What were the advantages to trade being brought back in Western Europe, in the Middle Ages?

The advantages to Europe of trade during the long period of history known as "the Middle Ages" were considerable. European and Asian traders, operating mainly along the already-established "Silk Road" routes connecting Asia, the Middle East and Europe, established colonies along those enormously long routes that became important centers of learning as well as trade, and that facilitated the development of diverse cultures. More tangibly, the Europeans reaped enormous dividends from Silk Road trade routes...

The advantages to Europe of trade during the long period of history known as "the Middle Ages" were considerable. European and Asian traders, operating mainly along the already-established "Silk Road" routes connecting Asia, the Middle East and Europe, established colonies along those enormously long routes that became important centers of learning as well as trade, and that facilitated the development of diverse cultures. More tangibly, the Europeans reaped enormous dividends from Silk Road trade routes in terms of imports from Asia of spices, silk and other textiles, precious metals like silver and gold, and various agricultural commodities like grapes, cucumbers, carrots, and onions. Agricultural techniques that made irrigation of fields more efficient were imported from Asia, as one of the most significant developments of the age: paper. While Johannes Gutenberg's printing press is appropriately considered one of the most important inventions in history, its practical utility would have pretty limited had the Chinese not invented paper, and had that invention not found its way to Europe through these same trade routes.

Europe benefited enormously from trade with other regions of the world during the Middle Ages. The Chinese, in particular, were very advanced in areas like science, agriculture and development of textiles. All of the above-mentioned imports contributed to Europe's development and prosperity. That particularly deadly bacterial and viral infections similarly made the transit across Eurasia does not diminish the legacy of trade between Europe and Asia.

What happens to an individual cell when it matures?

The life cycle of a cell is called the cell cycle. The cycle progresses from a new cell to one that grows, develops, carries out life processes and ultimately will divide again once it is mature. A mature cell by definition is differentiated or specialized to be a specific type of cell in the body unlike a stem cell which is undifferentiated. An example of a differentiated cell is a muscle cell or a nerve cell.

Depending on the type of cell, it may frequently divide like a skin cell or not divide after becoming mature like a nerve cell.

There are specific controls for the cell cycle which include different chemical signals that must be present to proceed to each stage of the cell cycle. There are checkpoints which allow the cycle to go from one stage to the next. Signals provided by specific chemicals at the correct time allow the cycle to function in a coordinated and organized way.

The cell cycle has the G1, S, G2 and M phases. During G1, a signal is required to cause the cell to proceed through the cycle to the M phase where it will eventually divide to form two daughter cells. If a signal is not present, the cell switches off to a phase where it doesn't divide, known as Go (G naught).

During G1 the cell grows and manufactures organelles. During the S phase, the chromosomes are duplicated to insure a complete set will be provided to each daughter cell at the end of the cell cycle. During G2 the cell grows some more. 

Eventually, the cell enters the M or mitosis phase. It will divide to become two daughter cells after cytokinesis occurs. That is, when the cytoplasm is divided into the two daughter cells. These two new cells will enter into the G1 phase of the cell cycle and will someday divide once they grow and become mature.

What are some key symbols, themes, and motifs in To Kill a Mockingbird?

One theme in To Kill A Mockingbirdis "there is good and evil in this world, and it is sometimes difficult to determine which is which." This is seen from the time Scout and Jem are very young, playing simple imaginative games with good guys versus bad guys, or making up stories about the bad, scary man next door. As they grow older, they learn a lot from their father about where good and bad...

One theme in To Kill A Mockingbird is "there is good and evil in this world, and it is sometimes difficult to determine which is which." This is seen from the time Scout and Jem are very young, playing simple imaginative games with good guys versus bad guys, or making up stories about the bad, scary man next door. As they grow older, they learn a lot from their father about where good and bad are in the world, and have to try to come to terms with the fact that while their father holds one opinion, other townspeople have extremely different opinions on what is good and evil. 

A motif might be the small country town feeling. The town of Maycomb is holding on to old ideas about race and prejudice, while larger, faster parts of the world are moving past them. There are many stock characters that a reader would expect to find in any picturesque small town, such as the town gossip, the town freak, or the wise man from whom children may seek advice.

A symbol could be the haunted house (the Radley place), which represents evil, or the mockingbird, which represents innocence.

Why is the colour of krishna blue?

Many Hindu gods and goddesses are depicted with blue skin. This does not necessarily mean that Krishna--or other blue-skinned divinities such as Shiva and Rama--actually had blue skin. As Sadhguru explains, it is possible that Krishna was dark-skinned, but "people who were aware saw the blueness of his energy, so they described him as blue." This blue energy field--commonly referred to as an aura--is what artists tend to emphasize when they depict Krisha.

This blue...

Many Hindu gods and goddesses are depicted with blue skin. This does not necessarily mean that Krishna--or other blue-skinned divinities such as Shiva and Rama--actually had blue skin. As Sadhguru explains, it is possible that Krishna was dark-skinned, but "people who were aware saw the blueness of his energy, so they described him as blue." This blue energy field--commonly referred to as an aura--is what artists tend to emphasize when they depict Krisha.

This blue aura represents the "all-inclusiveness" of Krishna. Additionally, the blue aura represents his irresistible attractiveness (this is different than attractiveness derived from mere physical traits) . Sadhguru gives one striking example of Krishna's ability to attract even people who hated him.

He was so irresistible that even Poothana, the assassin who came to kill him when he was just a baby, fell in love with him. She was with him for just a few minutes but she became completely entangled in his blue magic. 

As this example represents, Krishna's aura endeared people to him. Thus it should be unsurprising that one of his most memorable traits was his blue aura or or energy field.

What are the similarities in the structure of the language used by Lady Macbeth and the witches in "Macbeth," and "The Laboratory" by Robert...

Lady Macbeth and the narrator in "The Laboratory" share similar characteristics. They are both ambitious women who resort to murder to achieve their goals. However, beyond character similarities, there are also similar structural techniques used in the language of these characters.

First, three passages: 

1. LADY MACBETH: That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold. / What hath quenched them hath given me fire. / Hark! - Peace. / It was the...

Lady Macbeth and the narrator in "The Laboratory" share similar characteristics. They are both ambitious women who resort to murder to achieve their goals. However, beyond character similarities, there are also similar structural techniques used in the language of these characters.

First, three passages: 

1. LADY MACBETH: That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold. / What hath quenched them hath given me fire. / Hark! - Peace. / It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman, / Which gives the stern'st good-night. He is about it. / The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms / Do mock their charge with snores. (II.ii.1-8)

2. LABORATORY: For only last night, as they whispered, I brought / My own eyes to bear on her so, that I thought / Could I keep them one half minute fixed, she would fall, / Shrivelled; she fell not; yet this does it all! 

3. WITCH 1: Where the place?

    WITCH 2: Upon the heath.

    WITCH 3: There to meet with Macbeth. (I.i.6-8)

The three of these passages do not have similar content, but they share unique nuances that can be illuminating. All three of these characters share a similar pacing in their poetry. These characters often break a standard rhythm to create a jolted, anxious tone. For instance, "Shrivelled; she fell not; yet this does it all!" and "What hath quenched them hath given me fire. / Hark! - Peace," are both lines that are unsure of themselves. Lady Macbeth claims she is bold, and then she is startled. The narrator in "The Laboratory" is sure of herself, and then she is anxious and jumping from one thought to the next. Similarly, the witches are frantic in their pacing and difficult to predict. All three of these passages share frenetic pacing. These language techniques are used to underscore their emotional states. 

Why do you think people are moving away from rural areas towards urban areas?

There are a number of reasons for the migration of people from rural areas to urban areas. These include employment opportunities, educational facilities, lifestyle preferences, better medical care, social and personal life opportunities, etc. Any one or a combination of these factors may cause migration. Most of the rural areas around the world are dependent on agriculture and may not provide adequate employment opportunities for everyone in the family (depending on the size of the...

There are a number of reasons for the migration of people from rural areas to urban areas. These include employment opportunities, educational facilities, lifestyle preferences, better medical care, social and personal life opportunities, etc. Any one or a combination of these factors may cause migration. Most of the rural areas around the world are dependent on agriculture and may not provide adequate employment opportunities for everyone in the family (depending on the size of the land). Urban areas, on the other hand, have more employment opportunities in various sectors (such as manufacturing, services, etc.). Urban areas also typically boast better educational and medical care facilities. People may find the former to be more attractive for their offspring, while the latter may be beneficial to their parents. Urban areas also provide more chances for social interaction, a better personal life and a higher standard of living. All these factors may cause people to shift to urban areas. 

On the other hand, some people may decide to shift to rural areas (from urban areas) because they are not satisfied with the rapid pace of urban life and want a more peaceful existence. 

Hope this helps. 

I need help defining the word "robot" for the following assignment. Write your definition for the word robot: What does a robot look...

The first documented use of the word robot was in the Czech language in 1921, in the play R.U.R. by Karel Čapek. Since that time, the term "robot" gradually became a staple of science fiction and eventually a term applied to real devices that automate many industrial tasks.

Although the robots of science fiction, especially those of Isaac Asimov, whose work had wide influence on the literary portrayal of robots, tend to be anthropomorphic, real...

The first documented use of the word robot was in the Czech language in 1921, in the play R.U.R. by Karel Čapek. Since that time, the term "robot" gradually became a staple of science fiction and eventually a term applied to real devices that automate many industrial tasks.

Although the robots of science fiction, especially those of Isaac Asimov, whose work had wide influence on the literary portrayal of robots, tend to be anthropomorphic, real world robotics focuses on creating devices that can automate certain groups of tasks, namely those that are simple and repetitive and can be more cheaply done by machines than humans (such as welding) or those which may be unsafe (such as inspecting areas with chemical spills or high levels of radioactivity). Increasingly, robots, who might be defined as autonomous devices capable of modifying their own programming, are used in a wide range of applications including medicine, space and undersea exploration, and industrial processes either to aid or replace humans. The appearance of robots varies with their function and can range from nanodevices to large machines. 

The Roomba vacuum cleaners are typical of the robots used in domestic, as opposed to industrial, applications. 

Thinking of Judith Butler and other theorists, how do transgender individuals challenge consumerism/capitalism just by simply being transgender or...

Transgender individuals challenge capitalism and consumerism because they are expressing themselves outside of societal norms. Being different from expectations creates a commercial vacuum that needs to be filled with products and services. Identity expression is perhaps more controversial than previous cultural splits, but it operates in the business world much the same way. For example, the “gothic” culture was once on the fringe of society; however the introduction of vampire, zombie and other occult movies...

Transgender individuals challenge capitalism and consumerism because they are expressing themselves outside of societal norms. Being different from expectations creates a commercial vacuum that needs to be filled with products and services. Identity expression is perhaps more controversial than previous cultural splits, but it operates in the business world much the same way. For example, the “gothic” culture was once on the fringe of society; however the introduction of vampire, zombie and other occult movies has helped to satisfy the genre demand and stabilize the sub-culture. The same will be true for the transgender culture as consumer demand from the subgroup begins to force the market to address their needs.

Butler has a rather complicated take on gender identity when it comes to the commercial environment. Her view of gender being a retroactive assignment based on action lays the foundation for the argument that no transgender person can affect the market because the commercial market is responsible for part of the gender identity of the change. Simply put, a transitioning person is still coerced by other forces (family, friends, social and commercial norms) to transition toward an established gender identity (male or female). The key to affecting the market via Butler’s gender performativity is forcing the commercial market to create products which do not influence gender but which address specific needs in an autonomous manner, thus limiting the effect on gender identity.

One way the service industry can translate Butler’s gender performance in the commercial space is eliminating gender specific labels. Unisex bathrooms are an example of meeting a human need without forcing a definition onto a person. The shared space also has the effect of forcing people to grow comfortable sharing intimate space with others outside the social norms of the behavior and hopefully nullifying preconceived ideas on gender assignment. Similarly, consumer spaces can eliminate gender specific labels such as sir, ma’am, waiter, waitress, etc.

The commercial revolution is still in its infancy and fighting a difficult battle against “traditional” social norms which seek to define actions. Although damaging to transgender, the desire to label is a human attribute which often helps a person understand how they operate in the larger social context. The challenge is to ensure everyone has the opportunity to fill their emotional attachment to society with a comfortable, natural and real persona.

What are 3 metaphors in "Rules of the Game"?

A metaphor is a type of figurative language where two unlike things are compared by saying that one is the other.  Metaphors are used by authors to add color to the story and to better help the reader understand what the author is trying to say.

"Strongest wind cannot be seen"

Waverly’s mother tries to teach her the value of being quiet and strong to get what you want.  She teaches her this lesson by not buying her treats when she asks for them, but only when she is quiet in the store. 

"Bite back your tongue," scolded my mother when I cried loudly, yanking her hand toward the store that sold bags of salted plums. At home, she said, "Wise guy, he not go against wind. In Chinese we say, Come from South, blow with wind-poom!-North will follow. Strongest wind cannot be seen."

It is a lesson that also applies to chess.  Waverly’s mother tries to help her psych out her opponents by being quiet and studying their moves.

"I bit back my tongue"

Another example of a metaphor is a common idiom, or figure of speech.  An idiom is a common expression used by many people.

The next week I bit back my tongue as we entered the store with the forbidden candies.

To say that you bite your tongue means that you do not say anything.  The image is of biting your tongue so that you won’t talk.  This phrase is related to the metaphor above.  Waverly bit her tongue by not asking for treats.

"The alley was crammed with adventures"

Another example of a metaphor is used to describe the fun that Waverly and her siblings have playing in the alley by their apartment.

The best playground, however, was the dark alley itself. It was crammed with daily mysteries and adventures.

Of course “mysteries and adventures” are not actual things, and so they cannot cram the alleyway.  What Waverly means is that they had a lot of fun in the alley because there were interesting shops around it. The alley was fun to play in.

If everyone was treated right in the beginning, would we have any conflict (wars, etc) now?

There is, of course, no way to know this for sure because we cannot go back to “the beginning” (however you define that) and see what happens if we treat everyone “right” (however you define that).  My own view is that there would have been conflict and wars among human beings no matter what.  It appears to be in our nature to be selfish and greedy and those aspects of our nature will inevitably cause...

There is, of course, no way to know this for sure because we cannot go back to “the beginning” (however you define that) and see what happens if we treat everyone “right” (however you define that).  My own view is that there would have been conflict and wars among human beings no matter what.  It appears to be in our nature to be selfish and greedy and those aspects of our nature will inevitably cause conflict.

I would say that the real problem is that our desire to have things our own way would have prevented us from ever agreeing on what constituted treating people “right.”  Whenever two people, or two groups of people, want the same thing, they will have a hard time deciding on what the “right” way is to decide who gets it.  For example, let us imagine that we wanted to treat everyone “right” and then we discovered that some countries have oil and other countries don’t.  What is “right” here?  Should the countries that have oil be allowed to gain all of the benefits, charging other countries for that oil?  Or is it “right” for those countries to share and allow everyone to have some oil?  As another example, what about fish off the coast of Portugal or Spain?  Do those fish belong only to Portugal or Spain, or could people from Italy come and catch those fish as well?  How far off the shore of Portugal do all the fish belong to that country? 

These sorts of questions do not have any obviously correct answers.  No matter how we answer them, someone is likely to feel that the outcome is unfair.  Because we human beings tend to want things our own way, we tend to define “right” in ways that are beneficial to us.  Therefore, even if we tried to treat everyone “right” our selfishness and greed would lead to disagreements about how to define “right” and, therefore, to conflict.  For this reason, I think that conflict would have been inevitable in our world no matter how we treated people “in the beginning.”

Charles Darwin noticed that the geology of the Galapagos Islands suggested that the islands were sinking. Explain what he meant by this statement.

In his journeys on the Beagle during the 1830s, Charles Darwin made some of his most famous observations on the Galapagos Islands. One of his theories developed there was that the islands were sinking, based on the apparent progression of coral reefs surrounding the islands. Darwin hypothesized that as the islands sank (though he did not know why,) a coral reef built up in the surrounding areas. Darwin thought that the different types of...

In his journeys on the Beagle during the 1830s, Charles Darwin made some of his most famous observations on the Galapagos Islands. One of his theories developed there was that the islands were sinking, based on the apparent progression of coral reefs surrounding the islands. Darwin hypothesized that as the islands sank (though he did not know why,) a coral reef built up in the surrounding areas. Darwin thought that the different types of coral reefs he saw (known as fringing, barrier, and atoll) represented the stages of this geological change. Though the theory of plate tectonics would not be developing for another century or so, Darwin believed there was some sort of "compensatory action" going on whereby the sinking island contributed to the building-up of coral. 

Why were the Aztecs open to deception by the Spanish conquerors?

The Aztec civilization practiced human sacrifice and usually any surprise visitors were captured then sacrificed to the gods. However in 1500s when Cortes, the Spanish conquistador, arrived in the Aztec territory with a small party of men the Aztec’s did not realize the true purpose of their visit. The Aztecs thought that the Spanish were sent by Quetzalcoatl, their god. Quetzalcoatl was an important god for the Aztecs, they believed that the god was going...

The Aztec civilization practiced human sacrifice and usually any surprise visitors were captured then sacrificed to the gods. However in 1500s when Cortes, the Spanish conquistador, arrived in the Aztec territory with a small party of men the Aztec’s did not realize the true purpose of their visit. The Aztecs thought that the Spanish were sent by Quetzalcoatl, their god. Quetzalcoatl was an important god for the Aztecs, they believed that the god was going to reappear when the world was coming to an end and save the Aztec people. At the time the Aztecs were under the impression that the world was coming to an end which is one of the reasons they were performing many human sacrifices. The sacrifices were believed to keep the god happy which might persuade him to put off ending the world for a time. When the Conquistadors entered the capital city of the Aztecs they had no idea that they were lucky just not to have been captured and sacrificed. The true reason for the Spanish being there was to see if there was gold and riches to be had and to convert the people to Christianity. The Spanish were welcomed by the Aztecs and even stayed as guests of the emperor. However, the longer the Spanish stayed in the capital city the more suspicious the Aztecs became. First of all the Spanish behaved nothing like the Aztec gods. They did not go to the sacrifices made in their honor. Eventually the Aztecs decided it was time for the Spanish to leave, they did not want to kill them however because they believed there was still a chance they actually were gods. The Spanish did leave but they returned they brought with them horses, dogs, weapons, and many men. They were also able to rally the support of the other tribes in the area who didn’t realize how horrible they would be treated by the Spanish. These other tribes just wanted to rid themselves of the Aztecs. Eventually the Aztecs were defeated but it was disease that caused it. The Aztecs did not have the same immunities that the Spanish had, when exposed to diseases like measles the Aztecs were decimated.

Find all solutions to the equation cos(3z+π)=0.

Hello!

As you probably know, there are many solutions of the equation `cos(w)=0.`

The general solution is  `w=+-pi/2+2 k pi,`

where `k` is any integer. Without `+-` it may be written as two sequences,

`w_1=pi/2+2k pi` and `w_2=-pi/2+2k pi.`

In our problem `w=3z+pi,` so

`3z+pi=pi/2+2k pi` or `3z+pi=-pi/2+2k pi.`

These equations are linear for `z` and may be solved easily:

`z_1=-pi/6+(2k pi)/3` and `z_2=-pi/2+(2k pi)/3.`

This is the answer (remember that `k` is...

Hello!

As you probably know, there are many solutions of the equation `cos(w)=0.`

The general solution is  `w=+-pi/2+2 k pi,`

where `k` is any integer. Without `+-` it may be written as two sequences,

`w_1=pi/2+2k pi` and `w_2=-pi/2+2k pi.`

In our problem `w=3z+pi,` so

`3z+pi=pi/2+2k pi` or `3z+pi=-pi/2+2k pi.`

These equations are linear for `z` and may be solved easily:

`z_1=-pi/6+(2k pi)/3` and `z_2=-pi/2+(2k pi)/3.`

This is the answer (remember that `k` is any integer).

Why was Clarisse considered anti-social in Fahrenheit 451?

Clarisse was considered anti-social because her family believed in slowing down.

Clarisse is Montag’s neighbor. She is just a teenager, but she is also wise. Her family is very unique in Montag’s society. In a world where everyone drives fast and never stops to talk, Clarisse’s family sits around socializing. They think that people are more important than television.

"Oh, just my mother and father and uncle sitting around, talking. It's like being a pedestrian,...

Clarisse was considered anti-social because her family believed in slowing down.

Clarisse is Montag’s neighbor. She is just a teenager, but she is also wise. Her family is very unique in Montag’s society. In a world where everyone drives fast and never stops to talk, Clarisse’s family sits around socializing. They think that people are more important than television.

"Oh, just my mother and father and uncle sitting around, talking. It's like being a pedestrian, only rarer. My uncle was arrested another time-did I tell you?-for being a pedestrian. Oh, we're most peculiar." (Part I)

Clarisse is seventeen, but doesn’t like kids her age because they like to drive too fast and do not care if they kill each other. She is the one killed when a “beetle” runs her over. Montag is saddened when he finds out, but no one else seems to care.

Beatty warns Montag that Clarisse’s family is bad news. He seems to think she is better off being dead.

Clarisse McClellan? We've a record on her family. We've watched them carefully. Heredity and environment are funny things. You can't rid yourselves of all the odd ducks in just a few years. The home environment can undo a lot you try to do at school. (Part I)

According to Beatty, Clarisse really was “seventeen and crazy.” He thinks that her entire family is made up of bad seeds. They do not conform to the expectations of society. This is why Clarisse was so philosophical. Her family taught her to ask questions and think for herself.

Clarisse changed Montag’s entire worldview when she asked him if he was happy. He had already been having doubts about being a fireman, but Clarisse’s cheery attitude and philosophical conversation helped him see that he wanted more from his life than a distant wife and a career stamping out intellectualism.

In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus is too old to participate in which events?

Compared to the other fathers in the neighborhood, Atticus, in the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, is old. He is nearly fifty, and his children feel that he is “feeble.” 

“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.” (pg 89)

Atticus would play games with the children, but when Jem, who loved football, wanted to play...

Compared to the other fathers in the neighborhood, Atticus, in the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, is old. He is nearly fifty, and his children feel that he is “feeble.” 

“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.” (pg 89)

Atticus would play games with the children, but when Jem, who loved football, wanted to play football with him, Atticus would back off and say that he was too old for that. They felt that he didn’t do anything that would lead children to admire him as a father.

“Atticus did not drive a dump-truck for the county, he was not the sheriff, he did not farm, work in a garage, or do anything that could possibly arouse the admiration of anyone.” (pg 89)

He did not do the things that other fathers did.  He did not go hunting or fishing.  He also did not drink or smoke.   He just read a lot.  Even when they got their air guns, their uncle had to teach them how to use them.  Atticus would not. 

When the children tell Miss Maudie how disappointed they are that their father cannot do a lot of things, she tells them that Atticus is very good at certain things. He can write a good will, play a great game of checkers, and play the Jew ’s Harp.  The children are not impressed.  They beat Atticus all the time at checkers.  That is why they are so impressed when Atticus kills the mad dog, and they learn that he has a reputation in the town as “One Shot Finch.” Miss Maudie tells them,

“Forgot to tell you the other day that besides playing the Jew’s Harp, Atticus Finch was the deadest shot in Maycomb County in his time.” (pg98)

How long does it take for a primary wave to travel 2,000 km?

In an earthquake, the initial seismic energy wave is called a primary wave. It compresses the material ahead of it; other types of subsequent waves travel in sideways and up-and-down motions. A primary wave travels at different speeds depending on what type of substance it is traveling through. In order to determine how long it will take to travel 2,000 km we have to do the math, using the speed in km/sec and setting up...

In an earthquake, the initial seismic energy wave is called a primary wave. It compresses the material ahead of it; other types of subsequent waves travel in sideways and up-and-down motions. A primary wave travels at different speeds depending on what type of substance it is traveling through. In order to determine how long it will take to travel 2,000 km we have to do the math, using the speed in km/sec and setting up proportions. In a solid such as rock, the primary wave can travel at 5 km/sec; it would take 400 seconds, or about 6.7 minutes to travel 2,000 km. If traveling through water, the wave travels at about 1.45 km/sec and would need 1,379 seconds (23 minutes) to travel 2,000 km. Primary waves traveling through air travel at the speed of sound (.34 km/sec), and would take 5,882 seconds (98 minutes) to travel 2,000 km.

Speeds are usually expressed in m/s, as they are in the link I have attached. I converted to km, as your question was phrased that way.

How is radical mediocrity achieved and enforced in "Harrison Bergeron?"

The government and society in “Harrison Bergeron” feel that in order to achieve happiness or a utopian way of life everyone needs to be equal.  They have skewed the meaning of what equality really is.  In a democracy like the United States, we see equality as a way for everyone to be protected and insured the same rights set up by laws and our basic beliefs.  For example, the fact that everyone has free speech...

The government and society in “Harrison Bergeron” feel that in order to achieve happiness or a utopian way of life everyone needs to be equal.  They have skewed the meaning of what equality really is.  In a democracy like the United States, we see equality as a way for everyone to be protected and insured the same rights set up by laws and our basic beliefs.  For example, the fact that everyone has free speech guaranteed by law shows that people have an equal footing in society; theoretically, no one gets preferential treatment.  The laws established protect individuality and self-expression as long as rules are obeyed.  Unfortunately, the society in the short story thinks that equal means to make everyone the same; there is no room for personal expression or individuality.  To do this, they identify the strengths of each of their citizens and handicap them.  Harrison is a young, strong teenager, and in order to make him no better than anyone else, the government ties sandbags around his neck to weigh him down.  This “handicap” will keep him from rising above the rest because of his physical strength.  Harrison’s father, George, appears to be very intelligent, so the government places devices in his ears that when he starts to think too much, a loud noise is blared into his ears cutting off all thought. 

The society in "Harrison Bergeron" has settled for a mediocre existence that doesn't celebrate the various individuals who make up the society but restricts their abilities and talents to create a mundane, unexciting society the government thinks is happy being oppressed.  

What is the big question Jared Diamond wants to answer?

In Guns, Germs and SteelJared Diamond wants to know why wealthy, technologically sophisticated, industrialized societies developed first in Europe rather than in other parts of the world. Yali, a New Guinean friend of his, put the question like this: "Why is it that you white people developed so much cargo and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people had little cargo of our own?" Variations on this question have been explored by...

In Guns, Germs and Steel Jared Diamond wants to know why wealthy, technologically sophisticated, industrialized societies developed first in Europe rather than in other parts of the world. Yali, a New Guinean friend of his, put the question like this: "Why is it that you white people developed so much cargo and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people had little cargo of our own?" Variations on this question have been explored by scholars for the last two centuries with various answers being put forward. These answers include the superiority of European genetics, the influence of the Graeco-Roman tradition, the impact of the Judaeo-Christian tradition (or sometimes specifically the Protestant tradition), and the relatively plural societies of the west. Diamond largely rejects many of these answers in favor of geographic and ecological factors. This question is important because of the impact the development of guns, germs and steel had on the global imperialism practiced by several European states.

What happens to Buck after he leaves Judge Miller's home in Call of the Wild?

The theft and sale of Buck in The Call of the Wild completely alters the dog's life as it reverses the generations of domestication of his breeds of St. Bernard and the Scottish shepherd and returns him to the atavistic nature of his ancestors.

Once Buck is in the possession of his captors, his freedom and kind treatment by humans vanishes. He becomes no more than a caged animal, at first. Then, he finds himself harnessed to a team that pulls a sled in Alaska. "He swiftly lost the fastidiousness which had characterized his old life." He begins to gobble down food lest another take it from him, and he steals what he can. These actions marks his adaptability and his new owners are pleased.

Because the "dominant primordial beast was strong in Buck" certain traits emerge in him such as cunning and deliberateness. For instance, he avoids fights, and although he hates his rival, the lead dog Spitz, Buck does not display his feelings and avoids offensive acts that would spur Spitz to fight. But, one day when Spitz tries to steal the nest Buck has made under a rock, he feels the "beast in him" roar, and he fights the usurper. However, as they fight, "famished beasts" appear, trying to steal as much food as they can. Buck fights them fiercely. Finally, one day Buck kills Spitz and takes over as the lead dog.

Later, Buck finds himself on another team that carries heavy loads of mail. When he and the other dogs arrive, they are in a "wretched state, worn out and worn down." One of the dogs is shot because he is so weakened. Afterwards, the owners sell Buck and his team to three eager prospectors. Unfortunately, they have little knowledge of the climate or dogs, and they overload the sled and have planned poorly for the journey they undertake. The woman, Mercedes, overfeeds the dogs early on and they run out of food for the dogs. By the time that they arrive, out of fourteen only five have survived. When the man, Hal, tries to beat the dogs and force them to cross thin ice, Buck's instincts tell him to rebel because of danger. When he does so, Hal beats him fiercely, but John Thornton intervenes, rescuing Buck from his insensitive owners who fall through the ice.

With Thornton as his owner, Buck lives happily; in his devotion to the man who has saved him, he, in turn, saves his owner from drowning and from an attack by another man. Buck even wins over a thousand dollars for Thornton as he pulls a load weighing about half a ton. Over time, however, more of the primordial beast emerges in Buck and he wanders off to hunt real game such as moose. He also mingles with wolves, but he still returns to camp at night. One time, however, Buck returns to find his owner has been killed by Yeehat Indians. Fiercely, he kills several of the Indians and runs off the others. Afterwards, Buck charges into the wild,; there he hears yelps that act as that atavistic call which persists in his memory. 

It was the call, the many-noted call, sounding more luringly and compelling than ever before.

Now without his human owner, Buck answers this call. When a pack of wolves come one day, Buck kills the boldest one and fights the others. But, when an old wolf approaches and sniffs his nose peacefully, then turns up his head and howls at the moon, Buck, too, howls. After this night he runs with the pack of wolves, yelping as they do. In time Buck becomes a legendary figure as the Indians who yet fear him call him the Ghost Dog.

What disadvantage/advantage did northern factory workers have?

Northern factories workers had some advantages and disadvantages. One advantage they had was that there were plenty of jobs available in the North. The Industrial Revolution took place in the North because the North had good ports, an abundant workforce, and a climate more suited to manufacturing than farming, and good access to resources needed for the Industrial Revolution to occur. Most of these industries were located in cities near rivers. People moved to the...

Northern factories workers had some advantages and disadvantages. One advantage they had was that there were plenty of jobs available in the North. The Industrial Revolution took place in the North because the North had good ports, an abundant workforce, and a climate more suited to manufacturing than farming, and good access to resources needed for the Industrial Revolution to occur. Most of these industries were located in cities near rivers. People moved to the cities for these jobs. There were also more things to do in the cities than in the countryside.

One disadvantage northern workers faced was the growth of factories changed the work environment. Workers no longer worked in worker-friendly environments. They worked in large factories where workers, managers, and owners didn’t know each other or have a personal connection to each other. Working conditions were poor with long hours, unsafe and unhealthy environments, and low pay.

Who goes on a journey with Ponyboy in The Outsiders?

Johnny is with Ponyboy during his journey.

Ponyboy is a greaser, and the greasers take brotherhood seriously.  Pony comments that the value of a gang is in members looking out for each other.  Ponyboy and Johnny are together in the park when they are attacked by Bob and his friends.  They are Socs, and they often attack without provocation.  The two gangs fight each other.  In this case, though, the Socs attack Johnny and Ponyboy...

Johnny is with Ponyboy during his journey.

Ponyboy is a greaser, and the greasers take brotherhood seriously.  Pony comments that the value of a gang is in members looking out for each other.  Ponyboy and Johnny are together in the park when they are attacked by Bob and his friends.  They are Socs, and they often attack without provocation.  The two gangs fight each other.  In this case, though, the Socs attack Johnny and Ponyboy because they saw them with Bob’s girlfriend at the movies.

Bob and his friends attack Pony and Johnny in the park.  Bob almost drowns Pony in a fountain. 

I ducked and tried to run for it, but the Soc caught my arm and twisted it behind my back, and shoved my face into the fountain. I fought, but the hand at the back of my neck was strong and I had to hold my breath. I'm dying, I thought, and wondered what was happening to Johnny. (Ch. 4)

Johnny reacts instinctively, taking out his switchblade and killing Bob.  Johnny and Pony then go on the run.  They are afraid that they will be charged with murder if they stay put.

With Dally’s help, Pony and Johnny hide in an abandoned church outside of town.  They adjust their appearance by dyeing and bleaching their hair, and they entertain themselves by reading the Civil War novel Gone with the Wind.

Johnny sure did like that book, although he didn't know anything about the Civil War and even less about plantations, and I had to explain a lot of it to him. It amazed me how Johnny could get more meaning out of some of the stuff in there than I could--- I was supposed to be the deep one. (Ch. 5)

Johnny and Ponyboy’s adventure gets even more serious when a group of kids on a field trip stop by and get caught in a church fire.  Pony, Johnny, and Dally try to rescue the kids.  They all get hurt, but Johnny’s injuries are the most serious.  He dies in the hospital shortly after they return home.

Of Man's First Disobedience and the FruitOf that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal tasteBrought Death into the World,and all our woe.." What is an...

John Milton opens Paradise Lost with "The Argument," a short summary of the Book; these lines describe Man's fall into sin after Eve and Adam eat from the Tree of Forbidden Fruit. Their having eaten from this tree has caused death and sin to come into the world, and "Man" is cast out of the Garden of Eden to have to struggle for existence. 

These lines which begin the first book of Paradise Lost allude...

John Milton opens Paradise Lost with "The Argument," a short summary of the Book; these lines describe Man's fall into sin after Eve and Adam eat from the Tree of Forbidden Fruit. Their having eaten from this tree has caused death and sin to come into the world, and "Man" is cast out of the Garden of Eden to have to struggle for existence. 

These lines which begin the first book of Paradise Lost allude to man's sin of disobedience in the Garden of Eden when Eve first ate from the tree that God forbade them to eat its fruit. In the first line "Fruit" is a pun upon the apple that Eve and Adam eat and the figurative "fruits" of their actions. After Adam and Eve are driven from Eden, it is not until "one greater Man," Jesus Christ, comes that mankind is "restored."

Paradise Lost addresses the question of how man [humanity] can endure in a fallen world, and it justifies the ways of God to Man. The first Book proposes the entire subject of Milton's renowned Poem written in English Heroic Verse without rhyme. This Book touches upon the cause of the Fall (as the lines above exemplify), Satan in the form of the Serpent who tempts Eve as he is "Stirr'd up with Envy and Revenge," Satan's revolt from God, and his having been driven from Heaven with all the others. Interestingly, in the European cultures, it is rather often that many people's beliefs in the history of Creation and Satan's existence derive from Paradise Lost and are confused with passages from the Bible.

What is the setting of Seedfolks?

Paul Fleischman’s wonderful young adult novella takes place in Cleveland, Ohio.  I couldn’t remember if an actual date is ever given in the novella, so I did a little research and still couldn’t find a date for the setting. The book is published in 1997, so that gives us a clue that it is, perhaps, set in recent times. If I had to make an educated guess, I would put the setting in the 1980’s...

Paul Fleischman’s wonderful young adult novella takes place in Cleveland, Ohio.  I couldn’t remember if an actual date is ever given in the novella, so I did a little research and still couldn’t find a date for the setting. The book is published in 1997, so that gives us a clue that it is, perhaps, set in recent times. If I had to make an educated guess, I would put the setting in the 1980’s when the inner cities of most of the major cities in the United States were in drastic states of decay.  The building of housing projects started by the Department of Housing of Urban Development (HUD) in 1965 had run its course in its ability to keep up with the demand of housing for the poor in the inner city. The housing projects quickly started to deteriorate, as there was little money for upkeep and few jobs for those in the inner city to obtain.  Crime and drug abuse became rampant in the projects, and people had very little hope or money to get up and out of their impoverished situations.

 Although the novel is set in Cleveland, it represents many urban areas around the country.  The novel takes place in an urban area on Gibb St. where a vacant lot exists filled with trash.  The lot on Gibb St. separates different ethnic groups of the area.  Blacks, Latinos, and Asian immigrants, as well as long time elderly residents of the area, live in close proximity to each other but are segregated by cultural and ethnic differences.  It is the planting of a few lima beans in a garden by Kim, a young Vietnamese girl, that brings the community together to help make their lives and environment better. 

Through applying the sociological viewpoint toward the war on terrorism, do you think we have been successful in waging this war? Why or why not?

To answer this question, we first have to define what the “sociological viewpoint” is. This is often called the sociological perspective.  The relevant part of this perspective encourages us to look at things more broadly than we might be inclined to.  Instead of simply looking at how something affects us, for example, we should look at how it affects our entire society.  We have to do this because we have to realize that the rest...

To answer this question, we first have to define what the “sociological viewpoint” is. This is often called the sociological perspective.  The relevant part of this perspective encourages us to look at things more broadly than we might be inclined to.  Instead of simply looking at how something affects us, for example, we should look at how it affects our entire society.  We have to do this because we have to realize that the rest of society affects us as well.  Therefore, to look at the war on terror through the sociological viewpoint, we have to ask how it has affected our entire country and also other countries or even the entire world.

Looking at the war on terror, we can argue that it has succeeded, but we can also argue that it has failed.  I will make both arguments and allow you to decide which one you find more persuasive.

From one perspective, the war on terror has succeeded.  From this perspective, we can say that it has been successful because the United States has prevented and further major terrorist attacks on American soil after 9/11/2001.  Since then, the US has severely weakened Al Qaeda.  It has not allowed major terror attacks on our homeland or on our property or interests abroad.  It has been so successful that we are left to criticize the government for failing to prevent the Benghazi attack that killed four people or the California terrorist shooting that killed 14 people.  These are tragic, but they are very small scale things.  The war on terror has prevented truly major attacks.

From another perspective, however, you can argue that it has failed.  You can argue that it has created more problems around the world.  You can argue that ISIS exists because of our war on terror.  You can argue that the war on terror has lessened sympathy for America among the countries of the world.  You can argue that it has radicalized many Muslims, meaning that there are more people who are willing to engage in terrorism against us now than before we started the war on terror.  Thus, by looking at the question somewhat more broadly, we get a different answer.  Which of these arguments do you agree with more?

Why is Mexico not a pure market economy?

Mexico is not a pure market economy because there is no country in the world that is a pure market economy.  In a pure market economy, the government would not be involved at all in deciding the three fundamental economic questions (what is produced, how it is produced, and for whom it is produced).  This would bring about results that would be hard to imagine in a modern country.  For example, the government would not...

Mexico is not a pure market economy because there is no country in the world that is a pure market economy.  In a pure market economy, the government would not be involved at all in deciding the three fundamental economic questions (what is produced, how it is produced, and for whom it is produced).  This would bring about results that would be hard to imagine in a modern country.  For example, the government would not pay people to build and maintain roads.  Instead, private companies would do this, charging people to use the roads and making money that way.  The government would not ban things like drug dealing or prostitution.  Instead, the market would determine what goods and services would be created and sold.  Essentially no country would accept such things, meaning that no country has a pure market economy.

What are some specific ways in which Mexico’s economy falls short of being a pure market economy?  Let us look at two such ways.  First, Mexico’s government provides schools for its children.  This means that the government decides that education will be produced and it decides how this will happen and who will receive the education.  This is not how a pure market economy works.  Second, the oil industry in Mexico is dominated by Pemex, a company that is owned by the Mexican government.  In a pure market economy, the oil industry would consist of private companies.  Thus, Mexico is not a pure market economies in ways (like public schools) that are common to practically all countries and also in ways (like Pemex) that make Mexico less of a market economy than countries like the United States.

What is the balanced equation of H2O+6CO2 =C6H12O6?

The given equation is the chemical reaction that takes places during photosynthesis. In this reaction, carbon dioxide and water react, in presence of sunlight and form glucose and oxygen. The balanced chemical equation for thta is given as:

`6H_2O + 6CO_2 + sunlight -> C_6H_12O_6 + 6O_2`

To balance a chemical equation, the idea is to have equal number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation, that is, on product and...

The given equation is the chemical reaction that takes places during photosynthesis. In this reaction, carbon dioxide and water react, in presence of sunlight and form glucose and oxygen. The balanced chemical equation for thta is given as:

`6H_2O + 6CO_2 + sunlight -> C_6H_12O_6 + 6O_2`

To balance a chemical equation, the idea is to have equal number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation, that is, on product and reactant side. For example, if start with hydrogen atom, there are 12 atoms on reactant side (in the balanced equation) and 12 atoms in product side, so hydrogen is balanced. In the unbalanced equation, there were only 2 hydrogen atoms on reactant side and hence a multiplier of 6 was added as coefficient to water molecule. Similarly, all the other molecules can be balanced as well.

Hope this helps.

What is a metaphor for Mary Warren from the play The Crucible?

At the beginning of Act Two, John and Elizabeth Proctor briefly discuss their servant, Mary Warren, who has been participating in the witch trials.  When Elizabeth tells him that Mary Warren has gone to Salem that day, he becomes angry because Elizabeth had heard him forbid Mary Warren to go.  When Elizabeth claims that Mary Warren "frightened all [her] strength away," he asks, "How may that mouse frighten you, Elizabeth?"  John Proctor uses the metaphor...

At the beginning of Act Two, John and Elizabeth Proctor briefly discuss their servant, Mary Warren, who has been participating in the witch trials.  When Elizabeth tells him that Mary Warren has gone to Salem that day, he becomes angry because Elizabeth had heard him forbid Mary Warren to go.  When Elizabeth claims that Mary Warren "frightened all [her] strength away," he asks, "How may that mouse frighten you, Elizabeth?"  John Proctor uses the metaphor of a mouse to describe Mary Warren's typical behavior.  We think of mice as skittish creatures, quiet and small and frightened, and this is how Mary Warren has always acted. 

Now, however, she "is a mouse no more," according to Elizabeth.  Mary Warren has developed quite a sense of self-importance now that she is "an official of the court," and she feels her obligation to the court outstrips her obligation to her employer.  Prior to her change in status, we can assume that she would have willingly deferred to either John or Elizabeth, but now that all the accusing girls have been placed on a pedestal in town, Mary Warren is no longer quiet and small and frightened.  She has been given a voice and made bold by the way the judges and ministers now all defer to her and her friends.

Is it true that we admire Hamlet as much for his strengths as for his weaknesses?

Hamlet has often been condemned as "indecisive," which is seen as a sign of weakness. Yet some critics, such as Rene Girard, admire Hamlet as wise rather than indecisive, as strong rather than weak. A weaker soul, such as Hamlet's friend Laertes, rushes in angrily, ruled by emotion, to avenge his father's murder without first checking the facts. Hamlet, however, though he loves his father dearly, takes the time to verify that the ghost (supposedly...

Hamlet has often been condemned as "indecisive," which is seen as a sign of weakness. Yet some critics, such as Rene Girard, admire Hamlet as wise rather than indecisive, as strong rather than weak. A weaker soul, such as Hamlet's friend Laertes, rushes in angrily, ruled by emotion, to avenge his father's murder without first checking the facts. Hamlet, however, though he loves his father dearly, takes the time to verify that the ghost (supposedly the ghost of his father) actually is his father and is actually telling the truth about having been murdered. (See link below.) Hamlet shows strength and initiative in staging a play about a murder to see if his uncle, his father's supposed murderer, acts like a guilty man. Much of the play, in fact, revolves around Hamlet's ability to take the time to question the difference between appearance and reality. We admire Hamlet for his desire to break through the corruption that surrounds him--the "something rotten in the state of Denmark"-- and to seek truth. 

Why does Macbeth say "Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor / Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more"?

The lines that Macbeth speaks to his wife about sleep are among the most beautiful Shakespeare ever wrote. Here they are in full:

MACBETH
Me thought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more!
Macbeth doth Murder sleep”—the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labor's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast—

LADY MACBETH:
What do you mean?

MACBETH
Still it cried, “Sleep no more!” to all the house;
“Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more.”

The whole play, like all Shakespeare's plays, is written in poetry recited by the various characters. Shakespeare's poetry, it should go without saying, is what is best in Shakespeare. Shakespeare's poetry is Shakespeare. Here Macbeth is quoting a voice he thought he heard. He says it cried "Sleep no more!" to all the house. That seems intended to answer the question of why he doesn't murder Malcolm and Donalbain while he has an opportunity he will never have again. Malcolm is the heir apparent. Duncan has proclaimed his elder son Prince of Cumberland and his immediate successor to the throne. Macbeth can hardly expect to become king of Scotland just by murdering Duncan, but if he intended to murder Malcolm and his brother he was afraid the voice crying "Sleep no more!" would wake up the entire household and he would be caught with blood on his hands and clothing and two bloody daggers in his hands. (He may have intended to use the daggers to kill Duncan's two sons.) 

The voice that threatens to wake the house says,

"Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more."

What this means in plain language is that since Macbeth, who is both Thane of Glamis and Thane of Cawdor, has murdered the king in his sleep, he knows how easily this can be done. He has the bloody scene permanently imprinted in his mind. Every time he closes his eyes he will see Duncan's murdered body. When Macbeth becomes king himself he will never be able to sleep soundly because he will always be afraid that someone might be planning to sneak up on him in the middle of the night and cut his throat. He says earlier in a soliloquy in Act 1, Scene 7:

But in these cases
We still have judgment here, that we but teach
Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return
To plague th' inventor. This evenhanded justice
Commends the ingredience of our poisoned chalice
To our own lips.

We don't have to wait for "the life to come" for our punishment for our misdeeds. We set examples which others can and will follow. If Macbeth murders Duncan, then he can expect somebody else to murder Macbeth. If people can become kings by committing murders, then others will get the same ideas. In our day these are sometimes called "copycat murders." Macbeth is simply saying that he will never be able to sleep soundly again for the rest of his life because he can imagine the same horrible thing happening to him in his sleep that happened to King Duncan.

The voice calls Macbeth "Glamis" and "Cawdor," suggesting that Macbeth has too many titles and can't handle them all. He doesn't know who he really is. If he adds the title of "King" to his other titles he will be even more confused. There is a part of him that is good and doesn't want to murder anybody, but whoever tries to murder him in his sleep will murder the good Macbeth along with the bad one. If Glamis gets to sleep, then maybe Cawdor will lie awake; and if Cawdor manages to get to sleep, then maybe Glamis will wake up! It is at this point that Macbeth seems to be developing a split personality. He is obviously acting crazy in this scene with his wife, and he will be acting more and more crazily as the play progresses. He is already having hallucinations, and he will have worse ones. Macbeth is an ideal candidate for schizophrenia because he actually does have several different identities. He is Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and King of Scotland. As Thane of Cawdor he seems to have inherited both the former thane's title and his evil, treasonous nature.

Right away the prophecy of the voice that cried "Sleep no more!" seems to start being fulfilled. Macbeth wants to wash his hands and go to bed. He wants to be asleep when Duncan's body is discovered. But a knocking at the gate begins in that same scene, and Macbeth is finally forced to go down and see why nobody is responding. Everybody is able to sleep but Macbeth. As a result he has to be present when Macduff discovers Duncan's body, and Macbeth never gets a wink of sleep for the whole night.

What is meant by "globalization of culture?"

Globalization of culture describes an increase in uniformity of cultural practices throughout the world. Culture is made up of many different aspects including language, food, architecture, mannerisms, symbols, clothing, and ideals.

Our planet has become increasingly connected on a massive scale over the past millennium. Let's think back to the year 1,000 CE- when Europeans were just beginning to visit the New World. At this time, most people around the world lived a relatively isolated...

Globalization of culture describes an increase in uniformity of cultural practices throughout the world. Culture is made up of many different aspects including language, food, architecture, mannerisms, symbols, clothing, and ideals.

Our planet has become increasingly connected on a massive scale over the past millennium. Let's think back to the year 1,000 CE- when Europeans were just beginning to visit the New World. At this time, most people around the world lived a relatively isolated lifestyle. The state of technology demanded that much of a person's life be devoted to subsistence and not much else. It was not uncommon for someone to die in the very same house they were born in. People who did travel primarily did so for business reasons, and this was the nature of most cultural interchange at the time. Due to the low literacy rates of the time, letter-writing was uncommon, and the nature of infrastructure did not foster interchange which might have caused material culture to be more uniform. Whereas today, you could easily buy the same style of t-shirt or cup in almost any part of the world, a thousand years ago the styles of goods were highly dependent on resources available and the traditions of local artisans. Most goods were produced in the home, for the home, so the trade of a surplus of goods did not often have far-reaching destinations. However, the import and export of certain luxury goods like spices drove the economy throughout the Middle Ages.

Advances in transportation and communications technology has rapidly "connected" the world. The invention of steam-engines, while a little unimpressive to a modern person, had a profound impact on transportation and trade during the nineteenth century. Improvements in infrastructure (like roads) and literacy enabled written exchange from place to place, even from one side of the globe to the other! 

Since the late twentieth century, the degree of globalization has skyrocketed. Widespread use of the internet and cellular phones enables connections between people from all over the globe. Much of the increase in uniformity is unintentional. Not only are goods being transported around the world, so is culture. For example, the trade of coffee beans (beginning in the 15th century) has a major impact on the life we live today. Do you know anyone who likes to have a cup of coffee every morning? Coffee, native to Ethiopa, has become a common part of culture all over the world. Not only is the good transported, many people have a preferred "ritual" for when, where, and how to drink coffee, influenced by centuries of cultural exchange surrounding the coffee bean.

Globalization has both positive and negative aspects. It is a boon to humankind to be able to share information so quickly across such great distances. However, much of the trade and industry which promotes globalization thrives off of the exploitation of human labor. 

What is the thematic concept of My Son the Fanatic?

The theme of My Son the Fanatic is culture clash. This first displays as intergenerational conflict between a father, Parvez, a Pakistani immigrant, and his son Ali. Parzev, though raised Muslim, wants with all his heart to embrace the customs and the opportunities offered in England, his adopted home. He works hard as a taxi driver, pays for his son to have a computer and go to college to study accounting, and lives a secular life that includes drinking alcohol and eating pork, both forbidden by the Quran.

Ali, on the other hand, rejects his father's vision to embrace an Islamic fundamentalism who rejects Western values. He throws out the materials goods, like a computer, that his father has given him and holds his father's lifestyle in contempt.

While part of this reflects intergenerational conflict, a son breaking from a father, more significantly, it shows the deep divide in worldview between the secular west and fundamentalist Islam. Parvez believes "life was all there was and when you died you rotted in the earth ... while I am here on the earth I want to make the best of it." He wants to enjoy the material goods of life. 

Ali believes differently:

'The Western materialists hate us,' Ali said. 'Papa, how can you

love something which hates you?' …

Ali addressed his father fluently, as if Parvez were a rowdy crowd

that had to be quelled or convinced. The Law of Islam would

rule the world; the skin of the infidel would bum off again and

again; the Jews and Christers would be routed. The West was a

sink of hypocrites, adulterers, homosexuals, drug takers and prostitutes.

 As Ali talked. Parvez looked out the window as if to check that

they were still in London.

'My people have taken enough. If the persecution doesn't stop

there will be jihad. I, and millions of others, will gladly give our

lives for the cause.'

For Parvez, who grew up in poverty and under the thumb of insensitive Muslim teachers, the west shines like a light. For Ali, who has known nothing but western comfort, the west represents "decadence," lack of purity and degradation.

The father and son talk past each other, not to each other, although the father does try to reach the son. They cannot communicate because neither can understand the other. In the end, violence results. Kureishi is saying that we have to learn to listen to and understand each other before we can hope to solve differences in outlook.

Who is the speaker in The Road Not Taken? What is he remembering?

In Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken," the speaker is not identified by gender or age because the speaker could be anyone. 

Essentially, the poem is about how it is human nature to want our lives to have meaning and purpose. Humans do not simply recount a series of memories, but they combine those memories to tell a story and to teach or inspire others.

The speaker in the poem describes himself/herself as a...

In Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken," the speaker is not identified by gender or age because the speaker could be anyone. 

Essentially, the poem is about how it is human nature to want our lives to have meaning and purpose. Humans do not simply recount a series of memories, but they combine those memories to tell a story and to teach or inspire others.

The speaker in the poem describes himself/herself as a "traveler" who comes upon a fork in the road or "two road diverged in a yellow wood." The speaker uses imagery to describe the paths in stanza two:

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim, 
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

Upon inspection of the two paths, the speaker concludes that the paths are almost identical: worn "really about the same" and "equally lay." The speaker then choses a path and remarks how he/she will keep the second "for another day," but "doubted if I should ever come back." This is another example of the theme of human nature in the poem. It is human nature to make plans with the  best intentions, but we do not adhere to those plans. 

In the final stanza, the speaker reveals that humans tend to rewrite their memories to make the story of their lives sensical. The speaker acknowledges that in the future he/she "will be telling this [story] with a sigh"

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— 

I took the one less traveled by, 

And that has made all the difference.

The speaker admits that when he/she looks back at this time that the memory will be skewed and rationalized to be a catalyst for change in the speaker's life. But in truth, this was simply another memory; another moment. Frost did not write this poem to cast human beings in a negative light, but he wrote the poem to emphasize how similar we all are. We do not want our good to be interred with our bones (as it was with Caesar). There is a universal desire for our humanity to be remembered. 

What is the theme of Journey to the Center of the Earth?

As in most adventure stories, the theme is perseverance, continuing on the journey despite hardships, despite doubt, despite even reason. When there is every indication that the journey will be difficult, you keep on going, because the outcome is worth the struggle. If before you even begin, common sense tells you this will be fruitless, you keep on going.

Axel serves as the voice of “reason” in this story. He argues with Professor Lidenbrock that...

As in most adventure stories, the theme is perseverance, continuing on the journey despite hardships, despite doubt, despite even reason. When there is every indication that the journey will be difficult, you keep on going, because the outcome is worth the struggle. If before you even begin, common sense tells you this will be fruitless, you keep on going.

Axel serves as the voice of “reason” in this story. He argues with Professor Lidenbrock that the message discovered in the old book cannot be true. But he is swayed by his uncle and reluctantly agrees. When he finally sees that his uncle’s faith in the message is justified, he becomes more enthusiastic. Despite danger and even being separated from the others, he does not give up.

Professor Lidenbrock is excited by the thought of discovery. He makes his plan and follows it, ever willing to adjust his strategy with new discoveries.

Hans is the picture of duty. He has no discoveries to make, only a job to do, and he does it well. He does not show emotion about what he sees. It is just what it is. He perseveres because that is what he is required to do. Otherwise, he has no vested interest in the journey.

In all three, their perseverance guides them along the way. As a result, they gain knowledge and especially wisdom.

What is a good quote that identifies prejudice in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

There are many quotes throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird that identify the prominent prejudice throughout the community of Maycomb, Alabama. The community of Maycomb is highly prejudiced against African Americans. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, prejudice is defined as an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge.White community members harbor negative feelings towards black people and believe they are inferior. In 1930's Alabama, Jim Crow laws were...

There are many quotes throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird that identify the prominent prejudice throughout the community of Maycomb, Alabama. The community of Maycomb is highly prejudiced against African Americans. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, prejudice is defined as an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge. White community members harbor negative feelings towards black people and believe they are inferior. In 1930's Alabama, Jim Crow laws were enacted to discriminate against black people. Throughout the trial, Bob and Mayella Ewell have confidence that the jury will take their word over Tom Robinson's because they are white. During Atticus' closing remarks, he calls attention to the prejudice in the community by saying,

"The witnesses for the state, with the exception of the sheriff of Maycomb County, have presented themselves to you gentlemen, to this court, in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted, confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption---the evil assumption---that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption one associates with minds of their caliber." (Lee 273)

Atticus urges the jury to cast away their prejudice and judge Tom Robinson's case void of "evil assumptions." The majority of Maycomb's community members believe that black people are inherently evil. This idea is prejudice because there is no sufficient evidence or knowledge that confirms this belief. Unfortunately, Tom Robinson is found guilty by the racist Maycomb jury members.

Who was involved in WWI?

The First World War involved many of the world's great economic powers unified into two opposing forces- the Allies Powers and the Central Powers.

The Allied Powers grew out of the Entente Alliance of 1907 and the primary nations were the French Republic, the British Empire, and the Russian Empire. Other countries which supported and made up the Allied Powers include Armenia, Belgium, Greece, Hejaz, Japan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serb-Croat-Slovene, and Czechoslovakia. Initially, Italy sided...

The First World War involved many of the world's great economic powers unified into two opposing forces- the Allies Powers and the Central Powers.

The Allied Powers grew out of the Entente Alliance of 1907 and the primary nations were the French Republic, the British Empire, and the Russian Empire. Other countries which supported and made up the Allied Powers include Armenia, Belgium, Greece, Hejaz, Japan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serb-Croat-Slovene, and Czechoslovakia. Initially, Italy sided with the opposing Central Powers, but in 1915 sided with the Allied Powers.

The Central Powers were initially comprised of Germany and Austro-Hungary, but they were later joined by the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria. 

In 1917, the United States declared war on the Central Powers, though were not considered part of the Allied Powers.

Keep in mind that at this time, Empires and nationality stretched far beyond the borders of what we today consider to be Turkey, France, or Great Britain. Much of Africa was controlled by one European nation or another at this time, and so can be said to have been involved in World War One indirectly.

How did the United States expand its territory and why did Americans move into these territories?

There were several examples of how the United States expanded its territories. Americans were willing to move into these territories for various reasons.

The first example of expansion came in 1803. We wanted to buy New Orleans and West Florida from France for $10 million. This would have helped western farmers with their trade since we, and not some other country, would control the port of New Orleans. The French countered our offer with a much better deal. They offered us the entire Louisiana Territory for $15 million. We made this purchase, doubling the size of our country.

Another area of expansion was the independent Republic of Texas. Texas wanted to join the United States immediately after becoming free from Mexican rule. However, a variety of issues, including the slavery issue, kept Texas from joining the country until 1845. In 1845, Texas joined the United States.

We were very interested in acquiring the Oregon Territory. It was shared between the United States and Great Britain. We reached a compromise with Great Britain. We got the southern part of the Oregon Territory while Great Britain got the northern part of it. This compromise added the Pacific Northwest region to our country.

We went to war with Mexico in 1846. This war, called the Mexican-American War, lasted from 1846-1848. As a result of the war, we got most of the southwest part of what is now the United States.

There were a few land purchases that added to our country. In 1853, as a result of the Gadsden Purchase, we added the southern part of both New Mexico and Arizona to our country. We paid Mexico $10 million for this land. In 1867, we bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million.

The United States got some land through our policy of imperialism in the 1890s and 1900s. We eventually got control in Hawaii after a revolution against the Queen. We annexed Hawaii in 1898. We added land as a result of the Spanish-American War. We got Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines for $20 million. We still control Guam and Puerto Rico.

Americans moved to the new lands we got, especially the areas that makes up the lower 48 states, for a variety of reasons. Some people wanted to get land, and there was plenty available. Others went for a spirit of adventure. There was a lot of excitement in moving to a new place. Many people went for economic opportunities. People hoped to make a lot of money by discovering minerals in the West. Others went to farm the land or to raise cattle and sheep. Businesses saw opportunities for growth in the West once people moved there. Thus, businesses followed the people who moved to the West.

Throughout our history, we have been growing as a nation. Our people have been more than willing to go to the new territories after we got possession of them.

When sodium metal is added to ethanol, a gas is evolved. Suggest the identity of this gas, and compare this with a similar reaction of sodium.

When sodium metal is added to ethanol, the following chemical reaction takes place:

`2 C_2H_5OH + 2Na -> 2C_2H_5ONa + H_2`

Thus, we can see that hydrogen gas is evolved when sodium reacts with ethanol. Along with the gas, sodium ethoxide is also generated. When we evaporate the solution, we end with a precipitate of sodium ethoxide. 

A similar reaction of sodium also takes place with waterand we obtain the same gas. This chemical...

When sodium metal is added to ethanol, the following chemical reaction takes place:

`2 C_2H_5OH + 2Na -> 2C_2H_5ONa + H_2`

Thus, we can see that hydrogen gas is evolved when sodium reacts with ethanol. Along with the gas, sodium ethoxide is also generated. When we evaporate the solution, we end with a precipitate of sodium ethoxide. 

A similar reaction of sodium also takes place with water and we obtain the same gas. This chemical reaction can be written as:

`2Na + 2H_2O -> 2NaOH + H_2`

Here, sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas are the products and hence the reaction is similar to that between sodium and ethanol.

Incidentally, a reaction of sodium with other alcohols (such as methanol, propanol, etc.) will also be along the similar lines and will generate hydrogen gas.

Hope this helps. 

If there were no chronic toxicities directly related to the use of opioids, would opioid dependence be a problem in the long term?

When we talk about chronic toxicity, we mean all the adverse effects that incur from taking a drug or substance over a long period of time. In the case of opioid dependence, these effects include physiological and behavioral changes. Some physiological symptoms of chronic opioid toxicity are: decreased heart rate, dangerously low blood pressure, reduced muscular range and motility, and organ failure. Some behavioral symptoms are: fatigue, stupor, apathy, and lack of judgment. Despite the...

When we talk about chronic toxicity, we mean all the adverse effects that incur from taking a drug or substance over a long period of time. In the case of opioid dependence, these effects include physiological and behavioral changes. Some physiological symptoms of chronic opioid toxicity are: decreased heart rate, dangerously low blood pressure, reduced muscular range and motility, and organ failure. Some behavioral symptoms are: fatigue, stupor, apathy, and lack of judgment. Despite the risks inherent in repeated use, it is common for doctors to prescribe opioids for pain management. Often, patients coming out of surgery may receive a short-term opioid treatment. Those who suffer from debilitating or chronic pain conditions may be placed on opioid prescriptions as part of a program of continuing care and treatment. 

Were there no chronic toxicity issues, opioid dependence would be far less problematic. The reason why doctors prescribe opioids is that these substances are extremely effective for the treatment of pain. Opioids are often effective when pain levels are so high as to be excruciating and debilitating. If patients could continue on opioid treatments without the risk of chronic toxicity, there would be no significant problem with long-term dependence from a sociological perspective. However, it's important to keep in mind that, currently, it is impossible to extract the benefits of opioids from their long-term risks. It would take a major leap forward in the fields of medicine and biochemistry in order to de-couple benefits from risks. 

In "Raymond's Run" by Toni Cade Bambara, what does Mr. Pearson want Squeaky to do in the race? How does she react to his suggestion?

In "Raymond's Run" by Toni Cade Bambara, Mr. Pearson wants Squeaky to throw the race. He wants her to give another girl a chance to win, particularly Gretchen, who is new in town. 

"'That new girl should give you a run for your money.'" He looks around the park for Gretchen like a periscope in a submarine movie. 'Wouldn't it be a nice gesture if you were...to ahhh...'" (Bambara 8).

When Squeaky realizes Mr. Pearson...

In "Raymond's Run" by Toni Cade Bambara, Mr. Pearson wants Squeaky to throw the race. He wants her to give another girl a chance to win, particularly Gretchen, who is new in town. 

"'That new girl should give you a run for your money.'" He looks around the park for Gretchen like a periscope in a submarine movie. 'Wouldn't it be a nice gesture if you were...to ahhh...'" (Bambara 8).

When Squeaky realizes Mr. Pearson wants her to cheat, she is very offended. She has been working hard--practicing every minute she possibly can to keep her title as the fastest girl on the block. She really cannot believe that the man she and the other kids call "Ole Beanstalk" would even make such a suggestion. Of course, Gretchen does give her the first competition she has had in a long, long time, but Squeaky still comes out the winner. She also comes out with a whole new outlook on life. She can see Gretchen now as a possible future friend, and she can see Raymond as a competitor, too.  

Why do the phenotypes of many animal species change with the seasons?

To survive better, of course! Particularly in climates that have a wide range of temperatures (such as Alaska, where the record low is -80 F and the record high is 100 F), animals need to be able to change their bodies to suit the surrounding climate conditions. Most mammals grow more hair during the fall to trap more heat for the winter, then shed it during the spring to allow them to cool off better in the summer. (This is why cats and dogs cover the sofa with fur every spring.)

Many animals have seasonal breeding cycles, so that young are only born during warm times of year, when they are more likely to survive. Some insects have a life cycle of metamorphosis that is aligned with the seasons.

Some animals, such as the arctic fox, even have skin or coats that change color from brownish in the summer to white in the winter, to better camouflage in their most likely surroundings.

In all these cases, these changes are evolutionary adaptations to help the animals survive and reproduce better in their environment.

I think it's worth talking about how this comes about, and how it shows the vital distinction between genotype and phenotype. No animal changes genotype on a seasonal basis; that's simply not possible. The genes of an arctic fox remain exactly the same whether it is summer or winter. So how does the change in phenotype come about?

There had to have been a mutation that changed gene expression---turning some genes on and others off---based on some signal that's correlated with the seasons. Perhaps the gene responds to sunlight, or temperature. Then individuals with that new mutation survived a little better than their counterparts without it, and so more of their genes were found in the next generation, and then even more in the next, and so on. Some of these changes are so complex that they must have involved many different genes, probably evolving for a totally different reason and then being co-opted thousands or even millions of years later to perform the seasonal change.

How did Minnesotans react to the arrival of Robert Hickman's group?

It was in 1863, before the end of the Civil War, that a group of former slaves arrived in St. Paul on a steamboat.  This group of people identified themselves as pilgrims.  Robert T. Hickman, a preacher, was among them.  He served as their leader.  The workers at the dock, who were white, were hostile toward the newcomers when they arrived.  At that time, former slaves were "considered contraband."  These dock workers were Irish and...

It was in 1863, before the end of the Civil War, that a group of former slaves arrived in St. Paul on a steamboat.  This group of people identified themselves as pilgrims.  Robert T. Hickman, a preacher, was among them.  He served as their leader.  The workers at the dock, who were white, were hostile toward the newcomers when they arrived.  At that time, former slaves were "considered contraband."  These dock workers were Irish and they "initially harassed" the group because of their race and the fact that they were former slaves.  

After the initial hostility upon their arrival in St. Paul, Robert T. Hickman and his other fellow pilgrims established a church and settled into their new homes.  The church they founded was Pilgrim Baptist Church.  It is still in existence today.

Trace Nick's loss of innocence in Hemingway's short story "Indian Camp."

"Indian Camp" is the first of several short stories by Ernest Hemingway about the character Nick Adams. Nick is basically Hemingway's alter ego and many of the events in the stories are autobiographical. Indian Camp is set in an Indian camp on a unnamed lake which was probably Walloon Lake where the Hemingway family had property. Like Nick's father in the story, Hemingway's father was also a doctor. Other Nick Adams stories are set in the Michigan woods near a lake. 

The young Nick experiences two important events at the Indian camp which take him past innocence. At the start of the story he is pictured in his father's arms as they travel by boat to a camp to help a pregnant woman. Nick and his father are accompanied by his father's friend George. The Indian woman is having a difficult pregnancy and his father says the baby is not coming out head first and, his father says, "When they're not they make a lot of trouble for everybody."

Nick's father has to perform a Caesarian section on the woman with a jack-knife and Nick is witness to the entire operation as he holds the basin full of water where the umbilical cord is eventually placed. It is a scene that most young boys never experience, and Nick is obviously changed after watching the birth of the Indian boy. As the doctor stitches up the woman, Hemingway writes, "Nick did not watch. His curiosity had been gone for a long time." 

The Indian woman's husband has been in the bunk above his wife during the entire procedure and, because of the screaming and length of the ordeal, has committed suicide by slitting his throat with a razor. When Nick asks why the man would do such a thing, his father says, "I don't know Nick. He couldn't stand things, I guess."

So, in this brief story Nick witnesses the messiest of births and messiest of deaths. At the end when they return home on the boat he is no longer in his father's arms but rather, "sitting in the stern of the boat with his father rowing...quite sure that he would never die."

It's interesting that only four years after the publication of this story Hemingway's father would commit suicide and Hemingway himself took his own life in 1961.

Cod liver oil is rich in which vitamin?

People have historically taken cod liver oil to help alleviate symptoms of many different conditions and diseases.

Cod liver oil contains some omega 3 fatty acids. These have been shown to help maintain stable blood sugar in the body. They can help enhance the absorption of vitamins and minerals from food. Omega 3 fatty acids also have a protective immune system function and help promote the feeling of being satiated after eating a meal. They...

People have historically taken cod liver oil to help alleviate symptoms of many different conditions and diseases.

Cod liver oil contains some omega 3 fatty acids. These have been shown to help maintain stable blood sugar in the body. They can help enhance the absorption of vitamins and minerals from food. Omega 3 fatty acids also have a protective immune system function and help promote the feeling of being satiated after eating a meal. They are a beneficial fat to include in the diet.

The vitamins prevalent in cod liver oil are vitamins A and D which are both fat soluble hence they are found in fish oil.

Vitamin A also known as beta carotene is excellent for night vision. Vitamin D is excellent for bone development and helps to regulate the levels of calcium and phosphorus that are deposited into bones. Vitamin D supports the function of the immune system against many diseases including cancer. It supports maintenance of stable sugar levels in the blood and helps the respiratory and nervous systems. It helps to lower cholesterol and blood pressure in patients with heart disease. It has a beneficial effect on people suffering from arthritis.

Cod liver oil has a very high amount of these two vitamins so it is an excellent source of these vital nutrients.

I have attached a link with nutritional data for 1 cup of cod liver oil to show its high amounts of vitamins A and D.

Explain why the narrator seems pleased to meet Fortunato in The Cask of Amotillado.

The narrator, Montresor, is extremely pleased to meet Fortunato in the street because, tonight, he plans to exact his revenge on Fortunato for "The thousand injuries" he had done Montresor.  Montresor has come up with a plan and ensured that none of his servants will be home to witness his crime; all that remains is to find Fortunato and lure him into the trap Montresor has set.

This trap relies on Fortunato's one "weak point,"...

The narrator, Montresor, is extremely pleased to meet Fortunato in the street because, tonight, he plans to exact his revenge on Fortunato for "The thousand injuries" he had done Montresor.  Montresor has come up with a plan and ensured that none of his servants will be home to witness his crime; all that remains is to find Fortunato and lure him into the trap Montresor has set.

This trap relies on Fortunato's one "weak point," his pride, especially the pride he feels in his taste and discernment as a connoisseur of wine.  Montresor, when he sees his nemesis, tells him that he has purchased a pipe (126 gallons) of Amontillado (a dry Spanish sherry) and that he was "silly enough to pay the full Amontillado price without consulting [Fortunato] in the matter."  In other words, he appeals to Fortunato's pride, thus increasing the likelihood that Fortunato will want to help him.  

Montresor goes on to flatter him even more, saying that he will seek out another local wine expert to confirm his purchase because "some fools will have it that his taste is a match for [Fortunato's]."  By calling those people "fools," Montresor implies that he knows that Fortunato's taste is better than this other man's, but by suggesting that he will ask for his assistance any way, Montresor guarantees that Fortunato will want to come in order to prove that his taste is, in fact, better.

Casually "bumping into" Fortunato in the street is the first step to exacting the revenge Montresor has so long desired.

How does Peyton Farquhar feel while in the water?

First, it's important to remember that Peyton Farquhar is never actually in the water.  Almost the entirety of Part III occurs in his head, during the few moments between when "The sergeant stepped aside" and off the plank on which Farquhar was standing (at the very end of Part I) and when the rope snapped taut and pulled the noose tight around his neck and "his body, with a broken neck, swung gently from side...

First, it's important to remember that Peyton Farquhar is never actually in the water.  Almost the entirety of Part III occurs in his head, during the few moments between when "The sergeant stepped aside" and off the plank on which Farquhar was standing (at the very end of Part I) and when the rope snapped taut and pulled the noose tight around his neck and "his body, with a broken neck, swung gently from side to side beneath the timbers of the Owl Creek bridge" (at the very end of Part III).

However, in Part III, Farquhar imagines that while he's in the water, "He was now in full possession of his physical senses.  They were, indeed, preternaturally keen and alert."  He notices every quivering leaf and buzzing insect and rushing fish.  He sees that the Union soldiers are firing at him, and he "dived -- dived as deeply as he could" to get away from their bullets.  He swims downstream while they reload, and "His brain was as energetic as his arms and legs; he thought with the rapidity of lightning."  He feels very vividly alive, with his ability to notice every tiny thing and the way his thoughts are moving so quickly.

Does the real message of "A Modest Proposal" come across clearly or could Swift's use of irony confuse readers into mistaking the satire for a...

It is hard to know how every individual will respond to "A Modest Proposal," but it seems very unlikely that many people in Swift's day would have taken it seriously. Remember that Swift's essay was aimed at an educated readership, people who would have been well-versed in both the essay format of argumentation and in the use of satire which Swift carried to new extremes with "A Modest Proposal." In fact, some literary critics have...

It is hard to know how every individual will respond to "A Modest Proposal," but it seems very unlikely that many people in Swift's day would have taken it seriously. Remember that Swift's essay was aimed at an educated readership, people who would have been well-versed in both the essay format of argumentation and in the use of satire which Swift carried to new extremes with "A Modest Proposal." In fact, some literary critics have argued that, because its proposal was so patently absurd, Swift's essay was actually less sophisticated a satire than some other works, like those of Alexander Pope. But it is worth noting that it was a powerful satire on a number of levels, criticizing the overly scientific "political economy" solutions to social problems offered by many educated men as well as the effects of British colonialism on the Irish poor. What aspects of the essay resonated with people largely depended on the reader. As a side note, from personal observation, I have used this text with many different students, ranging from high school freshmen to college students, and I do not recall that any failed to "catch on" to the joke at some point. 

What town was Tree-ear in when two robbers smashed the vases he was carrying?

Tree-ear is attacked by the robbers when he reaches the city Puyo. Thinking the boy's basket may contain food, the robbers take it from him. Angry and disappointed, they smash the expensive pottery. Tree-ear is unwilling to let that disaster be the end to his mentor's dreams of being awarded a royal commission. He selects a large piece of pottery that shows Min's skill and craftsmanship and sets out to finish his journey to see...

Tree-ear is attacked by the robbers when he reaches the city Puyo. Thinking the boy's basket may contain food, the robbers take it from him. Angry and disappointed, they smash the expensive pottery. Tree-ear is unwilling to let that disaster be the end to his mentor's dreams of being awarded a royal commission. He selects a large piece of pottery that shows Min's skill and craftsmanship and sets out to finish his journey to see Kim, the king's emissary.

Until the encounter with thieves in Puyo, Tree-ear rested and took time to eat. Once the pottery was shattered, he took off in haste as getting to Kim became more important than before. With a show of self-confidence, Tree-ear manages to meet with Kim, explain what happened, and show him the shard of pottery. Kim was impressed and gave Min the commission.

The incident at Puyo strikes me as an important element of the journey metaphor for Tree-ear's life. Craneman had told him that each journey takes "one day, one village at a time." Up until he arrived at Puyo, others were in charge of his fate and he sometimes resented Min's barking orders at him.

Confronted with possible defeat, Tree-ear grew more bold and determined as a result of the encounter with robbers at Puyo. From that point forward, his dedication to Min led toward the fulfillment of his dream -- to learn from the master potter how to make pottery.