf is among those who view the criminal justice system as tainted by the country's history of racism, and he is also among those who question the right of any government to execute its citizens irrespective of those citizens' actions. When combined with the financial costs associated with the appeals processes that are integral to the legal system, Governor Wolf argues, the concept of capital punishment is deeply flawed. His moratorium on executions in Pennsylvania was, then, a manifestation of his underlying beliefs on this contentious issue.

It is important to keep in mind what the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision in December 2015 actually means, however. The court, in its ruling, did not concur with the notion of a moratorium. Rather, the court, which decided unanimously, agreed that a "reprieve," rather than a "moratorium," was consistent with state law. While the court's decision was widely, and understandably, interpreted as agreeing with Governor Wolf, it is not that clear-cut. As noted in one newspaper article describing the court's decision, the justices were clear on their intent:

"'We find no limitation on the executive reprieve power relating to the duration of the reprieve, so long as it is temporary in nature and operates only for an interval of time,' wrote Justice Max Baer of Mt. Lebanon.

While the State Supreme Court concurred that a reprieve was allowable, it did not agree to an indefinite moratorium, which would contravene state law as passed by the Pennsylvania legislature. The governor, in other words, cannot use his moratorium or reprieve to circumvent the law, although definitions of "temporary in nature" could prove very contentious. The nature of capital punishment cases could very well lead to precisely that conclusion. Already extremely drawn-out legal processes could continue under the murky legal and political environment that now dominates. The authority vested in many chief executives to commute death sentences -- in effect, reduce the sentence from death to life in prison -- is similarly not as sweeping in Pennsylvania as some might think. Under state law, absent a recommendation by the Pennsylvania State Board of Pardons, the governor cannot commute a sentence or pardon a prisoner. The effect of Governor Wolf's legal victory, then, will possibly be to prolong an already very protracted process, with dozens of prisoners continuing to reside on "death row."

How do belief systems affect a country's culture?

Even in highly secular societies, religion and other belief systems play a huge part in shaping people's lives. In many parts of the world, there is no distinction between religion and other areas of life—religion is an overriding and unifying force for how people move throughout the world. In Amish (also called Pennsylvania Dutch) communities, every aspect of life exists in reference to religion. The clothes people wear, the food they eat, and even the hobbies they take up are all shaped by what is considered appropriate in this ethno-religious sect. 

That might sound pretty extreme, but let's take a moment to consider some of the major world religions. In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, there are rules about what kind of foods people should eat and when, how to care for one's body, what kinds of clothing are appropriate, when work is to be done, and what kind of gender, age, and familial roles are to be fulfilled. In secular societies like the United Kingdom, people may adhere loosely or very strictly to their religious duties while still maintaining their religious identity. For example, not all Christians fast during Lent, and some Jewish people do not keep kosher. 

That being said, some aspects of religious belief systems are more influential in a society than others. Most cultures of the world today observe the Gregorian calendar (which was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII) and observe the weekend. The cultural practice of not working on the weekend is drawn from Jewish and Christian religious traditions, which forbid working on the Sabbath. For the Jewish community, the Sabbath is held on Saturday; for Christians, on Sunday. Regardless of whether someone is or is not Christian or Jewish, most people today abstain from work on the week-end or consider it a time for leisure.

I'd like to make a distinction between religion and other belief systems. Religious beliefs aren't the only worldviews which shape culture—scientific belief systems and ethical belief systems are also significant. Scientific belief systems outline how to go about answering questions we have about the world and what answers have already been uncovered. For example, I believe rain is the result of condensation of water vapor and occurs as part of the water cycle. I believe this because scientific study provides evidence for it. Alternate answers have been proposed, such as that rain is a gift from a deity, but I feel the rigorous investigation and testing of science is more plausible. Most people in my culture agree that rain is the result of natural temperature and weather patterns, so we do not adjust our behaviors in any way to try and please the deity in charge of rain.

Ethical belief systems help us to understand and investigate which behaviors are ethical, moral, or good, and which are not. In some cultures, the ethical belief system dictates it is immoral to eat meat. This may be tied to a religious belief (as in Hinduism and Buddhism) or may exist regardless of a religious narrative. Ethical belief systems also guide us in our personal behaviors and relationships. Having a culturally taught system of ethics helps prevent injurious action and may prescribe appropriate penance. For example, in my culture, it is considered unethical to steal. In exceptional circumstances, it may be excusable. For example, is it more ethical for an impoverished mother to let her child starve or to steal food so they can eat? In my culture, it would be excusable for the mother to steal to feed her child, but my government has set up programs designed to prevent this dilemma from occurring in the first place. The overriding ethic here is that all people should have enough food to eat. This may be phrased in terms of religion or scientific value, but it is also a standalone matter of ethical value.

What does Puck look like in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare?

Puck is usually shown as a boy, young man, or teenager, with no beard.  He has no wings, and is clothed in materials that look like they came from the forest.  

Puck is portrayed as a boy because he is Oberon's younger, wilder, more irresponsible servant.  Oberon, king of the fairies, is grave and dignified and plans the tricks he wants to play on the humans.  Puck, by contrast, is impulsive and mischievous, a complete wild card. He is a bit like Peter Pan.  I have also seen him played by a teenaged girl. 

Because Puck is a woodland spirit, he should look woodsy and wild. He is not a fairy, so he should not have wings or look too feminine or flowery.  Usually he is clothed in materials that look like they are made of leaves or moss.  Often he is bare chested.  

For further inspiration about how Puck should look, search for images of the Green Man or of fauns.  

In the poem "Out, Out--," how does Robert Frost bring about the tragic death of the boy?

In his poem "Out, Out--" Robert Frost uses the juxtaposition of positive, warm details to emphasize the horror and unexpectedness of the boy's sudden death. The poem begins:

The buzz saw snarled and rattled in the yard

And made dust and dropped stove-length sticks of wood,

Sweet-scented stuff when the breeze drew across it.

The first line contains the negatively charged words "snarled" and "rattled." The associations to danger and bones create a frightening atmosphere. However, that atmosphere is quickly contrasted with the "sweet-scented" dust created by the saw. This creates a confusing tone - should the reader be frightened or not? That confusion heightens the suspense.

And the saw snarled and rattled, snarled and rattled,

The repetition here of the snarling and rattling begins to confirm the suspicion that the poem is going to have a bad ending.

Call it a day, I wish they might have said

To please the boy by giving him the half hour

That a boy counts so much when saved from work.

The inclusion of "I wish" foreshadows that something will happen to the boy that would have been prevented if they had given him "the half hour," or in other words, let him off early. This is immediately followed by another warm moment, as "His sister stood beside him in her apron / To tell them ‘Supper.’" This addition of a family member makes the incident that follows even more horrific, as the addition creates another layer of sympathy for the family who loses their son.

The boy subsequently accidentally cuts off his hand, and dies from the injury. This horrific moment is characterized by his plea to his sister:

‘Don’t let him cut my hand off—

The doctor, when he comes. Don’t let him, sister!’

This plea is darkened by the fact that his hand is already off. He perishes and then the doctors move on to other patients quickly, as quickly as the boy suddenly cut off his hand and lost his life.

Frost's juxtaposing of frightening details and warm moments creates a suspenseful atmosphere that is heightened by the ending where the doctors move on from the boy - dead and without a hand.

Hope this helps!

In The Giver, how has the absence of color helped this society? How has it harmed it?

In The Giver, the lack of color is meant to promote sameness, to eliminate any variety or envy amongst the denizens of the community.  This, I suppose, could be an advantage for the society in that the people need not concern themselves with having to make choices or worry about whether or not their shirts match their trousers, for example. They can focus on their work and following the rules.  I imagine this does make for a more peaceful society, with no one envying someone who has a beautiful blue dress.  The production of material goods is simplified, too, since the making of clothes, furniture, or even bicycles need not include a variety of colors.  For the Elders, certainly, it is far easier to rule a group of people who have no envy and who can stay focused on whatever it is they are expected to do for the good of the community. 

On the other hand, much of the beauty in life rests on color and other forms of variability.  Eliminating color eliminates a great deal of the beauty and richness in the world and takes away one more kind of choice. Thus, the elimination of color confers a kind of aesthetic impoverishment on the people, as well as rendering them without choice in yet one more way. 

What's the process of gas transport in the human body?

Gas transport in humans commences with the process of respiration. This process has two phases, the inspiratory phase in which air is inhaled into the lungs and an expiratory phase during which gas is expelled from the lungs.

Inspiration starts with the expansion of the lungs brought about by the contraction of the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles. This creates a negative pressure in the lungs which causes air from the atmosphere to enter the lungs through the nose.

The air passes into the wind pipe (trachea) through the larynx. At its lower end, the trachea divides into two pipes called the bronchi, each bronchus supplying its air content to each of the two lobes of the lungs where exchange of gases actually takes place.

To facilitate gaseous exchange in the lungs, each bronchus further divides into thinner tubes called bronchioles. The bronchioles empty their gas content into grape-shaped air sacs called alveoli which are covered by blood capillaries. This is the point at which exchange of gases actually takes place in the lungs.

Oxygen is extracted from the air in the alveoli and passes into the blood in the capillaries while carbon dioxide extracted from the blood in the capillaries passes and mixes with alveoli air for expulsion through the second phase of respiration called expiration.

At expiration, the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles relax, decreasing the volume of the chest cavity and increasing the air pressure in the lungs. This pushes air in the lungs into the two bronchi, through the trachea and finally taking its exit through the nose.

In the human body, only about 1.5% of the oxygen which crosses the alveolar membrane in the lungs gets transported through the body by mixing directly with blood. The remaining 98.5% of the oxygen is transported bound to a protein in the blood called hemoglobin.

On the other hand, carbon dioxide is transported by three methods. As carbon dioxide is more soluble in water, about 5 to 7% of it dissolves directly in blood. About 10% of the carbon dioxide is transported bound to hemoglobin but the majority of the carbon dioxide is transported through the bicarbonate buffer system in which an enzyme, carbonic anhydrase, converts the carbon dioxide into carbonic acid inside the red blood cells.

What is a breast ultrasound?

Cancers diagnosed: Breast cancer

Why performed: There are several reasons that breast ultrasounds are performed. After a questionable mammogram, a breast ultrasound may be used to further examine the breast tissue. Some breast conditions may look like a possible cancer on a mammogram but can be identified as benign on ultrasound. For example, breast cysts and some fibroadenomas appear as clear areas on a breast ultrasound, whereas a breast cancer would not. In women under the age of thirty-five, breast ultrasound may be the procedure of choice for screening for breast cancer because younger women have denser breast tissue, which makes it difficult to assess for abnormalities on mammography. Breast ultrasound may also be used to guide a needle biopsy, or needle localization. Ultrasound has proved effective at examining the breasts of women with breast implants. It is often able to illustrate whether the implant has ruptured or not. Mammography does not show fluid leaking from the implant.

Patient preparation: No preparation of the patient is required.

Steps of the procedure: For a breast ultrasound, the patient puts on a hospital gown, which is open in the front, and then lies supine on a table. A pillow is placed under the shoulder of the breast to be scanned. The area to be scanned is uncovered. The patient’s arm is placed up over the head, resting on the examination table. The radiology technician or physician uses a transducer (an instrument to transmit and receive sound waves) to scan the breast tissue. A transducer looks like a small cell phone. A gel is used between the transducer and the patient to enhance the transmission of the sound waves for the scan. The transducer is moved slowly and lightly over the breast tissue. Usually, the breast lesion is viewed in several planes, so that its features can be defined. This is accomplished by changing the angle of the transducer in relation to the breast tissue. The images of the breast are printed for further examination.

After the procedure: No additional patient care is required, so the patient can go home.

Risks: There are no known risks of breast ultrasound for the patient. It appears that sound waves are safe for use on human beings. For the physician, however, there is the risk of making an incorrect diagnosis about the presence of breast cancer. Breast ultrasounds do not differentiate microcalcifications (mineral deposits) in the breast tissue. Microcalcifications that are clustered can be a first sign of a developing breast cancer.

The accuracy of breast ultrasounds can vary with the skill of the technician. Once the ultrasound images have been printed, there is no way to determine the angle of the transducer, or to manipulate the images, as can be done with mammograms. Also, breast ultrasound is not as accurate at assessing the whole breast. It is most effective at assessing a small area of breast tissue.

Results: The images of the breast ultrasound demonstrate the different breast tissues, with the ducts appearing darker than the adipose (fatty) tissue between the ducts. The breast ultrasound is most accurate at identifying breast cysts, which are fluid-filled. If on ultrasound an area of the breast appears particularly dense and opaque, then a breast cancer could be present. Breast ultrasound does not differentiate between benign tumors and malignant (cancerous) tumors or growths. As a result, a breast biopsy is required to identify the type of lesion.

Bibliography

"Breast Ultrasound." American Cancer Society. Amer. Cancer Soc., 17 Sept. 2013. Web. 9 Sept. 2014.

Love, Susan M., and Karen Lindsay. Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book. Rev. 4th ed. Cambridge: Da Capo, 2005. Print.

Pagana, Kathleen Deska, and Timothy J. Pagana. Mosby’s Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier, 2006. Print.

Sencha, Alexander N., Elena V. Evseeva, Mikhail S. Mogutov, and Yury N. Patrunov. Breast Ultrasound. New York: Springer, 2013. Print.

Shetty, Mahesh K. Breast and Gynecological Cancers: An Integrated Approach for Screening and Early Diagnosis in Developing Countries. New York: Springer, 2013. Print.

Why did George go to the bunkhouse alone in chapter five?

In chapter five of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife and flees from the barn on his way, as instructed by George, to "hide in the brush" in the clearing between the Gabilan Mountains and the Salinas River, which is the setting of the book's opening chapter. Candy enters the barn looking for Lennie because he has been "figuring some more" about Lennie's rabbits when he sees Curley's wife dead on the ground. After his discovery, he immediately gets George to show him the dead girl. The two men know automatically that it was most certainly Lennie who did it. George asks Candy to wait a few minutes before informing the other men on the ranch of the discovery. In the mean time, George is headed for the bunkhouse where he takes Carlson's gun. It was obviously in George's mind to kill Lennie with the gun. Later in the chapter, Carlson is indeed missing his gun. In the final chapter, George uses the Luger pistol to shoot Lennie in the back of the head. 

Explain how Pericles was an imperialist.

In the late 400s B.C., several Greek city-states formed what was known as the Delian League, a loose alliance system, to meet the threat posed by the invading Persian Empire. After defeating the Persians, the League became permanent, and it was always dominated by Athens, the most powerful city-state. In the years that followed, Athens began to attempt to convert the Delian League into an empire. As the chief statesman and political leader in Athens, Pericles was at the center of these efforts. He used the treasury of the Delian League to pay for Athenian building projects (including the Parthenon) and launched several military expeditions to expand the influence of Athens. The ancient Greek historian Thucydides fairly explicitly describes Pericles as an imperialist who boasted about all of the Greeks ruled by Athens. He viewed Athenians as culturally superior to other Greeks, especially the Spartans. Indeed, Athenian expansionism under the guidance of Pericles was a major contributing factor to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War, a highly destructive and lengthy conflict between alliances led Athens and Sparta. Pericles himself died during this war, which ultimately resulted in a catastrophic defeat for the Athenians. This war brought the "golden age" of Athens, one characterized as much by imperialist expansion as by democracy and high culture, to an end. Pericles is identified with each of these characteristics.