Brief summary Critique and Justify

Question: Discuss about the Brief summary Critique and Justify. Answer: Introduction The introduction to the given context provides a captivating and cohesive background to the perspectives, information and insight procured with reference to the topic in sync with the traditional Chinese culture. The chief obstacles faced in managing EOL patients particularly those who have been suffering from cancer have been previously identified through independent researches. The forbiddances of the Chinese culture from not disclosing the truth about imminent death to the EOL patients and those with cancer have affected behavioral outcomes in the attending healthcare professionals. However the dearth of information regarding the perceptions of the healthcare professionals concerning the physicians and the nurses so far has further added to the significance of the study through coherent explanations. Critique In this assignment, two academic literatures specifically two research articles comprising of a qualitative and a quantitative study will be studied and critically analyzed so as to support further research development. At first a brief description and subsequent explanation of the term research critique will be given in order to provide an overview of what will be carried out in then consecutive sections. For each of the article a definite critique framework will be followed in order to summarize and analyze the research design and content of each article. One compulsory area and three other chosen areas will be critically appraised in case of both the articles. Justification for critique of each selected area will be performed by means of utilizing the scholarly research literatures to account for the observations. All the academic literatures and articles to be studied related to the healthcare sector. Hence further identification and critical discussion regarding the extents, to which these studies are related to professional practice in the New Zealand healthcare contexts, will be done using relevant New Zealand literatures that might substantiate the claims. Thus with the help of this critical analysis of the chosen academic articles it will be convenient to make informed decisions pertaining to evidence based policy research (Oliver, Lorenc Innvr, 2014). Research critique refers to the systematic, unbiased, objective and careful investigation and review of all the aspects of the research study to determine and evaluate the merits, limitations, purpose and significance relying upon past research experience and knowledge pertaining to the specific topic. In short, a critical appraisal or evaluation of the research report characterizes the research critique through possession of essential virtues like that of critical thinking, intellectual; skills coupled with appraisal activity. Research critique has immense importance in terms of broadening the understanding for use in practice in an effort to foster the implementation of an evidence based practice (Wellington, 2015). The key purposes in relation to the critique process include assessment of methodological s well as analytical skills of the critique through proper recognition of the strengths and weaknesses of the research. Furthermore, journal editions may also be performed by highl y competent researchers through satisfactory application of this research critique skill thereby acting as a guide to the investigator. It is desirable to follow the objective and constructive approaches as guiding principles for critiquing. The entire critique process may be observed as a conglomeration of numerous sub-steps encompassing comprehension, comparison, analysis, evaluation and conceptual clustering. In order to carry out a satisfactory critique, certain general protocols need to be followed. Firstly, the entire paper is to be studied carefully prior to critique and the approach must be both objective and realistic. Specific examples must be cited in the process along with suggestion made for suitable alternatives. Content wise accurate evaluation of the various dimensions concerning the background, introduction, methodology, ethical considerations and conclusion must be done. Vagueness in generalizing the comments in case of pointing the merits and loopholes must be avo ided (Cohen, Manion Morrison, 2013). Thus research critique is considered as an integral part of any research. Critique of Article 1 The article titled Caring for dying cancer patients in the Chinese cultural context: A qualitative study from the perspectives of physicians and nurses. authored by Dong and others was published in the year 2016. The professional experiences of the 15 Chinese physicians and 22 nurses who are entrusted with the responsibilities of caring for the dying cancer patients at a cancer center located in mainland China were explored in this qualitative study by utilizing semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Data analysis performed by means of thematic qualitative analysis revealed that relating to the Chinese culture, both the physicians and nurses encounter challenges in rendering care services for dying cancer patients (Dong et al., 2016). General credibility of research conclusion Critique The study is found to be satisfactory in terms of its research design, data collection and other approaches adopted to address the aims of research. The aim of the research is made clear from inception and the methods have been devised accordingly. The explanations given in favor of the findings followed by detailed discussions are found to be consistent with the purpose of the study. On the whole a clear and comprehensive insight on the research process has been provided that corroborates with the projected aims. Justification The undertaken study described in the article essentially followed a qualitative approach to examine the experiences concerning the specific population related to the chosen issue. Adequate emphasis has been laid on probing into the individual experiences of each of the participants to derive meaningful and deeper insight into the matter based on their responses. Although extensive scientific rigor and robustness are missing from the study yet it has successfully established the phenomenological findings through behavioral response analysis that might be beneficial to offer better understanding on the matter (Cope, 2014). Justification The greater objective of any qualitative research is to extrapolate the deductions made from the research to indicate wider implications for future concern. Knowledge about the importance of the study is crucial for ascertaining essential directions crucial for undertaking credible research task. Highlight of the research gaps in current knowledge and understanding is also vital to the advancement of knowledge concerning the field of inquiry (Ormston et al., 2014). Methodology Critique The research methods encompassing the sample size, data collection and data analysis procedures have been mentioned. The criteria for inclusion or exclusion have also been described. However the details regarding the interview questions in the semi-structured face-to-face interview with the study participants has not been adequately provided thereby making it cumbersome to replicate the study in future time. The validity of this questionnaire has also not been reported although the sampling strategy is noted to be consistent with saturation. Justification The predefined set of procedures concerning the qualitative study seeks to answer to specific question by means of collecting evidences. Observations and perceptions of the participants are indispensable in this regard for retrieving useful data through in depth interviews whereby optimal insight into sensitive issue may be elicited. The human aspect of an issue may be intricately explored and analyzed through this type of study that would otherwise remain unnoticed in addition to identification of intangible factors such as societal norms, religion, ethnicity and others that otherwise remain dormant (Silverman, 2016). Discussion Critique In the study, examination of the findings of the study has been done adequately that further contributed to the emancipation of knowledge. The socio-cultural aspect of Chinese practices in safeguarding the EOL patient from facing the reality in order to provide mental peace and less emotional stress to the dying patient has been identified as a major confounding factor that further thwarted the services of the physician and nurses. Important insights have been provided relevant to the similarities and disparities in their attitude towards these patients. Moreover the limitations of the study have been effectively addressed that hold potential for future studies. Justification The flexible nature of the qualitative study helped to better describe the variation and explanation of the relationships that underpin the outcomes concerning the issue of interest. Exploration of the phenomenon pertaining to the perceptions of the concerned population about the given topic was thus sought from following the iterative style of eliciting and classifying the responses to questions. The findings often corroborated to the findings claimed by other researchers through analysis of transcript data format that was obtained in the form of responses from open-ended questions (Taylor, Bogdan DeVault, 2015). Applicability to New Zealand Context The confrontation of the healthcare professionals with dying patients and their bereaved family members are quite common in the intensive care units. Palliative care need and management concerning the acute hospital setting has been explored in study. The findings depict that almost half of the dying patients have been diagnosed with cancer and therefore has the need of exercising the benefits from suitable palliative care approach. However limited documentations regarding the discussions for attaining the goals of care has been noted that further necessitates the analysis of the perceptions of the physicians and nurses in this context (Gott et al., 2013). Further studies have highlighted the importance of resorting to care preferences that are in congruity with the cultural beliefs and ethnicity of the EOL patients. The involvement of the family in talking decisions in conjunction with provision of palliative care has been explored from the perspectives of the healthcare staff (Bell amy Gott, 2013). Thus the studied article has significant implication in the New Zealand healthcare context as well which is considered as the hub for culturally and ethnically diverse ageing population with dwellers from across the globe. Critique of Article 2 The article titled Communicating with Patients and their Families about Palliative and End of Life: Comfort and Educational Needs of Staff RNs. authored by Moir and others was published in the year 2015. The study aimed to find out the perceived needs relevant to the inpatient nurses for the sake of interacting with the patients and families pertaining to palliative and end-of-life (EOL) care. A non-experimental design including the participation of 60 inpatient nurses from one hospital in Idaho were recruited to complete the End-of-life Professional Caregiver Survey (EPCS). Results suggested that the oncology nurses were most proficient in communicating with the patient and family. Moreover nursing experience posed a vital aspect in contributing to the ease in communication regarding matter on EOL care (Moir et al., 2015). General credibility of research conclusion Critique In this quantitative research article, the research process gives a sketchy about the purpose of the study. The information that has been provided as literature review is not sufficient to substantiate the aim of performing the study. Certain assumptions and probabilities have been discussed as part of introduction to the topic that is not much coherent with the research aims. Terminologies such as hospice have been often used interchangeably with EOL care without proper clarification. However discussions and conclusion inferred following definite procedures is apparently up to the mark as it correlates with the aims that have been studied. Justification Lack of proper evidences to back the findings in a scientifically appropriate manner decrease the reliability of the research. Mere making up of assumptions may not always hold true therefore impairing the validity of the method adopted to get the requisite results. Change of setting might alter the responses obtained. Selection of appropriate and unbiased sample further accentuates the reliability that was compromised in the study (Creswell, 2013). Methodology Critique The method followed in the study adopted a non-experimental survey design to explore the distinctions based on age, years of experience and the unit of appointment concerning the nurse. The EPCS self report questionnaire were circulated among the convenient sampling participants that accounted for 60 inpatient nurses. Rigorous statistical tools involving Chi Square test, MANOVA and descriptive statistics have been widely used to generate meaningful conclusions that may be further verified and reproduced. Justification Quantification of variation along with prediction of casual relationships that may be suggestive of the definite characteristics of the population is attainable through adoption of suitable method for research. Numerical data obtained make the results all the more valid with the scope of being tested for reliability and extrapolation (Mertens, 2014). Ethical Considerations Critique The study abided by the general ethical guidelines that are to be followed to maintain the confidentiality, safety and most importantly ethicality of the data. Necessary permission and approval have been sought from competent authorities prior to the commencement of the survey relevant to the data acquisition in the study. Justification Recruitment of subjects for any quantitative study must conform to the existing ethical guidelines and principles to seek necessary approval for proceeding with the study to achieve the projected objectives without breaching the legal and ethical framework. Legal prosecutions are liable to persons in case of non-conformance to the norm (Punch, 2013). Limitations Critique The limitations to the study have been meticulously mentioned in the article where reference has been made of inadequate sample size, restricted population of participants, faulty demographic data collection procedure, voluntary research study of nurses that further implied for lack of generalizability in other contexts. Justification Test-retest reliability is a vital aspect in case of quantitative research that gets compromised in case of smaller sample size or due to presence of inherent biasness in the research design methodology. Both internal and external factors that further contribute to validity need to be studied for acquiring fruitful results devoid of any procedural erroprs that might lead to false readings (Fakis et al., 2014). Applicability to New Zealand Context The barriers to effective communication to the EOL patients and their family members by the nursing practitioners have received much attention in the current scenario. Proper education to combat these challenges that might affect the delivery of quality palliative care and EOL care services has been recommended by researchers. One study supported the relevancy of conducive and congenial organizational culture to account for positive resident outcomes in residential aged care facilities. Hence palliative care and organizational care offering the services are depicted to harbor a closer association (Frey et al., 2016). Introduction of culturally appropriate EOL care plan in New Zealand has been assessed to examine the stakeholders perceptions and experiences regarding the cultural goals drive the changes for service delivery. Access to palliative care devoid of health inequities must follow a sustainable approach following the complex interaction between the patient, family, nurses, cl inicians and o0ther associated healthcare staff to derive definite and holistic benefits (Batten et al., 2014). Hence the findings expressed in the article hold certain implications for understanding the topic of palliative care and EOL care through implementation of culturally appropriate methods and effective communication. Further the roles and responsibilities expected out of a nursing professional out of such circumstance are also noteworthy in this context. The critical appraisal of both the articles aided in thorough understanding of the results and major implications of the studies mentioned in them. Recognition of definite problems that undermine the credibility of the research along with simultaneous consideration of the strengths of the research undertaken helped to gain a deeper insight into the matter, Furthermore; the applicability of the professional practices described in both the studies in the context of the New Zealand healthcare sector was further procured. Thus critique of a research paper is found to be beneficial to expand the horizon of learning pertaining to the given issue. References Batten, L., Holdaway, M., Clark, J., Allan, S., Randall, C., Marshall, B. (2014). Constraints And Enablers For Culturally Appropriate End-of-life Care In New Zealand. BMJ supportive palliative care, 4(Suppl 1), A22-A22. Bellamy, G., Gott, M. (2013). What are the priorities for developing culturally appropriate palliative and end?of?life care for older people? The views of healthcare staff working in New Zealand. Health social care in the community, 21(1), 26-34. Cohen, L., Manion, L., Morrison, K. (2013). Research methods in education. Routledge. Cope, D. G. (2014). Methods and meanings: credibility and trustworthiness of qualitative research. In Oncology nursing forum (Vol. 41, No. 1). Creswell, J. W. (2013). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications. Dong, F., Zheng, R., Chen, X., Wang, Y., Zhou, H., Sun, R. (2016). Caring for dying cancer patients in the Chinese cultural context: A qualitative study from the perspectives of physicians and nurses. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 21, 189-196. Fakis, A., Hilliam, R., Stoneley, H., Townend, M. (2014). Quantitative analysis of qualitative information from interviews: A systematic literature review. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 8(2), 139-161. Frey, R., Boyd, M., Foster, S., Robinson, J., Gott, M. (2016). What's the diagnosis? Organisational culture and palliative care delivery in residential aged care in New Zealand. Health social care in the community, 24(4), 450-462. Gott, M., Frey, R., Raphael, D., OCallaghan, A., Robinson, J., Boyd, M. (2013). Palliative care need and management in the acute hospital setting: a census of one New Zealand Hospital. BMC palliative care, 12(1), 15. Machi, L. A., McEvoy, B. T. (2016). The literature review: Six steps to success. Corwin Press. Mertens, D. M. (2014). Research and evaluation in education and psychology: Integrating diversity with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. Sage publications. Moir, C., Roberts, R., Martz, K., Perry, J., Tivis, L. J. (2015). Communicating with Patients and their Families about Palliative and End of Life: Comfort and Educational Needs of Staff RNs. International journal of palliative nursing, 21(3), 109. Oliver, K., Lorenc, T., Innvr, S. (2014). New directions in evidence-based policy research: a critical analysis of the literature. Health Research Policy and Systems, 12(1), 34. Ormston, R., Spencer, L., Barnard, M., Snape, D. (2014). The foundations of qualitative research. Qualitative research practice. A guide for social science students and researchers, 1-25. Punch, K. F. (2013). Introduction to social research: Quantitative and qualitative approaches. Sage. Silverman, D. (Ed.). (2016). Qualitative research. Sage. Taylor, S. J., Bogdan, R., DeVault, M. (2015). Introduction to qualitative research methods: A guidebook and resource. John Wiley Sons. Wellington, J. (2015). Educational research: Contemporary issues and practical approaches. Bloomsbury Publishing.

Multicultural-Biography Essay Example

Multicultural-Biography Essay Multicultural-Biography September 18,2013 Intro I am a Black, African-American male that has always been very precocious to the world. I was born in Detroit, Mi. located in the United States of America in a middle to upper middle class family in the year in 1983 which would make me 30 this November 16th. I can only speak English at the moment but Im learning Spanish. I dont really have a religious belief, Im more of a spiritual person but Ill talk more about that later. Race-Black Being of the Black skin tone has been a very unique experience I most say, compared to other skin tones of the world. I say this because many ethnic groups have my same skin tone and even darker but they all have different worldviews. As a black male that grew up in a large black populated city I can definitely attest to having a true Black race culture running deep in my character. There is a person on the other side of the world that looks exactly like me but lives by different creed, might not have any respect for me because of the country I come form and the way I may carry myself. The fact that if you put the to of us in the same room together many would pass us as brothers when really we never even seen each other before in our lives. We will write a custom essay sample on Multicultural-Biography specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Multicultural-Biography specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Multicultural-Biography specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The term black may always be very interestingly broad. Ethnicity- African American Africans became Americans is one that shows man-kind its worst. Many would say they prefer not to be referred as Africans since they know nothing of their ancestries from over 400 years ago. This truth about people of color not claiming there heritage is very unsettling to me because where you come from can help in determining your future, whether its 5 years ago or 5 hundred years ago. Its is very important for us not to let the past be erased because us remember who we are at times when we may forget in this crazy life we live. Our history was erased in the purpose so that we were nothing before we were called slaves even though there monuments in Africa and over parts of the globe that show proof that we were once a very special people. Yet in movies and even reenactments of the times of black kings and queens the actors are always white or fake Egyptian looking mulattoes. But there could be a change coming since more studies are showing that the first man was black when they found the oldest human bones in Africa. Hopefully change is coming but it may be noticeable until the generation that my great grandchildren live in. Exceptionality- Precocity I set precocious as number 3 because without this early adapted nature I am almost certain I might be here today. As a normal child experiencing what life throws at him, I noticed that I had a extra sense for detecting BS (if you will) in a situation or maybe Just with a particular person. Not to go to deep into this particular subject, this gift has guided me through good and bad time, in fact its when I ignore it is when uncontrollable things happen. I believe the greatest teacher is life itself, one just has to live long enough so they can show up and get taught something new. No one person is responsible for modeling the great mind on earth, that mind has to realized there something to learn around ever corner. Nobody can teach game the game is all around us to be seen by a watchful eye. Geography- Region: Detroit, Michigan Mid-West United States of America Location: Urban. Environment: Hood Growing up in Detroit is something I wouldnt for nothing in the world. Aside from the being the murder capital so many years, the experiences that I have learned growing up there cannot be compared to any other place on earth I feel. The biggest actor is that it is one of the only mostly black populate and mostly black run city in the America (not saying its done right) that was once thriving very well. Im not saying that I would have wanted to grow up in a big house in the suburbs but being raise with all types of strains of black people was very educating. At the moment my old neighborhood is at its worst. We never had a burned house on my block that didnt get fixed well 3-4 years ago it happened and that when you know your neighborhood is going down. I always saw illegal activity but it was mostly done in a certain manner ere if you didnt have an eye for it you would never notice. But with ever summer that passed the people got crazier; I noticed this when I turned 13. As soon as the as spring day would hit somebody would do something 10 times wilder, reckless, and deadlier then the last summer. Its like they were in competition with each other, but it really was Just a sign that things were getting worst. In the mist of all this was me pretty street smart because of it. Sex- Male Being a male growing up in Detroit, many would say I wasnt suppose to make it to see my twenty as many of my school never did, but I stand here blessed about to see 0 years of age. I am nothing but grateful for that because I personally know tooo many that could make it through 9th grade let alone through the twenties alive and not scorn too much by lifes trials and tribulations. I would never trade being the dominant of the sexes but as I am a wise man I know women rule the world. Detroit is a black city so thats the point of view I am most similar with, being that I have traveled a bit in my time I have much understanding of the views other males of different races and ethnicities. Class- Middle/Upper middle class I place myself in the middle to upper middle class because both my parents had uccessful business as I was growing up. My mother had a day care in our basement for 25years (until I was 15 years old), which had around 12 kids Monday- Friday. My Dad was an engineer for the board of education plus he did real estate amongst other things. I never experience lights going out or any bills not being paid in out house hold. We did go on trips in the summer but that was not the case for the rest of my surroundings. Some of my friends from back then still have never sit foot out side Detroit and dont plan on it even though the cities doing nothing but getting worst. Growing in this type of setting did make me grateful in most ways but at times it made me feel Just as poor as the other kids simply because they were my friend or that is who I saw every day, there problems were mine at times because of that. Funny thing is that this class is growing more and more in America. It makes me wonder whats to come of it, especially with a black president. Age-Young Adult To be a young adult it feels good and even better to be in college about to get a degree to make the family feel they did good and the bloodline shall thrive on. Sometimes its easy to forget how precious life is and how it can be taken away. At his time in my life I feel IVe so much and understand even more but there some much more the world has to offer me. At 30 1 understand the mistakes the late teens and twenty something year old people make and I can laugh to myself and say I did that one time or sometime because I believe I have always been a little ahead of my time I say I would have never did nothing like that. I guess being a young adult all I can do is feel blessed and know there is a reason for my existence. What that is Guess I have to keep on living to find out. Language- English At the moment I speak English but I have been in multiple French class in lementary school that I have forgotten and I am currently in a Spanish 2 class even though I dont remember what I learned in Spanish-I two to three semester ago. I know learning it will help me when I move to California next summer but I can never impacted me negatively in anyway but I know moving to California where Latinos dominant, Spanish will be more then need if I want to be able to do business with everybody. And thats exactly what I want. Religion- Other As a child I sometime went to Baptist and Methodist churches but I dont remember Joining. In fact when I became of age the only time I went to church was hen mu grandmother wanted me to go and there is no saying NO to grandma. I am a full believer in God but all the story that he never wrote himself is were my eyebrow raises. In my family and community I have seen some of the most upheld people of the church do some non-church like things but this is were I am suppose to get guidance from. The very first naw was put together because of a holy war hundreds of years ago. I am Just not sold. I believe life is what you make it, as long as you mind your business and do good to others everything will be alright. This doesnt ean sit around and say you waiting on God to send you a blessing. Life is a blessing enough in its own. I feel the spirit people talk about but in a different way. Its always kind and never Judging and it pushes and pulls us to where we need to be at any given moment in our lives. When I geta chance to tell a kid 12-18 years old something I keep it direct and raw. Just as it was passed to me through the years. Sugar coating truth of life is the worst thing we can to do when passing on our knowledge because life is not sugar coated like in the movies. This is the perception most people have in one way or another and t is hurt them a little bit more as time goes on. I tell kids that there is nothing greater then you because there is only one you and never will be another. Always (always) listen to yourself, our mentor can guide us but the choice are all ours to make. Just be happy to be alive and able no matter where you are and always do your best. Not the best someone else says is good but the best you know you can be because only you know where and what you have taken yourself through in life. The best lessons are lived never taught. Most of all, Love yourself. Keep your heart in order.

Johannes Vermeer Bio - Dutch Baroque Painter

Johannes Vermeer Bio - Dutch Baroque Painter Movement, Style, School or Type of Art: Dutch Baroque Date and Place of Birth: October 31, 1632, Delft, Netherlands This was, at least, the date on which Vermeer was baptized. There is no record of his actual date of birth, though we assume it was close to the above. Vermeers parents were Protestant Reformed, a Calvinist denomination that held infant baptism as a sacrament. (Vermeer himself is thought to have converted to Roman Catholicism when he married.) Life: Perhaps appropriately, given the scant factual documentation about this artist, any discussion of Vermeer must begin with confusion over his real name. Its known that he went by his birth name, Johannes van der Meer, shortened it to Jan Vermeer later in life and was given the third moniker of Jan Vermeer van Delft (presumably to distinguish him from an unrelated family of Jan Vermeers who painted in Amsterdam). These days, the artists name is correctly referenced as Johannes Vermeer. We also know when he was married and buried, and civic records from Delft indicate the dates Vermeer was admitted to the painters guild and took out loans. Other records tell that, after his early death, his widow filed for bankruptcy and support for their eight minor (the youngest of eleven, total) children. As Vermeer did not enjoy fame - or even a widespread reputation as an artist - during his lifetime, everything else written about him is (at best) an educated guess. Vermeers early work concentrated on history paintings but, around 1656, he moved into the genre paintings he would produce for the rest of his career. The man seems to have painted with painstaking slowness, dissecting a whole color spectrum out of white light, executing near-perfect optical precision and reproducing the most minute details. This may have translated to fussy from another artist, but with Vermeer it all served to highlight the personality of the pieces central figure(s). Possibly the most amazing thing about this immensely famous artist is that hardly anyone knew he had lived, let alone painted, for centuries after his death. Vermeer wasnt discovered until 1866, when the French art critic and historian, Thà ©ophile Thorà ©, published a monograph about him. In the years since, Vermeers authenticated output has been variously numbered at between 35 and 40 pieces, although people hopefully search for more now that they are known to be both rare and valuable. Important Works: Diana and her Companions, 1655-56 Procuress, 1656 Girl Asleep at a Table, ca. 1657 Officer with a Laughing Girl, ca. 1655-60 The Music Lesson, 1662-65 Girl with a Pearl Earring, ca. 1665-66 Allegory of the Art of Painting, ca. 1666-67 Date and Place of Death: December 16, 1675, Delft, Netherlands As with his baptismal record, this is the date upon which Vermeer was buried. Youd want to assume his burial was very near to his date of death, though. How To Pronounce Vermeer: vur ·mear Quotes From Johannes Vermeer: No, sorry. We have nothing from this man of mystery. We can only imagine what he might have said. (One guess, with eleven children in the house, would be the occasional plea for quiet.) Sources and Further Reading Arasse, Daniel; Grabar, Terry (trans.). Vermeer: Faith in Painting.Princeton : Princeton University Press, 1994. Baker, Christopher. Vermeer, Jan [Johannes Vermeer]The Oxford Companion to Western Art. Ed. Hugh Brigstocke. Oxford University Press, 2001. Grove Art Online. Oxford University Press, 6 November 2005. Franits, Wayne. Vermeer, Johannes [Jan] Grove Art Online. Oxford University Press, 6 November 2005. Read a review of Grove Art Online. Montias, John M. Artists and Artisans in Delft, a Socio-Economic Study of the Seventeenth Century.Princeton : Princeton University Press, 1981. Snow, Edward A. A Study of Vermeer.Berkeley : University of California Press, 1994 (revised ed.). Wheelock, Arthur K.; Broos, Ben. Johannes Vermeer.New Haven : Yale University Press, 1995. Wolf, Bryan Jay. Vermeer and the Invention of Seeing.Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 2001. Videos Worth Watching Dutch Masters: Vermeer (2000) Girl With a Pearl Earring (2004) Vermeer: Master of Light (2001)Publisher website Vermeer: Light, Love and Silence (2001) See more resources on Johannes Vermeer. Go to Artist Profiles: Names beginning with V or Artist Profiles: Main Index

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Equality in Women and Essay

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Equality in Women and Race in Collegiate Sports - Essay Example ACLU remains in the forefront in promoting the Bill of rights and ensuring that citizens are protected by the government through the laws that are formed. It is watchful on lawmakers and frequently issues public statements on pending national, state and local legislation by campaigning in support or against certain laws. It strives to ensure that each individual enjoys their civil rights. This paper will be a discussion on ACLU on equality in women and race in collegiate sports. Women and people of color are some of the people that are widely subjugated in the society. Females have always been interested in athletics, besides it makes them physically fit and have better body structures. When females were excluded from Olympics in 776 B.C, they created their own version, the Games of Hera. This shows that women have desire in sports, opposing the viewpoint that the society has that women are not interested in any physical activity (ACLU 1). The ACLU in conjunction with Title IX, this is a law banning discrimination on the basis of sex in educational institutions, have been instrumental in ensuring that women and people of other races get an equal opportunity in sports just like their male counterparts. The ACLU has written literature on the issues of women and race in relation to sports. A project of the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington foundation wrote the following literature in 2007. In the early 1900s, physical education instructors strongly opposed competition among females, as late as 1972, only one in 27 females participated in high school athletics compared to one in two males. In the public arena, there were more females following various sports proceedings, this challenged the notion that females were incapable or uninterested in sports (ACLU 5). Law makers responded and in 1972, the U.S Congress enacted Title IX, banning discrimination on the basis of sex in educational institutions. Washington added the Equal Rights Amendment to its const itution in 1975, this together with the Sexual Equality Act advocated for gender equality in educational institutions. As a result of this, the number of females in collegiate athletics increased from 32,000 to 171,000 (ACLU 5). On the other hand, female athletes of color are still underrepresented in athletics. However, with continued sensitization, the 2004 College Sports Racial Gender Report Card found that 14.9 percent of females participating in sports were African-American (ACLU 6). This was an indication of a slight improvement. In the year 2005, the court made it clear that if a coach or any other school employee complained on behalf of students with regard to discrimination based on sex or race, title IX protected such an individual from any action from his or her employer (ACLU 8). The ACLU Function of Washington advocates for the fact that sports programs in schools should accommodate the interests and abilities of members of both sexes. Funding is another issue that is r aised. Female and male sport programs must receive equal funds. In the situation where there is a club supporting a team that was dominated by one gender and not the other, the school is supposed to compensate for this imbalance by ensuring the other team got an equal share of funding. On the same level with funding, provision of equipment and supplies, travel allowances, assignment and compensation of coaches and provision of locker rooms also have

Social Entreprenurism Case Study 2 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social Entreprenurism Case Study 2 - Coursework Example For example, laws are passed to deter cases of unfair treatment to employees while numerous organizations examine the business operations of a company in relation to environmental preservation, use of non-hazardous raw materials, and what not. It is through the marriage of these two ‘formerly contradictory’ concepts that social entrepreneurship came to existence. As such, some of the key issues that social entrepreneurship confronts are as follows: (1) how important are social values in the formation of a company’s business strategy? and (2) how do these values guide the overall operations of a company—specifically, in the way it manages its external publics? These questions will be answered through a critical examination of the case assigned—Ibrahim Abouleish’s Sekem. In the end, this paper aims to reinforce its thesis that the proper integration of social values into the business operations of a social enterprise lies in the adoption of an ‘innovation strategy’. According to Leadbeater (2007),â€Å"a social enterprise offers a new way to do business that is animated by a social purpose† (p. 2). Unlike a normal business enterprise that measures its success through the attainment of its set objectives (whether sales growth, market expansion, operational efficiency, or brand building), a social enterprise assesses its success by the positive social impacts it has contributed to the society. As further commented by Leadbeater (2007), â€Å"many social enterprises, however, internalise their social mission as they make it central to the way they operate† (p. 3). In this regard, profit-maximization is regarded as a tool to further the enterprise’s social goals. Going back to the case study, it could be claimed that Sekem’s foundation was built around the goal of sustainable human development. Its values, therefore, are rooted on the goal of being able to contribute to the comprehensive development of the

History Of Philippine Monetary System

History Of Philippine Monetary System Most people dont spend much time wondering what money is, their major concern is how much they have, and how to get more. Usually, the question of what money IS arises only when money ceases to function properly. In economics (properly understood), the answer to the question what is money? consists of three words: Thats all. Yet the conception of a medium of exchange ranks below only language (with its corollaries speech and the written word) as the greatest intellectual discovery in history. Without language, the exchange of anything but the most rudimentary ideas is impossible. Without money, the production and exchange of anything but the most rudimentary goods and services is impossible. It is not difficult or time consuming, or inefficient, it is IMPOSSIBLE! Animals dont exchange (or trade) amongst one another. They are self-sufficient, or they take from each other, or they exercise the prerogative of superior strength and/or cunning. There are some human beings who get along in a very similar fashion, but the overwhelming majority recognises the benefits of voluntary exchange. Strictly speaking, the use of the word voluntary in this context is redundant. The phrase your money or your life is not the precursor to an exchange, whether the person uttering it brandishes a gun or a government identity card. The first rule of any voluntary exchange is simplicity itself. If two people are willing to exchange, each must view the results of the exchange as being beneficial. If either of them is not of that view, the exchange will not take place. Direct exchange, or barter, is exactly that my good or service for your good or service. The problem is that I might want what you have to offer, but you might not want what I offer in exchange. With no medium of exchange, there is no deal. Indirect exchange takes place when one party has a medium that is always acceptable, not for what it is, but for what can be done with it. If you offer me money, I will accept it, because I know that I can exchange it for what I want, whenever I want it. Indirect exchange involves the use of MONEY the medium of exchange. Money is the universal key, it fits all locks. And the world it has unlocked is the world we live in today. Money has made the division of labor possible. It has made specialization possible. It has made the accumulation of wealth over periods which exceed a human lifetime possible. Perhaps most important of all, it has hugely advanced the potential for amicable interaction between people. To survive as such, and to prosper, a rational animal must exchange. He or she has language, to exchange ideas, and money, to exchange the fruits of ideas. From that foundation, everything else we see around us has been built. That covers the concept or idea of money. But an idea, as such, does not exist as a physical entity. Money must be a physical entity. Neither the electronic money of today nor the notes and coin which circulate as cash has any official or legal connection with Gold and Silver. But they once did, and most people think that they still do. As long as that situation persists, the modern monetary system will function. Now, how does one go about choosing what is to be used as money? Simple, one looks for the most tradable good, the good which is in highest demand, the good that has begun to be accepted, not as an end in it, but as a means to an end. Money is the good that people do not want to consume, but want to use to make further exchanges easier. Human beings have lived together for more than two million years. Money in its modern form coin of fixed weight and denomination came into use less than three thousand years ago. It took a long time to discover the physical good which best serves the purpose of a medium of exchange. (http://www.the-privateer.com/gold-b.html) Functions Money as a Unit of Value The first function of money is to be a unit of value or a unit of account. The monetary unit is the unit in terms of which the value of all goods and services is measured and expressed. The value of each good or service is expressed as a price, which is the number of monetary units for which the good or service can be exchanged. If the price of a pen is Rs. 10 then a pen can be had in exchange for ten monetary units (where the monetary unit in this case is the rupee). Measuring values in monetary units helps in measuring the exchange values of commodities. If a pen is worth Rs. 10 and a notebook is worth Rs.20 then a notebook is worth two pens. Further, accounting is simplified, as all items will be recorded in terms of monetary units that can be added and subtracted. Money is a useful measuring rod of value only if the value of money itself remains constant. This is similar to saying that a scale is a useful measure of length only if the length of the scale itself is constant. The value of money is linked to its purchasing power. Purchasing power is the inverse of the average or general level of prices as measured by the consumer price index etc. As the general price level increases, a unit of money can purchase a lesser amount of goods and services so the value or purchasing power of money declines. So, m oney will be a useful unit of value only as long as its own value or purchasing power remains constant. (http://hubpages.com/hub/Functions-of-Money) Money as a Medium of Exchange Money also acts as a medium of exchange or as a medium of payments. This function of money is served by anything that is generally accepted by people in exchange for goods and services. Anything has been quite a variety of things across places and times. Some of the things that have served as money are clay, cowry shells, tortoise shells, cattle, pigs, horses, sheep, tea, tobacco, wool, salt, wine, boats, iron, copper, brass, silver, gold, bronze, nickel, paper, leather, playing cards, debts of individuals, debts of banks, debts of governments, etc. Money will then reduce the time and energy spent in barter. The person who owned a cow can now simply sell it to the person who offers the most money for it and then buy the bullock cart from another person who offers him the best bargain. Ultimately, all trade may be considered barter one good or service is traded for another good or service -either directly, or indirectly with money acting as the intermediary. However, by acting as an intermediary, money increases the ease of trade. Money is also called a bearer of options or generalized purchasing power. This indicates the freedom of choice that the use of money offers. The owner of the cow need not procure goods and services from those to whom he sold his cow. He can use the money to buy the things he wants most, from those who offer him the best bargain (not necessarily those who bought his cow), at the time he considers most advantageous (not necessarily immediately). Again, this function can only be performed properly if the value of money remains constant. (http://hubpages.com/hub/Functions-of-Money) Money as a Standard of Deferred Payments If money performs the previous two functions then it may also perform the function of being the unit in terms of which deferred or future payments are stated. Examples of situations where future payments are to be made are pensions, principal and interest on debt, salaries etc. As long as money maintains a constant value through time, it will overcome the problems associated with making future payments with specific commodities. (http://hubpages.com/hub/Functions-of-Money) Money as a Store of Value If money becomes a unit of value and a means of payment then it may also perform the function of serving as a store of value. The holders of money are holders of generalized purchasing power that can be spent through time. They know that it will be accepted at any time for any good or service and is thus a store of value. This function will be performed well as long as money retains a constant purchasing power. (http://hubpages.com/hub/Functions-of-Money) It may be noted that any asset other than money may also perform the function of store of value, for example, bonds, land, houses, etc. These assets have the advantage that, unlike money, they yield income and may appreciate in value over time. However, they are subject to the following: (1) They may involve storage costs, (2) They may not be liquid in the sense that they could not be quickly converted into money without loss of value, and (3) They may depreciate in value. A person may choose to store value in any form depending on considerations of income, safety and liquidity. (http://hubpages.com/hub/Functions-of-Money) Kinds Commodity Money Commodity money refers to money whose value comes from a commodity out of which it is made. Examples of commodities that have been used as money include gold, silver, copper, salt, large stones, decorated belts, shells, and cigarettes. Commodity money is to be distinguished from representative money which is a certificate or token which can be exchanged for the underlying commodity. A key feature of commodity money is that the value is directly perceived by the users of this money, who recognize the utility or beauty of the tokens as they would recognize the goods themselves. That is, the effect of holding a token for a barrel of oil must be the same economically as actually having the barrel at hand. This thinking guides the modern commodity markets, although they use a sophisticated range of financial instruments that are more than one-to-one representations of units of a given type of commodity. In situations where the commodity is metal, typically gold or silver, a government mint will often coin money by placing a mark on the metal that serves as a guarantee of the weight and purity of the metal. In doing so, the government will often impose a fee which is known as seigniorage. The role of a mint and of coin is different between commodity money and fiat money. In situations where there is commodity money, the coin retains its value if it is melted and physically altered, while in fiat money it does not. Commodity money often comes into being in situations where other forms of money are not available or not trusted. Various commodities were used in pre-Revolutionary America including wampum, maize, iron nails, beaver pelts, and tobacco. In post-war Germany, cigarettes became used as a form of commodity money in some areas. Cigarettes are still used as a form of commodity money in prison cell. Although commodity money is more convenient than barter, it can also be inconvenient to use as a medium of exchange or a standard of deferred payment due to the transport and storage concerns. Accordingly, notes began to circulate that a government or other trusted entity (e.g. the Knights Templar in Europe in the 13th century) would guarantee as representing a certain stored value on account. This creates a form of money known as representative money the beginning of a long slow shift to credit money. Historically gold was by far the most widely recognized commodity out of which to make money: gold was compact, easy to work into more beautiful jewelry, had decorative and functional utility as a finely strung wire or thin foil leaf, and most importantly, could always be traded for other metals to make weapons with. A state could be described as a political enterprise with sufficient land, gold and reputation for protecting both, e.g. the Fort Knox gold repository long maintained by the United States, could reliably issue certificates to substitute for the gold and be trusted to actually have it. Between 1933 and 1970, one U.S. dollar was technically worth exactly 1/35 of a troy ounce (889 mg) of gold. However, actual trade in gold as a precious metal within the United States was banned presumably to prevent anyone from actually going up to Fort Knox and asking for their gold. This was a fairly typical transition from commodity to representative to fiat money, with people trading i n other goods being forced to trade in gold, then to receive paper money that purported to be as good as gold, and then ultimately see this currency float on commodity markets. However, commodity money remained active in the background in some form or another, and seems to have been revived thanks to global capitalism, wherein a currency is widely traded as a commodity. One way to view such trade is that currency of resource-rich nations tends to be tied to the price of those particular commodity items until it becomes a developed nation. Thus, one could see the nominally fiat money of say Cuba as being tied to the commodity sugar globally, rather than to the military power of Cuba that holds within its own borders. Also, commodity supplies and protections of supplies by states military fiat remain critical to trade, and there are active commodity market speculations on the stability of certain states, e.g. speculation on the survival of the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq has from time to time driven the price of oil. Some argue that this is not so much a commodity market but more of an assassination market speculating on the survival (or not) of Saddam himself. Finally, commodity money is undergoing a more direct revival thanks to theorists of green economics, natural capitalism and global resource banking, some of whom suggest a form of money based on ecological yield. They argue that the outputs of natural capital are the only genuine commodities air, water, and calories of renewable energy we consume being mostly interchangeable when they are free of pollution or disease. However, such goods cannot be held directly, and so it is common to suggest that representative money be issued based on enhancing and extending natures services, giving one the right to receive the yield as a benefit. They argue that reframing political economy to consider the flow of these basic commodities first and foremost, avoiding use of military fiat except to protect natural capital itself, and basing credit-worthiness more strictly on commitment to preserving biodiversity rather than repayment of debt, as in the current global credit money regime anchored by the Bank for International Settlements, would provide measurable benefits to human well-being worldwide. Some seek to replace the B.I.S. with a Global Resource Bank to manage global resources outside national jurisdiction for global benefit. Others would replace the gold standard with a biodiversity standard. It remains to be seen if such schemes have any merit other than as political ways to draw attention to the way capitalism itself interacts with life. Critics of this type of proposal often note that, as with other transitions from commodity to representative money, inadequate substitutes will be made on a just trust me basis as per Greshams Law which states that bad money drives out good. Other proposals, such as time-based money, rely on the availability of human labor as a commodity, especially within a community, which is presumably harder to guarantee access to, but also harder to steal. Still others deny the utility of co modifying labor as such, and suggest making free time the standard, since physical capital used for leisure, sport, art, theatre, and other forms of play is co modifiable and possible to control. (http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Commodity_money) Credit Money Credit money refers to money that constitutes future claims of a valuable item against an entity. The holder of credit money can use it to purchase goods and services; when the holder wants to, he or she can redeem it to get the item by which it is backed. Credit money is made of a material that has low intrinsic value compared to the value it represents when exchanged. Some types of credit money include IOUs, bonds and money market accounts. Some people also consider paper money and coins to be credit money because they have no intrinsic value and can be exchanged for valuable commodity. To illustrate how this concept came about, consider English goldsmiths, who centuries ago used to keep deposits of precious metals. They issued paper notes to those who deposited gold or silver for future redemption. These goldsmiths realized that they did not need to completely back their notes with precious metals because only a small fraction of holders come back to convert their notes. The goldsmiths then issued non-backed notes as loans to people who needed funds and received profits from interest payments. These notes constituted the early form of credit money. When a government issues banknotes, it decides on a valuable commodity on which to fix them, gold or silver, for example. It then fixes a stable value on the banknotes and sets them as a medium of exchange. The government can choose to maintain enough valuable commodities to let everyone with banknotes redeem it. The government can also choose to keep just enough valuable commodities to satisfy the small fraction of people who actually want to make the redemption. In this sense, banknotes are credit money because people can use them to redeem gold or silver. In modern monetary systems, however, the central bank often issues money that is not backed by valuable commodity. The size of the money supply in these systems does not depend on the availability of valuable commodity or the obligation of the central bank to repay credit money with valuable commodity. This kind of money is known as fiat money and is the most ubiquitous form of money in most modern monetary systems. Credit money can also refer to any claim on valuable commodity that is used as a medium of exchange instead of banknotes. Checks, IOUs and bonds that can be redeemed for banknotes are examples of this. Sometimes credit money has a maturity date, as in the case of checks where the bank pays the check recipient a certain amount of banknotes at maturity. Fiat Money Fiat money is the opposite of honest money. Fiat money is money that is declared to have value even if it does not. Honest money has value regardless of what people say. Gold and silver are often referred to as honest money and since they have been dug out of the ground at considerable expense, they do have value regardless. People will pay variable sums for them. Fiat money is also known as paper money, or electronic money. Since there is nothing behind paper money but the obligation of a state to redeem it in more paper or electronic money, fiat moneys ultimate worth is questionable at best. In fact, there is a history of states walking away from the face value of the fiat money that has been printed (created). But if one has it in ones possession, it is impossible to walk away from the value of gold and silver and contrary to fiat money, they have an inherent quality. Mainly an outgrowth of central banking, in the modern age, fiat money probably would not be attractive without state support. Thats because fiat money, unlike fractional reserve money, has no inherent value. Fractional reserve banking, in fact, is a private market phenomenon in which private banks provide paper notes the face value of which adds up to more than the reserves held by the bank. There is a history of successful fractional reserve banking efforts within the private marketplace; however fiat money ALWAYS collapses, as it is impossible to issue a substance of value year after year and generation after generation that HAS no value. In the United States, the worlds largest and most dominant economy, the greenback became a fiat currency when President Richard Nixon broke the final link between gold and the dollar in 1971. He did this because the French were apparently threatening to redeem their dollars in gold and either the US central bank and/or Treasury did not have enough gold to In any event, Nixon severed the dollars relationship to gold and ever since then the world has embarked on a bold experiment in which the global, anchor currency has no specific relationship to an underlying asset. Predictably, this has meant that the United States has continually created more and more fiat dollars, thus inflating the overall stock of dollars and making them worth less and less. China, one of the worlds most ancient civilizations, is said to have had no less than eight separate interregnums of fiat currency each collapsing and then being replaced by another. In the 1800s, fiat money was even banned by the Chinese. Today, however, the Chinese government is once again a user of fiat money along with the rest of the world. Fiat money has never been as prevalent perhaps as in the modern age. But that doesnt make it any healthier or less prone to failure. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. (http://www.thedailybell.com/803/Fiat-Money.html) Legal Tender Money Legal tender is any form of payment that must be accepted for a debt, according to the laws of the area. Generally, the term refers to government-issued cash money such as bills and coins, as opposed to credit lines, checks, or cards. The laws surrounding legal tender have proved vital in the formation of the fiscal policy of many nations. (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-legal-tender.htm) The term legal tender means currency that is legally permitted to be used to obtain goods or services in a particular country. Immediately recognized as legal tender for purchases and to settle outstanding debts, currency remains the single most common of all liquid assets that are used on a consistent basis by retail customers. (http://www.wisegeek.com/topics/legal-tender.htm) II. Development of Philippine Money Pre-Hispanic Era Archaeological evidence indicates that small seafaring communities existed throughout the Philippine Archipelago for at least 2000 years, prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. The chief means of trading was barter. Records show that Chinese merchants came to the Philippines to trade porcelain, silk and metalwork in exchange for gold, pearls, beeswax and medicinal plants, which the Philippines is naturally rich in. Excavations also unearthed gold ingots, known as piloncitos, the first recognized form of coinage in the country. Barter rings in different sizes, gold ornaments and beads were the other objects used as medium of exchange during the period. (http://www.bsp.gov.ph/about/history/story2.asp) Spanish Era The Galleon Trade, which started during the colonization of the Philippines in 1565 and lasted for 250 years, was responsible for transforming Manila into a trade center for oriental goods. These were brought across the Pacific, in exchange for odd-shaped silver coins called cobs or macuquinas. Other coins that followed were the dos mundos or pillar dollars in silver, the counterstamped coins and the portrait series, also in silver. In the 18th century, the Royalty of Spain authorized the production of copper coins by the Ayuntamiento or Municipality of Manila in response to the acute shortage of fractional coins. These were called barrillas which first appeared in 1728.In 1852, the first banknotes called pesos fuertes were issued, and in 1861,the Casa de Moneda de Manila minted the first gold coins with the word Filipinas inscribed, which were called Isabelinas and Alfonsinos. (http://www.bsp.gov.ph/about/history/story3.asp) Revolutionary Period On August 23, 1896, the Cry of Balintawak, headed by Andres Bonifacio signaled the start of the Philippine Revolution. After General Emilio Aguinaldos proclamation as President of the First Philippine Republic, Two types of 2-centavo copper coins were struck in the army arsenal of Malolos. Because their mintage was so few, they are considered extremely rare collection. Paper notes were also issued, but the circulation was limited because the government was short-lived. (http://www.bsp.gov.ph/about/history/story4.asp) American Regime When the Americans took over the Philippines in 1901, the US Congress passed the Philippine Coinage Act, which authorized the mintage of silver coins from 1903 to 1912. Subsequently, Silver Certificates were issued until 1918. These were replaced with Treasury Certificates from 1918 to 1935. The American Government deemed it more economical and convenient to mint silver coins in the Philippines, hence, the re-opening of the Manila Mint in 1920, which produced coins until the Commonwealth Period. This also became the first seat of the Central Bank in 1949. (http://www.bsp.gov.ph/about/history/story5.asp) World War II During the Japanese Occupation from 1941 to 1944, two kinds of notes circulated the Japanese Invasion Money issued by the Japanese Government, and the Guerrilla Notes or Resistance Currencies issued by Filipino guerrillas. (http://www.bsp.gov.ph/about/history/story6.asp) Republic Period Republic Act No.265 created the Central Bank of the Philippines (CBP) on January 3, 1949, which was vested the power of administering the banking credit system of the country. Initially, the CBP issued the Victory Notes with the overprint Central Bank of the Philippines in 1949. The first official banknotes issued by the Central Bank were the English series in 1951, followed by the Pilipino series in 1967, the Ang Bagong Lipunan series in 1973 and the New Design series in 1985. Central Bank coins of the English series were also issued in 1959, followed by the Pilipino series in 1967, and the Ang Bagong Lipunan series in 1975. The Flora and Fauna series were introduced in 1983, and subsequently, the improved version in 1992, until the demonetization of all the series in 1998. (http://www.bsp.gov.ph/about/history/story7.asp)

The Game (Football Personal Experience Paper) :: essays research papers

The Game   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The game had been a strenuous battle from the very second that the whistle blew. In every play each one of us had put forth all of the effort and energy that we contained. Now, with only seconds left remaining in the forth quarter we trailed 14 to 17. Yet, hope still remained.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After a fumble recovery, my team was awarded the ball at the 50 yard line. The time left on the clock allowed us for one more play to win the game. Looking around at the players in the huddle not only did I see the fatigue that resulted from the game but I also saw that each one of them had determination to win. I called out the play and sent my fellow warriors to give it one last shot. As we approached the line of scrimmage the crowd grew deafening. They had cheered us on throughout the frigid temperatures of the night and now that the game was nearing an end they revealed to us that they too still had faith. Staring down our opponents, we lined up in our stances. Like dragons smoke, each breath taken would be revealed in the numbing cold. The clock had already restarted and began counting down to zero. As I prepared myself to receive the ball from the center the crowd became dead silent. Knowing that time ran short I began my cadence. â€Å"EVEN†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦READY-SET†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.HUT.† As the ball snapped into my hands, the crowd exploded with all the players as if they were connected by some unnatural force. I flew back into my pass drop and looked to my receivers. The opponent covering the receiver to my left prevented any hope of him getting open. Then, as I looked to my right, I saw that my other receiver broke free of the defensive man and was heading down the field. I directed the ball towards the end zone knowing that the pass must be perfect for a completion. As the ball sailed off my fingertips a 270 pound lineman pummeled me to the ground.