What is the theme of the poem? What is the tone of the poem?

A "theme" of a literary work is its main message, as opposed to its "subject," which is its topic. The subject here is stated in the title: "Legal Alien." The theme, then, is what the author has to say about being a legal alien. Pat Mora's emphasis on "Bi" suggests what the poem goes on to provide examples of: he leads a double life. He can slip easily between languages and is fluent in both. He's "American but hyphenated," meaning he doesn't feel completely American; the hyphen singles him out as different, suggesting that he never completely fits in. Each side--Anglos and Mexicans--view him as the Other, a half-breed. He is handy for them, though: he is a "token / sliding back and forth" between both worlds, helping them communicate. He smiles to hide his chronic discomfort but he knows he is judged "bi-laterally"--on both sides, all the time. 

The theme could be summed up as "Legal aliens live between worlds." His tone is one of acceptance and resignation. 

What does the quote "if they killed him tonight, at least he would die alive" mean in The Book Thief?

Max is prepared to die, but hiding and fighting for his life is better than waiting for death to come. 

Max is Jewish, and during World War II in Germany that was very dangerous.  His family wants him to have a chance, so he tries to escape to Hans Hubermann’s house.  He has a secret, which is that his copy of Mein Kampf has a key taped to the inside cover.  No one would question a man walking around with Hitler’s book! 

His legs ached terribly, but he was nearly there— the most dangerous place to be. Close enough to touch it. (Ch. 24) 

For Hans, it is better to go on the run and try to get to his hiding place than to sit at home and wait for the Gestapo to come get him.  Death would come faster that way, because he would be killed or taken to a concentration camp.  It was better to take a fighting chance. 

As he travels, he is wary. 

He warned himself. “Keep your eyes open.” (German children were on the lookout for stray coins. German Jews kept watch for possible capture.) (Ch. 24) 

Max knows that for the entire time he is travelling between his house and Hans’s house, he risks someone turning him in. Someone just has to suspect that he is a Jew, and that’s it.  So while he carries on, he is also terribly frightened the entire time.

Max is one of a kind.  Even when hiding in the basement, he never loses his desire to stay alive.  In his mind, he is fist-fighting Hitler.  He paints books in his spare time.  When there is an air raid warning, he stands outside and looks at the night sky while everyone else is in shelters.  Even when captured, Max is brave and strong.  He has the will to live.

Who supported limiting the national government?

When the Constitution was developed as our new plan of government, there were people who had significant concerns about the national government having too much power. Some people were still very afraid of having a strong federal government based on our experiences with Great Britain that led to the Revolutionary War.

There were several concerns about the new plan of the government. These concerns were voiced by a group of people called the Antifederalists. They were concerned that there was no Bill of Rights in the Constitution that guaranteed the rights of the people. These people were concerned that a strong federal government would lead to the people being oppressed by the government. Patrick Henry was one person who was very concerned about the Constitution creating a federal government that would be too strong. In Rhode Island, a group of people formed the Country Party, led by Judge William West, which presented a very strong opposition to the Constitution. Other Antifederalists included James Winthrop and George Mason.

With the guarantee of an addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution, the Constitution was ratified, giving the federal government more power.

What is myositis?

Definition

Myositis is a general term for a group of rare chronic conditions characterized by inflammation of the skeletal muscles. This inflammation can cause
muscle weakness. Myositis refers to the inflammatory myopathies, including
polymyositis, dermatomyositis, inclusion-body
myositis, and juvenile myositis. It is thought that all these disorders are autoimmune diseases. Inflammatory myopathies can also be caused by
certain medications or by exposure to a toxic substance; these myopathies are
usually not chronic and resolve once the harmful substance is removed.

Causes

It is not known what causes myositis. It is believed that an environmental
factor, such as a viral infection, triggers myositis in people who might be
genetically predisposed to the condition. The damage in myositis is caused by the
body’s own immune
system, as white blood cells and antibodies
attack the muscle and, in some cases, the skin.

Risk Factors

Generally, women are affected more often than men, although inclusion-body myositis affects twice as many men as women. Polymyositis is observed in persons between twenty and sixty years of age, whereas inclusion-body myositis is more common after age fifty years. Children can develop dermatomyositis. African Americans are at higher risk for myositis, while the lowest rates of myositis are reported in persons of Japanese origin.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of the inflammatory myopathies include muscle weakness, sometimes with muscle pain, that lasts for more than a few weeks; general tiredness and fatigue; difficulty climbing stairs, standing up from a seated position, or reaching up; and difficulty swallowing. Additional symptoms for the various myopathies include a variety of skin symptoms (such as a rash or scaly, dry, and rough skin) in dermatomyositis; and hardened lumps of calcium (calcinosis) under the skin in juvenile dermatomyositis. Unlike other inflammatory myopathies, the muscle weakness in inclusion-body myositis is often asymmetrical.

Screening and Diagnosis

Myositis varies from person to person and can often resemble other diseases,
such as scleroderma or lupus. Tests used to help confirm a diagnosis include a
physical exam; tests of muscle strength; magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) scan; an electromyogram (EMG); blood tests,
including erythrocyte sedimentation rate, creatinine kinase, and antinuclear
antibodies; and muscle and skin biopsies.

Treatment and Therapy

Treatment for myositis generally includes rest, physical therapy, and the use
of anti-inflammatories (corticosteroids as first-line therapy
and methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, and azathioprine), and intravenous
immunoglobulin. If left untreated, inflammatory myopathy can cause permanent
damage.

Prevention and Outcomes

Because the cause of myositis is unknown, there is no known way to prevent the condition. To lessen the severity of dermatomyositis, however, persons with the condition should avoid excessive exposure to the sun, which can worsen any dermatomyositis-associated skin rashes.

Bibliography

Isenberg, D. A., et al. “International Consensus Outcome Measures for Patients with Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: Development and Initial Validation of Myositis Activity and Damage Indices in Patients with Adult Onset Disease.” Rheumatology 43, no. 1 (January, 2004): 49-54.

Kagen, Lawrence J., ed. The Inflammatory Myopathies. Totowa, N.J.: Humana Press, 2009.

Marieb, Elaine N. Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology. 8th ed. San Francisco: Pearson/Benjamin Cummings, 2006.

Murphy, Kenneth, Paul Travers, and Mark Walport. Janeway’s Immunobiology. 7th ed. New York: Garland Science, 2008.

Parker, James N., and Philip M. Parker, eds. Myositis: A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, and Annotated Research Guide to Internet References. San Diego, Calif.: ICON Health, 2004.

What are Peter's two pets?

Peter’s first pet was a green turtle. He won the turtle at his friend Jimmy’s birthday party. When he brought his new pet home, he cautioned his mischievous little brother against touching the turtle. The warning was warranted because Fudge, Peter’s younger brother, was destructive and it was highly likely that he would harm the turtle. Peter’s fears were later confirmed when the turtle went missing. Peter asked Fudge where the pet was and realized that his brother swallowed the turtle. Fudge was rushed to a hospital, and the doctor told Peter that he would have to get a new turtle. Hours later, the dead pet passed through, and Peter was devastated.

Peter’s second pet was a dog. His parents got him the pet as a reward for being patient with Fudge in spite of all the trouble he caused.
In summary, Peter’s two pets were a small, green turtle named Dribble, and a dog named Turtle.

What are the main points of the poem Ozymandias?

The poem Ozymandias, by Percy Shelley, is a political sonnet that recounts a story the speaker once heard from a traveler. The traveler describes exploring the desert in his home country and finding the remnants of an ancient statue: two massive stone legs and a stone head lying nearby in ruins. There is an inscription on the pedestal the legs stand on, which reads:

I am Ozymandias, King of Kings

Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!

The inscription is ironic, because nothing remains of the "works" it brags about. He led an ancient civilization with no remaining traces in the sprawling desert, and even the statue commemorating him is in ruins. Shelley's poem could be interpreted as a metaphor for political power, with the crumbling statue bragging about accomplishments lost to time representing the fleeting nature of power and empire.

Who is more responsible for the plot against Duncan - Macbeth or Lady Macbeth?

Of course, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth do share the blame for killing their king.  However, if we have to choose just one, I would say that Lady Macbeth provided the impetus for Macbeth to act.

Yes, Macbeth was already thinking about becoming king after the witches' prophecies began coming true.  We know this when he reacts to the King's announcement of Malcolm becoming the Prince of Cumberland, his official heir, by saying "The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step/On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,/ For in my way it lies" (I, iv).

However, the reader might doubt that Macbeth would ever act on these thoughts without the repeated urging from his wife.  She asks him "What beast was't them/That made you break this enterprise to me?" (I, vii) when nowhere do we see that he actually promised her to kill Duncan.   She asks if he is a coward and if he even loves her.  It is she who plans the entire murder, including the framing of the guards.  

Eventually Macbeth agrees to the murder, despite his own doubts, because he was weighed down by the arguments and promises of his wife.