What number increased by 100% becomes 100

Hi there!

Step 1: Convert 100% to decimal

100% = 1.0

Step 2: Call the number you want to find "x", then:

                 [x is increased by 100% (=1) equals 100]

equivalent to

                 [x + x*100% = 100]

or              [x + x*1 = 100]

                 [2x=100]

                 [x=50]

Final answer: x=50

How might the people, animals, or objects depicted in this painting have responded to the essential question: How justifiable was U. S expansion in...

This painting is a clear visual expression of the ideology behind westward expansion in general. From the right (the east) we see frontier land converted into small family farms, railroads and stagecoaches bringing people and (it is implied) civilization into the west, and other figures moving into what is portrayed as wilderness to be brought under the control of white Americans. From the left, we see Native peoples fleeing before the advancing white settlers and buffalo, bears and other wildlife driven from their native habitats. Basically, what this assignment is calling for is for you to figure out how westward settlement and expansion affected various groups of people, and how they might have viewed it and responded to it. For the Native Americans in the painting, westward expansion was a disaster, one which saw them driven from their lands, confined to reservations, and for a time at least, stripped of their culture. For small farmers like the settlement on the right, as well as those moving west, it was a chance to achieve economic independence, what they would have called "competency." For the railroad and stagecoach companies, expansion brought incredible wealth, and the railroads in particular made expansion possible in the first place. Settlers and corporations also exploited the natural resources of the West, a fact which the fate of the buffalo, nearly exterminated by the end of the nineteenth century, clearly underscores. So in completing this assignment, keep these various perspectives in mind. 

A proposed new investment has projected sales of $833,000. Variable costs are 54 percent of sales, and fixed costs are $187,280; depreciation is...

The salvage value of an asset is the amount of money an asset is predicted to sell for at the end of its useful life. Essentially the before-tax salvage value is just the cost of the asset minus the depreciation; the after-tax salvage value is what's left of that amount after applicable taxes are removed.

The variable costs are not part of the value of the asset---they are involved in the costs of production, but not in the asset itself. Therefore they are a red herring; we can disregard them for purposes of calculating salvage value. Likewise, sales are irrelevant for this calculation. All we care about are fixed costs, depreciation, and taxes.

The after-tax salvage value is the fixed cost, minus depreciation, then with taxes taken out:

($187,280 - $95,000)*(1-0.40) = $55,368

We also don't care about which accounting basis the depreciation is figured in, because we were simply given the value of total depreciation.

What textual evidence shows how Jack feels about Ralph in Chapter 7 of the novel Lord of the Flies?

In Chapter 7, the boys set out to hunt the beast but are unable to locate it. Towards the end of the day, Maurice suggests that they go back and tell Piggy where they are before it gets dark. Jack expresses his desire to continue up the mountain to hunt for the beast, and Ralph agrees with Maurice that they should go back and tell Piggy. Simon is quick to volunteer to walk across the island. When Simon turns to leave, Jack becomes angry with Ralph. Golding writes, "Ralph looked back at Jack, seeing him, infuriatingly, for the first time" (Golding 117). Jack begins to mock Ralph about his affinity for Piggy. Ralph senses Jack's contempt and asks him, "Why do you hate me?" (Golding 118). As the boys continue to walk through the forest, they pause before deciding to climb the mountain. Ralph suggests that they stop and climb the mountain the next day, and Jack says, "If you're frightened of course—" (Golding 119). Ralph responds by saying that he went first when they were at Castle Rock, but Jack arrogantly responds by saying he's going to climb to the top by himself. Golding writes,

"The words came from Jack viciously, as though they were a curse. He looked at Ralph, his thin body tensed, his spear held as if he threatened him" (Golding 119).

Jack then taunts Ralph by saying, "Coming?" (Golding 119). Jack not only mocks Ralph for considering Piggy and the littluns, but also challenges his masculinity in Chapter 7. Jack is annoyed with Ralph because their ideas and goals conflict. Ralph thinks it is important to let Piggy know where they are, while Jack thinks it is imperative to continue to hunt for the beast. Jack is impatient with Ralph and taunts Ralph by choosing to go up the mountain alone. Jack is attempting to make Ralph look weak and frightened in front of the other boys. Ralph notices Jack's indignance, and even questions Jack as to why he hates him so much.

What is the conflict between Jess and Leslie in Chapter Seven?

The conflict is that Jess wants Leslie to come play in Terabithia with him, but Leslie is busy repairing the old house with her dad, Bill. Plus, Jess doesn't understand why Leslie wants to spend so much time with her dad, getting to know him, instead of playing with Jess, who's her own age. He thinks it's weird:

"It had never occurred to Jess that parents were meant to be understood any more than the safe at the Millsburg First National was sitting around begging him to crack it. Parents were what they were; it wasn't up to you to try to puzzle them out."

Of course, as readers, we understand that Jess is feeling both boredom and jealousy, and he's blaming it on Leslie and Bill. Here he is, focusing on how much he dislikes Bill and feels uncomfortable around him:

"Jess's feelings about Leslie's father poked up like a canker sore."

That is, Jess feels nettled by the whole situation and blames Bill for taking up Leslie's free time.

Finally, in February, Leslie and Jess talk it over. Jess realizes that he doesn't dislike Bill after all--he just hasn't gotten to know him yet, and Jess feels awkward about what to call him ("Mr. Burke"? "Bill"?)

It suddenly dawns on Jess, when Leslie suggests it, that the obvious solution to the conflict is for Jess to join Leslie and Bill on their project to repair the house. To Jess's credit, he realizes how dumb he's been acting:

"It was like all the lights coming back on after an electrical storm. Lord, who was the stupid one?"

Now he can spend time with his friend, not feel jealous, and not feel bored or stuck at home, either. He gets to know Bill better, too, and gets used to calling him by his first name. Plus, now the three of them are doing something productive together as well as learning new skills. You might argue that this activity is even better for the kids' friendship than playing in the woods in "Terabithia."

Why did Germany enter World War I, and who were Germany's allies?

There are several reasons why Germany was involved in World War I. Germany became a unified country in 1870. By this time, most of the lands that were available for colonization were already controlled by other imperial powers. Thus, for Germany to get colonies, they were going to have to most likely fight to get these lands.

Knowing going to war was likely to occur, Germany began to build up its military. This alarmed other European countries that also began to build up their military. Germany built its military with the intent to put it into action. Germany wanted to be a world power and knew fighting would likely occur.

Germany had an alliance before World War I began. This was known as the Triple Alliance. It included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. When World War I began, Germany had an alliance called the Central Powers. This alliance included Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria. Italy fought on the side of Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union in World War I. Since Austria-Hungary asked Germany to support its upcoming declaration of war on Serbia, Germany felt obligated to honor its alliance with Austria-Hungary. Thus, Germany agreed to support Austria-Hungary if they declared war on Serbia. Germany also believed it might be able to accomplish some of its goals if Austria-Hungary was successful with its attack on Serbia and the Balkan region.

The start of World War I was partially an attempt by Germany and other countries to achieve various goals they had in terms of achieving the status of becoming a world power. This war, and later World War II, was Germany’s attempt to gain land, power, money, and influence.

What is the connection between technology and nature in the Veldt?

The influence of technology on society and social relations is a common theme in many of Bradbury's works. Although Bradbury didn't necessarily dislike technology, he was concerned that technology had the potential to disconnect people from one another and lead to an undervaluing of knowledge. This is particularly true in his most powerful and widely read work, Fahrenheit 451, but it is also a very prominent element of the Veldt.

In the Veldt, the family initially appears to have all the modern conveniences of technology that are supposed to make their lives more convenient. The kitchen, for example, makes dinner for them, which frees them up to engage in more enjoyable activities. Of course, as is pointed out, if anything were to ever go wrong, they would likely starve because they don't know how to do anything for themselves.

The most prominent aspect of technology is the nursery used by the parents to occupy the children. The nursery is a simulation program capable of recreating any environment, which the children use to create a simulation of the African veld, a desert environment, complete with lions. As in many examples from Bradbury's work, rather than go out and experience nature, people are relying on simulations and technology. Like the kitchen, the nursery is a modern convenience that is supposed to free people up to go out and enjoy themselves, but instead they just stay inside and opt for a fake version.

The powerful disconnection from each other and from the real world comes to a startling conclusion when the children lure their parents into the nursery and allow them to be eaten by lions. The conclusion is something of a warning about how an over-reliance on technology and a disconnection from the world can have dire consequences.

Provide a brief sketch of the governor of Glubbdubdrib.

Glubbdubdrib is an extremely prosperous island full of magicians.  The governor is the head and eldest of a specific tribe of sorcerers that only marries one another.  The governor is a skillful necromancer, meaning that he can conjure the spirits of the dead, and it is these spirits who serve him and his family at his great palace and large estate.  He can only command a spirit's presence for one day, and he may not call up the same spirit for three months after.

He longs to learn about Gulliver's home, and Gulliver stays for about ten days so that they might learn from each other.  During this time, the governor generously allowed Gulliver to "call up whatever Persons [he] would chuse to name" from any place or time in history.  He assures Gulliver that these spirits will tell him the truth about anything he wants to know, and so Gulliver chooses a number of very interesting personages: Alexander the Great, Hannibal, Caesar, and more.  Unlike many of the other leaders Gulliver meets on his travels, the governor of Glubbdubdrib is actually pretty decent: he doesn't try to exploit Gulliver as a worker or an entertainer, and he does not judge him for his native country's customs.  

What does an outline for a paragraph look like?

An outline for a good paragraph should be structured something like this:

Topic Sentence

Example/Detail

Example/Detail

Example/Detail

Concluding Sentence

Now, let's breakdown what each of these pieces means and how best to use them:

First is a topic sentence. In today's world, people skim information far more than they ever read carefully, so a topic sentence is incredibly important. A topic sentence simply states what this particular paragraph is going to be about. It is like a thesis statement in some ways, but usually more specific and more casual. This sentence will highlight whether the information in the paragraph is going to be useful for the skimmer or not. It also helps to narrow down what the author is trying to accomplish in any given paragraph. 

Following the topic sentence comes some supporting details or examples. These are the "nitty-gritty" of a paragraph, so to speak. Examples and details might include quotes or summaries from a trusted expert or news source. They might include stories from the author's personal life. Or they may include strings of logic. In short, they are whatever is needed to sufficiently prove the argument of the topic sentence. This should be the strongest part of a paragraph. My chart above recommends three details, but that can vary based on the topic being discussed, the style of the paper, or the immediate need. 

Finally, a paragraph should finish with a strong concluding sentence. This will be a sentence that, without restating everything that has just been written, summarizes the argument of the paragraph. Concluding sentences are best when they can provide links to the topic sentence of the following paragraph. 

What did Scout and Jem learn about Atticus in Chapter 10 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, and how did they learn this about him?

In Chapter 10 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus astounds both his children through demonstrating he has excellent marksmanship by shooting a rabid dog in one shot, thereby protecting his children and his whole neighborhood. Prior to this moment, both his children had believed Atticus was nothing more than a "feeble" old man, incapable of accomplishing anything of significance. Due to their age differences, Jem and Scout learn different things from the experience. Scout, being younger, only learns that her father is more capable than she believed him to be. Jem, being older, learns lessons in courage and gentlemanly behavior.

After witnessing her father's shooting skills, Scout is puzzled as to why Atticus kept his skills a secret and doesn't shoot any more. She tries to alleviate her confusion by having a conversation about it with Miss Maudie. In answer to Scout's question as to why Atticus never hunts anymore, Miss Maudie explains that Atticus realizes his gift of marksmanship places him at an "unfair advantage over most living things." Miss Maudie further explains that, since Atticus values life, he decided not to shoot until he absolutely "had to." After hearing that, Scout can understand why Atticus doesn't shoot anymore, but she can't understand why he has kept his abilities a secret all these years and next says, "Looks like he'd be proud of it." But Scout is too young to understand that, due to Atticus's humility, Atticus is unable to be proud of a God-given talent that allows him to kill at will. Hence, all Scout learns from the experience is that Atticus is able to do things she never knew about before.

In contrast, Jem, being older, is able to understand exactly why his father objects to using his sharpshooting skills. Jem explains to his sister that Atticus is not proud of his skills because, as he says to Scout, "Atticus is a gentleman, just like me!" (Ch. 10). In saying this, Jem means that Atticus is acting gentlemanly in refusing to kill living things, since to be gentlemanly is to be caring and considerate. Therefore, through learning more about his father, Jem also develops a greater understanding of what it means to be a gentleman.

What sort of figurative language is used in this sentence: "cautiously, we entered the yawning cave"?

This is an example of personification.

Figurative language is language that is not meant to be taken literally.  It is colorful and creative, and is used to create a picture in the reader’s mind.  Authors can use figurative language to describe a setting or for characterization.

Your example uses personification to describe the cave.  Personification is a type of figurative language in which something that is not human is described as human or given human characteristics. When the cave is described as yawning, it is personification because yawning is something that a human being does.  Describing the cave as yawning means that the entrance to the cave is very big, and possibly scary.

Personification like this helps to enhance the description of the setting and also can create suspense. When you describe a cave as “yawning” it sounds like it is a monster or something. The cave is big, and it is unknown. This is the beauty of figurative language.

What is the tone for Freak the Mighty?

In literature, tone is the author's attitude towards the story or subject-matter. Look for words, style, and voice that represent how the author is trying to convey a message to the reader. Since the story is written from Max's point of view, the narrating voice is his and the way he describes things is just like that of a young teenager. For example, Max lives in his grandparents' basement because his father is in jail and his mother is dead. His life seems very dark and depressing. The setting also seems dark. Max describes his basement bedroom as the down under because of how dark it is and how it is constructed:

"I'm still living in the basement, my own private down under, in the little room Grim built for me there. Glued up this cheap paneling, right? It sort of buckles away from the concrete cellar walls, a regular ripple effect, but do I complain about the crummy paneling, or the rug that smells like low tide? I do not. Because I like it in the down under" (5).

The author's tone shows a setting built by inexpensive things, but Max is happy nonetheless. The style and voice shows that money isn't an issue because he can be happy anywhere as long as he has a place to call his own. Therefore, the tone of voice shows that Max is happy with his living circumstances even if the accommodations are rich. The reader can take away the author's purpose through this positive tone that money isn't everything and a person can be happy in whatever place he can call his own.

Throughout the story, the author's tone can be understood through the positive voice of Kevin as he encourages Max to do more than he has courage for. Kevin's tone can be sarcastic and rude at times, but it only shadows the deep appreciation and love he has for Max. Tone can be heard through Gram's loving words, as well. She comforts Max and worries about him which shows her love and concern for him as well. Again, look for how words are used to convey a message while also analyzing from which characters they are coming, and you can determine the tone. Overall, the tone of the story might show dark external and internal conflicts, but it also sheds light on hope and love as the characters strive to overcome their dark struggles.

I need to work on an assignment responding to a prompt: "without communication organization cannot function".

Every aspect of business depends on communication. Business communications can be divided into internal and external communications, both of which are important.

Internal communications are forms of communicating within a business, including between managers and subordinates or among employees. These communications affect the day-to-day functioning of the business. For example, managers need to communicate such details as deadlines, procedures, standards, and codes of conduct to employees so that employees can do their jobs properly. Employees need to update managers concerning project or task status and inform managers when there are problems. Within an organization, employees need to communicate with each other. For example. other members of an organization and the IT staff need to communicate clearly to ensure that IT functions smoothly.

Organizations also need to communicate clearly with suppliers and customers. If suppliers do not have adequate information, they will not be able to meet an organization's needs effectively. In the case of customers, good marketing communication allows customers to find out about products and good customer service communication can resolve conflicts and increase customer satisfaction. 

What qualities does the ibis exhibit in the short story "The Scarlet Ibis"?

The ibis, in James Hurst's short story "The Scarlet Ibis," is a fitting symbol for Doodle. The bird lands in the "bleeding tree" on the family's farm after being blown off course during tumultuous weather on the coast of the southeastern United States. After consulting the "bird book," the father indicates the bird is far from home and is native to the tropics. 

The bird is rare because it is seldom seen in the area of North Carolina which is the setting of the story. It is also quite beautiful with its deep red feathers and long, "graceful" neck. It could also be described as fragile. It has traveled far and the journey has diminished its strength (just as Doodle's strength is lost when he chases his brother in the rain at the end of the story). Hurst describes the bird as it lay dead at the foot of the bleeding tree:

A white veil came over its eyes and the long white beak unhinged. Its legs were crossed and its clawlike feet were delicately curved at rest. Even death did not mar its grace, for it lay on the earth like a broken vase of red flowers, and we stood around it, awed by its exotic beauty.

The bird is a symbol for Doodle because the boy is also out of place and fragile. From the beginning he is different from his brother. He is physically distinct and also has a very sensitive and imaginative personality. Like the bird, he is also doomed. In the final scene he is described in virtually the same language as the ibis:

He lay very awkwardly, with his head thrown far back, making his vermillion neck appear unusually long and slim. His little legs, bent sharply at the knees, had never before seemed so fragile, so thin. 

In Act IV of William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream, what stylistic devices are used in the speech by Bottom that begins with "When...

Shakespeare employs irony when he has Bottom say, "Man is but an ass if he go about to expound this dream," and use comic misquotations (what we would, today, call "Malapropisms") from 1 Corinthians, confusing the functions of each physical sense, i.e., "The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man's hand is not able to taste," etc. Shakespeare uses this moment with Bottom to be the connecting moment between the "Dream" aspect of the characters' experience and the return to the "Real" world. Just as he uses Bottom as the link between the worlds of Fairy and the world of Humans (Bottom is the only human who can see and hear and relate to the fairies), he uses him here to express the waking up or transitioning from one reality to the other. It is significant, too, that Bottom remembers his dream and is able to incorporate it into his human life. Bottom is what is often called the Holy Innocent: one who is so simple that he is able to actually experience what others normally cannot due to intellectual disbelief.

What is the “Heart – or ‘Hearts’ - of Darkness” that Conrad describes, and what is the horror that Kurtz expressed in his dying words?...

The heart (or hearts) of darkness at the center of Joseph Conrad's influential story are up to interpretation, as is the horror (or horrors) that Kurtz references on his deathbed. Indeed, one could argue that Conrad purposefully makes the meanings behind these phrases murky in order to increase the sense of "darkness" in the tale. However, we can generally assume that the heart of darkness is both the physical "heart" or center of white imperialism in Africa and the inherent evil lurking within all human's psyches. Accordingly, the "horror" is the realization of this reality. Both images work together to critique European imperialism by illustrating how participating in colonialism encourages the unchecked growth of evil within men's hearts.

Africa is often known as the "Dark Continent," often for racist reasons, and often simply because, for much of its history, African cultures didn't make it into European dialogues. As such, it was more or less unknown to Europeans, and so we can see Kurtz' station as physically located within an unknown geographical reason, hence the "darkness." By toiling in this location, and by exploiting the natives in relative isolation, Kurtz soon learns that he can do what he likes without any repercussions, and he accordingly becomes drunk with power. The atrocities he perpetrates while managing his trading post drive him mad and ultimately lead to his death, and the "horror" he talks about before he dies refers to the dormant evil that he awakened within himself through the completion of his colonial duties. As such, the "darkness" and the "horror" is brought on by participation in colonialism, and so Conrad ultimately reveals the inherently evil premise behind imperialist ventures.

What are some challenges Thomas Jefferson faced?

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) faced many challenges of a political and personal nature during his lifetime. He beloved wife Martha died in 1782, and it is believed by many historians that Jefferson had a long relationship with his slave, Sally Hemings, and may have had children with her. He wrestled with the issue of slavery and thought the institution of slavery was damaging to master and slave. However, he did not act to abolish or limit slavery when he was President (though he had earlier proposals that limited slavery).

After he won the presidential election of 1800 in a contested election with Aaron Burr (that was in itself a struggle), he also wrestled with the size and mission of the federal government. While his idea as a Democratic-Republican (or Republican, as his party was then called) President was to limit the size of the federal government, he actually expanded the size and power of the government in some ways when he made the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. He also struggled with British impressment of American sailors, meaning that Britain tried to force Americans into their navy. As a result, Jefferson imposed an embargo on British goods. This also was a show of the power of the federal government--a principle that he was opposed to--and it was largely ineffective, only hurting the United States. He was unable in the end to stop British impressment. 

How do fossils support the theory of evolution?

Fossils are remains of plants, animals, or other organisms that have been preserved in nature such as bones which are sometimes found buried in caves or other similar sites. Fossil records that are well-preserved reveal a lot of information about the past, particularly the environment of the organisms, their interaction with other organisms within their era, and even their relationship with other organisms to which they may be related - whether their ancestors or descendants.

In the study of evolution, fossil records become relevant because, by identifying fossils and using dating techniques to build a timeline of species, ancestry can be established at best, or chronology at worse. With DNA sequencing and carbon-dating, direct relationship between species with available fossil records can be established. This is the ideal case which directly supports evolution. Meanwhile, if no high quality and specific information is available, the existence of fossils, and the specific time point/era in which the organisms existed, will allow for the generation of a timeline of species, which can help a lot in validating evolutionary hypotheses, or generating new ones. 

For instance, fossil records can reveal transitional forms between related species. The ancestor of the gray whale had nostrils in front of its skull, while the modern gray whale has its on top. Fossil records have been identified where a related, potentially transitional form, has nostrils in the middle of the skull. Thus, a less coarse transition can be established, and this is made possible by fossil records. 

Homologies can also be established. Homology is the degree of similarity between similar structures in organisms. Related organisms will have more similar structures than more diverse organisms -- although the function can complicate things, and since we possibly have not encountered organisms whose fossils are being studied, it may be difficult to be conclusive with regards to function, but structure identification is more definitive. 

Fossil records have allowed for identification of similarities and relationships between mammals, birds, and other organisms in the modern world and their ancestors. Another example would be fossil records of ancestors of humans. There are available fossil records that trace evolution of humans by the development of certain features that distinguish humans from their primate cousins - like opposable thumbs and bipedalism. Fossil records also then help in creating ancestral/evolutionary trees. Gaps or missing links are usually filled in once fossil records are found that satisfy the hypotheses.

In general, fossil records support the theory of evolution because it allows us to trace the past to the present. 

What is the difference between fair, valid and reliable?

When conducting any test or experiment, it is ideal for it to be fair, valid and reliable.

A fair test is one where one variable is changed at a time, for testing its particular effect on the experiment, while keeping all other variables constant. For a test to be fair, a control group must be implemented, biases must be limited, an adequate sample size must be used, and interfering variables have to be controlled. Fairness ensures credibility of the experiment itself.

A reliable test is one in which there are many trials, and each time the test is run, the results are consistent with each other. Reliability ensures accuracy and precision of data.

A validity test is what it sounds like--it measures the validity of the test in conveying what it claims to show. A valid test is said to have reasonable controlled variables and have a proper method and procedure that truly measures what the experiment was meant to measure. Validity ensures that the data is believable in that it accomplishes what the test aimed to accomplish by reasonable means.

When a test is fair, valid, and reliable, it can be considered credible, as the data is both accurate and precise in forming its conclusion(s) and the way in which data was collected is justified and reasonable.

What are the existentialist elements in Estragon and Vladimir from Waiting for Godot?

Vladimir and Estragon know exactly what they are waiting for. They are waiting for a man named Godot because they expect him to give them a handout. Godot knows they are there and are waiting for him. He intends to go to meet them, but he is taking his own time about it because these two tramps are so insignificant that he doesn't care how long they have to wait or whether they decide to leave.

During the play a boy arrives on two occasions to tell the waiting men that Godot will not be coming today but will be there tomorrow. It seems overly speculative to conjecture that Godot does not exist or that Godot is God. Samuel Beckett is "holding the mirror up to nature," to use Shakespeare's definition of drama in Hamlet. Beckett is asking his audience, and in fact each one of us, in effect, "What are you waiting for? These two men are tramps, the lowest of the low--but at least they know what they are waiting for. They are waiting for a simple handout from a real man whom they know and who knows them. Do you know what you are waiting for?" Probably many of us would have to admit that we don't know and have never known. Although we might also admit that we have been waiting for something--and are still waiting.

In David Mamet's excellent play Glengarry Glen Ross, he has Shelly Levene, one of his salesman, say the following to a couple of prospects on a "sit":

"This is now. This is that thing that you've been dreaming of, you're going to find that suitcase on the train, the guy comes in the door, the bag that's full of money. This is it."

Beckett's audiences may not understand half of what is going on, but many of them must realize that they are like those two tramps. They are looking in the "mirror" being held up to nature. They are hoping to find that suitcase on the train which is full of hundred-dollar bills--or indulging in other fantasies while life goes on in its daily grind and every day each of us grows one day older. 

But at least Vladimir and Estragon know what they are waiting for. They are waiting for a real, live man whose name is Godot.

Who and what does the free bird symbolize?

In Maya Angelou’s poem “Caged Bird” she provides a juxtaposition a free bird’s life with that of a caged bird. The free bird symbolizes people who live in this world unencumbered by prejudice of any type whether it be racial, socioeconomic, or psychological.

The free bird has the opportunity to move through life soaking in its abundance. The people who are afforded this freedom, forge through life making their own decisions and choices. “The sky is the limit” for those who are free; those who do not face oppression. Without worrying about restrictions, the free bird is able to experience life as an enjoyable adventure. The people represented by the free bird are able to think of the mundane things in life, instead of battling for survival.

It is believed by some scholars that the operating system is the master instructor. To what extent do you agree with the above statement? Use the...

I completely agree with the statement that the operating system (or OS) is the master instructor. An operating system has the following functions:

• Provides a user interface: An operating system provides a user interface for input and output of commands. Using this interface, the user feeds in the commands (using a keyboard and a mouse) and obtains an output.


• Process management: many applications need to use the limited system resources and the operating system prioritizes the use of these resources. Thus, the CPU (central processing unit) time is shared between various processes depending on their priority listing.


• Memory management: OS also manages the memory of the system and allocates and deallocates the memory to the processes as per the needs.


• Control of peripheral devices: An OS also controls the peripheral hardware devices such as printers, mouse, keyboard, etc. These devices are commonly used for input and output operations.


• Maintains the file system: An OS manages the filing system in a computer. It manages how files are created, deleted and accessed and it contains native file systems. 

Looking at all these functionalities, one can deduce that the OS is the master instructor. It manages all the hardware devices and enables input & output into the computer. It controls filing of data and allocates system resources as per the need. Thus, it not only controls the hardware, but also how the system functions and therefore is the master instructor.

Hope this helps. 

In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men, how does Lennie's killing of the puppy parallel his killing of Curley's wife and the mice?

In John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, Lennie is shown to be very strong and very large, but his intellectual disability makes it difficult for him to understand how strong he is and how much force he puts on the things that he touches. This is evident in the deaths of his puppy, a mouse, and the wife of Curley, the owner of the ranch where they work. All three of them died due to his accidental use of excessive force while "petting" them.

Lennie's friend George, who feels responsible for Lennie and tries to keep him out of trouble, and another ranch hand later discover the body of Curley's wife. Despite George's efforts to explain to the rest of the ranch workers that the death was an accident, most of them still decide to pursue Lennie. When George realizes that there is no way that Lennie can escape the angry, violent mob, he shoots Lennie to keep him from suffering at their hands.

What does Helena do when she learns that Hermia plans to elope with Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream?

Helena tells Demetrius that Lysander and Hermia are eloping.

There is a complicated situation going on in Athens.  Helena is in love with Demetrius, but he does not return her affections. Hermia’s father has chosen Demetrius to marry his daughter. Hermia, however, is in love with Lysander.

Helena sees Hermia as competition for Demetrius’s affection, even though she loves Lysander instead.  Helena is jealous of Hermia. 

Call you me fair? that fair again unsay.
Demetrius loves your fair: O happy fair!
Your eyes are lode-stars; and your tongue's sweet air
More tuneable than lark to shepherd's ear,
When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear.
Sickness is catching … (Act 1, Scene 1) 

From Helena’s perspective, Hermia has two men that are in love with her and she has none.  She thinks that Hermia has stolen her man.  Hermia tries to assure her that she is not interested in Demetrius by telling her that she and Lysander are eloping.  

The moral of the story is: Do not tell Helena anything.  Helena decides to tell Demetrius what Lysander and Hermia are doing. 

For ere Demetrius look'd on Hermia's eyne,
He hail'd down oaths that he was only mine;
And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,
So he dissolved, and showers of oaths did melt.
I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight (Act 1, Scene 1)

Helena will tell Demetrius Hermia and Lysander’s plans, and since the last thing Demetrius knew he was supposed to marry Hermia, he will go after them.  Of course this is how all four lovers end up in the forest together, where Puck causes mayhem by mixing them up, anointing the wrong lovers with his special potion to make them fall in love with the wrong person.  Eventually, Helena ends up with Demetrius and Lysander with Hermia.

In "The Interlopers," what brought the two men out into the disputed territory that night? What happened to them?

In “The Interlopers,” we know for certain that Ulrich von Gradwitz has come out into the forest on this stormy night because he hates Georg Znaeym. We are not specifically told why Znaeym has come out, but we can infer that it is for the same reason. We are also not explicitly told what happens to the two men, but it certainly seems likely that they are killed just after the story ends.

Ulrich and Georg hate each other personally, and they hate each other because their families have been in conflict for generations. The two families have a dispute about who owns the stretch of forest in which the story takes place. The author explicitly tells us that Ulrich has come out because he thinks Georg will be (as he sees it) trespassing and poaching on his land that evening. As the story says, Ulrich and his foresters had come out

not in quest of four-footed quarry, but to keep a look-out for the prowling thieves whom he suspected of being afoot from across the land boundary.

In other words, Ulrich was out on this night because he hated Georg and wanted to catch Georg on the disputed land. When he caught Georg, he hoped to kill him. We are not told why Georg is out, but we can assume it is for a similar reason.

As for what happens to the men, we do not know for sure. We know that they are trapped under a huge beech tree that blows down in the windstorm. We know that they agree to end their feud. We know that, at the end of the story, Ulrich believes that he sees nine or ten wolves coming towards them. From this, we can infer that the two men die, killed by the wolves.

Through Harper Lee's description of the Radley's house and yard, what do we discover about its inhabitants?

The Radleys seem to be an anti-social family because their house and yard are not inviting. This also means that they probably do not care what their neighbors think of their house being the main eyesore on the block. In chapter one, Scout says that the house used to be white, suggesting that the paint is probably peeling almost beyond recognition, and the shutters were green once, but now look more like the color gray. Next, the shingles droop because they are "rain-rotted" (8) and the large, untrimmed oak trees, keep the sun out. The Radley home also has "the remains of a picket" fence that Scout says looks as if it "drunkenly" guards the home. Finally, there are pockets of grass and "rabbit-tobacco" that grow, which shows that the family does not care to keep the quality of their estate up to code, let alone looking nice.

Even if the Radley home does look horrible, the citizens of Maycomb would accept them at church and as neighbors if they only took steps to be approachable; but even the house is as closed as the family is.

"The shutters and doors of the Radley house were closed on Sundays, another thing alien to Maycomb's ways: closed doors meant illness and cold weather only. Of all days Sundays was the day for formal afternoon visiting. . . But to climb the Radley front steps and call, 'He-y,' of a Sunday afternoon was something their neighbors never did" (9).

The above passage shows the symbolic connection between the house's appearance and the anti-social Radley frame of mind--closed.

How did Europe change socially, politically, and in education during the Medieval Period?

The Medieval Period, or Middle Ages, refers to the era between the fall of the Roman Empire in the West and the cultural transformations of the Renaissance. Historians generally agree that the Medieval Period began in the fifth century and ended in the fifteenth. Throughout this Period, many changes occurred, laying the foundations for Modern European society.

Medieval society was organized into three classes or Orders- oratores, laboratores, and bellatores. In Modern English, that is the people who pray (clergy,) people who work (peasantry,) and people who fight (nobility.) After the fall of the Roman Empire, society and power became far more localized and gave way to the Feudal System. In the Early period, society was primarily composed of subsistence farmers, who may have been ruled over by a king. In the Feudal System (which crystallized in the Middle and Late Periods,) land was owned by a king (as a kingdom) and divided up among noble families in return for their military service. The noble families then divided their parcel of land further among less-powerful families in return for their military service. (It was sort of a complex process of recruitment!) These land-holders, or vassals, would then manage their parcel of land, which was worked by peasants who lived on it. Over the Medieval Period, this system became increasingly complex, with one vassal potentially being obligated to many superiors. Conflict of interests were common, and the peasantry often revolted at unfair taxation and treatment.

Politics and government changed both drastically and rapidly throughout the Middle Ages. In the wake of the fall of Roman power, authority was "returned" to local warlord kings. Essentially, whoever was strongest or had the most fighters on their side won control over land. Kings often made war on each other in order to take more land and resources as their own. During the eighth and ninth centuries, much of Europe was unified under Charlemagne- Charles the Great. Charlemagne re-unified the secular and religious powers in his empire when he was coronated in 800 by the Pope. This gave way to many kings who ruled on divine authority. By the 11th century, the Carolingian Empire was dismantled by Viking and Magyar invasions, and power returned to local kings once again.

The Medieval Period had an increasing trend towards literacy and improvements in education. During the Early Middle Ages, infrastructure suffered, and Latin scholarship fell out of fashion. Most people had a religious education, but only clergy and nobility were literate, and very few people had any schooling in mathematics or the sciences. Charlemagne instituted a number of reforms of education, and was an avid student himself. He encouraged his family and members of court to study mathematics, astronomy, and logic, in addition to their religious education. During his legacy- the Carolingian Dynasty- a form of standardized script was developed. The Caroline Miniscule was implemented as a common means of writing and language so that texts produced in one area would be understood when read in another. Dialects and scripts varied widely throughout Europe, so the development of a uniform style of writing was a great benefit to education during the Middle Ages. In fact, the Modern English script I am using right now is based on Caroline Miniscule! 

During the Middle and Late periods of the Middle Ages, there was a significant population boom due to advancements in agriculture. However, most of the population were still peasants and had limited access to education. Study of the sciences and mathematics were considered primarily for the nobility, but the invention of the printing press enabled a slow rise in literacy rates among the peasantry.

A pressure acting on a surface is 10 Pa. What does this mean?

Pressure is the amount of force applied to a particular size of area.

   Pressure = Force/Area

The weight of an object sitting on a surface is equal to the force exerted by the object on the surface.

The unit for pressure is the Pascal (Pa). The unit Pascal (Pa) can also be written in the units Newton (N) per meter squared (`~m^2` ).

      So, 1 Pa = 1 N/1 `~m^2`

Therefore, if the pressure acting on a surface is 10 Pa, this means that there are 10 N of force pressing on 1 `~m^2` of the surface.

Example:

Let’s look at an example problem. What is the pressure when 100 N of force are applied to 0.1 `~m^2` of surface?

     Pressure = Force/Area = 100 N/ 0.1 `~m^2` = 1000 Pa

Macbeth - Act 1, Scene 4: How does the Old Thane of Cawdor's behaviour differ from Macbeth's behaviour as Thane of Cawdor later in the scene?

Of the old Thane of Cawdor, Malcolm, Duncan's older son, tells his father that 

Very frankly he confessed his treasons,
Implored your Highness' pardon, and set forth
A deep repentance.  Nothing in his life
Became him like the leaving it.  (1.4.6-9)

In other words, the traitorous nobleman acted at least somewhat honorably in the end, more honorably than he'd ever behaved before.  He did not weep and wail and moan; instead, he acted like a gentleman, and he told the truth in a confession of his wrongs.

Macbeth, on the other hand, has become treacherous and deceitful by the end of this scene.  When he hears Duncan name Malcolm as the Prince of Cumberland and heir to the throne, Macbeth immediately begins to plot against his king and kinsman.  He says to himself,

Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires.
The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.  (1.4.57-60)

He immediately begins to consider taking violent action, such that his eye would not want to see what his hand is doing; however, his hand will do it anyway.  It sounds as though he is already contemplating Duncan's murder.  Thus, the old Thane of Cawdor goes from traitorous to honorable and the new Thane of Cawdor goes from honorable to traitorous.

In Animal Farm, what would happen if all the animals were as educated as the pigs? How would our world change if everyone were highly educated?...

One of the main reasons that Napoleon is able to subjugate and exploit his former "comrades" is that he exceeds them in literacy, education, and knowledge of the outside world. He uses these advantages, among others, to subvert the original aims of the revolution, and re-instate a hierarchical system on the farm.

When Farmer Jones was first overthrown, the animals dreamt of an egalitarian system in which profits are shared, and in which all animals are "equal" (as per The Seven Commandments). Snowball teaches many of the animals how to read. These animals are able to read - and actually understand - The Seven Commandments, and the tenets of the revolution. They are also ostensibly able to learn about, and deal with, the outside world.

This all changes when Napoleon comes to power. In time, the notion of a "simple" life takes precedence over that of education and equality; the ideologically-driven windmill keeps the worker animals excited, agitated, and afraid. They are brainwashed by songs which exalt Napoleon, and horrific rumors about Snowball, Jones, and other shadowy conspirators.

By the end of the novel, most of the animals who had learned to read have died (like Boxer) or are in exile (like Snowball). Thus, the vast majority of the worker animals do not realize that The Seven Commandments have been amended ("All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others") to its opposite. Earlier, it is only Benjamin who is able to read the sign on the truck that has come for Boxer, and thereby to deduce that it belongs to a glue factory, not a veterinarian.

If more of the animals had been literate, perhaps they could have saved Boxer. Perhaps they would have been more aware of Napoleon's despotism, and his twisting of The Seven Commandments.

What if the animals had been able to write a letter to Snowball? What if, by reading outside books and newspapers, they had come to realize that Napoleon's rule was not egalitarian, but despotic? What if they had been exposed to new ideas and technologies?

We see, then, that an educated population would have been absolutely disastrous for Napoleon. The worker animals would have had a much better chance of achieving their revolutionary goals if most of them had been able to read and write. In this way, Animal Farm is a direct commentary on the "real" world and its politics. We can argue that, if more people were highly educated, they would be able to assert their needs, protect their rights, and create a kinder, egalitarian world.

What does Cherry explain as the difference between the Socs and the Greasers in The Outsiders?

Cherry says Socs are different from Greasers because Socs don’t feel anything.

Pony explains that he is a Greaser, and that the two rival youth gangs in his community are the Greasers and the Socs.  He is afraid of the Socs, and they are the reason he usually never walks alone.  The Socs target Greasers.

We get jumped by the Socs. I'm not sure how you spell it, but it's the abbreviation for the Socials, the jet set, the West-side rich kids. It's like the term "greaser," which is used to class all us boys on the East Side. (Ch. 1) 

The Greasers and the Socs fight, but they do not socialize.  This is because the differences in social class and the conflict between the two are just too strong.  Yet one day at the movies, Johnny and Pony meet a couple of Soc girls and strike up a conversation.  The girls do not like Dally, a rougher older gang member friend of theirs, but they like Johnny and Pony. 

Cherry and Pony seem to get along well and understand each other on a deep level.  It seems as if both of them do not quite fit into their gangs, and they think about things that others take for granted.  For example, Cherry explains to Pony what she considers the difference between Greasers and Socs. 

"It's not just money. Part of it is, but not all. You greasers have a different set of values. You're more emotional. We're sophisticated -- cool to the point of not feeling anything. Nothing is real with us. You know, sometimes I'll catch myself talking to a girl-friend, and realize I don't mean half of what I'm saying…” (Ch. 3) 

To Cherry, the Greasers are genuine, while Socs experience a lack of reality.  Socs do not live life as fully as the Greasers.  Greasers are able to care about things, and Socs live their lives full of privilege but numb, not really feeling.

Cherry explains to Pony that things are rough all over.  Everyone has problems, Greaser or Soc.  Pony realizes both he and Cherry see the same sunset, and this is a revelation to him.  He has a new understanding of the whole group, and an appreciation for Cherry’s insights into life.

What are some of the features of Shakespeare's Sonnet 18?

Like most Shakespearean sonnets, Sonnet 18 consists of 14 lines of iambic pentameter, with a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg. The poem is composed of three quatrains and a final couplet.

Many of Shakespeare's sonnets address themes of love, beauty, and mortality, and Sonnet 18 is no exception. Here, the speaker argues that although "Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May" (3), and time will "fade" his love's beauty, his/her "eternal summer" (9) has been immortalized through verse. Thus, "So long as men can breathe or eyes can see" (13), the lover, and the speaker's devotion, will continue in perpetuity. Thus, the sonnet lauds the triumph of love (and poetry) over death.

We can also note that, in Sonnet 18, a volta ("turn") in the argument occurs at line 9 ("But thy eternal summer shall not..."). Whereas the first portion of the sonnet is dominated by images of mortality and ravaging time, the latter half claims that all such realities can be overcome by love and poetry, which endlessly "give[s] life" (14) to the speaker's beloved. Voltas are a common element in Shakespearean sonnets, and contribute to the wit, vitality, and ease for which they are known and praised.