What is the difference between the 3 types of unconformities (angular unconformity, nonconfirmity, and disconformity)?

Uncomformities are any geological feature in which there is a transition between rock layers that marks a gap in the sequence---intermediate layers have somehow been removed, or rocks produced in different eras have somehow been pushed together.

An angular unconformity is when one group of sediments has been titled by tectonic forces so that it is tilted at an angle with Earth's gravity, and then more layers of sediment were produced on top of it. Instead of the usual geological column of layer after layer, we have two sets of layers that abut against each other at an angle.

A disconformity is when sediment layers were eroded away and then new sediment was formed on top of them, so that there are intermediate layers effectively "missing" that would ordinarily be present.

Finally, a nonconformity is when igneous or metamorphic rocks are layered over by sediments; these indicate extremely long periods of erosion where all the previous sedimentary layers were removed to expose the igneous or metamorphic rock below.

How do Paul and Erik's parents treat the two boys differently?

In the novel Tangerine, the narrator and protagonist, Paul Fisher, often begrudges the way his parents give his brother Erik more praise and attention than they do him. His father obsesses over what Paul calls, “the Erik Fisher Football Dream.” His father goes to every one of Erik’s football practices and games, even in the pouring rain. He can name every single one of Erik’s stats, and can describe every kick he has ever made. In contrast, his father cannot even remember what position Paul plays in soccer. In one conversation they have, Paul finally calls him out on this, and his father cannot argue.  

“How many games did I play in, Dad?”

“He pulled back. “I don’t know.”

“What position did I play when I did get into a game?”

“How am I supposed to know that?”

“Ok.  Here’s one: How many field goals did Erik kick this year?”

He stared at me, and then he blinked rapidly.  “All right.  Your point is taken.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I understand what you’re saying. Your’e saying that I know everything about Erik’s season and nothing about yours.  You’re right, and I’m sorry.”

Paul finds this particularly frustrating because he sees Erik for who he truly is: an arrogant and cruel dictator used to getting his way. His parents are completely unaware of the cruelty Erik shows Paul and Paul’s friends. His parents never miss an opportunity to brag about Erik’s athletic prowess or their dreams for his future; they hardly ever even mention Paul. One particularly poignant example of this is when the family is invited to the home of Mr. Donnelly, a football booster from the University of Florida. They go there ready to talk only about Erik and his football achievements, and do not seem to notice when he strikes up a conversation with Paul. As they are leaving, Mr. Donnelly calls out, “It was great to meet you Erik,” and his parents just smile. When he calls out, “It was great to meet you too, Paul,”  his family “all pulled back at once, as if in group shock, as if that was the craziest thing they had ever heard.”

What are some quotes and explanations that show ageism in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

There are several examples of ageism throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, ageism is discrimination against a particular age-group, especially the elderly. At the beginning of Chapter 10, Scout mentions,

"Atticus was feeble: he was nearly fifty. When Jem and I asked him why he was so old, he said he got started late, which we felt reflected upon his abilities and manliness. He was much older than the parents of our school contemporaries..." (Lee 118).

Scout and Jem are ashamed of their father's age. Scout also mentions how her father refuses to play tackle football with Jem because he is too old. Their prejudiced feelings towards Atticus would classify as ageism. They feel that Atticus is inadequate when compared to their friend's younger parents.

There are also several scenes throughout the novel that depict Jem displaying prejudiced feelings toward his sister because she is younger than him. In Chapter 14, Jem tells Scout not to antagonize Aunt Alexandra because Atticus has more important things to worry about other than disciplining her. Scout responds to Jem by saying that Atticus doesn't worry about anything. Jem then says,

"It's different with grown folks, we---" (Lee 184).

Scout doesn't wait for Jem to finish his sentence before she begins yelling at him and eventually takes a swing. Jem felt superior to his sister because he was four years older than her, thus making him more intelligent than Scout in his mind.

What are some traits of Mars Bar in Maniac Magee?

Mars Bar is tough, used to getting his own way, and easily offended.  He likes to be feared.

Mars Bar is one of the kids that Maniac meets in Two Mills.  He is a tough guy, and also happens to be black.  Mars Bar finds Maniac puzzling.  He expects him to cower and back down, like everyone else does.  Maniac doesn’t, and Mars Bar is not sure how to react.

The first baffling encounter occurs when Mars Bar offers Maniac a bite of his candy bar, and the boy actually bites.  All of the neighborhood kids are shocked.  Such a thing is simply not done.

The kid had done the unthinkable, he had chomped on one of Mars's own bars. Not only that, but white kids just didn't put their mouths where black kids had had theirs ... And the kid hadn't even gone for the unused end; he had chomped right over Mars Bar's own bite marks. (Ch. 10) 

Mars bar gets angry, because “when Mars Bar got confused, he got mad.” He tries to get Maniac to tell him he’s “bad,” to confirm that he intimidates him, but Maniac does not comply.  They fight over Maniac’s book, but even that doesn’t get much of a rise out of the boy.  Mars Bar has a reputation to uphold. 

Mars Bar glared up at her. There wasn't an eleven- year-old in the East End who could stand up to Mars Bar's glare. In the West End, even high-schoolers were known to crumble under the glare. (Ch. 10) 

Amanda stands up to Mars Bar.  She and Maniac seem to be the only ones who do.  Amanda is tough, though.  Mars Bar tries to get his reputation back, but Maniac makes a fool out of him when he races him and runs backward.  Maniac is not trying to insult Mars Bar.  He is just a bit odd.

What happens to a gas's temperature when it is compressed?

When a gas is compressed, its temperature increases. 

Temperature of a system of gases is related to the average kinetic energy of each gas particle in the system. Higher kinetic energy means higher temperature of the system. When a gas is compressed, work is done on the system—that is, on the gas particles. Since energy is conserved in a system, this energy is converted into the kinetic energy of the individual particles. Since this would result to an increase in average kinetic energy of the particles in the system, this is observed as a temperature increase. 

This is different from Charles' law, which states an increase in temperature results in an increase in volume. This law applies when pressure is constant, which is not the case here. Compression of a gas results to an increase in pressure, and this increase in pressure can be translated to an increase in temperature.

How does Roald Dahl use metaphor in "Lamb to the Slaughter"?

Roald Dahl uses metaphor to better describe Mary Maloney in his short story "Lamb to the Slaughter." 

A metaphor makes a comparison between two things that are unrelated but share some common characteristics. Working with that definition, a simile is a type of metaphor, because it also makes a comparison in the same manner.  A simile simply uses "like" or "as" to make the comparison.  

The following is a simile from "Lamb to the Slaughter." 

She loved to luxuriate in the presence of this man, and to feel – almost as a sunbather feels the sun – that warm male glow that came out of him to her when they were alone together.

Patrick's very presence is equivalent to the life giving solar energy of the sun for Mary.  She practically bathes in his glow.  

As for a standard metaphor, the title hints at the extended metaphor of the story.  Mary is meek and mild like a lamb.  When Patrick delivers his awful news, Mary is devastated.  In a way, she and her life have been completely slaughtered by Patrick's betrayal.  Then Mary, the lamb, brings an actual leg of lamb to a new slaughter.  Patrick's slaughter.  The lamb has now become the slaughterer.  

What are good research topics for Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes?

Don Quixote tells the story of a character whose mission is to return chivalry to the world. The main character of the book is portrayed as clumsy and delusional and he often fails (comically) in this quest. In this sense, he is very human, very relatable. He is not a superhero or a trained knight who can defeat many enemies like in other tales of knights in shining armor. The word quixotic is defined as exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic and impractical.

A good research topic would be to compare the mission of Don Quixote to real life persons of past and present. What are some real-life examples of a seemingly insurmountable problem being taken head on by on optimistic person regardless of his abilities? How does mainstream society perceive people who try to change the world by preaching a message that goes against the status quo? For example, nobody thought that Gandhi could change the world through peace and by loving your enemies.

Another topic could be a commentary on the effectiveness of a quixotic outlook. For instance, do you relate more to Don Quixote, or those that called him a fool, or perhaps a combination of both? Don Quixote lived in a different time. How would a character like him be received today?

An interesting example can be taken from HBO's hit series The Newsroom. The main character is a television journalist who is on a 'quixotic' mission to restore a sense of integrity to modern journalism. In a world of 24-hour news cycles and news programming that seeks to entertain rather than inform the American public, the main character is trying to change the status quo, to restore chivalry to the field in the same way as Don Quixote does. The main character in The Newsroom quotes the novel on several occasions throughout the series.