Sainsburys Supermarket Consumer Analysis

Sainsburys Supermarket Consumer Analysis A super market is the One-Stop-provider of almost all the day to day basic necessities of any regular consumer in the given market industry. These necessities include the food items, drinks, toiletries, household stuff etc. Hence all you need to run your houses daily. These supermarkets have now further developed themselves by providing clothings, shoes etc. One of the leading names in the UK supermarket industry is Sainsburys. J. Sainsbury plc is the parent company of Sainsburys Supermarkets Ltd, commonly known as Sainsburys (also Sainsbury and JS); this is the third largest chain of super stores in the United Kingdom with a market share of 16.3%. The groups Head Office is located at Holborn in Central London. 1.2. Operations: Founded in 1869 by John James Sainsbury along with his wife Mary Ann in London and then gradually grew to become the largest grocery retailer by 1922. The company has a chain of stores with 537 supermarkets and 335 convenience stores, hence a total of 872 stores in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, including Hypermarkets (super large stores- Sainsburys stores- main plus), Sainsburys Central and Sainsburys local (supermarket and local convenient stores format main mission). The company has been eyeing the opportunity of expanding its business outside the UK. Especially the hyper potential in Asia (especially South East Asia and China). By analyzing Tescos huge success in the market outside UK, Sainsburys venture might not be far away. The Sainsburys family has 15% shares of J Sainsbury plc (as of May 2008) The major family shareholder is Lord Sainsbury of Turville holding 5.83% and Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover who holds almost 3% of the companys shares. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index (July 12, 2010http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainsburys) In this report we have analyzed Sainsburys on the basis of its financial performance through Studying its last 2 years financials Making necessary observations Comparing its financial performance with the market leader Tesco Commenting on the strengths and weaknesses as interpreted through their figures / ratios etc. Calculating the WACC for Sainsburys Keeping in view the over saturated industry of supermarkets, it was needed that Sainsburys should venture into something new to increase its profit margins and gives the companys portfolio some diversity. A new project suggesting that Sainsburys should open its Sainsburys Travels and Tours has been discussed and a formal report which analyzes the idea and calculates the projects NPV has been approved by the board and given a go ahead. A format for quarterly report has been suggested for business updates of the new project every quarter. Market Position. The Sainsburys is the UKs oldest major food retailer with their first store opened in 1869. It strives to keep up with its trusted heritage of quality with best services. The management has a continuous approach towards work with responsibility. They attempt to provide fresh food and innovate with respect to customers needs. It serves over 18.5 million customers every week. The large stores offer over 30000 products along with complementary Non-Food products e.g. the TU clothing range which has over 1 million transactions every week. Along with other services, an Internet based shopping service has also been made available, keeping in trend with the changing requirements o the customers, to almost 90% of UK households. In 1995, Tesco overtook Sainsburys to become the market leader, and Asda became the second largest in 2003, demoting Sainsburys into third place. (July 12, 2010http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainsburys) (http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=12) 2. Sainsbury Financial Structure and Performance: Sainsburys is the 3rd largest UK super market with Tesco and Asda as its closest competitors holding positions as No. 1 and No. 2 respectively. Presently Sainsburys is operating in 872 stores across UK with 150,000 employees Sainsburys closes its financial year in the third week of March every year. The tools used are the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash flow statement with the Notes to the Financial Statements. The financial analysis of any company helps determine the financial standing of the company and helps in making decisions and plan future strategy and projects on its basis The financial figures show a reasonable increase in sales. The gross profit showed a decline from 2007 to 2008 but is again on increasing trend in 2009. Balance sheet shows growth in goodwill and shares and decrease in the borrowings. This might have been due to increase in the interest rates. Cash flows show a significant increase in cash in hand which shows the company is stably liquid to handle its operations smoothly. Also the increase is due to sale of its stores. 2.1. Comparison with Market Leader Tesco: 2.1.1. Ratio Analysis: Ratio analysis of any company provides very important information regarding the companys financial standing, financial strengths /weaknesses. They are calculated to compare a companys progress against other rivals of the industry as well as its previous performance. The ratios measure The profitability of the business The Performance The quality of companys performance A companys ability to meet the short term obligations A companys debt burden Value of business / Investment 2.1.2. Management: Tesco is the market leader in UK supermarket industry holding almost 31% of the market. The 1st Tesco store was opened in 1929, in Edgware, Middlesex, UK. Since then it has gradually grown in to being the largest supermarket chain in the UK with almost 2200 stores in UK with over 285,000 employees. Since the mid 90s S, Tesco has been investing in new markets overseas, finding new opportunities for growth and means of generating long term returns for shareholders. The group operates in 13 markets outside the UK, in Europe, Asia and North America, and also announced their entry into the Indian market last year, where they are planning to establish cash carry business. 2.1.3. Financial strength: Both Sainsbury and Tesco have strong balance sheets, equipped with tangible real estate assets. This collateral allows them to borrow at lower rates and generate cash through sale-and-leaseback schemes if required. Both the companys are operating in a saturated market. Sainsburys almost 90% of revenue is consumed in COGS leaving from 5% to 6.5% in lieu of gross profit margin and even the other expenses are insignificant comparatively still the company is left with 1.5% to 1.9% of net profit. For Tesco, the situation is not very different from Sainsburys. Here the gross profit margin is 7% which is a little better from Sainsburys. The current ratios and Quick ratios of both the companys are below 1 which is not a healthy trend. In order to obtain any finance the company should have a stable solvency indicator. The debt ratio indicates that how much of the firms assets are being financed by the debt. Both the companys show a stable debt ratio of 20% to 30%. The debt to equity ratio measures the risk involved in investing in the particular company. Sainsburys shows an acceptable debt to equity ratio of almost 50% but Tesco comparably has a huge debt to equity ratio of 91 which might be because of its full throttle expansion in international markets. Most financiers analyze the company balance sheet before making an investment decision. The prime motive to check if the companys Capital Gearing is right. Capital Gearing is the relationship between Equity and Debt. It is always considered good for a company to have a reasonable Equity base to a business, as insurance against unexpected losses. This is to minimize the risk as much as possible. If a company has a Gearing of no more than 50% 67% of their Gross Assets from Debt, depending on the risk associated with the business, it is considered acceptable. The higher the gearing, the more vulnerable the company is to the impact of increased interest rates. Tesco and Sainsbury both show a sound gearing and though Sainsbury is more healthier to be invested upon, Tesco as well is well within the Good Gearing Grounds The interest coverage of both companys show a very healthy standing to meet their interest payments deadlines. http://www.financesoutheast.com/ From above comparison it is clear that retail industry is highly saturated and it is nearly impossible for the companies to earn super profits. Effective cost control techniques need to be applied and monitored on regular basis to improve profitability. Sainsburys have improved turnover at a rate of 5.5% a year. Profits have grown even faster; increasing by 6.7%. Tesco has a little edge based on earning slightly higher profits and showing rapid growth. Both the companies need to improve upon their debt structuring, especially Tesco and hence gradually improve their liquidity ratios. 2.1.4. Growth potential: So far, Sainsburys has only concentrated on its business in the UK while Tesco has increased its operations in 14 countries. But we should not conclude that Sainsbury is lacking in growth opportunities. Sainsburys has two procurement offices in China but again no one is sure as to when Sainsburys will be able to achieve increased growth and improved profit margin without international expansion. Sainsbury has performed well by adding innovative non-food products and banking services, but competition is tough and increasing in these areas, too Tesco, on the other hand, may have more growth opportunities in progressing Asian market and elsewhere, but its also a much bigger entity than Sainsbury. For example, during last one year Tesco had  £56.9 billion in turnover as compared to  £19.9 billion for Sainsbury. Sainsburys has been concentrating on UK store expansion rather than overseas growth. It has increased the total number of stores from 583 in 2004 to 872 today. Today, Sainsburys need to emphasize on its domestic growth and increase its store efficiencies, which is not an easy task, but it is more achievable than managing and controlling a group of international locations with diverse tastes and demands. http://www.tescoplc.com/plc/about_us/strategy/international/ http://www.fool.co.uk/news/investing/company-comment/2010/07/16/a-foolish-fracas-sainsbury-vs-tesco.aspx 3. Weighted Average Cost of Capital: Debt Equity 2,357 (Long term debt) 18.64m (shares) * 345 (share price) = 6,431 3.1. Equity: No. of shares outstanding: 1,864 (m) Current market price per share: 345 Market Value of equity: 1,864 * 345 = 6431 http://www.google.com/finance?q=LON:SBRY http://www.digitallook.com/companyresearch/10079/Sainsbury_(J)/share_prices.html http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/rates-bonds/government-bonds/uk/ http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=23 We calculate the cost of equity through Dividend Growth Model Which is Ke = [Do (1 + g) / (MV-Ex Div)] g Where Ke = cost of equity Do = Dividend given = 14.20 (pence) MV = Market value = 345 (pence) Ex. Div = Ex Dividend = 10.20 (pence) g = growth rate = 7.6% Cost of equity: [14.20(1+0.076) / (345 10.2)] 0.076 Ke = 12.11% 3.2. Debt: Book value of Debt: 2,135 1,074 @ 4.98% 861 @ 2.36% 171 @ 4.25% 251 @ 4.3% Kd = 3.90% http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/ar10/downloads/pdf/Sainsburys_AR10_note_20_borrowings.pdf 3.3. WACC: V K V * K Debt 2357 3.90% 9192 Equity 6431 12.11% 77879 Total 8788 87071 Sum VK / Sum V = 87071 / 8788 = 9.91% 4. Project: 4.1. Opening up of Sainsburys Travel and Tours: Sainsbury has always aimed to be the consumers first choice for food, delivering quality products with great service at a competitive cost. The company is striving to achieve the objective of leading margins with diverse market and delivering strong profits every year. The values of Sainsburys are defined in their website as The values of the Sainsburys brand passion for healthy, safe, fresh and tasty food, our focus on delivering great products at fair prices, a history of innovation and leadership and a strong regard for the social, ethical and environmental effects of our operation have continued to stand the test of time. Five principles are at the core of Sainsburys business: The best for food and health Sourcing with integrity Respect for our environment Making a positive difference to our community A great place to work. These principles provide differentiation from our major competitors and define and direct all our activities. http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=14 Keeping the tradition of the best services, the management has decided to venture into the ever growing market of Travel and Tourism industry with opening up of Sainsburys Travels and Tours. The idea of opening up a Travel Services business branch of Sainsburys is based on the news of Sainsburys opening up its Travel Clinics in mid 2008. The clinics were established in outlets initially offering free consultation with nurses offering different injections and health products with advise for people travelling to countries requiring vaccinations and immunization from infections like flu, malaria etc. These products were offered at significantly cheaper prices than in any specialist clinics. http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/resources/industry-news/general-travel/sainsbury-s-launches-travel-clinics-in-21-of-its-supermarkets/a-3-143-1264/ The Sainsburys Travels and Tours will provide the company to excel and achieve its strategic goals on the basis The supermarket industry has become fairly saturated in the UK and at present Sainsburys is eyeing to expand itself in the International market but it will be a while before it actually does. The Travel industry is a growing market and has a huge potential of growth. The new product will benefit the company earn huge profitability margins which are becoming hard to achieve I the supermarket industry. The Sainsburys has a huge loyal customer base which will be utilized for promotions and marketing purpose. The project has a high probability of success given a chance of a fresh new product offered by a supermarket chain. The company will use its existing huge customer base for the travel services marketing and promotion. The existing nectar loyalty card database will help the management to design the product, offerings, travel and tour packages as per the preferences. 4.1.1. Project Description and Key Elements: The project will have a Head Office (With the existing HQ of Sainsburys at Holborn Circus, London) have initially total 3-4 rooms allocated. The HQ office will have 7 employees. Initially only limited stores and selected cities will be setup with the Sainsburys Travels and Tour Desk with one person behind the counter. The Six major cities (with respect to area / population) i.e. London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Belfast and Cardiff covering the whole of UK will be set up initially for kick off of the Travel and Tour Services. 10 stores in London and 5 stores in the remaining cities will be setup for providing the services. Each of these cities will have a team of 2 people, 1 within the store premises (as mentioned above) and the other for monitoring and reporting purpose. The number of employees will gradually be increased as per requirements with the project evolvement. http://www.ukcities.co.uk/populations/ 4.1.2. Initial Investment Cost: Initial Investment Cost Cost of IATA Membership (http://www.iata.org/membership/Pages/fees.aspx) 33,500 GPB Total Staff 27 Computers http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/iip_notebooks?c=ukcs=ukbsdt1l=ens=bsdCID=41142LID=1069631DGC=ST 650 * 27 = 17,550 GBP (including VAT and Delivery) Server http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?b=c=ukcs=ukbsdt1l=enoc=PE2T610Rs=bsd 2,800 GBP (including VAT and Delivery) Software http://www.britishsoft.co.uk/?gclid=CMmGudvPgaMCFSU_lAodWH6Zdg 940 GBP (including VAT and Delivery) Total Initial Cost 54,790 GBP 4.1.3. Other Costs: Type of cost Cost Amount Remarks Salary for 1st year 450,000 Inc. of 7.5% each year Brochures / Stationary / Equipment 20,000 Inc. of 10% each year Marketing Budget 250,000 Inc. of 15% every year 4.1.4. Assumptions: We assume that Sainsbury will initially target the high spenders from its customer database and target them for the promotions and marketing materials (leaflets etc.) Initially the holiday packages and tours will be offered for 5 big holiday destinations including Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia, Barbados and Spain. The packages the calculations are based include a general deal for 4 people for 7 days. The holiday packages for these destinations cost as follows (based on holiday packages offered by Expedia. Destination Price for Customer (average) http://packageholidays.expedia.co.uk//tt.aspx Actual Cost (with Sainsburys profit margin @ 24 (Price 24%) http://www.thomascookgroup.com/annual-reports Egypt 1150 (GBP) [ 286.5 GBP per person] 874 GBP Turkey 728 (GBP) [182 GBP Per Person] 553 GBP Tunisia 1200 GBP [ 300 GBP per person] 912 GBP Barbados 3120 GBP [780 GBP per person] 2371 GBP Spain 1000 GBP [ 250 GBP per person] 760 GBP We assume that Sainsbury will succeed on selling on 110 of these above mention packages for each country. Annual Revenues will be 718900 GBP We assume that annual revenues will increase by 12% (2% more than the average growth in Sainsburys revenues which is 9.4% given the growth potential in the industry) Operating cost will include the salaries of the employees, day to day business running expenses etc. since we are sharing the premises of existing Sainsburys stores and HQ so there will be no extra operating cost except the salaries. As per the National Statistics Online, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is at 3.2% and the Retail Price Index (RPI) is at 5.0%. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=19. The growing inflation rates have a direct negative effect on the customers ability to spend on leisure and holidays. Although consumers have gradually developed this sense of planning ahead and saving for their Holidays. Effective Tax rate of 28% is applied. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/corp.htm 4.2. Identification of Risk and Uncertainty: In any new project, one is never sure about 100% results. If the project is based on Risk then we might expect somewhat certain results based on previous data. The cash flows based on Risk might be forecasted and the associated possibilities are also known but in case of uncertainty the outcome is unknown and hence the related probabilities are also unknown. A study conducted with a few managers showed that they think risk is manageable if you have right information, sufficient knowledge about the project, and if the person is experienced in the particular field. Most of them stressed on the importance of alternatives, collecting more information and checking different aspects of the problem, along with being actively involved to reduce the risk.. (IAENG International Journal of Computer Science, 32:4, IJCS_32_4_12) It is the attempt to manage both the known-unknowns and unknown-unknowns. Preparation for and managing the risk is the result of what is unsure and unknown-decision risk. 4.2.1. Affects of Risk and Uncertainty on proposed project: Lets consider the following aspects while making decision based on risk for the Sainsburys Travels and Tours What can go Wrong? The Sainsburys already has an established huge no. of loyal customers who would be happy to have an option o a different kind of service offered from their trust worthy service provider. The expectation for a stable turnover is based on the fact that it is an established name offering a new product on the basis of its goodwill. How likely it is to happen? The expected growth can be effected by increasing inflation rates. The Travel Industry faced a huge blow after 9-11 incident. What are the consequences? Any unforeseen incident like this (God forbid) will have long lasting effects on the companys growth, profitability and future expansions and plans. http://www.robustdecisions.com/decision-making-tools/risk-vs-uncertainty.php 5. Calculation of NPV: NPV is a technique where cash inflows which are expected in comming years are discounted back to their present value. This is calculated by through a discount rate equal to the interest that was to be received on the sums, in case the inflows had been saved, or the interest that has to be borne by the firm on the borrowings. In case of more then one project appraisal, the firm should choose the one that produces the highest NPV. 5.1. Sainsburys Travels and Tours Expected Cash Flows (for 3 years): The project has a positive NPV which is a healthy sign for the project. It can be proceeded with. The project is going to be beneficial for the company and add to the shareholders value. A positive NPV means that the project is worthwhile because the cost of tying up the firms capital is compensated for by the cash inflows that result. http://www.bized.co.uk/timeweb/reference/using_experiments.htm 6. Quarterly Report Format: As per the requirement of the board every quarter a report has to be sent for updated performance and progress information. The report has to serve the purpose of giving a complete up to date data to be analyzed by the board. A company analysis gives a complete performance and financial picture of the company. The report should include all the data necessary to quickly compare it with the major competitors. 6.1. Reporting Layouts: The report will be in Excel sheet format. The Information provided will be in different excel sheets in the same document each covering a preceding quarter to give convenient comparisons Title of the report: Sainsburys Travels and Tours Addressed to: Date: from -/-/- to -/-/-: Date of submission: Submitted by: 6.1.1. Holiday Packages Bookings: 6.1.4. Comparison of Actual and Forecasted performance: The calculation of the Sainsburys Travels and Tours project NPV has been made by going through the three years forecasted figures of the company which show that it is progressing towards a high performing entity with reasonable growth in profit. Although with the growth of the company eventually it will require to use more resources in term of offices, employees, equipment, marketing budget etc. but the current performance clearly suggests that it will very strongly bear all the changes and keep on showing a steady growth. 7. Conclusion: Sainsburys is one of the key players of the existing supermarket industry in UK. This report gives an overview of its performance during the last couple of years, dealing with the financial figures we have tried to analyze the financial standing and strength and the comparison with the main market leader Tesco gives a fair idea of both the companys approach towards business. Although Sainsburys has not yet ventured into the International market but the step might not b that far away keeping in mind the huge success TESCO has had in the international market. Sainsburys has a huge loyal customer base. The suggested new service product through Sainsburys Travel and Tours will provide these customers to utilize yet another trustworthy service by their trusted name. The growing Travel and Tours market will definitely have a positive effect on the Sainsburys portfolio by increasing its profits and hence strengthening its business.

The End of Innocence in Lord of the Flies Essay examples -- Lord Flies

The End of Innocence in Lord of the Flies    William Golding wrote the novel Lord of the Flies "to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature."(Golding) He wanted to show that humans naturally live in savagery and ignorance with little knowledge on how to live together peacefully. To accomplish his premise Golding strands a group of boys on an island who then must set up government in an attempt to survive.   The story uses heavy symbolism to compare the life on the island to the entire civilization of the world.    Each character on the island represents one aspect of civilized society; those who represent uninhibited man survive and those who represent intellectual or spiritual man die.   One of the more terrifying deaths is that of Simon who symbolizes the spiritual side of humanity. Simon is a prophet. He alone saw what the others were becoming and he alone knew that the beast, feared by all the children, was in fact humanities own inner savagery. Fear was the driving force on the island, it was this fear that kept Simon from telling the others of the "true beast", he knew that if he told them they would turn against him.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   All through the book Simon is one of the few boys who works for the good of the group and never runs off during a job to go have fun. Simon sincerely cares about the other boys. He often helps the "littluns" retrieve the quality fruit from high in the trees, yet "Simon turned away from them and went where the jest perceptible path led him."(61) Simon loves his solitude, he often wonders off into the jungle to be alone. "The assembly grinned at the thought of going out into the darkness. Then Simon stood up and Ralph looked at him in astonishment."(93) Sim... ...arked in a ritual and primitive dance. When the barely visible Simon came down from the mountain to tell the others of his discovery, he was thought to be the beast. As Simon emerged from the trees a mob of wild boys attacked and killed him. When the other boys learn what they had done they deny fault: " 'It was an accident,' said Piggy suddenly ... 'He hadn't no business crawling like that out of the dark.'"(173)      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When Simon dies so does the truth, he is unable to tell the others about the true identity of the beast. The boys on the island foolishly destroy any attempts to be saved and unknowingly destroy the one person that could bring them salvation. Simons death shows evil is often victorious over the dwindling fight for order. With order lost the thin veneer, which is civilization, erodes and mankind revert back to his ancient primitiveness.

Beowulf Heroism Essay

The Mercurial Definition of Heroism Throughout history, heroes have been defined as individuals who have sacrificed themselves for the betterment of others. However, every culture always has had its own definition of heroism that separated one great hero from another. During the Anglo Saxon period, people admired Beowulf for his invulnerability, self-confidence, and god-like strength. On the other hand, people in the current era praised Tae Su Go and Martin Luther King, Jr, for their humility and achievements as pacifists.These heroes reflect principles and standards that people held and show that definition of heroism is highly elastic in different ages. In the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, the main character Beowulf demonstrates the morals and values of the Anglo Saxon times by unleashing his mighty strength. In current perspective, Beowulf may just seem as a cruel murderer because he completely destroys Grendel by using his bare hands. For example, Beowulf only allowed Grendel to esca pe when the monster â€Å"twisted in pain† and his â€Å"muscle and bone split. However, Anglo Saxon literature states such an atrocious act of brutality as a â€Å"new glory† that Beowulf had granted. Readers could speculate from the clash between Beowulf and Grendel that the Anglo Saxons admired Beowulf’s merciless destruction of his enemies. The Anglo Saxons’ notion of heroism clearly deviates from the current heroic ethics because current heroes like Tae Su Go and Martin Luther King Jr. never used physical strength to stand against their enemies.During the late nineteenth century, Korean farmers grew discontent toward Japan’s economic oppression that set the price floor for daily products such as potatoes, rice, and lettuce. Japanese government benefited from this oppression because they were able to purchase cheap surplus goods that less affluent citizens were not able to consume due to the high cost set by the price floor. As a result, the K orean farmer alliance named Chamwha planned an assault on Japanese troop in front of the Ghangwha-Moon Gate.However, on the verge of battle, the monk Tae Su Go insisted that farmers, in front of Japanese’s troops, to never utilize violence but rather allow Japanese troops to fulfill their greed because the great god Asura will judge them in hell. Even though Tae Su Go was immediately murdered by the Japanese troops for disgracing their integrities, Chamwha praised Tae Su as a brave hero and utilized passive resistance in his will.Tae Su, the real hero of Chosun Dynasty in Korea, truly embraced the current era’s morals and values because he fought only with his words in peace. Moreover, Martin Luther King Jr. , who fought for African American civil rights during the mid-twentieth century, also maintained peace while courageously confronting opposition from the society. For example, even when Ku Klux Klan assaulted Dr. King’s house in 1957, King insisted that his outraged companions to resolve issues in a peaceful manner. The Education Forum) Although King was assassinated in 1968 from a gunshot, current people still regard him as a timeless hero who has fought for equality and human rights. However, in similar fashion to how contemporary people would call Beowulf a prideful warrior, Anglo Saxons might view Dr. King as a vulnerable mortal who has died without honors because each era has its own definition of heroism. Beowulf, Tae Su Go, and Martin Luther King Jr, were distinct heroes from the Anglo Saxon and current eras who fought against their enemies for righteous reasons.They all demonstrated each period’s morals and values through their epic deeds and self-sacrifice. However, Beowulf used his physical strength to accomplish his goal whereas Tae Su Go and Martin Luther King Jr. refused to utilize violence to achieve equality. As evident from these heroes, the definition of heroism has changed over time. Some heroic qualities might become obsolete and new qualities might emerge, manifesting each era’s unique morals and values.

Trabalenguas or Spanish-Language Tongue Twisters

Think you have your Spanish pronunciation down? If so, test your skills with the tongue twisters below. If they seem too easy, try repeating them rapidly. Even if youre a native speaker, youre likely to be tripped up sooner or later. Incidentally, the Spanish word for tongue twister is a compound noun, trabalenguas, or (loosely translated) thing that ties tongues. Like most other compound nouns, it is masculine. Tongue Twisters Based on Words With ‘P’ Poquito a poquito Paquito empaca poquitas copitas en pocos paquetes. (Little by little, Paquito packs a few tiny glasses in a few packages.) Pepe puso un peso en el piso del pozo. En el piso del pozo Pepe puso un peso. (Pepe put a peso on the floor of the well. On the floor of the well Pepe put a peso.) Pepe Peà ±a pela papa, pica pià ±a, pita un pito, pica pià ±a, pela papa, Pepe Peà ±a. (Pepe Peà ±a peels potatoes, cuts pineapple, blows a whistle, cuts pineapple, peels potatoes, Pepe Peà ±a.) En la poblacià ³n de Puebla, pueblo muy poblado, hay una plaza pà ºblica poblada de pueblerinos. (In the city of Puebla, a very populated town, there is a public plaza populated with Pueblans.) El hipopà ³tamo Hipo està ¡ con hipo.  ¿Quià ©n le quita el hipo al hipopà ³tamo Hipo? (Hipo the hippopotamus has a hiccup. Who is curing the hiccup for the hippopotamus Hipo? Tongue Twisters Featuring Other Hard Consonant Sounds  ¡Quà © triste està ¡s, Tristà ¡n, con tan tà ©trica trama teatral! (How sad you are, Tristà ¡n, with such a gloomy theatrical tale! Una cacatrepa trepa tiene tres cacatrepitos. Cuando la cacatrepa trepa trepan los tres cacatrepitos. (A climbing caterpillar has three baby caterpillars. When the climbing caterpillar climbs the three baby caterpillars climb.) Como poco coco como, poco coco compro. (Since I eat little coconut, little coconut I buy.) Comprà © pocas copas, pocas copas comprà ©, como comprà © pocas copas, pocas copas pagarà ©. (I will buy few drinking glasses, few drinking glasses I will buy, as I will buy few drinking cups, few drinking cups will I pay.) Toto toma tà ©, Tita toma mate, y yo me tomo toda mi taza de chocolate. (Toto drinks tea, Tita drinks mate, and I drink up all my cup of chocolate.) Cuando cuentes cuentos, cuenta cuantos cuentos cuentas, porque si no cuentas cuantos cuentos cuentas nunca sabrà ¡s cuantos cuentos cuentas tà º. (When you tell me stories, tell me how many stories you tell me, because if you dont tell me how many stories you are telling me, you will never now how many stories you are telling me.) El amor es una locura que solo el cura lo cura, pero el cura que lo cura comete una gran locura. (Love is a great lunacy that only a priest can cure, but the priest who cures it commits a great lunacy.) Tongue Twisters Featuring Soft Consonant Sounds Ñoà ±o Yà ¡Ãƒ ±ez come à ±ame en las maà ±anas con el nià ±o. (Ñoà ±o Yà ¡Ãƒ ±ez eats yams in the mornings with the boy.)  ¡Esmerà ­lemelo! (Polish it for me.) Eugenio es muy ingenuo.  ¡quà © genio tiene el ingenuo de Eugenio! (Eugene is very naive. What genius has the naivete of Eugene!) Busco al vasco bizco brusco. (Im looking for the rude cross-eyed Basque.) El nià ±o està ¡ sosegado.  ¿Quià ©n lo desasosegarà ¡? El desasosegador que lo desasosiegue, buen desasosegador serà ¡. (The child is tranquil. Who will disturb him? The disturber who disturbs him will be a good disturber.) Si don Curro ahorra ahora, ahora ahorra don Curro. (If Curro is saving now, now is Curro saving.) El suelo està ¡ enladrillado.  ¿Quià ©n lo desenladrillarà ¡? El desenladrillador que lo desenladrillare un buen desenladrillador serà ¡. (The ground is paved with bricks. Who will unpave it? The unpaver who unpaves it a good unpaver will be.) Tres tristes tigres comà ­an trigo en tres tristes platos sentados en un trigal. (Three sad tigers were eating wheat on three sad plates placed in a wheat field.) Por la calle Carretas pasaba un perrito; pasà ³ una carreta, le pillà ³ el rabito.  ¡Pobre perrito, como lloraba por su rabito! (A puppy walked through Carretas street; a cart passed by and ran over his dear tail. Poor puppy, how he cried for his dear tail!) La sucesià ³n sucesiva de sucesos sucede sucesivamente con la sucesià ³n del tiempo. (The successive series of events occurs successively with the succession of time.)