The Song with no Motive and the Songwriter without a Clue

The Song with no Motive and the Songwriter without a Clue Analyzing songs must be one of the least gratifying tasks, since it is always hard to figure out not only what idea the author tried to get across, but also whether the author’s idea is more important than the interpretation of the audience.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Song with no Motive and the Songwriter without a Clue specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are different schools of thought that provide various answers to the given question. Some say that the author’s intent is the only valid interpretation; others claim that, once the work is released, it is open to criticism and can be viewed through the prism of other people’s vision. Hence the ambiguity concerning the â€Å"Omie Wise† comes. Although the issue raised by Anna Domino is not that big, it still offers an interesting introspective into the author’s universe. The very fact that the author chose writing a let ter as the means to convey her message to the audience makes the story told in the song of the same name look unbelievably real and, therefore, very touching. The author, therefore, raises a very peculiar question, asking her audience whether the leading character of a song should be viewed as a unique personality or a generic image[1]. While the latter is easier to relate to, since it allows literally any listener to find a number of points of contact with the image in question, creating a unique character that has individual character traits and, therefore, can be seen as a compelling personality is doubtlessly a much more interesting and definitely more challenging task. Although a generic character guarantees an instant success of a song, being very relatable, a unique character will help the audience evolve by posing a number of ethical questions and life choices to its audience. Offering a fresh look at the old character, the author of the article stresses the significance of a character that the audience can empathize with. Another bit of information from The Rose and the Briar that was meant to leave an impression, the story behind â€Å"Pretty Polly† narrated by Rennie Sparks also deserves being mentioned as the issue that gives a lot of food for thoughts. As the author claims, the song does not have any motive whatsoever, which begs the question whether a song can exist outside the basic rules of songwriting, such as the need for a clear motive. On the one hand, the given idea seems completely absurd – being one of the key elements of any song by definition, a motive sets the mood for the song, creates the atmosphere and invites the audience into its realm, not to mention the fact that a motive makes it possible for a band or a musician to play the song. â€Å"Pretty Polly,† however, proves the given rule wrong, as Sparks insists, telling about a song â€Å"cut from its original epic length to form a lean, mysterious and brutal folk song†[2].Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Described as a song without a motive by the author, it strangely creates an intriguing story canvas, dragging the audience into it and creating images in ones’ head; which is even more interesting, these images transform into pieces of a puzzle that fall into their places as the song unwinds. The given admittedly unique phenomenon begs the question whether motive is that important for a song. Although traditionally, a motive is supposed to be the glue that holds a song together, in the world of modern music, other elements of a song can perform the given function. For instance, the author of a song can supposedly rely solely on music, leaving the story behind. Thus, the concept of popular music is stretched to reach out to the classical music, in which motive is as complicated as a novel plot. Bibliography Domi no, Anna. â€Å"Naomi Wise, 1807.† In The Rose and the Briar: Death, Love and Liberty in the American Ballad, ed. Sean Wilentz and Greil Marcus, 69–80, New York, NY: W. W. Norton, 2010. Sparks, Rennie. â€Å"Pretty Polly.† In The Rose and the Briar: Death, Love and Liberty in the American Ballad, ed. Sean Wilentz and Greil Marcus, 35–50, New York, NY: W. W. Norton, 2010. Footnotes .Anna Domino, â€Å"Naomi Wise, 1807,† In The Rose and the Briar: Death, Love and Liberty in the American Ballad, ed. Sean Wilentz and Greil Marcus (New York, NY: W. W. Norton, 2010), 70. . Rennie Sparks, â€Å"Pretty Polly,† in The Rose and the Briar: Death, Love and Liberty in the American Ballad, ed. Sean Wilentz and Greil Marcus (New York, NY: W. W. Norton, 2010): 35.

How to Give an Impromptu Speech (Public Speaking)

How to Give an Impromptu Speech (Public Speaking) An impromptu speech is a speech that you have to make without much or any time to prepare. In life, this can happen when you attend special events, like weddings or celebrations. In school, teachers use impromptu speeches as  homework assignments to help you develop communication skills and to help you prepare for those future life surprises. While this may seem like a cruel trick from a students point of view, it actually builds confidence and is great preparation for life. Rarely will you be asked to stand and deliver a speech with no warning and no time to organize your thoughts. This would be unusual in the classroom unless the teacher is attempting to make a point about the importance of preparedness. At some point in your life, however, you may be asked to speak without notice. There are a few things you can do to avoid panic and embarrassment. Grab a pen and a piece of paper. If you have a few moments before your speech is expected to begin, grab a writing utensil and something to write on, whether its a napkin, envelope, or the back of a receipt you have on hand, and jot down a few thoughts.Highlight a few interesting or significant points.  Keep in mind, your impromptu speech doesnt have to be long. A little-known fact about effective speeches is that if you start with a good line and then end with a really great punch, the speech will  be perceived as a total success. So the beginning and ending markers are critical. The middle portion of your speech should relate to the event youre attending or the class assignment, but if you have to choose one great moment, your ending line is particularly important. If you can walk away gracefully, your speech will be a hit, so keep your big zinger for last.Try to memorize key points. If you have time before your speech, create an outline of the major themes or points and commit it to memory with a memorization trick, like an acronym. Dont try to remember the entire speech in detail like this; just remember important points. Hijack the topic.  There is an old trick that politicians use when theyre being interviewed on TV, and once you realize this, you can use it yourself. They think of questions ahead of time (or topics to discuss), prepare some talking points,  and talk about those, despite the topic or question theyre given. This is a handy trick when youre facing a hard question or asked to discuss a topic with which youre unfamiliar.Remember youre in charge of this time.  Your goal is to deliver a one-sided conversation, off the cuff, so you are in complete control. Relax and make it your own. If you want to make this a funny story about your pesky little brother who always bothers you during homework time, then do it. Everyone will applaud your effort.Feel free to acknowledge that you have not prepared for a speech. If you are speaking in front of friends or family, it may ease your nervousness to express your lack of preparation. This should not be an attempt to garner pity, but rather a way to put yourself and your audience at ease. Then, take a deep breath before you begin speaking. Zone out the audience or choose someone specific to focus on, whichever makes you more comfortable. Begin with your introductory sentence, elaborate, then start working your way to your ending sentence.  Fill in the middle space with as many points as you can, elaborating on each one as you go. Just concentrate on the zinger youve reserved for the end.As you deliver your speech, concentrate on diction and tone.  If you are thinking about this, you wont be thinking about the eyes watching you. Your mind cant think about too many things at once, so think about breathing, enunciating your words, and controlling your tone, and youll maintain more control. What to Do If You Draw a Blank If you suddenly lose your train of thought or draw a complete blank, there are a few you can do to keep from panicking. Pretend youre pausing on purpose. Walk back and forth slowly, as if youre letting your last point sink in.There is always a jokester or friendly person who will stand out in the crowd. Make eye contact and try to draw a response from him or her while you think.If you need more time to think, you may want to ask the audience a question. Have a few prepared ahead, like Do you have any questions, or Can everyone hear me okay?If you still cant remember what you were going to say, make up a reason to pause the speech. You can say, Im sorry, but my throat is very dry. Can I please get a glass of water? Someone will go to get you a drink, and you will have time to think of two or three points to talk about. If these tricks dont appeal to you, think of your own. The goal is to have something ready for every possible scenario ahead of time. If you know you may be asked to give an impromptu speech soon, try going through the entire preparation process with a few common speech topics. When caught off guard, many people can suffer extreme anxiety about speaking off the cuff. Thats why the best speakers are always prepared.

Character biography of Wintertime by Charles L. Mee Essay

Character biography of Wintertime by Charles L. Mee - Essay Example Although she is married, Maria is happy to stay in an illicit relationship with her lover Frank. She invents her own views on love in order to justify the complex relationships that define her social life. Maria emphasizes on the value of her freedom on matters of love, family and the discourse of sex. For instance, she reinvents the aspect of womanhood by projecting views that appear abnormal to the larger society. Her philosophies on matters of sex appear to be idiosyncratic and even rebellious. She tells her husband about the desire of a woman to engage in some form of wild sexual engagements and deliberate deviation from the order and tranquility of the domestic space without a free conscience that operates on the sidelines of the acceptable. Although she admits her love deep love for Francois, he shocks him by admitting that she reserves every Friday night for a routine sexual relationship with Frank (Mee 6). This sense of strange freedom and order unsettles Francois whose conce pt of love appears to be bound in philosophies that are more conventional than Maria’s is. A clear understanding of Maria’s peculiar approach to life could gbe drawn from a comparative assessment between her views on love and those projected by Ariel. The two women have exactly opposite views about then discourse of love. While Ariel indulges her mind in the innocence of youth by upholding the sublime and real element of love, Maria takes an opposite view by establishing categories of love. For instance, she views love in two broad perspectives. One of the perspectives is about romantic love. Maria believes that romantic love should be separate from the other kind of love that attaches couples in a marriage. She reminds Frank, her husband, that she never intended to love him in a romantic kind of love. She only loves him as some kind of duty that a wife ordinarily owes to her husband. Maria’s personality has a redemptive effect to the social disadvantages that w omen have to endure because of traditions, values, and expectations. She presents life in terms of a sum total of her own views and the practical things of life. Maria lives in a conservative society. This society demands women to live in accordance with specific laws and specifications. There is a patriarchal undertone in the dominant philosophies that undergird perspectives and reactions. As a result, she rebels and creates a world that would accommodate the feelings and opinions of a liberal woman (Case and Elaine 56). Her defiance could be understood as a rebellion against the domestic space. She affirms ownership of the Winterhouse and does not regard Frank in any terms larger than a companion. She comes to the defense of fellow women whenever situations demand. In this manner, Maria could be considered as an influential matriarch of women liberation with a deep desire to create an alternative frame of reference for the conquered women in the society. On this score, it makes se nse to consider her attitude in terms of the multiple challenges that are systematically created to stifle the course of women empowerment. Normally, the society would want to convert Maria into an ideal woman who dutifully plays the role of wife and mother in total submission. Instead, Maria appears to be untamed and subscribing to strange philosophies that define her relationship to both Francois and Frank. She is a strong defender of women freedom

International Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 5

International Marketing - Essay Example Fast food restaurants are reflecting greater flexibility in adapting to the local tastes and cultures and also in generating price ranges for the products through evaluation of the economic potential of the people. Global fast food companies like McDonald’s, Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut and Dunkin Donuts to name a few are observed to take resort of the localization strategy to help gain an effective penetration in the local markets. Fast food restaurants pertaining to America are observed to produce food products of hybrid varieties relating to the different countries in which they have opened up their branches. Customization and localization are generated in the food products by the fast food restaurants like that of McDonald’s that produces McKroket a beef and bun product for the Netherlands market while selling shrimp with cocktail sauce in Germany. For Greece and Israel, McDonald’s has its own set of Greek Burger and McKebab respectively. KFC operating in the Ch inese market aims to produce food products for the breakfast menu catering to regional preferences and tastes. Similarly, Dunkin Donuts operating in the South Korean market is observed to market breakfast foods like bagels and doughnuts which contribute in attracting potential customers (Sten, 2010). Federal Republic of Brazil is identified as the largest nation compared to other Latin American countries measured in terms of population and also the size of its geographical territory. Brazil tends to attract potential tourists from different nations owing to its natural and social diversity. Cities like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro reflect a larger population mix owing to the growth of urban and industrial development. Brazil also reflects to be the sole country in the whole of America that has a Portuguese speaking population. The continuous inflow of tourists in the Brazilian region owing to the existence of social, cultural, ethnic and biodiversity is observed as a

Cormac McCarthys The Road Essay Example for Free

Cormac McCarthys The Road Essay A novel entitled The Road sparks the image of a journey, not necessarily one concerning movement, but an experience, where by the time you reach the destination you have either witnessed something or come-by certain things which may affect you as a person, changed the way you think or possibly had an effect on your personal ethics. For example, a mental journey, whereby somebody lives through a certain period in their life and comes out the other end with a new perspective and attitude, like in J. D. Salingers The Catcher in the Rye. Another type of journey is an actual physical one from A to B; at the destination in this type of journey one may feel a sense of achievement and arrive at B with scores of anecdotes and stories that can range from little events that make a good joke to events which may actually change you as a person. Writing about journeys like these is a genre of writing in its own right: Travel Writing, an example being John Steinbecks Travels with Charley. The third type of journey that I associate with the phrase The Road is the concept of being on an open road, simply going with no particular interest in where you may arrive, simply the journey itself has its importance. This may simply be on a whim or yearning for open road or maybe because of a need to travel, to not stop and just keep going and perhaps to get away from something, an example of this is the film Thelma and Louise. This is a key image in American Culture, not only featured in many novels and films but important simply because it represents a freedom to be who you want to be. The open road offers new horizons and the prospect to witness new and unexpected things. This idea represents the liberty and freedom found in America The way in which the protagonists travel in The Road is not the picture perfect, open road, free spirited adventure, they rarely travel on the actual road, to avoid being seen by others who may want their belongings and food. This was not a safe place. They could be seen from the road. The iconic concept of the open-ness and the freedom associated with it is no longer present in Cormac McCarthys America. The idea of the road being such a dangerous and deadly place and the paranoia of the man is installed firmly in the readers head by the fourth page, when it discusses the shopping trolley the man has in which he carries all his possessions, food, blankets and tarpaulin. On the handlebars of the trolley the man clamped a chrome motorcycle mirror that he used to watch the road behind him which shows that whoever is left in his world isnt to be trusted and its a fend for yourself environment with none of the trust and neighbourliness that America is famous for. In the post-apocalyptic world portrayed in The Road we see an utter breakdown in the sense of community and the love thy neighbour ethic for which America is renowned. In the book, the few people the man and child come across are treated with utter caution or are avoided altogether and people who need help are ignored. An example of this would be when they come across the man who has been hit by lightning and they dont help him. The son cries for his father to help the man, but he bluntly refuses and does nothing. This is an accurate account of how some people may react in todays world where help may not be given to the man by some people so as not involve themselves, but the good thing to do would, of course, be to seek medical help. Traditional American values would instruct that one do the good thing and aid the lightning struck man. Another good example of the lack of common ethics is when the stranger robs all their belongings and they run after him and not only get it back, but also take everything he has on him, including his clothes. The fact that the man and robber are prepared to leave the other to die of the cold and starvation, represents how McCarthys world has changed human nature and the love thy neighbour and do unto others only what you would want done to yourself ethics are left disregarded and one cares for no-one but themselves.. Im starving, man. Youd have done the same. You took everything. Come on man. Ill die. This proves my point that the people left will do anything to survive even if that worsens the chances of another individual. For me, the theme that is present throughout the book and had me contrasting McCarthys world to todays is the relationship between the father and son. The young child is, of course, dependent on his father for food, guidance and moral support like most children are today and this image is strong in America with the concept of a nuclear, wholesome family being very important. In the book, whilst the sense of community may have collapsed, the father-son relationship is very strong; they care for each other, keep each other company and the father brings the child up as best he can, but in Cormac McCarthys world nothing is left quite the same. What unsettled me was how freely the child spoke about their possible impending death and themes of a similar nature. The situation in which this child has been reared has left him matured beyond his years, an example showing this being when he asks his dad, You think we are going to die dont you? Were not going to die. Okay. The child is so unfazed by the topic and it strikes me as odd and proves how even something as simple as the carefree thoughts of a child have been distorted by the world and lifestyle of the people within the America McCarthy depicts. Within the story there are two scenes that are stuck in my mind because of their vividness and brutality. Firstly, when the father and son break into a house and find dismembered, burnt people locked in the basement, a man with his legs gone to the hip. These people are being held very much like poorly treated animals or cattle, probably to be eaten, because the people are so desperate for food they have resorted to what is one of the most taboo and strictly forbidden act in most societies, cannibalism. Also the setting of their incarceration is chilling and something only thought of in nightmares. Secondly, when the father and son come across the baby gutted and placed on the spit roast in preparation for a meal. America prides itself on the fact that its a free country. This phrase is thrown around a lot but it basically means that people there have a freedom to say and do what they want as long as it doesnt break the law. The people locked in the cellar certainly arent free and them being held captive shows how extreme people may have become out of starvation and desperation to survive disregarding their previously strong believe in freedom and equality. This is also interesting because it wouldnt be the first time slavery has been an issue in America. After the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which was passed in 1865, slavery was made illegal in America and equality reigns. The change was accepted after years of fighting and now America sees itself as a fair nation with racism and the plight of the black man as less of an issue, a good example being that the first black American President is going to be inaugurated January 20th of the coming year. Cormac McCarthys book portrays this ethic of us all being of the same level of importance being readily ignored by those in need to feed themselves and survive. In the news we often hear about anti-abortion lobbyists and pro-life rallies, especially in America. In Cormac McCarthys book the protagonists see a group of people travelling with impregnated women and then the man and son walk through the abandoned camp of these people and find a gutted baby on the spit-roast. If you put the two together the idea may strike you that women are being impregnated for the sole purpose of the meat theyll produce. In todays world this would be considered ungodly and unmentionable and not only brings up the topic of cannibalism but also the controversial theme of abortion which is utterly ignored in McCarthys world and the fact that it has gone beyond mere cannibalism but the actual production of babies for meat shows the pure desperation of some to survive and the ethical issue which is so very important today, ignored. In the scene the author refers to the baby itself very impersonally, as if its a piece of meat and nothing more. The author describes it as a human infant, headless, gutless and blackening on the spit, very brief and to the point much like one may have described it were it a common farm animal. If it werent for the human infant part it may well have been anything, the author does little to humanise the creature on the spit-roast. I think this may be simply to shield the reader and avoid the text being too explicit but also to show how this is largely commonplace in McCarthys world and that whilst shocking to the more good-willed protagonists, for some it is merely a case of survival. America is often referred to as the land of plenty, with its almost endless resources, especially of food. The poignant scene in which the father finds what could possibly be the last coke can on earth shows just how much has changed in McCarthys world and introduces the notion of how we take too much for granted. In the scene with the coke can the author describes drinks machinestilted on the floor, opened with pry bars. This shows the desperation of mankind for such objects like Coca Cola, which are integral to lifestyles in modern society and inexplicable to those who havent witnessed it. People now never think such ubiquitous items will run out. What makes the scene sadder is the fact that this iconic can which nowadays is seen in many pieces of pop-artwork, has hundreds if not thousands of adverts worldwide and is truly a universally recognized brand, isnt recognized by the child, showing how in McCarthys world this idea of a constant, ready supply of everything is simply no longer the case, especially with food. Throughout the book, punctuation is hardly used; with no speech marks and few commas and the father and son arent, at any point, referred to by name. I believe that this is to further the image that Cormac McCarthy is portraying; conveying the fact that the breakdown of society and nature is such that things like punctuation and the names of the characters, no longer are of any importance as there are more important things, survival for instance and by dropping things like the names it leaves the reader to focus more upon the father-son relationship and less on the more trivial details. The American Dream is the concept of everybody reaching his or her full potential and having the ability to fulfil their hearts desire, in the land of opportunity that America is famous for. People often immigrate to America to start a business or career in either the music industry or maybe acting. In the book rather than going to America in the hope of having it all, money, glamour, the sweet life, people are trying to leave because they have nothing. It shows how different this bleak world his and how everything has turned on its head. The phrase itself, American Dream was coined by James Truslow Adams in his book, published in 1931, called The Epic of America; in the book his definition for it is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone but in McCarthys world, for anyone surviving there is nothing left of the original values of America, the living are in some cases, hunted for food, their freedom compromised for fear and ultimately nothing remains as it was.

Our Father Who Art in Heav...Our Mind :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Our Father Who Art in Heav...Our Mind Be careful when you mention your religious experiences or any supernatural experiences that you have had with God, the gods, or the universe. The person that you report them to may quickly reduce your experiences to a simple decrease or increase in electrical activity within specific parts of your brain. While you may believe that your experiences are as real as the piercing sound of your alarm, waking you from your blissful "flying" dreams, you should know that the research performed and documented by scientists, concerning the experience of God, is also real. Have you ever heard the professed beliefs that Moses, who spoke to the Christian God for the first time through an angel in a flaming fire in a bush, and several times afterwards in the Old Testament of the Bible, was a sufferer of temporal lobe epilepsy? (1). Thus, his experiences with God were, merely, figments of his imagination, or more scientifically, over-activity within the temporal lobes of his brain. To the Christian, including myself, this belief sounds absurd. How can one reduce what is deemed Holy to an organic brain dysfunction? The neurobiological bases of religious experiences has not only been researched through examination of temporal lobe epileptic seizures, but it has also been researched in the meditative states and prayer sessions of Tibetan monks and Franciscan nuns, respectively (5).) This paper seeks to present and examine some scientific observations that link the experience of God (thus, surpassing the argument that God exists), and the changes in neurological activity that occur during these experiences. Prior to taking this course in neurobiology and behavior, I firmly believed that the brain equals behavior and that additional experiences of the mind and soul arose from the multitude of activity within the brain. However, I still questioned my assumption that the soul lies within the brain. Subsequently, I came across a Newsweek article titled "Searching For t he God Within," respectively (5).) The article presents the research of Dr. Andrew Newberg and his research team. He and his team examined the brain activity of Tibetan Monks during their peak transcendent state during which they say they experience a oneness with the universe. Upon examination of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images of a resting brain and a meditative brain, Dr. Newberg concluded that there was a noticeable difference in the activity of the frontal and parietal lobes of the brain (7).

Analysis of Different Social Networking Tools Essay

Social network is a social structure made up of many actors, for example firms, or people which are all tied up in relationships, connections, or interactions(1). The social network perspective is made up to employ the structure of a social group, how they interact with each other, how this structure has an influence on other variables and how it changes as time passes. What is Social Networking Analysis? Social network analysis is the mapping and measuring of all the factors that make up the social network, it is the measuring of relationships and flows between people, groups, organizations, computers, URL, and other connected information entries(3). The nodes in the network are represented as people and the links show their direct relationships with each other. To have deeper understanding of networks and their participants , we evaluate the location of actors in the network which basically means finding the centrality of a node . These measures give us insight into the various roles and groupings in a network — who are the connectors, mavens, leaders, bridges, isolates, where are the clusters and who is in them, who is in the core of the network, and who is on the periphery? In order to evaluate and understand these networks and the relationships between their actors we use social network analysis tools. We will be discussing three different SNA tools, compare between them, talk about their main features, and their pros and cons. UCINET: Features: UCINET is one of the top software packages used for analyzing social network data, it is a downloadable software program that can read and write social network data files, and it is primarily used in academic environments and also by consultants that have developed customized versions of the software to suit their specific need(5). Net draw is a program that accompanies UCINET upon download and is used to read and display network visualizations, not only that but the UCINET file formats are compatible and can be used with a number of other analysis and visualization platforms. Pros: UCINET comes with many advantages, it has significant compatibility to import data from many different files format, including excel , it also supports more complex types of network analysis and the accompanying tool Net draw is able to handle very large files. Finally it is compatible like stated above with many different visualization platforms. Cons: The disadvantages of UCINET start off with the fact that is more difficult to use it with the simple social network analysis tasks as it is intended to be used with the more sophisticated types of network. Online help resources also seem intended for the more experienced, sophisticated types of audience as one must have prior knowledge of the software in order to follow. Net draw’s visualization does not allow formatting of output of data also during viewing of the social network it is difficult to filter data. Nit miner: Features: Net Miner is a premium software tool for Exploratory Analysis and Visualization of Network Data(4). The tool allows you to explore your network data visually and interactively, and helps you to detect underlying patterns and structures of the network. The tool is intended to handle large amounts of data and enables the user to conduct both simple and more advanced types of analysis, including a number of statistical procedures. The data generated from Net miner can be visualized based on several different types of network visualization and algorithms and statistical results can be charted using graphs which shows that the data produced can be easily interpreted into many outputs. As you can tell Net miner is a very user friendly type of tool and also statistically powerful, it is suitable for a large range of audiences including, corporate, academic, and general consumer use. Pros: As stated before Net miner is very user friendly, it comes packed with a convenient and intuitive user interface which provides as a nice advantage for less experienced types of users? The user support is another strong area as help files are provided into the platform as well as documentation on how to use the product which can be found online on the publisher’s website. It is also good for use with the more advanced types of users as it features advanced functionality to conduct multiple types of statistical analyses and visualizations. Cons: One of the few drawbacks though of Net miner which may come as a surprise since its user friendliness, is the fact, that it requires at the very least a basic understanding of technical sophistication and some familiarity with social networking Visone: Features: Visone is a long-term research project (team), in which models and algorithms are used to integrate and advance the analysis and visualization of social networks that are being developed(6). The most significant feature of Visone is the design and implementation of a software tool intended for research and teaching in social network analysis. It is specifically designed to allow experts and novices alike to apply innovative and advanced visual methods with ease and accuracy. The main features of the Visone software tool is its interactive analysis and visualization of social networks which proves useful as it is used for the research and teaching of social network analysis. The Visone is also capable of being used through JAVA and can also be downloaded or used via the web. Visone enables the user to run multiple types of visualization based on common scientific algorithms, users can also calculate metrics based on social network data. Visone is commonly used in academic environments; it is also suitable for a wider audience because it is more affordable and easier to use than most academic platforms with similar functionality. Pros: Visone comes packed with a very clean looking and intuitive interface; it is user friendly and helps out the less experienced users to be able to get access to complex tools. Its advanced capabilities to output multiple types of visualizations are also one of its strongpoints. Cons: Visone main drawbacks comes down to the fact that there is a lack of help files integrated within the software therefore it is difficult for user who are inexperienced to be able to carry out tasks which they aren’t familiar with. Support doesn’t only fall short in here it’s online user’s manual to conducting analyses is not comprehensive and other online software documentation is difficult to navigate.

Harlem Renaissance Poem Analysis Paper

Lee-Michael Torcedo Prof. Quiroz English 1302 October 22, 2012 Dreams After the civil war, African Americans obtained their freedom. Still despised by many white Americans, African Americans continued to fight for justice. Around the early 1900’s the Harlem Renaissance began across the nation they fought for their culture and expressed it through art, music, dance, and literature. One of the biggest names in the Harlem Renaissance is Langston Hughes (Harlem). The poems he wrote better expressed the feelings of the many African Americans during this era.Langston Hughes published his poem, â€Å"As I Grew Older,† which explains the difficulty many African Americans had with following their dreams during this time. On February 1, 1902, Carrie M. Langston and James N. Hughes gave birth to, arguably, the most famous Harlem Renaissance literary poet, Langston Hughes. He grew up attending school in Kansas and Illinois, and graduated from High School in Ohio where he began writ ing his poetry. Later, Hughes went on to college, but stopped shortly after.He took many jobs in New York and a job working on a freighter that took him across the Atlantic Ocean to African, Spain, and France. He returned to Washington D. C. to live with his mother with hopes of returning to college. He had trouble making enough money and didn’t go back to college until a year later where he graduated from Lincoln University in 1929. After college, he began publishing his works and started to become famous. On May 22, 1967, Langston Hughes died of cancer in New York (Langston). Langston Hughes’ legend still lives to this day, and his poems are often mentioned in literature.In his poem â€Å"As I Grew Older,† published in 1925, he begins by saying â€Å"It was a long time ago/ I have almost forgotten my dream/ But it was there then/ In front of me/ Bright like a sun—/ My dream† (1-4). Whether or not Langston Hughes wrote this about himself or not, i t can go either way on who could be mentioning this and who is reflecting on the past that was a â€Å"long time ago†. Hughes gave the perspective that the main persona is talking about his past and about how even though his dream was right in front of him, he could not grasp it.In the early ages of Langston Hughes life, many obstacles barricaded him from reaching his dreams and goals, losing sights of what he really wanted. He talks about a wall in the poem that rises slowly between him and this dream. It â€Å"rose until it touched the sky† (11). The wall symbolizes his obstacles or what blocked him from his dreams. The wall rising until it touched the sky showed the degree and emphasis of the difficulty for Hughes to see his dreams. On line thirteen he mentions the shadow that the wall covered him in. There was no more light to be seen.All hope seemed to be lost until he â€Å"breaks† down the wall, â€Å"shatters† the darkness, and â€Å"smashes† the night. At the other side of this wall, is light, the sun, and his dream. Langston Hughes must have at one point in following his dream felt so overwhelmed with everything in his way and just â€Å"lie down in the shadow† (15). Just like in his poem, he takes down that wall and does not let it get in his way. He is successful in reaching his dream of becoming a well-known poet even through the worst of times. His poem reflects the situation many African Americans faced during this time.Freedom is still new to most and following dreams is difficult because of prejudism. Many African Americans ran into this â€Å"wall† and many did not break through as Langston Hughes did. Although some did, they went through the same difficulties as Hughes poetically explained in his poem. The beauty of this poem is the universality of it. It may have been written to explain the difficulties African Americans had, but it reflects the difficulty for anyone following their dreams sh ould not be forgotten. They are not always easy to achieve, but that does not mean one should give up.The poem is powerful in meaning and motivational as it speaks to anyone and illustrates that you should never surrender. Langston Hughes’ dream as a young boy was to be known as a poet. Much like the wall, he had to overcome many obstacles to achieve his dreams. He would vision his dream so clearly in front of him like the sun but as he got older and taller, so did this wall that blocked his way. Even though, Hughes smashed down that wall and become one of the most well-known founders of the Harlem Renaissance. Works Cited â€Å"Harlem Renaissance – Biography. com – Biography. com. †Ã‚  Famous Biographies & TV Shows – Biography. om. N. p. , n. d. Web. 22  Oct. 2012. . Hughes, Langston. â€Å"As I Grew Older by Langston Hughes. †Ã‚  PoemHunter. Com – Thousands of poems and poets. Poetry Search Engine. N. p. , 3  Jan. 2003. Web. 22à ‚  Oct. 2012. . â€Å"Langston Hughes Biography – life, children, parents, name, story, history, school, mother, book, information, born, college. †Ã‚  Encyclopedia of World Biography. N. p. , n. d. Web. 22  Oct. 2012. .

Biography of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Unifier of Japan

Biography of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Unifier of Japan Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1539–September 18, 1598) was the leader of Japan who reunified the country after 120 years of political fragmentation. During his rule, known as the Momoyama or Peach Mountain age, the country was united as a more-or-less peaceful federation of 200 independent daimyo (great lords), with himself as an imperial regent. Fast Facts: Toyotomi Hideyoshi Known For: Ruler of Japan, reunified the countryBorn: 1536 in Nakamura, Owari Province, JapanParents: Farmer and part-time soldier Yaemon and his wifeDied: September 18, 1598 at Fushimi castle, KyotoEducation: Trained as a military aide to Matsushita Yukitsana (1551–1558), then with Oda Nobunaga (1558–1582)Published Works: The Tensho-ki, a biography he commissionedSpouse(s): Chacha (principal concubine and mother of his children)Children: Tsurumatsu (1580–1591), Toyotomi Hideyori (1593–1615) Early Life Toyotomi Hideyoshi was born in 1536, in Nakamura, Owari Province, Japan.  He was the second child of Yaemon, a peasant farmer and part-time soldier for the Oda clan, who died in 1543  when the boy was 7 years old and his sister was about 10. Hideyoshi’s mother soon remarried. Her new husband also served Oda Nobuhide, the daimyo of the Owari region, and she had another son and daughter. Hideyoshi was small for his age and skinny. His parents sent him to a temple to get an education, but the boy ran away seeking adventure. In 1551, he joined the service of Matsushita Yukitsuna, a retainer of the powerful Imagawa family in Totomi province. This was unusual because both Hideyoshi’s father and his stepfather had served the Oda clan. Joining Oda Hideyoshi returned home in 1558 and offered his service to Oda Nobunaga, son of the daimyo. At the time, the Imagawa clans army of 40,000 was invading Owari, Hideyoshi’s home province. Hideyoshi took a huge gamble- the Oda army numbered only about 2,000.  In 1560, the Imagawa and Oda armies met in battle at Okehazama.  Oda Nobunaga’s tiny force ambushed the Imagawa troops in a driving rainstorm and scored an incredible victory, driving the invaders away. Legend says that 24-year-old Hideyoshi served in this battle as Nobunaga’s sandal-bearer. However, Hideyoshi does not appear in Nobunaga’s surviving writings until the early 1570s. Promotion Six years later, Hideyoshi led a raid that captured Inabayama Castle for the Oda clan. Oda Nobunaga rewarded him by making him a general. In 1570, Nobunaga attacked his brother-in-law’s castle, Odani. Hideyoshi led the first three detachments of one thousand samurai each against the well-fortified castle. Nobunaga’s army used the devastating new technology of firearms, rather than horse-mounted swordsmen. Muskets are not much use against castle walls, however, so Hideyoshi’s section of the Oda army settled in for a siege. By 1573, Nobunagas troops had defeated all of its enemies in the area. For his part, Hideyoshi received the daimyo-ship of three regions within Omi Province. By 1580, Oda Nobunaga had consolidated power in over 31 of Japans 66 provinces. Upheaval In 1582, Nobunagas general Akechi Mitsuhide turned his army against his lord, attacking and overrunning Nobunagas castle. Nobunagas diplomatic machinations had caused the hostage-murder of Mitsuhides mother.  Mitsuhide forced Oda Nobunaga and his eldest son to commit seppuku. Hideyoshi captured one of Mitsuhides messengers and learned of Nobunagas death the next day. He and other Oda generals, including Tokugawa Ieyasu, raced to avenge their lords death. Hideyoshi caught up with Mitsuhide first, defeating and killing him at the Battle of Yamazaki just 13 days after Nobunagas death. A succession fight erupted in the Oda clan. Hideyoshi supported Nobunagas grandson Oda Hidenobu. Tokugawa Ieyasu preferred the oldest remaining son Oda Nobukatsu. Hideyoshi prevailed, installing Hidenobu as the new Oda daimyo. Throughout 1584, Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu engaged in intermittent skirmishes, none decisive. At the Battle of Nagakute, Hideyoshis troops were crushed, but Ieyasu lost three of his top generals. After eight months of this costly fighting, Ieyasu sued for peace. Hideyoshi now controlled 37 provinces. In conciliation, Hideyoshi distributed lands to his defeated foes in the Tokugawa and Shibata clans. He also granted lands to Samboshi and Nobutaka. This was a clear signal that he was taking power in his own name. Hideyoshi Reunifies Japan In 1583, Hideyoshi began construction on Osaka Castle, a symbol of his power and intent to rule all of Japan. Like Nobunaga, he refused the title of Shogun. Some courtiers doubted a farmer’s son could legally claim that title. Hideyoshi circumvented the potentially embarrassing debate by taking the title of kampaku, or regent, instead.  Hideyoshi then ordered the dilapidated Imperial Palace restored, and offered gifts of money to the cash-strapped imperial family. Hideyoshi also decided to bring the southern island of Kyushu under his authority. This island was home to the primary trading ports through which goods from China, Korea, Portugal, and other nations made their way into Japan. Many of the daimyo of Kyushu had converted to Christianity under the influence of Portuguese traders and Jesuit missionaries. Some had been converted by force, and Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines were destroyed. In November 1586, Hideyoshi sent a huge invasion force to Kyushu, totaling some 250,000 troops. A number of local daimyo rallied to his side as well, so it did not take long for the massive army to crush all resistance. As usual, Hideyoshi confiscated all of the land and then returned smaller portions to his defeated foes and rewarded his allies with much larger fiefdoms. He also ordered the expulsion of all Christian missionaries on Kyushu. The final reunification campaign took place in 1590. Hideyoshi sent another huge army, probably more than 200,000 men, to conquer the mighty Hojo clan, which ruled the area around Edo (now Tokyo).  Ieyasu and Oda Nobukatsu led the army, joined by a naval force to bottle up the Hojo resistance from the sea. The defiant daimyo Hojo Ujimasa withdrew to Odawara Castle and settled in to wait out Hideyoshi. After six months, Hideyoshi sent in Ujimasas brother to ask for the Hojo daimyos surrender. He refused, and Hideyoshi launched a three-day, all-out attack on the castle. Ujimasa finally sent his son to surrender the castle. Hideyoshi ordered Ujimasa to commit seppuku. He confiscated the domains  and sent Ujimasas son and brother into exile. The great Hojo clan was obliterated. Hideyoshis Reign In 1588, Hideyoshi forbade all Japanese citizens besides samurai from owning weapons. This Sword Hunt angered farmers and warrior-monks, who traditionally had kept weapons and participated in wars and rebellions. Hideyoshi wanted to clarify the boundaries between the various social classes in Japan  and to prevent uprisings by the monks and peasants. Three years later, Hideyoshi issued another order forbidding anyone from hiring ronin, the wandering samurai with no masters. Towns also were barred from allowing farmers to become traders or craftsmen. The Japanese social order was to be set in stone. If you were born a farmer, you died a farmer. If you were a samurai born into the service of a particular daimyo, there you stayed. Hideyoshi himself rose from the peasant class to become kampaku. Nonetheless, this hypocritical order helped to usher in a centuries-long era of peace and stability. In order to keep the daimyo in check, Hideyoshi ordered them to send their wives and children to the capital city as hostages. The daimyo themselves would spend alternating years in their fiefs and in the capital. This system, called sankin kotai or alternate attendance, was codified in 1635 and continued until 1862. Finally, Hideyoshi also ordered a nationwide population census  and a survey of all the lands. It measured not only the exact sizes of the different domains  but also the relative fertility and expected crop yield. All of this information was key for setting taxation rates. Succession Problems Hideyoshis only children were two boys, from his principal concubine Chacha (also known as Yodo-dono or Yodo-gimi), the daughter of Oda Nobunagas sister. In 1591, Hideyoshis only son, a toddler named Tsurumatsu, suddenly died, followed soon by Hideyoshis half-brother Hidenaga. The kampaku adopted Hidenagas son Hidetsugu as his heir. In 1592, Hideyoshi became the taiko or retired regent, while Hidetsugu took the title of kampaku. This retirement was in name only, however- Hideyoshi maintained his hold on power. The following year, however, Hideyoshis concubine Chacha gave birth to a new son. This baby, Hideyori, represented a serious threat to Hidetsugu. Hideyoshi had a substantial force of bodyguards posted to protect the child from any attack by his uncle. Hidetsugu developed a bad reputation across the country as a cruel and blood-thirsty man. He was known to drive out into the countryside with his musket and shoot down farmers in their fields just for practice. He also played executioner, relishing the job of chopping up convicted criminals with his sword. Hideyoshi could not tolerate this dangerous and unstable man, who posed an obvious threat to the baby Hideyori. In 1595, he accused Hidetsugu of plotting to overthrow him and ordered him to commit seppuku. Hidetsugus head was displayed on the city walls after his death. Shockingly, Hideyoshi also ordered Hidetsugus wives, concubines, and children all to be brutally executed except for a one-month-old daughter. This excessive cruelty was not an isolated incident in Hideyoshis later years. He also ordered his friend and tutor, the tea-ceremony master Rikyu, to commit seppuku at the age of 69 in 1591. In 1596, he ordered the crucifixion of six shipwrecked Spanish Franciscan missionaries, three Japanese Jesuits, and 17 Japanese Christians at Nagasaki. Invasions of Korea Throughout the late 1580s and early 1590s, Hideyoshi sent a number of emissaries to King Seonjo of Korea, demanding safe passage through the country for the Japanese army. Hideyoshi informed the Joseon king that he intended to conquer Ming China and India. The Korean ruler made no reply to these messages. In February 1592, 140,000 Japanese army troops arrived in an armada of some 2,000 boats and ships. It attacked Busan, in southeastern Korea.  In weeks, the Japanese advanced to the capital city of Seoul. King Seonjo and his court fled north, leaving the capital to be burned and looted. By July, the Japanese held Pyeongyang as well. The battle-hardened samurai troops cut through the Korean defenders like a sword through butter, to China’s concern. The land war went Hideyoshis way, but Korean naval superiority made life difficult for the Japanese. The Korean fleet had better weaponry and more experienced sailors. It also had a secret weapon- the iron-clad turtle ships, which were nearly invulnerable to Japans underpowered naval cannon. Cut off from their food and ammunition supplies, the Japanese army got bogged down in the mountains of northern Korea. Korean Admiral Yi Sun Shin scored a devastating victory over Hideyoshis navy at the Battle of Hansan-do on August 13, 1592. Hideyoshi ordered his remaining ships to cease engagements with the Korean navy.  In January 1593, the Wanli Emperor of China sent 45,000 troops to reinforce the beleaguered Koreans. Together, the Koreans and Chinese pushed Hideyoshis army out of Pyeongyang. The Japanese were pinned down and with their navy unable to deliver supplies, they began to starve.  In mid-May1593, Hideyoshi relented and ordered his troops home to Japan. He did not give up his dream of a mainland empire, however. In August 1597, Hideyoshi sent a second invasion force against Korea. This time, however, the Koreans and their Chinese allies were better prepared. They stopped the Japanese army short of Seoul and forced them back toward Busan in a slow, grinding drive. Meanwhile, Admiral Yi set out to crush Japans rebuilt naval forces once more. Death Hideyoshis grand imperial scheme came to an end on September 18, 1598, when the taiko died. On his deathbed, Hideyoshi repented sending his army into this Korean quagmire. He said, Dont let my soldiers become spirits in a foreign land. Hideyoshis biggest concern as he lay dying, however, was the fate of his heir. Hideyori was only 5 years old and unable to assume his fathers powers, so Hideyoshi set up the Council of Five Elders to rule as his regents until he came of age. This council included Tokugawa Ieyasu, Hideyoshi’s one-time rival. The old taiko extracted vows of loyalty to his little son from a number of other senior daimyo and sent precious gifts of gold, silk robes, and swords to all the important political players. He also made personal appeals to the Council members to protect and serve Hideyori faithfully. Hideyoshis Legacy The Council of Five Elders kept the taikos death a secret for several months while they withdrew the Japanese army from Korea. With that piece of business complete, though, the council broke down into two opposing camps. On one side was Tokugawa Ieyasu. On the other were the remaining four elders. Ieyasu wanted to take power for himself. The others supported little Hideyori. In 1600, the two forces came to blows in the Battle of Sekigahara. Ieyasu prevailed  and declared himself shogun. Hideyori was confined to Osaka Castle. In 1614, the 21-year-old Hideyori began to gather soldiers, preparing to challenge Tokugawa Ieyasu. Ieyasu launched the Siege of Osaka in November, forcing him to disarm and sign a peace pact. The next spring, Hideyori tried again to gather troops. The Tokugawa army launched an all-out attack on Osaka Castle, reducing sections to rubble with their cannon and setting the castle on fire. Hideyori and his mother committed seppuku. His 8-year-old son was captured by the Tokugawa forces and beheaded. That was the end of the Toyotomi clan. The Tokugawa shoguns would rule Japan until the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Although his lineage did not survive, Hideyoshis influence on Japanese culture and politics was enormous. He solidified the class structure, unified the nation under central control, and popularized cultural practices such as the tea ceremony. Hideyoshi finished the unification begun by his lord, Oda Nobunaga, setting the stage for the peace and stability of the Tokugawa Era. Sources Berry, Mary Elizabeth. Hideyoshi. Cambridge: The Harvard University Press, 1982.  Hideyoshi, Toyotomi. 101 Letters of Hideyoshi: The Private Correspondence of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Sophia University, 1975.Turnbull, Stephen. Toyotomi Hideyoshi: Leadership, Strategy, Conflict. Osprey Publishing, 2011.

How to Get Your CDL in Wisconsin and Delaware

How to Get Your CDL in Wisconsin and Delaware If you live in Wisconsin or Delaware, learn the guideline for getting your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) below. For information regarding other states, TheJobNetwork has published a very comprehensive guide on how to apply for a CDL in all states. WisconsinIn Wisconsin, you must obtain a CDL if you are operating the following:A vehicle or vehicles with a combined weight of 26,000+ poundsA vehicle carrying  hazardous materials that require placarding under federal lawA vehicle  designed or used to carry 16 or more persons including the driverFirst, in order to obtain a CDL, you must take and pass the General Knowledge Test. A passing score is answering 80% of more of the questions correctly. You must present a valid Class D license at the time of testing.You are then eligible to obtain a Commercial Driver Learner Permit (CLP). In order to obtain one, you must:Complete a Wisconsin Driver  License ApplicationComplete a Commercial Driver CertificationPresent a  valid F ederal Medical CardProvide Proof of Citizenship or Legal Status in the U.S.Pay the required fee(s)Your CLP  is  valid for 180 days. When you have a CLP, you can  practice driving with a qualified instructor or CDL driver holding a valid license at or above the level of your permit.  You must hold the permit for 14 days prior to taking the road tests you must pass in order to obtain a CDL.Finally, you must take and pass your skills tests.  During the skills tests, you drive in the type of vehicle you seek a  license for.  You will be tested in pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control, and on-road driving.DelawareIn Delaware, you must have a CDL to operate:Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001+ poundsA combination vehicle with a GCWR of 26,001+ pounds, if  the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is more than  10,000 poundsA vehicle designed to transport 16+ passengers (including the driver)Any size vehicle requiring hazardous material placards or carrying materia l listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR part 73Knowledge TestsTo obtain a CDL, you must first pass one or more knowledge tests,  depending on what class of license and what endorsements you need.The general knowledge test is taken by all applicants.The passenger transport test is taken by all bus driver applicants.The air brakes test is required  if your vehicle has air brakes (including air over hydraulic brakes).The combination vehicles test is required if you want to drive combination vehicles.The hazardous materials test is required if you want to haul hazardous materials as defined in 49 CFR 383.5.The tank vehicle test is required if you want to haul any liquid or gaseous materials in a tank or tanks with  an individual rated capacity of 119+ gallons and an aggregate rated capacity of 1,000+ gallons permanently or temporarily attached to the vehicle or chassisThe doubles/triples test is required if you want to pull double or triple trailersThe school bus test is req uired if you want to drive a school busSkills TestsIf you pass the required knowledge test or tests, you must then  take and pass the CDL skills tests. There are three skills tested.   You must take these tests in the type of vehicle for which you wish to be licensed.Vehicle InspectionThis test will see if you know whether your vehicle is safe to drive. You will be asked to complete an inspection of your vehicle and explain to the examiner exactly what you are doing and why.Basic Vehicle ControlThis test will assess your control of  your  vehicle. You will be asked to move your vehicle forward, backward, and turn it within a defined area.On-Road TestThis test will assess  your skills safely driving your vehicle in a variety of traffic situations like left and right turns, intersections, railroad crossings, curves, up and down grades, single or multi-lane roads, streets, or highways.

Recommendation Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Recommendation Report - Essay Example The two investors sued Bright Light for failure to honor their contract and fraudulently obtaining money from them. With evidence and witnesses having presented and appeared before the duly, the court ordered that I should conduct a thorough investigation and auditing of Bright Light company. In interviewed Thomas and Pius Longman, the CEO of Bright light. During my investigations, I found out that Bright Light had actually used Thomas in several occasions in order to manipulate its records in order to please investors. I recommend that Bright Light directed to refund the money they owe the plaintiffs. Additionally all their dividends must be paid in full in reference to the contract. On the other hand, Thomas should be subjected to the full force of the law. In addition, he should be barred from participating into any form of transactions by any of the auditing firm for the next three years. Key words: fraud, Bright Light consultant firm, manipulation of company’s records, pl ease investors. Introduction Mr. Mark Thomas was an accountant at Bright Light consultant firm. Several allegations were raised in regard to allegations of fraud by the company. In essence, in the bid by the company to develop and maintain competitive advantage, it resulted into venturing into fabricating fake accounting documents in order to attract more shareholders. In 2012, Mr. Thomas was in charge of the accounting department. ... This dubious act was intended to build confidence of potential investors in Bright Light performance. Consequently, many people invested in the company with expectations that they would get good returns in regard to the good performance record portrayed by the company. Nevertheless, this act of fraud by Bright Light would not last for long before the scandal was revealed by some investors after the company failed to honor its agreement with the investors in relation to payments of dividends due by the end of their first year they entered into a contract with the company. As a result of these deliberations, two investors sued Bright Light for failure to honor their contract and fraudulently obtaining money from them. With evidence and witnesses having presented and appeared before the duly, the court ordered that I should conduct a thorough investigation and auditing of Bright Light company. Specifically, the court wanted me to find answers to the following questions: 1. Did Thomas en gage in manipulating records? 2. If yes, why did he do that? 3. Was the company CEO aware of these accounts? 4. What is the best way to deal with such incidences if proved to be there? Results With such accounts, it is evident that Bright Light had ventured into dangerous business that put Thomas into controversy especially when it came to having a dilemma on whether he would keep the secret in order to retain his job or on the other hand, to tell the truth in order to save hundreds of investors who had invested in Bright Light. Studies have indicated that, in the accounting sector, it is crucial for persons in this profession to exercise the highest level of honesty and accountability when discharging their mandates (Hoffman, 1996;