Strategies of Acquisition Adidas and Hp Companies

Strategies used in acquisition are vey important because they help the acquiring company to make maximum benefit out the acquisition deal. Before entering into any acquisition deal it is important for the company to consider its resources, future market opportunities and its targeted consumers and their reactions (Roy 2004).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Strategies of Acquisition: Adidas and Hp Companies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In this paper we explore two companies which have been involved in acquisition and how it has strengthened their resources and competitive advantage in the market. The companies explored are Adidas in footwear industry and Hp in computer industry. In 1970s Adidas; a sports company based in Germany was leading in market in the United States of America because of innovations in its products. Through aggressive marketing Nike became the leader in market which triggered the merge of Adidas and Reebok in 2005. Adidas expressed its desire to acquire all Reebok’s outstanding shares (Antal-Mokos 2009). These two companies have managed to pull together their resources to create new sporting products and also to explore new markets especially North America. The merge raised the value of the two companies to $12 million (Antal-Mokos 2009). Adidas- Reebok merger has also maintained sustainable competition ability by merging their different competencies. Adidas is a well known strong brand with high performance. On the other hand Reebok has a great conscience for fashion which makes it preferred brand by urban purchasers’. By acquiring Reebok, Adidas takes advantage of the two ideas without compromising the image of the two brands (Antal-Mokos 2009). The merger allows Adidas to venture into lifestyle market. Adidas also has managed to improve its competitive advantage by involving the youth through music and sports. Combining Reebok’s lifestyle sho e brand with high performance and technology Adidas brand creates a main attraction to youths thus keeping a sustainable competitive advantage in the market. In order to keep up its competition with other brands, Adidas will boost distribution of its brand in North America where Reebok dominates thus venturing into new market (Antal-Mokos 2009).This idea increased its sales in North America hence remaining at the top of competition. Adidas and Reebok are well known brand names hence their good reputation has helped in building a firm competition base.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Hp has benefited a lot from its merge with Compaq in 2004. It has strengthened its human resources by involving the Compaq’s human resource. Merging these two great work force ensures that the company meets its objectives. The company has over 150,000 in more than 170 countries which makes its consumer base strong (Roy 2004). This has led to increased revenues for the company due to its venture into new markets. Acquisition has helped Hp to be the leader in computer industry through diversity. Considering both Hp and Compaq are strong brands, they produce wide range of products, both computer hardware and software. This ensures that all customer needs are met hence making its products the desired choice compared to its competitors. This has enabled Hp to acquire a sustainable competitive advantage (Roy 2004). Another idea that enhances its competitive advantage is Hp brings professionals from different parts of the world together, which in turn improves the creativity and innovative power of the company. As a result new, improved and reliable computer products are generated. A strong employee base ensures that there are Hp professionals in geographical locations hence improving its customer care.Combination of factors such as customer satisfaction, innovation, creati vity, products reliability and services ensure Hp’s enhanced competitive ability (Roy 2004). In conclusion, we realize that acquisition can be a revival tool to the companies operating at loses. In his paper we have seen how acquisition boosts the revenues of companies as well as their ability to compete with others. References Antal-Mokos, Z. (2009). Managing Mergers and Acquisitions. The global business  handbook: the eight dimensions of international management, 123. Roy, P. Roy, P. (2004). The Hewlett Packard-Compaq computers merger: Insight from the resource-based view and the dynamic capabilities perspective. Journal  of American Academy of Business, 5 1, 7-14.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Strategies of Acquisition: Adidas and Hp Companies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This essay on Strategies of Acquisition: Adidas and Hp Companies was written and submitted by user Joan the Mouse to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

10 Facts for a Group Project on Network Security

10 Facts for a Group Project on Network Security Welcome to our guide on writing a group project on network security. This is our first guide, and it will help you understand how group project tasks are distributed among members involved and exactly what should be done to get the desired results. This guide has three parts. Our first guide contains 10 facts for a group project on network security which will help you understand the concepts and knowledge behind network security. References are also mentioned at the bottom of this guide to help you verify these facts or collect more information if you want to. Our second guide, 20 network security project topics, help you select a relevant topic for your group project. All the topics mentioned in the guide are authentic and researchable for the students. We have also written a short sample essay for you. The presence of ready-made topics will give you a path to start. Our third and final guide, Writing a Group Project on Network Security, explains how a group project should be carried. Furthermore, it will tell you how to divide your work among members keeping individual strengths of every student in mind. This guide will give you a clear vision of planning and proceed with your group project. A group project is different from an individual project as there are several minds involved and creative conflict is a common problem. We have collected 10 solid facts which you can discuss with your group members and pick a fact you can design your project around. Let us begin with the facts on network security: Network security is a process that helps in securing the network  infrastructure of a computer. Certain security policies are applied to protect the assets and resources of an organization or a single user. Securing networks means protecting them against attackers or hackers, who can get access to secure information which is transmitted through a network. Data magnets are tools used to fetch personal data. Personal data refers to personal information such as a person’s name, email and financial information. All this information is available on the network when users provide it on websites for different purposes. Cryptography is a networking related field which deals with the study of Secret(Crypto) Writing(Graphy). It works on two terminologies namely, encryption and decryption which deals with hiding the content of the given data for privacy purpose (Encrypting) and reverting it back to usage (Decrypting). Many apps on networks use this technology for better protection. There is an FBI department looking for cyber criminals who have robbed millions of dollars from around the globe. The list on FBI’s site consists of 19 individuals, each having robbed between $350,000 to $100 million. One of the most wanted criminals is JABBER ZEUS. It is a group of criminals using viruses to hack computers and get access to files and data. HTTPS is more secure than HTTP. Every website on the web should follow HTTPS protocol because without HTTPS hackers can easily hack your website. HTTPS even provides you a bit of security from government surveillance applications and keeps all your online activities safe. Every time a person requests to access a web page, the user’s IP is saved by the server of that particular website. IPs are useful in tracking a user’s online activity and even track their location. Users use tools to go anonymous on the web to hide their activity and location by using proxy servers and similar apps. Trojans are a hacker’s favorite tool. They can be disguised as a useful application, making users install them without worries. Trojans are usually transferred via emails. They dont spread automatically or by their own will. However, trojans are easy to remove as compared to other malware. Cybercrime has been increasing day by day. Suspicious emails, trojans and several other types of network security attacks are committed every hour. To control these crimes, the cyber security market has also expanded regarding budget and resources. The cyber security market is expected to reach $120.1 billion by 2017. The United States alone loses $100 billion every year at the hands of cyber crime attacks. A minimum of 556 million cases is recorded in a single year. From strong individuals to giant business tycoons, cyber attacks are used against everyone. The U.S. Navy force has one of the strongest cyber security systems because it receives around 110,000 cyber attacks every hour. Network security experts are said to use complex passwords and changing those passwords at least every 3 months. Hackers get a tough time if a password is composed of 4-5 longer strings. This has been proved to be a good strategy to prevent cyber attacks. These were some of the facts related to network security. We hope they turn out to be useful for your group project and help you out in understanding what Network Security is. Our next two guides involve having 20 group project topics along with a sample essay and also tips on how to write a group project. But first, let’s have a look at the references below in case you want to gather more information from reliable sources. References: Abdelmounaam Rezgui, Virginia Tech (2003), Privacy on the Web: Facts, Challenges, and Solutions. William Stallings (2005), Cryptography and Network Security Principles and Practices, Fourth Edition. Rezgui, A. Bouguettaya, and Z. Malik, â€Å"A Reputation-Based Approach to Preserving Privacy in Web Services,† Proc. 4th VLDB Workshop on Technologies for E-Services (TES ‘03), Springer-Verlag, 2003 Axelsson, S. (2000) The Base-Rate Fallacy and the Difficulty of Intrusion Detection. ACM Transactions and Information and System Security. Bishop M. (2005), Introduction to Computer Security. Boston: Addison-Wesley. Xiang-Yang Li, Cryptography and Network Security

Did the US really change in the first two chapters Essay

Did the US really change in the first two chapters - Essay Example However, after the migrations started, the natives absorbed several things from these newcomers. Later, the US developed an educated culture, with several notable writings penned during the times including motivational and factual accounts of the famous writer John Adams (Remini 35). Their culture was heavily influenced by the immigrants who brought sophistication and mannerisms. Also, they learnt the art of combat and also gained weaponry from the colonial powers. Therefore they were able to build their military when the need arose during the eighteenth century (Remini 42-62). The migrations changed the US heavily. They learned the art of debating and government. They elaborated the expressions of liberty and freedom. Moreover, the biggest change was the occurrence of the American Revolution during the time, which not only upturned the colonial powers, but also gained the Americans their due freedom. Those who had not been able to identify their enemies earlier were then able to eliminate them from their lands. The US economy dependence also changed from agriculture to trade and other industrial developments like ship building etc. Indeed, the US changed a lot during the early migrations till the declaration of US

OPERATIONS AND LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

OPERATIONS AND LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT - Assignment Example The various elements of its (Tesco’s) corporate strategy, and their bearing on the numerous aspects of the organisation’s vast enterprise, will be analysed, with a view to determining the nature of the relationship. An attempt will also be made to identify/evaluate possible areas of improvement in the organisation’s operations management; in addition, the ways in which Tesco’s operations add value to the delivery of its products/services will be explained. Corporate Strategy is essentially the long-term direction of an organisation. As a global mogul in the retail business, Tesco has a long-term business strategy of: (a) succeeding as an international retailer, (b) being as strong in food as in no-food business, (c) development of its retail services, (d) growth of its core UK business, (e) putting the community at the heart of its activities. In line with its organisational strategy of success as an international retailer, Tesco has imbibed a Facilities culture that reflects this aspiration. Ideally, organisational business activities should integrate the needs of people (customers and staff), machinery and material to provide a smoothly-functioning system. Tesco’s introduction of Tesco Link, giving its suppliers access to in-store sales and stock availability data, exemplifies this concept (the logistical underpinnings of a smooth flow of materials/goods from the suppliers through Tesco to the consumers, are obvious). This is further enhanced by the Capacity management efforts of Tesco, whereby it utilises an online delivery system to replenish its stores thrice daily, to achieve (in addition to meeting customer needs and the activity-level needs of staff) shorter lead-time in the supply chain and lower inventories (Case Studies From Tesco HSC, 2010). This, the source further notes, has helped the organisation ac hieve improved product availability and a boost in its labour productivity. There is a connection in the context of obvious benefits to

Charles the Great: Should Charlemagne be called great?

Charles the Great: Should Charlemagne be called great? Charlemagne has from his time of rule between the years 768 to 814 left a marked and undeniable impression upon the historical world, encouraging global and timeless debate as to whether he warrants his image as the Father of a Continent.  [1]  Throughout the duration of my project I intend to explore the concept of Charlemagne as a great man by looking at the historiography surrounding him, considering his actions and seeing whether they justify his magnificent reputation. This question has attracted much scholarly debate both during and since the time of Charlemagne and I hope to display how the historians have interpreted Charlemagnes title, and whether their opinions have changed as time has progressed and their research has developed. I will consider three main areas of his reign which have in my opinion instigated the most discussion. The first will be his constant involvement in warfare and the achievements and failures he attained and endured as a result. The second will look at the disintegration  [2]  theory, calling into question the capability and effectiveness of Charlemagnes government and administration, and consequently his ability as a ruler. The final area of deliberation will question the significance of the imperial title, and how he came to acquire such a prestigious title, encompassing his policies of education and reformation. I will attempt to find historians that both agree and disagree with all themes. In addition to these main points that I hope to also observe Charlemagnes involvement with finance and legislation, including his relationship with the church, all of which I hope will provide me with enough evidence from historians by which I can determine whether Charlemagnes reputation ca n be defended or not. The German historian, Franà §ois-Louis Ganshof who was writing in the late twentieth- century, is very explicit in his opinion that Charlemagnes kingdom and rule decomposed shortly after 800, mostly as a result of the inadequacies of his army. According to him it was Charlemagnes death which actually helped to save his reputation from disgrace, as he suggests that had he lived any longer the defeats he would have endured would have been especially damaging.  [3]  There are many scholars who directly oppose this line of thought however, particularly Donald Bullough who was writing around the same time as Ganshof and professed that by the time of his death in 814 Charlemagne was the most powerful Christian ruler in the world  [4]  These differences of opinion felt around the same time demonstrate how varied the debate is upon Charlemagne and whether he truly deserved his magnificent title, which has survived and been upheld throughout the ages. The Frankish kingdom under Charlemagne was, indeed, very powerful, and by 814 Charlemagne had many over-sea territories under his firm control. This however was not always the case, and throughout his 40 year reign, Charlemagne was confronted with much unrest. Roger Collins, writing in 1998 tells us that Charless Saxon wars were the most protracted and most bitterly fought of the numerous campaigns of his reign, having begun in 772 and continuing until 804, with repercussions still being felt thereafter.  [5]  There is no general consensus to be found which agrees that he Charlemagne was wholly successful or not in the different areas of his rule, but I hope to see whether time, situation or perhaps agenda of the historians are valuable enough evidence for the continued debate as to whether Charlemagne was a great man. The reputation of kings and leaders is often measured in terms of the amount of land gained throughout a reign or time in power. In terms of Charlemagne, this again opens up new avenues of great historical debate. Was the expansion of territory during his reign extensive enough to justify his repute as the most powerful Christian ruler in the world? Many historians disagree that it was, and R. Schieffer confirms that after years of apparently unstoppable rise, the limits of Carolingian power suddenly became apparent  [6]  around the time of the year 800. Alongside Schieffer, reasons for this opinion centred upon Charlemagnes inability to expand his territories significantly into Spain or into the eastern empire. For example, The Royal Frankish Annals, described as the most unassuming work of history written during this age  [7]  , tells us in 782 that Charlemagnes army were killed almost to a man when the Saxons, persuaded by Widukindà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ rebelled as usual.  [8]à ‚  This does not suggest a successful army led by a great warrior king. In addition debate on this topic has been largely focussed around the substantial lacking of a competent and willing army, as H. Fichtenau suggests, The poorer people complained that they were compelled to render almost continuous military service until they were completely impoverished.  [9]  This also informs us that Charlemagnes subjects were coerced into fighting for their king, possibly questioning his reputation at the time and skill as a military leader. In this sense, it is easy to argue that Charlemagne does not deserve the brilliant reputation that he has been remembered for. Fichtenau continues in suggesting that Charlemagne cared very little about his people to make them do continuous military service which may be a reason why he could not easily raise an army. Is this the attitude of a great leader, in response to the terms of the treatment of Charlemagnes service men? T. Reuter completely disagrees with Fichtenau suggesting that warriors were well looked after, bene fiting from gifts of food, clothing, gold, and silver, horses and arms  [10]  . This reveals a competent leader aware of the people serving under his name and rewarding them justly. Charlemagne managed to conqueror a substantial amount of Italy and hold on to what he had when faced with attempted invasion, in particular against the Saracens and troublesome Saxons. Einhard recorded that Ganshof, whose view upon Charlemagne is often critical, even records that; outstanding achievements, which can scarcely be matched by modern men.  [11]  Certainly the achievements that Charlemagne enjoyed in wartime are abetting as a part of his great remembrance. There is certainly much to suggest that Charlemagne did deserve his reputation in relation to his triumphs on the battlefield. His acquirement of the Avar treasure in 791 and the invasion and subjugation of the land of Bavaria to his rule where remarkable high points in his reign of warfare; Becher goes on to tell us that with Bavaria, Charlemagne acquired a new and apparently powerful neighbour,  [12]  which would assist him in advancing his reputation across the continent. Bullough is in cohorts with Becher on this opinion as he claims that Charles reputation and prestige among his neighbours had clearly not diminished as advancing years forced him to leave the command of armies in battle to others.  [13]  Agreeing with this view is Collins who adds in his work, which offers an essentially political account of the major developments of Charles reign  [14]  , that Charless naval activities in his final period are particularly notable, and saw the Carolingian Empire turned into a major maritime power.  [15]  In my opinion, Charlemagne did well to defend his kingdom successfully and expand to cushion his existing borders. Ganshof shows that he was a well renowned man and admired by other kings from neighbouring territories. I believe that Charlemagne not only managed to maintain his inherited lands, which is a great achievement in itself considering the vastness of the kingdom, but managed to build and gain land and respect, with which comes great reputation. His role in warfare suggests that he was a great and distinguished military leader and it would appear that his victories and skill in battle is one of the few topics where the historians generally agree that it enhanced his reputation amongst his peers and beyond. The argument of the decomposition  [16]  theory, chiefly driven by Ganshofs, has also encouraged much contest between historians, both historically and modern. Charlemagnes final years, chiefly following the Imperial Coronation of 800, are characterised by Ganshof as being dominated by a process of disintegration. It is my view that this idea holds a certain truth to it, demonstrated particularly in the aftermath of Charlemagne receiving the imperial title, but only to a certain extent. There were arguably some areas of his rule that experienced some level of limitations post-800, particularly his administrative apparatus, his military successes and also his Imperial Programme. Ganshof sets the parameter for this issue, although he does also indicate that there was a Balance Sheet,  [17]  implying that he did not believe that there was either uniform failure or success. He does often mention, however, that any successes Charles managed to achieve, mainly concerning his foreig n and internal policies, were in his mind, notably disappointing,  [18]  holding an overall picture of failure. Opposing this idea, King states that the Emperor had coped perfectly satisfactorily in his last years,  [19]  supported by Collins who adds that he believes that Ganshofs judgement seems mistaken.  [20]   Charlemagnes government is one of the most disputed aspects within his reign. Many historians agree that the way in which he orchestrated his government was poor, including Matthew Innes who declares that the lack of attention to the nuts and bolts of administration and to the mechanisms by which Charlemagne was able to govern à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ is striking  [21]  . His point is furthered in saying that some historians have gone so far to claim that the Carolingians lacked any clearly defined concept of the state  [22]  . In the last years of Charlemagnes reign for example, the Carolingian state had symptoms of bad government  [23]  . The idea argued by Ganshof that the last reigning years suffered decomposition would surely suggest that Charlemagne does not deserve his great reputation. Ganshof states that Charlemagnes achievements in the last years fell short of those envisaged in 802  [24]  We know that during 801-814 for example there are instances of malfunctioning of public services  [25]  of which the capitularies year after year denounce the same abuses  [26]  . The capitularies created under Charlemagne often had to be re-issued, and we may infer from this that perhaps he did not have the authority which would ensure his requests were carried out. Fichtenau maintains that it cannot be denied that Charles the great failed to solve this problem  [27]  . Donald Bullough is in agreement with this point as he does not feel confident that either Charles or his close advisers had developed a clear and consistent attitude to the empire in the east.  [28]  Davis who was writing in the late 1920s confirms that the capitularies and his commissions produced the merest ripples on the surface of the deep waters of customary law.  [29]  His work predominantly focuses on the belief that the very name by which [Charlemagne] is best known is the product of French invention  [30]  with a view to link themselves with greatness, rather than a result of Charlemagnes prominence. The majority of the criticism directed at Charlemagnes government foc uses around the years after 800, however Charlemagne managed to achieve great things such as managing to make his subjects take an oath of fidelity taken in the name of the emperor  [31]  which Ganshof describes as new and imperial  [32]  . Perhaps even more importantly he created a new codification of law which insisted upon creating a written record of laws for the first time. Therefore it is evident that the government serving under Charlemagne did manage to do great and commendable things. It was from the government that Charlemagne managed to patronize the arts, and scholarship and learning. Although there were negatives within the government, I believe the achievements far outweigh them. The Imperial Coronation is a major event in Charlemagnes rule and yet another area which has induced forcible disagreement amongst historians since its occasion in 800. The main argument is centred on the significance of the title in relation to the rest of his rule, and calls into question his role as protector of the Church among other factors. With the imperialization of Charlemagne  [33]  in 800, many historians have questioned whether Charlemagne changed the way he ruled after his coronation. The areas on this question chiefly explored throughout history are multi faceted, but I have identified three main parts to examine. These include changes that were implemented in the government, if any, Charlemagnes personal outlook on the title, and his role as protector of the Church. It is interesting to see how much, or indeed, how little, these three constituents changed after the Imperial coronation of 25th December, 800. We can identify certain techniques that Charlemagne employed in order to carry out his will. In 802 he called a council at Aachen and dispatched his missi in order to examine the religious and moral state of affairs throughout the kingdom. Wilson described his government as a strong, centralised government [with] internal stability  [34]  , which leads us to believe that he was powerful enough to impose any changes effectively upon his dominions. Historians have claimed in their work that there were also changes to the content and style of capitularies after 800. The most famous and extensive of capitularies were the Admonitio Generalis, 789, the Herstal of 799, and capitulary produced at Aachen in 802, dubbed as the Programmatic Capitulary by Ganshof. Historian King tells us how each of these capitularies are released following much unrest in Charlemagnes kingdom, and that most of the rulings are concerned with canon law, monastic life and the like.  [35]  It is to be noted however, that these things are indeed recurrent theme[s with] the problems dealt with in 802 or 789 or 779  [36]  and the ideas are simply repeated over time. Collins informs us that the Admonitio Generalis we can see Charlemagne explicitly claiming responsibility for the moral and spiritual welfare of his realm  [37]  . The content was greatly influenced by a range of councils dating back from the fourth to sixth centuries, and therefore much of it was repetition of ideas and wishes from over the years. Although this is true, Collins admits that the concluding regulationsrepresent new injunctions  [38]  and have not been taken from any earlier documents. Nevertheless no dramatic change in content can be seen. King adds that the previously sought goals in the capitularies had not been altered: order, justice, piety, peace, concord, each conceived in Christian terms, each expressive of Gods will.  [39]  Despite this, we are told that these issues were sought the more determinedly  [40]  by Charlemagne after 800. In opposition to King and Collins, Ganshof argues that in face there was a significant change to the content and style of the capitularies after 800, and also the way in which Charlemagne thought perceived them. He interprets the 802 capitulary issued from Aachen as a bid to create a Christian republic on earth under Charlemagnes authority. He puts particular emphasis on the way it is written, and how some passages are in first person which he claimed was unusual. The parts in first person may be interpreted as issues which Charlemagne held most dear to him, and Ganshof argues that this is due to the Emperor being driven by Imperial responsibility.  [41]  The introduction of the capitulary refers to Charlemagnes intentions of sending out missi, to spread the word of god and encourage people to obey him, and Ganshof uses this as evidence of an Imperial programme of rule. The oath of fidelity is a particularly significant feature of the Programmatic Capitulary, the counterpart to t he Emperors recognition of his own enhanced obligations before God.  [42]  Two years after his coronation, it appears that Charlemagne imposed a greater insistence on the strict enforcement of the established laws  [43]  , and possibly the most significant detail is that the oath was to be taken in the name of the Emperor, not the King. Ganshof implied that a distinction is being made between the Imperial and former royal title. He adds that the language used to draw out the oath in the capitulary is explicitly more spiritual, and this distinguishes it from other oaths sworn in the 890s with Charlemagne as king. I believe that the debate to Ganshofs argument rests in the suggestion that perhaps the sixty-year-old Emperor  [44]  was simply becoming increasingly more aware of his old age. Charlemagne greatly desired salvation and in order to ensure this he knew his responsibility to his people and their beliefs was an important constituent which would seal his fate. Perhaps Charlemagnes focus in his capitularies came more from the anxieties of an old man for awareness of passing years  [45]  , and not as a direct result of his Imperial Coronation, as Ganshof has suggested. Perhaps Charlemagne perceived the Imperial title as a way to enforce other wishes more firmly as Wallace-Hadrill claims that the imperial title meant little or nothing to him outside Rome.  [46]  For example, with his newly acquired status he was able to claim that there were religious dimensions to his military campaigns, which would encourage more people to serve him. Davis tells how Charlemagne; did not go out of his way to seek the Imperial dignity, but accepted it as a responsibility which could not be refused; he employed it, not as a stepping-stone to further aggrandisement, but to legalise power already acquired, to allay the purposeless strife of race against race within his existing dominions, to evoke the consciousness of spiritual brotherhood which afterwards proved so mighty a factor in European development.  [47]   Wallace Hadrill confirms that Charlemagne was fight[ing] for the faith  [48]  , and not solely because of his newly adorned title. In addition, this supremacy enabled him to crown his son Louis, which he hoped would secure his legacy after his death. I believe that the greatest significance of the Imperial coronation lies in the debate as to whether Charlemagnes attitude towards the Church changed after 800. In my personal opinion, there is much evidence from many of the historians which suggests that it did, but still there lies a counter argument. I believe that following the coronation in Rome Charlemagne recognised his responsibilities to God and pursued them with a driving passion  [49]  , and his ambition to create a truly Christian society  [50]  was substantially magnified. There is much evidence to suggest that this is exactly what Charlemagne thought God required of him, and the fact that he was crowned on Christs birthday is appropriate to this. It adds to the belief that Charlemagne saw himself as Christs representative upon earth, and because of this, saw himself as Gods worker among men. The Paderborn Epic  [51]  also may hold evidence to this claim, as the poem refers to Charlemagne as an instrument of St. Peter. The oath of fidelity, released with the capitulary of 802, has been said to have been re-phrased to give it a more religious character and was the counterpart to the Emperors recognition of his own enhanced obligations before God.  [52]   After 800, Charlemagne became worthy of the highest secular dignity that existed under God, and we know that he also continuously claimed responsibility forthe spiritual welfare of his realm.  [53]  Was this however completely owing to the coronation or due to his awareness of an approaching death as an old man? There are continuous implications suggesting that Charles had a terrible awareness that Gods judgment will be conditioned by the conduct of his subjects  [54]  and in his remaining months he spent his time in prayer and alms-giving and spent some of his last hours in correcting books.  [55]  Perhaps therefore this priority of religion had more to do with his hopes for personal redemption and salvation from God, and to attain this, he knew he had to do Gods bidding, and spread the word of Christianity for a Christian republic on Earth. Also toward the end of his reign we know he arranged for the distribution of the treasures and silveramong the twenty-one metropoli tan churches that now existed in his empirefor the good of his soul.  [56]  Nevertheless, it remains certain that Charlemagne was concerned with the problems of the Church and thought it was his duty to protect with his whole mind.  [57]  It is evident that his struggles with Saxony were primarily due to their resistance of Christianity, in preference of paganism. It remains uncertain as to whether his increased Christian mission in his last years were more due to the coronation, and his recognition of being the protector of the church, or simply due to his hopes for salvation after death. Becher however tell us that in gaining the Imperial title, Charlemagne achieved his goal of standing at the head of the Christian world.  [58]   Charlemagne is presented as a king of well-rounded ability and his patronage of the arts compliments his government and religious advances particularly well. The capturing of the Avar treasure meant there was a greater disposable income and as a result of the influx of income patronage of the arts, encouraging scholarship and learning amongst his people, soars in his period. Fichtenau and Wallace-Hadrill suggest there was no significant push in the development of the arts for the first few years in Charlemagnes sovereignty. Rosamond McKitterick continues to say that the patronage of learning could be regarded as one of the obligations of royalty,  [59]  perhaps suggesting that it was not something newly enforced by Charlemagne. On the other hand, she then suggests that his patronage was designed to promote his royal power as a Christian king and to consolidate the faith  [60]  which is shown by the creation of the two schools; the peripatetic school, which Charlemagne travell ed with, and the Hofschule, his court school. Most of the courts activities revolved around religion and the Hofschule even created a new addition to the gospels.  [61]  In addition, Charlemagne began to commission paintings such as the Al Fresco which still survives today in the chapel in Frankia. It overlooks the vault and illustrates Christ sitting in majesty. This represents to us a recurring theme that the arts tended to reflect; Charlemagnes comparison to Christ. Charlemagne however seemed to show a genuine interest in the developments of the arts as he was very interested in music and what was sung in his chapel.  [62]  Charlemagne used his patronage of the arts to improve the image in which other people saw him and successively improve his reputation. Einhard, a dedicated scholar who served both under Charlemagne and Louis the Pious claimed that the Kingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ was a very intelligent man.  [63]  Rosamond McKitterick suggests that it was a period of remark able efflorescence of culture initiated by Charlemagne  [64]  which is shown by the influx of poetry, art, and books produced during his reign. This can allow us to understand more clearly why the scholars in Charlemagnes era were eager to help the king; scholars from all around the globe sought to help him, including Alcuin of York and Paul the Deacon from Italy. The ability to summon such great men from other kingdoms suggests the reputation that preceded Charlemagne. His devotion to scholarly texts, prayer and almsgiving shows the depths of Charlemagnes faith and his desire and motivation to improve his subjects lives. Personally I think that this is an invaluable insight into the character of the king, as we are able to see how driven and determined Charlemagne was to both better the lives of his people, but also his personal reflection of what his duties meant to him. Charlemagnes attention to the arts tended to be quite extravagant and we may infer that he looked upon the subject as a form of propaganda. It suggests that he was very astute in his decision-making of what to commission in order to improve his reputation. It is clear to see that Charlemagne reputes himself with great integrity and achievement and his accomplishments were of great merit. The viewpoints regarding Charlemagnes claim to greatness are of great variation. Finding the distinction between a myth and a truly remarkable man has been difficult to determine throughout the scope of work available to me. Many historians, including Richard Winston who was writ

Disadvantages of television Essay

TV viewing takes away the time that your child needs to develop important skills like language, creativity, motor, and social skills. These skills are developed in the kids’ first two years (a critical time for brain development) through play, exploration, and conversation. A kid’s language skills, for example, do not improve by passively listening to the TV. It is developed by interacting with people, when talking and listening is used in the context of real life. TV viewing numbs your kid’s mind as it prevents your child from exercising initiative, being intellectually challenged, thinking analytically, and using his imagination. TV viewing takes away time from reading and improving reading skills through practice. Kids who watch a lot of TV have trouble paying attention to teachers because they are accustomed to the fast-paced visual stimulation on TV. Kids who watch TV more than they talk to their family have a difficult time adjusting from being visual learners to aural learners (learning by listening). They also have shorter attention spans. School kids who watch too much TV also tend to work less on their homework. When doing homework with TV on the background, kids tend to retain less skill and information. When they lose sleep because of TV, they become less alert during the day, and this results in poor school performance. TV exposes your kid to negative influences, and promotes negative behavior. TV shows and commercials usually show violence, alcohol, drug use and sex in a positive light. The mind of your kid is like clay. It forms early impressions on what it sees, and these early impressions determine how he sees the world and affect his grown-up behavior. For instance, children who are more exposed to media violence behave more aggressively as kids and when they are older. Kids who watch too much TV are usually overweight, according to the American Medical Association. Kids often snack on junk food while watching TV. They are also influenced by commercials to consume unhealthy food. Also, they are not running, jumping, or doing activities that burn calories and increase metabolism. Obese kids, unless they change their habits, tend to  be obese when they become adults. TV watching also affects a child’s health and athletic ability. The more television a child watches, even in the first years of life, the more likely he is to be obese and less muscularly fit, according to a study by the University of Montreal. Even though your kid does not aspire to be a football star, his athletic abilities are important not only for physical health, but predicting how physically active he will be as an adult. Television further restricts an individual indulging in alternative activities such as reading, sports, religion, and active hobbies. Televisions depiction of horror, crime and violence further anaesthetises an individual from the real life problem. As television competes with other activities and experiences in a child’s life, parents role in providing alternatives are crucial. Moreover their own attitudes and beliefs both about television programmes and about life in general are important determinants of children’s response to television. Television may be a socialising force but it interacts in complex ways with all of the other forces in a child’s life to determine the patterns of socialisation for that child.

A Whisper of the Heart

The feature film Whisper of the Heart by Studio Ghibli is about a Fourteen year old girl names Shizuku Tsukishima from a small school on the outskirts of Tokyo and her adventures that lead her to Italy.She is a typical flighty girl who does not apply herself to her studies, instead she uses most of her time reading fairy tales and her work in putting words to the song : â€Å"Take Me Home, Country Roads†.Another thing that preoccupies her is the writing of a fantasy novel that revolves around a cat figurine named The Baron, that she sees at Mr. Nishi’s antique shop. In relation to the quote â€Å" Despite the many exceptions, a general apathy to realism as a style is one explanation for the enormous popularity of manga and anime†, the film gains its audience from the escapist and anti-establishment appeal.For example Shizuku essentially abandons her studies to dedicate herself to writing a book. Given her age, 14, she is only in junior high school, abandoning her studies at this point will have dire consequence for her future.This is essentially a counter-culture in Japan where education is still valued and where many teenagers will beat their heads on the wall in collegiate entrance exam review schools euphemistically called â€Å"Cram Schools† in order to get into the finest universities. Their motivation is because those who come from good school are practically assured of a worthy corporate career.Another instance of this is Seiji a boy, who like Shizuku, abandons the traditional path of success (Study Hard to get a good Job etc.) and chooses to be Luthier. The career has an uncertain future in Japan and requiring an apprenticeship abroad.The films subplot involving a cat named The Baron, in Shizuku’s book is so popular that another film was made about the book. The Movie whisper in the wind is a head in the clouds adventure that many Japanese youths, disenchanted by the failures of the old ways because Japan has been in r ecession for more than a decade, sympathize with despite its unrealistic and flighty plot.