What do we learn about Curley's wife?It's part of chapter 4 in Of Mice and Men.

We learn, despite the moniker of "Curley's Wife", thus denoting that she is a mere possession of Curley's, that she is a human being with hopes, dreams and passions independent of her domineering and jealous husband.  We learn just how incredibly lonely she is, and how her seemingly flirtatious advances towards the men on the ranch is more of a quest to fill the void of loneliness that her position as "Curley's Wife" has put her in, rather than seeking a romantic relationship, as the men fear.  We also learn that she is very much to blame for her present position because of her impulsive decision to marry Curley as a means to escape from her mundane existence at home.  Finally, we get a glimpse into her fantasy of being an actress, which only serves to magnify the tragedy of her existence, because it is just that---a mere fantasy with little hope of ever being attained.

Explain the differences between effiency, effectiveness and productivity?

Efficiency, effectiveness and productivity are closely related concept which could be easily be confused with each other.

To begin with let us define each of these concepts in simple terms.

Efficiency is a ration of output to input, generally expressed as percentage. In any process we use some inputs that is converted as useful out put. But during the processing part of the inputs may be wasted. For example, an automobile runs using the energy that is contained in the fuel such as petrol or diesel used. However not all of the energy in the fuel is converted in useful output in form of distance travelled and load carried. Part of the energy in the fuel is lost in overcoming friction of the moving parts of the automobile. Also some energy is lost in the form of hot exhaust gases. Thus we can improve efficiency by reducing the waste. We concentrate on efficiency when our objective is to reduce waste.

Productivity appears to be very much similar to efficiency, but there is a subtle difference. Productivity is defined as output per unit of input, For example we may measure annual energy production of a power plant per employee working in the plant. The difference between efficiency and productivity is that in efficiency we are measuring outputs solely in terms of the inputs employed. To appreciate the difference between the two let us consider two different shoe manufacturing plants. One of these plants is highly automated while the other one uses primarily manual method. The automated plant is likely have much higher production per labour employed than the production per employee in the manual factory. So we can say that the automated factory has higher labour productivity than the manual factory. But this does not mean that the labour efficiency of automated factory is necessarily higher than that of manual factory. The higher productivity is substantially influenced by other inputs like degree of automation in addition to the efforts or efficiency of people employed. We we can improve productivity by increasing the total output, even if it involves higher waste. We concentrate on productivity when our objective is to increase the total output.

Effectiveness refers to the extent of achievement of objectives. These objectives may be to reduce weight, to improve output, or other desired result. For example, although all companies are interested in improving their profits, but in short-term some companies may decide to increase their market share even if it means some measures that reduce profit in short term. While this company is pursuing its goal of growth, it need to measure its effectiveness in terms of market growth also, rather tan just profits in the short term.

In business it is most important to be clear on objectives of the business and focus on achievement of those objectives. Therefore managers need to always make efforts to define, monitor, measure and control the effectiveness.

What are summaries of Chapters 1 and 2 of The Shakespeare Stealer?

In Chapter 1, the central character, Widge, relates how he never knew his mother or father, but was raised in an orphanage. His life there was hard, but not unbearable, as for the most part the children "were not mistreated as much as neglected." When Widge is seven, he is taken as an apprentice by Dr. Timothy Bright, a preacher and doctor of medicine. His job is to help in the apothecary preparing "medicines and infusions", and to learn to read and write.

Widge not only becomes literate in English and in Latin, but he also learns "a curious abbreviated language of Dr. Bright's own devising," a kind of shorthand known as charactery, which allows an individual to "transcribe the spoken word as rapidly as it issues from the tongue." Using this system, Widge keeps the doctor's scientific notes, and transcribes his weekly sermons, as well as those of other clergymen.

In Chapter 2, a stranger comes to the rectory with a copy of Dr. Bright's book on charactery. He asks the doctor how many people have been taught the system of shorthand, and the doctor is forced to admit that Widge is the only one. The stranger then tests Widge on his facility with the system of writing, and, satisfied, offers to buy him from his master for the handsome sum of ten pounds sterling. The doctor accepts the payment, and Widge is instructed to swifly gather his belonging and to follow the stranger into a new life unknown. As Widge takes his leave from the doctor's abode, there is no one to bid him farewell but a "placid tabby cat gazing at (him) from under the shelter of the eaves."

How can I explain Long Run Equilibrium of firm under perfect competition?

In perfect competition, a firm will, in the long term, produce a guantity of goods where MR = MC.  The price at this point will be dictated by the market because the firm is a price taker.

The firm in long run equilibrium will be making zero economic profit because no economic profit is possible, long term, in perfect competition.

At this output level, the MR will be equal to the minimum point on the long run average cost curve.

At this point, there will be no reason for the firm to change its output level, the size of its factories, or anything else.  Until something changes in the market, it will remain as it is.

What are some allusions in the short story "Notes from a Bottle" by James Stevenson. Also what can you infer from the title and subtitle?

First, "Notes From a Bottle"can be interpreted two ways: one way, the most obvious,is that he had drifted out to sea and all that's left of him is in the bottle. The second interpretation can be that he was "drinking" from a bottle so much that he thought what he reported was real but it was only his own drunken hallucinations. The subtitles refers to the "ascension" and refers to the Christ ascension to heaven. This is a direct allusion to Christ. Is he alluding to being a Christ figure because he can critically observe all the ludicrous behaviors of his neighbors ?

It's interesting to note when this was published, in what year ? What was happening at that time ? 1969. The Vietnam War

He is alluding to all the outrageous behaviors that people (society) was experimenting with during the time of the Vietnam War. Inside of the hi-rise in NYC where the main character lives, the people are all into themselves while outside the windows the water is rising. In the late 1960's there was a lot of experimentation--drugs, wild dress stlyes, social unrest--and the Vietnam War was raging. I think he is alluding to the social bevaiors of the time and the war.

What is the plot summary of the novel, The Women of Brewster Place?

Seven separate stories that tell the tales of seven different African-American women comprise the Gloria Naylor novel, The Women of Brewster Place. All seven of the women move to the street in New York City's Queens that is separated by a wall. Mattie Michael, Etta Johnson and Lucielia Turner all move to Brewster Place from rural Tennessee. Kiswana Browne escapes her middle class roots and domineering parents, while Cora Lee adores babies but can't deal with them once they grow up. Lorraine and Teresa are a lesbian couple who seem misplaced in their surroundings.

Mattie saves her money for 30 years and is finally able to buy a house in Tennessee, but when her son, Basil, jumps bail, she loses the house and moves to Brewster Place. Etta has attached herself to a series of "rising black star(s)," but she arrives at Brewster Place alone and on the hunt for yet another man. Ciel, who had known Mattie in Tennessee, struggles with her family life: Her boyfriend leaves her, her daughter dies in a tragic accident, and Ciel gives up hope.

Kiswana's parents' visit is marred by arguments, but in the end, she realizes just how similar she is to her mother. Cora's life has always been filled with babies and "shadows"--men who spend the night but rarely stay longer. She finally sees the light and promises herself that she will becme a better mother to her children, but she suffers a relapse in the endl. Following a quarrel with Teresa, Lorraine is attacked and raped by six neighborhood teens; later, she mistakenly kills her best friend, Ben, with a brick from the wall.

In the end, Kiswana's block party brings the women together and the wall that separates Brewster Place from the rest of the neighborhood is torn down. Or is it?  

What does Hester feel is the worst crime she has committed in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter? Why?

In The Scarlet Letter, Hester feels tremendous guilt for having kept the identity of Roger Chillingworth secret.  For, she feels that she has been the "bane and ruin" of the man she loves.  In Chapter XVII, Hawthorne narrates,

Hester felt that the sacrifice of the clergyman's good name, and death itself, as she had already told Roger Chillingworth, would have been infinitely preferable to the alternative which she had taken upon herself to choose.

She would almost "rather lie in the half-strewn leaves and die" than confess the identity of Chillingworth, but Hester bravely tells the Reverend Dimmesdale, who responds, "I cannot forgive thee!"  However, he does forgive her, but he decries the physician who has "violated the sanctity of the human heart."