The Tesco store Essay Example

The Tesco store Essay Example The Tesco store Essay The Tesco store Essay As we have chosen to report on Tesco Plc as our main company to research and advise after comparison with competition. We will compare Tesco with one of its closest market rivals; Sainsburys, to provide a analysis of what they are doing better and can learn from in order to compete as well as learn from the others mistakes, and also to consider the direction the company is heading as well as highlight the characteristics Tesco has as a company which makes it the UKs number one retailer. Tesco is a very large company in a very competitive sector. The aim of this report is to advise a shareholder on the performance of the chosen company; Tesco Plc, in order to inform them of the health of the company and advise what action they should take in relation to the companys shares. Many issues will be considered that are internal issues of the company such as its own activities as well as external issues such as competition (Sainsburys) in the market as this will obviously affect share value. We will provide in our report a portfolio of various relevant financial ratios that will help us to analyse the profit and loss accounts, and balance sheets of both companies to understand better which companies shares would be a better investment. We will use the current annual reports of both companies to make comparisons of the performance of both companies, given that the latest annual reports are already out of date by the time they are printed we will also look at other up to date sources of information on the performance of both companies such as news reports, press releases and expert analysis already in existence in order to explain our view of the present position of the company and future trading environment it will operate in. In this report we are aiming to explain why there is such a major difference between these two companies even though they operate in the same industry; using this information in the report we will present our findings and recommendations. We will also include in the appendices of the report additional information such as minutes of our team meetings and financial data. We will also provide with the report the latest annual reports of both companies as they will help the reader to further understand our findings that we base our advise upon. Tesco was founded in 1924 by Sir Jack Cohen. Using his gratuity from his Army service in the Great War he started selling groceries in the markets of Londons East End markets in 1919. The brand name of Tesco made its first appearance on tea packets in the 1920s. The name was based on the initials of T. E. Stockwell who was a partner in the firm of tea suppliers, and the first two letters of Cohen. They opened the first Tesco store in 1929 in Burnt Oak, Edgware. Tesco Stores (Holdings) Ltd was floated on the Stock Exchange in 1947, with a share price of 25p. The price at the beginning of February 2002 was around 2. 42p. modify! By the early 1960s, Tesco had become a household name. Along with groceries they also sold fresh food, household goods and clothing in their stores. Tesco stores were located in the high streets of towns and cities up and down the country. In 1961 Tesco opened the largest store in Europe at the time at 16,500 square feet of shop floor. Given the size of Tesco during the 1960s they should have been able to use their economies of scale such as bulk buying power to reduce costs in order to be able to sell goods at lower prices in order to be more competitive than their competition (especially independent stores) as they do now, but they were restricted up until 1964 when laws that allowed suppliers to insist stores sell their goods at a price set by them (Resale price maintenance) were removed. These laws made it difficult for Tesco to reduce price as the whole purpose of these laws were to protect small stores from being heavily undercut by large chains such as Tesco. A earlier version of the current reward card systems in place at all major chains of supermarkets were trading stamps introduced by Tesco to build a reward system for customers in order to build customer loyalty and entice customers through the ability to make savings. Customers received stamps when they made purchases. Once they had collected enough stamps to complete a book, they had the choice to exchange the book for cash or other gifts. The reward system was later taken up by other companies and still exists now in a more sophisticated form. As well as expanding its chain by opening new stores; Tesco also bought existing chains of stores. In 1960 it bought out a chain of 212 stores in the north of England, then another 144 stores in 1964 and 1965. In 1968 it took over the Victor Value chain of stores. Tesco was first to introduce the concept of a superstore in 1967 by opening a 90,000 square feet store in Westbury, Wiltshire. In retailing the superstore was a new concept; a very large unit on the outskirts of a town, which is designed to provide easy access to customers coming by car or public transport. The term superstore was first used in relation to the Tesco store opened in Crawley, West Sussex, in 1968. Tesco has grown at great speed in size, value and profit since its formation. In 1979, its annual turnover reached i 1. It went on to in 1987 to announce a i 500 million program to build another 29 stores. By 1991, the popularity of Tesco petrol stations at its superstores had made Tesco Britains largest independent petrol retailer. In September of 2002 Tesco launched its own exclusive clothing brand Cherokee in many of its UK stores. The Cherokee brand, along with Florence Fred and Tesco own brand clothing went on to see sales increase by 6 times the market rate. The stores have a diverse range of goods beyond just food and household goods such as clothing, electronics, financial services and petrol to name a few. It has tried to target important niche markets such as organic food that are growing in size.

Cord vs. Chord

Cord vs. Chord Cord vs. Chord Cord vs. Chord By Maeve Maddox Latin chorda referred to catgut used to make the strings of a musical instrument. Chorda entered French with the spelling corde and the meaning â€Å"string for a musical instrument.† English took the word from French, but eventually dropped the e and spelled it cord. In English, cord came to mean different kinds of string or rope. The earliest illustration in the OED (1305) shows that â€Å"a cord† could be used to bind a person hand and foot; by 1330, cord could refer to the hangman’s rope. In modern usage, cord is string composed of several strands twisted or woven together. By cord, modern speakers usually mean a light rope–the kind used for a clothesline–or a thick string–the sort used to wrap a parcel for mailing. In earlier usage, cord could refer to the ropes of a ship. The OED shows that cord was used as a medical term for a body part that resembles a string, for example, a ligament. The homophones cord and chord are often confused–with good reason. As most of the readers of DWT know by now, some of our oddest spellings were born in the 16th century thanks to helpful grammarians who wanted to â€Å"restore† Latin spellings that weren’t missing. My favorite example is the alteration of the perfectly practical English spelling dette (â€Å"something owed†) to debt, to make it â€Å"accord† with Latin debitum. The 16th century tinkerers decided that the spelling chord should replace cord because that was closer to Latin chorda. For a time, medical writers wrote about â€Å"spermatic chords,† â€Å"spinal chords,† and â€Å"umbilical chords,† but modern medical usage prefers the spelling cord. For a time, the spelling cord was also applied to the musical term that meant â€Å"agreement of musical sounds,† or â€Å"a combination of three or more simultaneous notes according the rules of musical harmony.† The musical term was spelled cord for a very good reason: it was a clipping of the word accord, a verb meaning â€Å"to bring into agreement.† Musical â€Å"cords† were sounds that agreed. As it turns out, having different spellings for each term is quite useful. The current usage is: cord: string chord: agreement of musical sounds Unfortunately, some speakers get mixed up when it comes to the anatomical term â€Å"vocal cords†: Do you want to strengthen your weak vocal chords, so you can become an amazing singer? How to Keep Your Vocal Chords in Good Condition Although used to sing, vocal cords are not spelled â€Å"vocal chords.† I’ve two more factoids to share before leaving the fascinating subject of cord: The smokeless explosive called cordite got its name from its â€Å"curiously string-like appearance.† A quantity of wood is called a cord because it was originally measured with a string. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How Many Tenses in English?Confusing "Passed" with "Past"How Many Sentences in a Paragraph?

Letter about a product Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Letter about a product - Essay Example I am looking forward to hearing from Emerson Process Management because I feel that I am a strong candidate for the vacant position. I shall keep you posted about the progress of my application with the aforementioned company. Greetings! I am contacting you today in relation to the job opening of Materials Analyst at your good company. It is by sheer luck that I am currently available to fill the position should you feel that I qualify to do so. I have almost 12 years on the job experience as a Materials Analyst having had the opportunity to work for ABC Processes Incorporated in the same position up until the time of my departure from the company this past January. I have traveled extensively across the United States as a representative for ABC Processes Incorporated and have created a personal network of business connections in the process that can benefit Emerson Process Management whenever necessary. I believe that my attached resume will prove that I am one of the strongest candidates for the open position. I am available to discuss my application and answer any questions you might have about my work experience at your convenience. I am looking forward to hearing from you about an interview date are your most convenient

Human and Animal Interrelationships from Domestication to Presen Term Essay

Human and Animal Interrelationships from Domestication to Presen Term Paper Information - Essay Example It is argued that no discovery has ever matched it. Research indicates that humans can refine or improve wool, but cannot make it. In fact, mankind has done so through selective breeding of sheep, as well as by including wool fabrics. After its invention by primitive humans, ancient tribes in northern Europe began using wool from sheep to manufacture clothes. In fact, wool has been part of England’s history and was woven into cloth during the Bronze Age, which spans to about 1900 B.C. However, this is quite recent in historical terms. In other parts of the world, primitive humans first uses wool which was obtained from domesticated sheep around 10,000 B.C. This discourse will explore the history of the use of wool from ancient times to the present. The history of wool dates back to more than 4,000 years ago when primitive humans first used wooly skins obtained from the domesticated sheep to as cloth. The primitive people relied mainly on hunting and gathering as their main sou rce of food. Afterwards, they began domesticating wild sheep, which they discovered could offer other benefits such as milk and meat. As a result, they began milking the domesticated sheep, the same way it is done in some parts of the world today. When the domesticated sheep shed some of their fleece, the primitive humans would take them (the fleece), spun them, and later wove them into clothing, which they used to protect themselves from excess heat and cold weather. It is then that humans realized that killing sheep for its meat alone was not only a waste of food, but also material. As a result, they ventured into the production of clothes made using the fleece shed by the domesticated sheep (Gleason 24). The use of woolen clothing began to spread to other parts of the world with time. Historians reveal that people in most parts of northern Europe began wearing woolen clothes that were being spun and woven by the local tribesmen way before 10,000 B.C. To spin the wool, these peopl e in would place the wool in one hand and draw it out. This would then be followed by twisting the wool to form threat. This resulted in the formation of a thick yarn. This was followed by the invention of a crude spindle, which enabled the drawn-out yarn to be twisted on the spindle. Even though this method of spinning was used several years ago, most peasant communities around the world still use it today (Burnley 8). Britons were so eager to improve the methods used in weaving wool after some time according to Burnley (12). As a result, they opted to develop a wool industry by around 55 B.C. This meant that the Britons had already built a wool industry by the time the Romans invaded the northern islands. In fact, the Romans were surprised by the quality of woolen clothes that the Britons manufactured in the industry. They even went as far as comparing the woolen clothes with the spider web, in praise of its quality. However, the wool industry was almost destroyed during the Saxon invasion in the fifth century. Reports indicate that Britons soon began exporting woolen fabrics to other parts of Europe after the arrival of the Roman conquerors in 1066. By the turn of the twelfth century, wool had become England’s major asset. Cloth making also spread throughout major towns in England, particularly in major towns in the eastern and southern parts of the country (Burnley 12). Even though cloth making using wool was

Touch of Evil Essay Example for Free

Touch of Evil Essay Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958) attempted to lift the stylish low-budget crime drama form with quality directing, writing, acting, cinematography, soundtrack, and locations, while maintaining the authentic film-noir motif. One of the key elements of film-noir was steamy sexuality, and Touch of Evil exploited this genre feature enthusiastically with lurid and seductive characterizations and scenes of tawdry sexual tension. Touch of Evil takes place in a border town between the USA and Mexico, representing the thin line separating two different cultures and realities. The lead character finds himself in a dilemma when a murder takes just as he and his bride cross the border. He struggles to deal with local officials without ruining his honeymoon, but events conspire against him. The local Sheriff is dishonest, his wife is kidnapped by his enemies, and his murder investigation takes him into an underworld of human misery, corruption, and sleaze. In 1958, interracial relationships were socially unacceptable, perhaps even forbidden in certain sections of America. Hollywood generally avoided the subject until the controversial Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967, Stanley Kramer), almost a decade later. So when Touch of Evil’s opening scene presents a Hispanic man and a Caucasian women, a newly wed couple, it purposely introduces an element designed to produce audience anxiety. When Orson Welles’ character, Sheriff Quinlan, realizes that the characters portrayed by Charleton Heston as Miguel Vargas, a virile Mexican, and Janet Leigh as Suszie, a sexy American, are a honeymooning husband and wife, he snidely comments, â€Å"She dont look Mexican†¦.† Earlier, the Mexican border guards addressed the same issue with similar disdain. These scenes establish interraciality as a socially unaccepted custom in the film’s universe and focuses the audience’s attention and expectation of danger on the issue. The plot soon fulfills the expectation. Vargas, an honest and incorruptible police official, tries to help the local police solve a murder that he and Suzie witnessed as they crossed the border into Mexico in the open scene. In one scene of high sexual tension – and fantasy – Suzie, in seductive lingerie, in the privacy of her hotel room, has phone sex with her husband who has called her from a pay phone. A blind man, adding a titillating voyeurism to the scene overhears the conversation. Matters are complicated when Suzie is kidnapped by criminals with a grudge against Vargas, and Vargas’ dedication to his prosecurial duty and concern for his wife leave him with a dilemma of two separate crises both demanding him to take action. The stakes rise when Vargas becomes convinced that the local sheriff (Welles’ Quinlan) is corrupt and is framing an innocent man. Vargas tries several times to rescue Suzie, which fail and serve to incite the kidnappers to threaten Suzie with sexual degradation, and ultimately places her in even greater danger of being murdered. The result of these events on top of the smoldering relationship between the main characters is a story that produces a story environment of smoldering sexuality that produces scenes rife with sexual anxiety. Sources consulted: â€Å"Touch of Evil† http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052311 retreived Oct. 16, 2007 Ebert, Roger. Review of â€Å"Touch of Evil† September 13, 1998 http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19980913/REVIEWS08/401010367/1023

Aurora is a Typical Teenager in Among The Mourners Essay -- essays res

Aurora is a Typical Teenager in Among The Mourners In the classical short story 'Among the Mourners', written by Ellen Gilchrist, a thirteen year old female deals with 'difficult' times. Aurora, the protagonist, is an average teenager who is faced with emotions of mortification and lust. 'Among the Mourners' conveys Aurora's feelings through the wake her parents have at her house, her new boyfriend, Giorgio, and her parent's marriage. Many times Aurora seems to be being over-dramatic through actions towards her family and boyfriend. Also, Aurora has the predisposition to tell lies, extend the truth, or even make her own belief up about a particular event. Finally, like any adolescent boy or girl, Aurora is boy crazy. Therefore, Aurora is a typical teenager because she is over-dramatic, stretches the truth, and is boy crazy. Aurora tends to over dramatize a lot of events taking place. At the wake her father was holding because a close friend, Mr. Alter, had committed suicide, ?[Aurora] was mortified? (93) because ?there were cars parked all over the yard and police cars in the driveway? (93). One can say that under the circumstances it was expected for people to draw together, to pay reverence to a love one, but Aurora saw it as an inconvenience or an embarrassment. As well as when Mr. Seats, a close friend of Mr. Alter, came to stay, Aurora did not want to give up her room, she states ?I did not kill him. Why should I give up my room (94). Again, Aurora makes a big deal over giving up her room, in understandable circumstances. In addition, when she describes her new boyfriend, Giorgio, ?[he] speaks about fifteen languages and he is so good-looking [one] wouldn?t believe it? (93), her description goes a little too far, bec... ... ?Among the Mourners?, one can see Aurora acts as a typical teenager. She over dramatizes many events in her life, just as if the world is coming to an end. Likewise, Aurora stretches the truth to get what she wants or to possibly get attention. Still, she is boy crazy and curious of what the opposite sex has to offer with her relationship with Giorgio. Aurora is a typical teenager, just like any teenager in today?s times. Many teenagers tend to get embarrassed or become over-dramatic for attention. Also, telling lies to get what they want, because normally teenagers feel as if they are more responsible that what people give them. In Aurora?s case was she was Gifted and Talented. In short, teenagers today end up experimenting or even getting pregnant at a young age, therefore, it is not surprising for Aurora to be curious. Nonetheless, Aurora is a typical teenager.

Effective partnership working Essay

A partnership is an arrangement between two or more groups, organizations or individuals to work together to achieve common aims. Effective partnership working must have some sort of personal stake in the partnership. All partners should work towards the same goal. The partners should have similar system of beliefs and work together over a reasonable period of time. Partners should understand the value of what each of them can contribute to the set aim. Both should respect and trust each other. Partnership working also shares creativity, and responsibility. Working together can highlight different issues, problem and solutions and there is more potential for productivity or effectiveness. All partners must always tell each other what is planned and consult everything together before making any decisions. They must act together as everyone working towards the same outcome. 1.2 Working in partnership with colleagues it’s very important .We all need to work in the same way and be consistent. People I work with on daily basis are the best source of advice and information needed when some issues may arise. By working together I am able to see all recorded information and being able to use them when needed .Communication within the home is a key to effective support .By working together everyone can be supported and all ideas can be taken into consideration on meetings and solving issues become easiest. Working with other professionals like Learning Disability team or Intensive support team also gives me a different point of view on situation and this way I receive support from qualified and understanding people. I can share information and seek advice .This way I get an excellent feedback and much needed support .Some individuals have a complex needs which are very difficult to cope and seeking support from others is very important .Organization receive different training and do specialize in giving help .Therefore maintaining good relationship with them is important to provide the quality support for Service Users. Working in partnership with advocates is needed when Individuals have a lack of capacity and have no one who can act on their behalf . Working together with independent advocates shows that setting follows the guidelines and regulations .Independent person can see the different point of the situations discussed and help to decide what is  the best for the person concerned .As a support staff will share all relevant information with them and act on the best interest of the individual. Working with families, Service users, friend of individuals give me a never ending source of information’s so I’m able to provide the care they want .By working together we gain information and that can help make Individuals live easier in the care setting. This way parents feel valued and respected. Parents and family feel comfortable when visiting the setting talking to and planning with workers .Every opinion must be valued and treated seriously as we all want the best for the Service Users .Talking and working together with individuals gives us a chance to get to know they likes and dislikes and be able to make them happy. 1.3 Partnership is about relationship between people and the aim of it is to achieve what couldn’t be achieved alone. By working together we build a relationship. We improve outcomes and achieve more equal life for the individuals and better future for them. Because everyone works together Service User can feel safe and have choice of where and how they want to live. As staff I need to listen to them and give them choice and information’s must be available in the right format .Individuals feel valued and respected. They know that there is a lot of different people who are happy to help and give advice .It also makes staff feel more valued as they have they say and their opinion is more valued what means that they are more happy to stay in the work place like that.

Judaism and Passover

* This essay will describe Passover a Jewish Holy Days. This essay will discuss the time of the year of the holy day(s), the historic origin of the holy day(s), and the religious practices associated with the day(s). This essay will also identify the theological or cultural differences that may lead to differences in the observance of the holy day by the various branches of Judaism. * Passover is a Jewish holidays, best known maybe because Christian history, the Last Supper was said to be a Passover meal. The last and greatest of the plagues is the death of the first-born sons of the Egyptians.The Israelite’s son weren’t killed because they have followed Yahweh’s warning and have marked the doors of their homes with the blood of a substitute – a sacrificial lamb (Exod. 12:13). Because God has â€Å"passed over† Egypt, the event is thereafter called the Passover or Pesach, and its yearly memorial has become one of the major Jewish festivals. Passover begins on the 15th day of Nissan (Nissan is 30 days between March-April). Passover is the first of the three major holidays (Passover, Shavu’ot and Sukkot) with both historical and agricultural significance.Historically Passover observes the Exodus from Egypt after many years as slave to the Egyptians, as told in Exodus. Agricultural receives little attention, it is the beginning of the harvest season in Israel. The weeklong holiday of Passover starts on the first lunar month and may have originally begun as a renewal springtime nature day. It recalls the Hebrew’s escape from Egypt slavery. Placing lamb blood from the Passover meal, as told in Book of Exodus, over the doors of the Hebrews, keeps the angel of death from killing their first born sons and the power of God â€Å"passed over† Egypt.The Passover Meal is a memorial meal, the Seder or order, at which Jews eat several symbolic foods (bread, a meal, salad of nuts and fruits). The bread, a thin flat bread called matzah, does not have yeast. Matzah shows how there was no time for bread to rise in the Hebrews’ rush to leave Egypt. This is also refer to as chametz (leaven; sounds like â€Å"hum it's† with that Scottish â€Å"ch†), it symbolizes a way of removing the â€Å"puffiness, arrogance, pride† from their souls. Chametz includes anything made from the five major grains (wheat, rye, barley, oats, and spelt) that have not been completely cooked within 18 minutes after coming into contact with water† (Judaism 101). A shank bone of lamb or other animal is in the meal, symbolizing the sacrificial lamb. A salad of nuts and fruits, or haroseth, symbolizes the mortar used by the Hebrews in their forced labor. To remember the suffering of the Hebrews during their oppression, diners dip parsley in saltwater and eat bitter herbs. During the meal the story of Moses, and the Israelites is retold.A place and cup of wine is set up at the table for the prophet E lijah, â€Å"actions representing the hope that he will return to earth to announce the coming of the Messiah. A delicious meal follows the ritual part of the supper. Today many Jews invite non-Jews to share in their Seder and celebration of Jewish customs† (Molloy (2010)). The text of the Passover seder is written in a book called the Haggadah. â€Å"Orthodox Jews of Ashkenazic background also avoid rice, corn, peanuts, and legumes (beans) as if they were chametz.All of these items are commonly used to make bread, thus use of them was prohibited to avoid any confusion. Such additional items are referred to as kitniyot† (Judaism 101). * In conclusion this essay described Passover. The essay discussed the time of the year of the holy day(s), the historic origin of the holy day(s), and the religious practices associated with the day(s). This essay also identified the theological or cultural differences that may lead to differences in the observance of the holy day by the various branches of Judaism.

Denial of Death essays

Denial of Death essays One of the major focuses of Don DeLillios White Noise is death. In this novel DeLillio over emphasizes the concept of death and the fear mankind has of it. He plays on our fear of death and the reality and certainty we have of our own demise. Through two of his main characters, Jack and Babette, DeLillio demonstrates this fear irrationally. Their phobia of death causes both characters to develop plots to avoid and deny their own deaths. All plots tend to move deathward(p26). This is very ironic logic that DeLillio has Jack use in his discussion with the department heads. Jack plotted to create an image for himself. Jacks whole personification is one that is larger than life, therefore larger than death. After all he walks the campus in a dark, flowing robe and wearing large dark glasses. He is known as J.A.K. Gladney, the originator of Hitler studies, a role in which he can hide from life. This is a concept most individuals are guilty of. We create a public image, a personification, of who we want the world to believe we are. Though not grand as Jacks our personifications allows us to hide our deepest fears and to create a shield between the world and us. In his professional life Jack is able to disguise himself from death. This superficial personification does not shield him from deaths watch at home. He and Babette enjoy a marriage that allows them to talk openly and intimately about everything, except death; their deepest fear. Who will die first. This is a question that comes up from time to time.(p15) Neither character wants to be the last to die. To die first would be easier. To die last would be to die alone. To die alone is the ultimate betrayal. Abandoned by the one you love, whether it is because they preceded you in death or for other reasons is probably the most devastating experience any human being could imagine. This is one o ...

Weapons Used by Pirates

Weapons Used by Pirates Pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy, which lasted roughly from 1700-1725, employed a variety of weapons to carry out their high-seas thievery. These weapons were not unique to pirates but were also common on merchant and naval vessels at the time. Most pirates preferred not to fight, but when a fight was called for, the pirates were ready! Here are some of their favorite weapons. Cannons The most dangerous pirate ships were those with several mounted cannons - ideally, at least ten. Large pirate ships, such as Blackbeards Queen Annes Revenge or Bartholomew Roberts Royal Fortune had as many as 40 cannons on board, making them a match for any Royal Navy warship of the time. Cannons were very useful but somewhat tricky to use and required the attention of a master gunner. They could be loaded with large cannonballs to damage hulls, grapeshot or canister shot to clear decks of enemy sailors or soldiers, or chain shot (two small cannonballs chained together) to damage enemy masts and rigging. In a pinch, just about anything could be (and was) loaded into a cannon and fired: nails, bits of glass, rocks, scrap metal, etc. Hand Weapons Pirates tended to favor lightweight, quick weapons which could be used in close quarters after boarding. Belaying pins are small bats used to help secure ropes, but they also make fine clubs. Boarding axes were used to cut ropes and wreak havoc in rigging: they also made for lethal hand-to-hand weapons. Marlinspikes were spikes made of hardened wood or metal and were about the size of a railroad spike. They had a variety of uses onboard a ship but also made handy daggers or even clubs in a pinch. Most pirates also carried sturdy knives and daggers. The hand-held weapon most commonly associated with pirates is the saber: a short, stout sword, often with a curved blade. Sabers made for excellent hand weapons and also had their uses on board when not in battle. Firearms Firearms such as rifles and pistols were popular among pirates, but of limited use as loading them took time. Matchlock and Flintlock rifles were used during sea battles, but not as often in close quarters. Pistols were much more popular: Blackbeard himself wore several pistols in a sash, which helped him intimidate his foes. The firearms of the era were not accurate at any distance but packed a wallop at close range. Other Weapons Grenadoes were essentially pirate hand-grenades. Also called powder flasks, they were hollow balls of glass or metal which were filled with gunpowder and then fitted with a fuse. Pirates lit the fuse and threw the grenade at their enemies, often with devastating effect. Stinkpots were, as the name suggests, pots or bottles filled with some stinking substance: these were thrown onto the decks of enemy ships in the hope that the fumes would incapacitate the enemies, causing them to vomit and retch. Reputation Perhaps a pirates greatest weapon was his reputation. If the sailors on a merchant ship saw a pirate flag that they could identify as, say, Bartholomew Roberts, they would often immediately surrender instead of putting up a fight (whereas they might run from or fight a lesser pirate). Some pirates actively cultivated their image. Blackbeard was the most famous example: he dressed the part, with a fearsome jacket and boots, pistols and swords about his body, and smoking wicks in his long black hair and beard that made him look like a demon: many sailors believed he was, in fact, a fiend from Hell! Most pirates preferred not to fight: fighting meant lost crew members, damaged ships and perhaps even a sunken prize. Often, if a victim ship put up a fight, pirates would be harsh to the survivors, but if it surrendered peacefully, they would not harm the crew (and could even be quite friendly). This was the reputation that most pirates wanted. They wanted their victims to know that if they handed over the loot, they would be spared. Sources Cordingly, David. New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks, 1996 Defoe, Daniel (Captain Charles Johnson). A General History of the Pyrates. Edited by Manuel Schonhorn. Mineola: Dover Publications, 1972/1999. Konstam, Angus. The World Atlas of Pirates. Guilford: The Lyons Press, 2009 Konstam, Angus. The Pirate Ship 1660-1730. New York: Osprey, 2003. Rediker, Marcus. Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age. Boston: Beacon Press, 2004. Woodard, Colin. The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down. Mariner Books, 2008.

Use of sound and music in the film Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock Research Paper

Use of sound and music in the film Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock - Research Paper Example When music and sound are used efficiently in a movie, a certain flow that comes up that makes the movie seem to fit better. The 1960 Alfred Hitchcock horror movie ‘Psycho’ is a perfect example of movies massively relying on the process and technique of music and sound editing (Khairy 09). The ultimate aim of this context is to examine the use of sound and music in the movie Psycho. It specifically looks on how music and sound was used to convey suspense. To begin with, Alfred Hitchcock is believed to be the ‘master of suspense’ and an immense leader. Psycho created in 1960 was one of his great movies that were one top ten of the American Film Institute’s top breathtaking films (Kolker 12). Hitchcock has a tendency of using suspense and tension to shock his audience. He achieves this through efficient use of cinematography and correct position of camera, use of movement, angles and shots. He also managed to employ scary music and lighting when he intended to shock his audience or generate suspense (Schickel and Capra 29). However, he misleads his audience to come up with shock but at least that is expected in a horror movie. At the start of the film, Marion Crane and Sam Loom are seen in the bedroom together. This seemed to suggest that it was a love and romantic story but after stealing the money from her boss, then it is believed the genre of the movie is about crime. Nevertheless, the genre of this film was not about romance or even crime, it was a thriller where the main character died a third way through the film. That is too shocking and unexpected because she was the main character and a good person as well (Kolker 12). Another suspense and shock came when the audience realized that Norman Bates dresses like his â€Å"mother† in women’s clothing, which comes up odd and bizarre. Besides, untrue suspense makes shocks more shocking in the sense that the audience never