Monomial principalization in the singular setting

We generalize an algorithm by Goward for principalization of monomial ideals in nonsingular varieties to work on any scheme of finite type over a field. The normal crossings condition considered by Goward is weakened to the condition that components of the generating divisors meet as complete intersections. This leads to a substantial generalization of the notion of monomial scheme; we call the resulting schemes `c.i. monomial'. We prove that c.i. monomial schemes in arbitrarily singular varieties can be principalized by a sequence of blow-ups at codimension 2 c.i. monomial centers.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure

The Beauty and the Barrister: Gender Roles, Madness, and the Basis for Identity in Lady Audley\u27s Secret

This thesis examines the concept of identity in the novel Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon. In the mid to late Victorian period, self-definition was strongly tied to gender roles. Men were expected to be mentally active, physical strong, and morally guiding leaders of society, and women were to be their passive, pious, domestically minded followers. These expectations for behavior were so strong that those breaking them were in danger of being considered insane. In Braddon’s novel, the behavior of most characters does not align with the expectations for their gender. The exception is Lady Audley, the apparently ideal woman whose beauty and charm mask a vicious and criminal nature. Her plea of insanity, while it may offer an excuse for her unfeminine behavior, does not pardon her crimes. However, hero Robert Audley’s behavior is absolutely effeminate, but he has a strong moral sense and total devotion to his loved ones. Their deviation from or adherence to gender-appropriate behaviors does not change their essential natures. In Lady Audley’s Secret, Braddon uses gender roles and the theme of insanity to critique the Victorian conception of identity

Classification of the monomial Cremona transformations of the plane

We classify all monomial planar Cremona maps by multidegree using recent methods developed by Aluffi. Following the main result, we prove several more properties of the set of these maps, and also extend the results to the more general `r.c. monomial' maps.Comment: Work in progress... comments are welcom

The Internet Opens Its Doors for .BIZ-ness

Starting on October 1, 2001, .BIZ will become active as the Internet\u27s newest top-level domain; its space reserved solely for businesses engaging in bona fide commercial activities. This space has the potential to reinvigorate, at least partly, the immense economic potential of the Internet by stimulating a multitude of e-commerce transactions so common only a few years ago. This iBreif explores the history of how and why this new top-level domain came into being. Following this history lies a discussion of the current .BIZ registration process as well as an analysis of the corresponding Intellectual Property Claims system