Beliefs of E-Commerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Beliefs of E-Commerce - Essay Example Comfort Bikers adopted many advertising and marketing techniques to sustain profitability and enjoy customer loyalty without any success though. In the light of highly advanced technologies that are making their presence felt, Comfort Bikers needs to soon get its act together and come up with a business plan focusing to cash on fast emerging e-commerce practices, especially through the use of a website created for their brand name. Creating a website and making sure that it serves the desired objectives and business perspectives, it’s important that business model and the technology used to create the website is strategically thought out and well planned in advance (wps.prenhall, 2010). Most famous online business models that have been modified by businesses to suit their specific needs are Product Sales, Service Sales, and Information Delivery. Comfort Bikes though can adopt a business model that should assist them not only in making profits, but also in ensuring sustained pr ofitability and overall growth. From this perspective, it’s most advisable for the company to come up with a business model that effectively integrates the features and advantages of the three mentioned models above. Its business model should serve customers of all three categories; ones seeking to buy a bike or get the servicing done of their owned bikes or customers intending to gain information about their various options regarding bikes. Internet presence will ensure open communication with customers, enable superior customer relationship by improving the services provided, and will also help the company expand its business horizons. Quick information, improved feedback and suggestions, and more channels of revenue increase will be available for Comfort Bikes to ensure successful sustenance in today’s chaotic economy. Creating a website for business expansion is not only worthwhile in its perspective customer reach, but also is one of the most financially viable op tions. The required functionality of the websites to start with would not require more than five pages, one each dedicated to receiving new orders, servicing orders, information assistance, customer assistance, and business associations respectively. This will ensure clear and comfortable navigation for all the potential stakeholders in the Comfort Bikes (energizingentrepreneurs, 2010). At the end, the investment needed in getting the website up would not be profoundly expensive as the requirement of the technical specification will include generic software like Adobe Flash Player, Illustrator, and Point-Order Software for e-commerce transaction including the payment gateways etc. Hardware requirement will include a server, printer, and scanner to maintain and record hard copies of orders, receipts etc.. Adapting the business model to expand its customer reach through the most happening and evergrowing marketing tool, Internet, would ensure rapid success for Comfort Bikes. The websi te will also give the company an ideal platform to grow and gain sustained competitive edge in future. References Digital Enterpreises. (2010). Business Models on the Web. Retrieved November 24, 2011, from http://digitalenterprise.org/models/models.html Energizing Enterpreneurs. (2010). E-Commerce as a Business

“Three Men in a Boat” by Jerome K Jerome Essay Example for Free

â€Å"Three Men in a Boat† by Jerome K Jerome Essay In this essay an attempt is made to discern the important themes that one can observe in the book â€Å"Three Men in a Boat† written by Jerome K Jerome. This book written by Jerome K Jerome became extremely popular among the English readers. One reason for this popularity was its different and new way of representation which differed from the books written by authors such as Robert Louis Stevenson, Arthur Cannon Doyle, Rudyard Kipling and other popular authors. This popularity perhaps was due to the use of different themes and style of language that one can see in the case of this book. Firstly, the language used in this book was the language spoken by the common masses which perhaps attracted the common people to read this book leading to its popularity although the critics condemned the vulgarity that they found in the book in the various terms that were used in the book. However unlike the writing styles of the times, Jerome did not use glorifying terms or artificial terms to express the feelings of the people. The book refers to the three men among whom one character was represented by the author himself. An important theme in this book is the importance that is given to pleasure trips wherein the friends took several excursions in the boat on the River Thames and other places. These pleasure trips were earlier enjoyed usually by the middle and upper middle class people. However, the writing of this book â€Å"Three Men in a Boat† made the pleasure trips on the rivers of England extremely popular. Another important theme in the book is the love for nature and in order to express their love for nature the three friends go on excursion over River Thames. This book can be considered as an important contribution to the travel literature particularly within England. This book is the story of three common people who speak the usual language spoken by the common people. They do not involve in any great adventures and there are no great heroes and villains in this book. The appeal to the masses is an important theme in this book. However we can consider that the most important theme is the love of these people for travel, pleasure trips and their love of nature. An important aspect of this book is that initially it was conceived as a serious guide to traveling on boat. However humor became the principal style narration in this book. The readers regarded that many jokes in the book are relevant even today. One important theme found in this book is the need for relaxation from work. Thus, one can find the theme of escape in this work. Hence, the three men go for a pleasure trip in order to escape from the problems which they faced. An important theme is the disease which had attacked the friend of Jerome which led to search for the proper medicine to cure this disease. After reading the various medical literatures, the author feels that he possesses all the diseases mentioned in these works. Jerome mentions that, â€Å"I sat and pondered. I thought what an interesting case I must be from a medical point of view, what an acquisition I should be to a class! Students would have no need to â€Å"walk the hospitals†, if they had me. I was hospital in myself. All they need would be walk around me, and, after that take their diploma†. (Jerome, 1995) In this statement one can also find the theme of humor as the author is not only discussing the serious issue of medical problems but at the same time he is finding that he has got various diseases and he describes this with lot of humor. The author after reading about the health problems states that â€Å"I walked into the reading-room a happy, healthy man. I crawled out a discrepit wreck†. (Jerome, 1995) In the second chapter there are preparations for the pleasure trips by the friends of Jerome. The author mentions â€Å"Having thus settled the sleeping arrangements to the satisfaction of all four of us, the only thing left to discuss was what we should take with us†¦Ã¢â‚¬  In this juncture one can find the humor in the statement: â€Å"George said he felt thirsty (I never knew George when he didn’t)†. (Jerome, 1995) The chapter three of the book refers to the further arrangements that were made for the trip. Humor also can be seen in the statement that â€Å"I notice that people always make gigantic arrangements for bathing when they are going anywhere near the water, but that they don’t bathe much when they are there†. (Jerome, 1995) While preparing for the travel the friends discuss regarding the question of food while traveling. While making travel arrangements, Jerome states that he thought that he is the most efficient person in packing which is essential while traveling. In fact he asked his friends to leave the task of packing to him because Jerome had confidence in his ability to pack. He stated that, â€Å"My tooth-brush is a thing that haunts me when I’m travelling, and makes my life a misery†. (Jerome, 1995) Here one can find both the seriousness of the fact that tooth-brush is necessary for travel and the sense of humor exhibited by the author. The friends visit various historical places and there is interesting discussion regarding the major events related to English history. There is reference to various adventures and misadventures of these three men while traveling. During travel the author states, â€Å"The boat seemed stuffy, and my head seemed aching†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Jerome, 1995). These people had some bad experiences which are suggested by the statement that â€Å"The people at the beer shop were rude. They merely laughed at us†. (Jerome, 1995) The experiences on the Marlow River are also explained in detail by the author. Jerome praised this river town due to its liveliness and they could enjoy in this place. In fact the author stated that â€Å"Our departure from Marlow I regard as one of our greatest successes.† (Jerome, 1995) There is also description regarding a procession which they noticed. The author mentioned that he did not like the steam launches and they had problems with these steam launches. The author also describes an incident wherein the friends prepare the meal and the author thought that this was the tastiest food he ever had.   This book by Jerome consists of themes such as traveling, escape from daily routine and humor. The various travel experiences of three men has been humorously presented by the author for the enjoyable reading. Reference Jerome, Jerome K. (1995). Three Men in a Boat, Etext #308, Project Gutenberg, Retrieved online on 10-09-2005 from http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext95/3boat10.txt

Vampires :: essays research papers

Vampires Vampires have been seen and documented throughout history. The history of vampires goes further back in time than most people realize. The chaldeans, who lived near the Euphrates river in the southwestern part of Asia more than five hundred years before the time of Christ , feared vampire or creatures similar to vampires enough so that they created charms to protect themselves from being attacked by such creatures. The Assyrians and the Babylonians feared a creature similar to a vampire known as an Ekimmu. These creatures known as Ekimmus were believed by the Assyrians to roam the planet searching for food although it was not always a persons blood but rather a persons' vitality or that persons' energy force. It was believed that if such a creature would enter someone's house that person along with his or her family would slowly weaken, get sick and probably die. In the countries of Syria and Palestine references were made to such blood sucking monsters on ancient carved tablets. In Ireland the people believed in these creatures, which they affectionately came to call "red blood suckers" . Due to their belief in these mythical creatures they began the practice of placing stones on these vampires graves to kep them from escaping.This then became standard practice and is still used to this day in the form of a tombstone. Tombstones were used to control ghosts and other spirits instead of their original use in controlling vampires. Due to the fact that vampires seemed to be so commonplace around the globe, there was a large variety of vampires that differed in shape, behavior and method of becoming a vampire. All of these factors varied from region to region. In the country of Bulgaria a vampire had only one nostril. This Bulgarian vampire would rise out of it's grave nine days after death in the form of a shower of sparks and remained in this shape for a period of forty days. After the completion of these forty days the shower of sparks would regain it's human form. Once human-like the vampire goes from playing childish tricks, which it did in it's "spark" form , to more serious matters , such as the attacking of humans and drinking of their blood. Vampires are well known for their craving for blood but in many countries vampires were not limited to just that substance as part of their diet, but would also consume foods that humans ate such as eggs and rice. That, however, does not mean that their yearn for blood was any weaker than before. Most vampires would attack their victims and suck

Chinua Achebe vs. Margret Atwood Essay

Compare the ways that vultures are portrayed and used in the poems by Margaret Atwood and Chinua Achebe. By Jessica Tilbrook. Chinua Achebe and Margret Atwood grew up in two very different environments. They were born almost a decade apart, yet they both managed to construct two very meaningful poems about vultures. Achebe was born in Nigeria in 1930. In 1967 the region of Biafra broke away from Nigeria. Achebe became a devoted supporter of Biafra independence and served as ambassador for the people of the nation. But to get this point there was a 3 year war of independence ravage. Chinua Achebe witnesses some horrific scenes. He saw babies, children and adults starving to there death. He saw his own people from Biafra killing others from Nigeria. He saw how loving people have the capacity to be evil and vice versa according to Achebe’s version on the poem ‘vultures’. Chinua Achebe believed that any good work of art should have a purpose. Achebe’s vultures defiantly had a purpose, as it shows how even evil, vile creatures like vultures have the capacity to love. Throughout Achebe’s poem there is a negative feel. From the very start of the poem it is unpleasant and quite graphic in the description of the vultures. In the poem it occasionally refers to ‘love’ as one of the vultures ‘inclines affectionately. ‘ This suggests that even vile creatures can have the capacity to love. Chinua Achebe uses many techniques throughout his poem vultures. The structure of the poem has no rhyming scheme or lines of the same lengths. The lines are written short, probably on purpose as you can then appreciate the horror, by reading it slower, creating tension. Achebe’s poem isn’t really in Stanza’s it is more split into four sections; this is probably done to keep the flow of evil and ideas running through the poem. There is also a lack of punctuation throughout the poem, this could have been done on purpose to keep the poem flowing, like the sections. Chinua Achebe choose to right in past tense for the description of the vultures, as it’s easier to understand what vultures are like whereas the Belsen Commandant is described in the present tense. This might of been done to remind us that evil is all around us now, and everyone has the capacity to be evil. The word strange on its own, at the beginning of the second section makes us pause, and think about what’s actually going to be strange, which makes you think about the whole section. Throughout Achebe’s poem there is a lot of imagery a good example of this is ‘Belsen Commandant’ – a mass murderer and his children calling him Daddy, not father. This is probably done so you can visualise how the children have no idea of what there father has actually done, and they are treating him like normal. This is quite emotional to read, as you can imagine this really happening. Another example of Achebe’s imagery is the metaphors he uses to describe death and horror. In the first section it says ‘vulture perching high on broken bones of a dead tree’. This makes the atmosphere more intense, and builds up the tension from the very beginning. There is some alliteration in the poem, but there are not many references to sound. I think Achebe wants to concentrate on more visual images rather than sound effects to suggest his ideas. I liked Achebe’s version of the poem vultures. It had a very meaningful purpose, which is what Achebe wanted to achieve. He wanted to use vultures as a ‘vehicle’ to get people to understand that even the most loving of people have the capacity to be evil. I think he used vultures as a very successful vehicle at getting his point across. I also think that this poem is ambiguous on one hand, you could say that even the cruellest of creatures show even the tiniest amount of love, but on the other hand, that even the most loving creatures have potential to be even the slightest bit evil. The second poem called vultures was written my Margret Atwood. She was born in Ottawa, Ontario in 1939. She was a daughter of a forest entomologist, and spent part of her early years in the bush of North Quebec. Atwood is the joint honorary president of the rare bird club of birdlife international. The main message of this poem is how life comes of death. So basically the cycle of life, and even from the most horrific things in life, can bring something extraordinary out of it. Throughout Atwood’s poems there are references to death, such as ‘hung’ and ‘bones’. This does not give a good vibe to the poem. Atwood uses several metaphors throughout. ‘Then they’re hyenas, raucous around the kill, flapping their black umbrellas. ‘ This is two metaphors in one sentence. She describes the vultures as hyenas which is not only a good comparison but good use of imagery. Also Atwood says the vultures were flapping their black umbrellas this makes them out to seem huge evil animals. The structure of Atwood’s poem is done very well, as she occasionally puts odd words on a separate line to make you think about the poem in more depth. The poem is sort of in stanza’s but there isn’t maybe, which helps the poem keep flowing. All of the lines in the poem are roughly the same length, apart from the occasional odd word. I think it makes the poem easier to read, and get the rhyme flowing at the right pace. Margret Atwood uses a variety of meaningful and powerful words. For example ‘carnage’ ‘violate’ ‘gluttonous’ all these words have a negative impact on vultures. As they are explaining why and how they are vile creates. But some people might say that the way vultures act is completely natural. This is because it is natural for them to eat, which means killing other animals, to feed themselves and there family. Which shows this poem is also quite ambiguous. There aren’t many references to sound throughout Atwood’s version of Vultures. But she does say vultures snigger at funerals. And sniggering refers to sound. This also implies vultures are vile creature, as it is inappropriate to horribly giggle at a funeral. I think that Margret Atwood successfully used vultures as a good vehicle to show how life comes out of death, even in the most horrible circumstances. I thought both Chinua Achebe and Margret Atwood’s poems both had very different meanings, but both shows contrasts between humans and vultures. In my opinion Chinua Achebe’s version of vultures was the best used vehicle to get his point across. As he point his point across very well, and he achieved his purpose ‘that any good work of art should have a purpose. ‘ So I think Chinua Achebe’s poem just slightly had an edge over Margret Atwood’s because of Achebe’s aims for his poem.

Analysis of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Essay

Introduction Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR), a leader in specialty coffee and coffee makers, was founded in 1981 by Bob Stiller (Green Mountain Coffee Roasters [GMCR], n. d.). From a small cafà © to a company listed on NASDAQ and then to a company with more than $2.6 billion net sales revenue by Sep 24 2011 (GMCR, 2011), GMCR enjoyed great financial successes. Besides, it has been recognized consistently as a socially responsible company. Key Factors in GRMC’s Success After studying GMCR case, several key points are identified which together contribute to the success of GMCR as both corporation and corporate citizen. First, GMCR convenes members from all parts of its system for important company activities. In many companies, most of the staff in the lowest level of organizational structure are excluded from company activities. But representatives from GMCR’s whole system get together in its annual summit meetings (Mary 2008). The get together is useful in helping its participants better understand their importance within the organization and realize they can do more to better serve the system. People from all parts of GMCR also go to training programs (Mary 2008). These programs are a platform for staff to learn necessary knowledge with which they can better serve the customers. Including members from all parts of the system gives them a sense of personal involvement which encourages them to align their own interest with that of company. When employees feel that they are truly part of the organization, they tend to internalize the needs of the company rather than just treat their jobs as externally imposed obligations. They may also find their job meaningful and pleasant, have a stronger feeling of belonging and eventually are likely to work harder and exhibit increased labor productivity. In a nutshell, Bob Stiller makes all members truly participate in his venture and sparkles their potentials to better serve GMCR. Bob Stiller also take employees from different parts of the company to coffee farms(Mary 2008). Therefore employees can have personal experience about coffee farming which may increase their awareness and attention. For example, roasters may learn that lots of hard working is needed to harvest organic coffee bean and hence may pay more attention when roasting coffee bean which cause less waste of bean. Second, GMCR’s decision making process is based on the interest of all stakeholders rather than the company itself. For example, GMCR works to add social value by engaging in education programs for the children from farming families and communities (Mary 2008). Assisting these children builds stronger relations between GMCR and its farming families. GMCR also provides interest free financial resources to the farmers (Mary 2008), which eventually results in smooth supply of high quality bean. By taking all members’ interest into account, Bob Stiller builds a strong, desirable and sustainable network with all members within the system, which in turn supports the growth of GMCR. Third, GMCR has committed to organic coffee and creates social value by offering a much healthier lifestyle. Besides, GMCR’s success sets an example for other companies want to join organic market. GMCR improves environment by protecting coffee farm from the bad impact of chemicals and assuring the future generations a viable farm (Mary 2008). It is difficult for farm owners to keep coffee trees alive as long as possible (Mary 2008) and the support from GMCR makes it possible. Therefore farmers are able to make a living out of coffee beans, and more importantly, they have a higher satisfaction because they can preserve and pass the farm to their future generations(Mary 2008). GMCR’s partnership with its farmers not only guarantees a smooth bean supply but also increases farmers’ spiritual wealth and again strengthens their relations. For trade-off problems, Bob Stiller always adhere to â€Å"future thinking† (Collins & Porras, 2002), making decisions based on long term benefits for the whole interconnected system rather than GMCR itself. Besides, Bob Stiller has committed to creating wealth which not only incorporates financial value but anything brings value to the whole system and the whole society. References Collins, J., and Porras, J. I. (2002). Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies. New York: Harper Business Essentials. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. (n. d.). Corporate review. Available at http://www.gmcr.com/about-GMCR.html, accessed August 24, 2012. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. (2011). Consolidated Statements of Operations. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. Form 10-K. Available at

Shamanism in Human Consciousness Essay

Shamanism in Human Consciousness Essay Shamanism in Japanese Culture Essay Example Shamanism in Japanese Culture Essay Example After analyzing several sources, the definition of shamanism, which is most often found in scientific literature and reference books, can be comprehended. Shamanism is one of the earliest forms of religion based on the belief in the existence of spirits that inhabit the surrounding world. This transcendental practice involves a special intermediary – the shaman, who was elected by the spirits. Thus, he is able to establish connection between these spirits and people through immersion in a trance. However, there is still no uniformity in the definition of shamanism. Moreover, the age of shamanism also remains ambiguous since it varies from the Paleolithic Era to the Middle Ages. Until now there are discussions about the location of shamanism: some believe that it is practiced only in Siberia, Central Asia, and Northern Europe; others argue that it is spread almost over the whole world, particularly Asia, North and South America, Africa, and the Caucasus. In Europe, the first in formation about shamans appeared in the notes of travelers, diplomats, and researchers in the XVII century. During the XVIII-XIX centuries, the number of researches and literature about them was constantly growing. In the XX century, interest in shamanism did not disappear, but intensified. This paper will define the terms of the basic concepts that constitute the essence of a complex multifaceted phenomenon of shamanism. Furthermore, it will reveal its reflection in the ancient traditions of healing, rituals, trance, unusual states of consciousness, as well as its integration in modern Japan. Etymology of the Term The term â€Å"shamanism† is widespread in many languages. According to one of the versions, the word â€Å"shaman† is derived from the Sanskrit  «Ã…›ramaá ¹â€¡a ». It means a wandering hermit or ascetic spiritual seeker, which primarily embodies traditions of ancient India. Along with Buddhism, the term has spread across Asia and penetrated Russian and Western languages. According to the other version, the word â€Å"shamanism† has a primordial Tungus-Manchurian origin. Every nation has its own names for shamans, which can vary even in one nation depending on the functions and categories of shaman. However, a man was called shaman in any society if he was a mediator chosen by spirits and had the ability to see the other reality and travel in it. Time of Occurrence of Shamanism The occurrence of shamanism cannot be determined accurately. The time of occurrence of Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam is determined fairly accurately because those religions are connected with the dates of life of their original founders and preachers. Shamanism does not have such a starting point. Perhaps, it arose many times in each part of the world at different times and in various ways. Currently, there is evidence that peoples who lived in Western Europe, particularly in France, knew shamanism. In France, a cave of Three Brothers (Trois Frà ¨res) was discovered. On its walls, there are several images from the Upper Paleolithic period. Among others, there is the earliest known image of a shaman, which depicts a figure of a dancing man with an animal skin draped over his shoulders, deer antlers on his head, and a horses tail. Similar images are often found in Asia and Africa. Who Becomes a Shaman The term professional shaman can be found in modern scientific literature. This suggests that a shaman is a profession. Those who believe in shamanism argue that its practitioner inherits a special gift from his ancestors, more often on the maternal than on the paternal side. Moreover, the shaman must be chosen by the spirits. The spirits of ancestors or spirits that inhabit the surrounding mountains, passes, forests, lakes, and rivers choose a particular person to be an intermediary between them and people. In cases when people have some difficulties or troubles (these can be illnesses, loss of property, death of a loved one, or any strange phenomena) or, on the contrary, when the spirits blame people (for example, for intrusion into the habitats of the spirits, or misperformance of sacrifice), the shaman acts as an intermediary, making people and imploring the spirits to do what is necessary. However, an individual must pass an initiation ritual and undergo testing before he acquir es the shamanic power that can make people and spirits obey him. The ritual can last from several months to several years. Outwardly, it is manifested in the form of acts that are incomprehensible for other people. A young shaman can be often considered a mentally ill person. The Concept of Trance or Ecstasy The shaman communicates with the spirits in a trance state. The French term â€Å"trance† is interpreted as stupefaction, detachment, and self-hypnosis. Another term â€Å"ecstasy† can be used to describe the condition in which the shaman acts. This Greek word means frenzy and enthusiasm, a special state that is inherent in poets and seers. Those who observe the behavior of the shaman during the ritual notice such things as convulsions, bulging eyes, froth at the mouth, fainting, and seizures. However, as a rule, during the trance the shaman does not lose connection with people who are present at the session. He often explains where he is currently located, and what he sees. The shaman uses self-hypnosis, concentrates his will, and mobilizes his mental and physical powers in order to achieve the state of trance. There is no doubt that a tambourine, from which the shaman extracts different sounds, plays an important role in the shamanic ritual. The shaman often sings to the beat. Some shamans take hallucinogens, substances that can cause hallucinations and contribute to offensive of trance. Shaman’s Doubles The shaman has so-called compulsory items, which accompany his actions. They are tambourine, costume, and shamanic tree. Each item has its purpose and function. Shaman’s tambourine is not just a musical instrument. In shamanic practice, it is considered a rideable animal, a deer or a horse, which carries the shaman to the world of the spirits. According to other traditions, a tambourine was conceptualized as a boat on which the shaman sails the mythical river of time. After shaman’s death, his tambourine is not hereditary. It is believed that the power of the owner does not die with him but continues to live, being enclosed in his tambourine. The second shaman’s double is his power suit. The full shamanic costume includes a coat, pants, boots, gloves, a hat, as well as a bandage with slits for eyes, which resembles a soft mask over the face. The shaman cannot obtain an entire suit immediately. He receives each part gradually as soon as he proves his proficiency in communicating with spirits. Spirits give their permission for the shaman to gain another item of the costume. It is believed that the shamans outfit, similar to his tambourine, is related to his soul and life. Finally, the third shaman’s double is a shamanic tree. The practitioner chose it himself. According to shamanistic mythology, the spirits of birds sit on the shamanic tree. At the request of the shaman, they can fly into the afterworld and learn everything that interests him. Everything is interconnected and spiritualized in the shamans world. He is a living person, and his tambourine, suit, and tree are also living creatures. The shaman addr esses to the spirit world with their help, and the spirits move into his body through their intermediation. The Shamanistic Practice and Theory The shaman performs complex rituals in order to heal sick people, introduce the child’s soul into the barren woman, change the weather, and a plenty of other actions. The religious scholars name these actions a shamanic practice. Furthermore, there is a special shamanic theory. Many scientists affirm the existence of an exceptional shamanic worldview. The most important components of it are the following: The whole world is spiritualized. Everything that surrounds us, the forests, fields, mountains, rivers, lakes, trees and even stones, is inhabited by spirits who can help a person if he or she performs a special ritual. However, they can also do much harm if they are forgotten and accidentally or intentionally insulted. A man is not a wreath of creation, but only a part of this world. The appearance of a man is just a shell that can be changed. The stories of people turning into a bear, fish, deer, birds, marine animals have their origins in this belief. The insuperable boundary between the world of the living and the dead does not exist. The shaman’s ability to pass through this line in any direction is considered unconditional. Moreover, it is believed that the shaman can restore the soul of the deceased person and regain his life. These features can be considered as the basis for a general shamanic worldview. Shamanism in Modern Japan Japanese shamanism, as we know it today, is different from shamanism in the strict sense. Primarily, it is a technique of spirit possession of the dead, which is practiced by women. Many Japanese shamans are blind from birth. However, they have a wide range of functions and abilities. According Eliade, Trask, and Doniger, the main actions of shamans are the following: â€Å"they can heal illness, interpret dreams, predict the future, and compatibility with husband or wife. Shamans are also able to communicate with the souls of the dead and send them messages from living relatives. They can inform the inquirer about the future happiness and unhappiness or find missing things.† (p. 234) The Role of Shamanism in the Traditions of Healing Shamans play an important role in the healing traditions. Their main function is magical healing. However, in modern society, shamans-healers do not try to take the place of qualified doctors. Their approach to any problem is concentrated on integrity and harmony of a personality. They banish diseases and provide religious cleansing. The methods modern Japanese shamans use are very complex and diverse. However, all these various rituals and beliefs are based on the same idea of injury. It promotes a belief that a persons soul can be separated from his body if he is dazed and shocked by something. According to Eliade, Trask, and Doniger, many shamans state that stealing of the soul is the most common and devastating reason for the huge number of diseases (p. 256). From the shamans perspective, the disease is a consequence of the man’s spiritual captivity. If in shamanic medicine the illness is attributed to the lost or stolen soul from the body, the process of its treatment is aimed at searching for the soul in order to make it return to its place in the body of the patient. The shaman healers catalyze powerful healing powers given to them by nature in their patients with the help of the bright and impressive rituals. The atmosphere of understanding and support, reinforced by drumming, dancing and chanting, as well as state of ecstasy, creates the environment in which the phenomenon of healing occurs. Besides, shamans can ask their god to name a drug that should be used against a specific disease. Shamanistic Rituals and Trance in Modern Japan Nowadays, shamanism almost lost its position, becoming a decorative element of modern Japanese life. Funeral rites of shamanism in Japan can be seen during the folk festivals or national holidays. However, in order to solve complex problems or difficult situations, the Japanese turn to shamans for their help even in contemporary times. During the ritual, shaman communicates with spirits, singing, dancing, and immersing into a trance. The ecstatic state of shaman generated the word ute. According to the American researcher George J. Tanabe, this term is derived from the verb yuyung, which means shake or tremble. The shaman, who does not tremble and shake during the performance of the ritual is considered to be weak, showing no control of his spiritual power(p. 123). Shamanistic ritual contains three main elements. They are the spirit that personifies an object of worship, the person who invokes the spirit and the shaman as a link between them. There are several main rituals, which are performed in modern Japan. They can be aimed at the prosperity and development of a separate village or township, as well as expulsion of evil spirits. As it was mentioned above, the ritual can be also used to cleanse the soul of the sick person. The Role of Shamanism in Human Consciousness and Maintenance of Physical and Mental Health in Modern Japan Despite the seeming primitiveness of the shamanic culture, its consecrate practitioners perfectly understand human psychology and skillfully use the secrets of traditional medicine. They are the guardians of religious and philosophical worldviews of different nations. The shamanic culture is characterized by simultaneous existence of the reality of the primitive life with a number of troubles and worries and the world of spirits, visions, and ecstatic emotional states. Japanese shamans have strongly contributed to the culture and mental strength of the nation. Moreover, some unusual states of mind, inspired by shaman’s activities through the immersion in trance, helped the people to adapt to conditions of hardship, hunger, wars, epidemics, and disasters. Thus, shamans can be considered the psychotherapists who conduct social work, assisting their compatriots in crisis. They are the intermediaries between the internal life of people and their external occupations. Blacker argue s that, modern shamans can handle all the rites of passage: birth, initiation when reaching puberty, marriage and death, as well as rituals of power, which , in fact, are the attempts to increase the capacity of the nation with the help of the powerful forces of nature during hardship, calamities and psychological crisis (p. 231). In everyday life, shamans maintain impact on the psyche of the people within a particular culture, using special tools and procedures during the ritual. This ensures mental stability of people in terms of normal functioning of their consciousness. Over time, in the framework of modernization and technological progress of society, the traditions of shamanism have changed. However, nowadays, people of different professions, education, and social status still seek help from shamans. They obtain relief, advice, and support. Perhaps, this is a simple answer to the question why the tradition of shamanism is still alive.

Pell Grant Chart (Most Recent) Eligibility and Payments

Pell Grant Chart (Most Recent) Eligibility and Payments SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you're looking for a quick and simple way to estimate your Pell Grant eligibility, you've come to the right place. I've included a couple of different charts that you mayfind helpful: one to check off federal eligibilitycriteria, and one to to estimate Pell Grant award amounts. Read on to learn more! Federal Aid Pell Grant Eligibility Chart The Pell Grant is a federally funded award that's primarily meant to help low-income students pay for college (you can learn more about the Pell Grant here). If you want to be considered for the grant, you have to meet all federal eligibility requirements. There are some other requirements you should be aware of - you can get more information by checking out our eligibilityguide. This next chart is a checklist ofall federal aid criteria. These requirements apply not just for the Pell Grant, but for all types of federal aid. You may find it helpful to print these charts for your own reference. In order to qualify, you must do all of the following: Eligibility Requirement Do you meet this criterion? Have a high school diploma, GED, or approved homeschool education Be enrolled or accepted to enroll in an eligible degree/certificate program You can check with your school/program’s financial aid office if you want to confirm eligibility Be registered with Selective Service, if you are male and between 18-25 years old If applicable,register with the SS website Have a valid Social Security Number (unless you’re from the Marshall Islands, Federal States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau) Sign statements on the FAFSA stating that (1) you’re not in default, and do not owe refund money, on a federal student loan, and (2) you’ll only use federal aid money to help pay for your education Access the FAFSA Maintain â€Å"satisfactory† progress in school If you’re concerned about your academic performance, or have questions about what is considered â€Å"satisfactory,† set up a meeting with your dean or other school administrator. In addition to the requirements listed in the chart above, you must be able to check one of the following: Be a US citizen or US national Have a green card Have an arrival-departure record Have battered immigrant status Have a T-Visa Pell Grant Payment Schedule Chart If you've locked down all the Pell Grant eligibility requirements, the next thing you'll want to consider is how much Pell Grant money you could receive. For more detailed information, you could check out our post on Pell Grant limits. Our Pell Grant Calculator guide will walk you through estimating your award amount. If you already have an idea of yourExpected Family Contribution (EFC) andenrollment status (full-time versus part-time), this chart will help you estimate your award amount very efficiently. Keep in mind that the award amounts in this chart are per semester, not per year; just double the appropriate amount to get an estimate of your annual grant eligibility. Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Full-Time 3/4-Time 1/2-Time Less than 1/2-Time 0 $2,887.50 $2,165.50 $1,444.00 $722.00 1 to 100 $2,862.50 $2,147.50 $1,431.50 $715.50 101 to 200 $2,812.50 $2,109.50 $1,406.50 $703.00 201 to 300 $2,762.50 $2,072.00 $1,381.50 $690.50 301 to 400 $2,712.50 $2,034.50 $1,356.50 $678.00 401 to 500 $2,662.50 $1,997.00 $1,331.50 $665.50 501 to 600 $2,612.50 $1,959.00 $1,306.50 $653.00 601 to 700 $2,562.50 $1,922.00 $1,281.50 $640.50 701 to 800 $2,512.50 $1,884.50 $1,256.50 $628.00 801 to 900 $2,462.50 $1,847.00 $1,231.50 $615.50 901 to 1000 $2,412.50 $1,809.50 $1,206.50 $603.00 1001 to 1100 $2,362.50 $1,772.00 $1,181.50 $590.50 1101 to 1200 $2,312.50 $1,734.50 $1,156.50 $578.00 1201 to 1300 $2,262.50 $1,697.00 $1,131.50 $565.50 1301 to 1400 $2,212.50 $1,659.50 $1,106.50 $553.00 1401 to 1500 $2,162.50 $1,622.00 $1,081.50 $540.50 1501 to 1600 $2,112.50 $1,584.50 $1,056.50 $528.00 1601 to 1700 $2,062.50 $1,547.00 $1,031.50 $515.50 1701 to 1800 $2,012.50 $1,509.50 $1,006.50 $503.00 1801 to 1900 $1,962.50 $1,472.00 $981.50 $490.50 1901 to 2000 $1,912.50 $1,434.50 $956.50 $478.00 2001 to 2100 $1,862.50 $1,397.00 $931.50 $465.50 2101 to 2200 $1,812.50 $1,359.50 $906.50 $453.00 2201 to 2300 $1,762.50 $1,322.00 $881.50 $440.50 2301 to 2400 $1,712.50 $1,284.50 $856.50 $428.00 2401 to 2500 $1,662.50 $1,247.00 $831.50 $415.50 2501 to 2600 $1,612.50 $1,209.50 $806.50 $403.00 2601 to 2700 $1,562.50 $1,172.00 $781.50 $390.50 2701 to 2800 $1,512.50 $1,134.50 $756.50 $378.00 2801 to 2900 $1,462.50 $1,097.00 $731.50 $365.50 2901 to 3000 $1,412.50 $1,059.50 $706.50 $353.00 3001 to 3100 $1,362.50 $1,022.00 $681.50 $340.50 3101 to 3200 $1,312.50 $984.50 $656.50 $328.00 3201 to 3300 $1,262.50 $947.00 $631.50 $315.50 3301 to 3400 $1,212.50 $909.50 $606.50 $303.00 3401 to 3500 $1,162.50 $872.00 $581.50 $290.50 3501 to 3600 $1,112.50 $834.50 $556.50 $0.00 3601 to 3700 $1,062.50 $797.00 $531.50 $0.00 3701 to 3800 $1,012.50 $759.50 $506.50 $0.00 3801 to 3900 $962.00 $722.00 $481.50 $0.00 3901 to 4000 $912.50 $684.50 $456.50 $0.00 4001 to 4100 $862.50 $647.00 $431.50 $0.00 4101 to 4200 $812.50 $609.50 $406.50 $0.00 4201 to 4300 $762.50 $572.00 $381.50 $0.00 4301 to 4400 $712.50 $534.50 $356.50 $0.00 4401 to 4500 $662.50 $497.00 $331.50 $0.00 4501 to 4600 $612.50 $459.50 $306.50 $0.00 4601 to 4700 $562.50 $422.00 $0.00 $0.00 4701 to 4800 $512.50 $384.50 $0.00 $0.00 4801 to 4900 $462.00 $347.00 $0.00 $0.00 4901 to 5000 $412.50 $309.50 $0.00 $0.00 5001 to 5100 $362.50 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 5101 to 5198 $313.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 5199 and up $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 What's Next? Now that you know about Pell Grant eligibility requirements and award amounts, you'll want to take that next step: actually submitting a Pell Grant application. Check out our submission guide here. If you're interested in learning more about financial aid opportunities, you may want to look at our guides on merit scholarships and SAT scholarships. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: