Sharon Marie Tate’s story began on January 24, 1943, in the heart of Texas. The eldest of three daughters, she grew up in a military family, moving from city to city, each new place adding a layer to her intriguing persona.
As a child, Sharon was a beacon of beauty and grace, traits that would later define her career. By the time she was 16, she had already earned her first title, “Miss Richland,” hinting at the stardom that lay ahead.
The Hollywood Dream
Sharon’s journey to Hollywood wasn’t a simple leap; it was a series of calculated steps. Moving to Los Angeles in 1961, she started with small roles in television series like “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” But it was her role in the 1967 film “Valley of the Dolls” that truly showcased her talent and charisma.
Audiences were captivated by her ethereal beauty and on-screen presence. Films like “The Fearless Vampire Killers,” directed by her future husband Roman Polanski, and “Don’t Make Waves” solidified her place in Hollywood.
Marriage to Roman Polanski and Glamour
Sharon Tate’s life was a blend of Hollywood glamour and personal charm. She met Roman Polanski in 1964 on the set of “The Fearless Vampire Killers.” Their connection was instant, and they married in a picturesque ceremony in London on January 20, 1968.
Their relationship was a whirlwind of passion, creativity, and mutual admiration, often described as a modern-day fairytale amidst the glitz of Hollywood. They say Sharon always liked shorter and plump guys. Some say it was like that because she wanted to be worshiped by her lovers.
A Dark Night in Hollywood
The fairytale, however, was tragically short-lived. On August 9, 1969, the world was rocked by the news of Sharon Tate’s brutal murder. Eight months pregnant, Sharon and four others were killed by members of the Manson Family in her Los Angeles home. This act of senseless violence not only ended her life but also marked a dark chapter in Hollywood history.
The Manson Family, led by the deranged Charles Manson, targeted Sharon’s home due to its previous occupant, a record producer who had spurned Manson. The horrific event shattered the peace of the 1960s, leaving an indelible scar on the collective memory of the nation.
She was expected to be even bigger than Marilyn Monroe and other Hollywood stars at the time. Her life was taken so early and we were deprived of an amazing and young aspiring actress.
An Enduring Legacy
Sharon Tate’s life, though tragically brief, continues to resonate deeply in popular culture. Her performances, particularly in “Valley of the Dolls,” have immortalized her as a symbol of beauty and talent cut short.
Tarantino sought to capture her essence as a vibrant, kind-hearted individual whose life was filled with promise and joy. The film received critical acclaim and reintroduced Sharon to a new generation, ensuring that her legacy as a beloved actress and a symbol of lost potential endures.
Walmart alters course: Drops self-checkout expansion amidst customer concerns
The advance of technology helps facilitate our lives a great deal, but do we pay a high price when it comes to relying on the machines way more than we should?
In order to speed up the process of running errands and shopping for groceries, Walmart introduced self-checkouts. What they didn’t expect, however, is to face backlash because of this decision that many of the customers consider controversial.
The self-service machines aren’t something new. In fact, they were first introduced in the 1980s to lower labor expenses.
But this service faced plenty of obstacles and customers complain to the added responsibilities.
For example, certain items may have multiple barcodes, whereas the produce, including the meat, fruit, and vegetable, typically needs to be weighed and manually entered into the system using a code, which might be time consuming for the ordinary shoppers. Other times shoppers won’t hear the “beep” confirming an item has been scanned properly.
Another issue is the increase of theft. Walmart announced that thefts at its stores has reached an all-time high.
The machines not only fall short at their purpose of making shopping easier at times, but they also make it harder for the employees they were meant to help.
Christopher Andrews, a sociologist and author of The Overworked Consumer: Self-Checkouts, Supermarkets, and the Do-It-Yourself Economy, says the system “doesn’t work well for anyone.”
He continued: “Everyone feels like they have to have it. Companies are thinking: ‘If we can just get more people on this, maybe we can start reducing some overheads.’”
What’s most, most of the customers have reported that they miss the human interaction while shopping.
Randy Parraz from Making Change at Walmart perfectly summed up customer sentiments by saying, “You can’t convince customers to do the job of a cashier just because you don’t want to pay for the work.”
Walmart decided to listen to what their customers had to say and instead of further expanding automation, the retail giant will hire additional cashiers to provide their customers with a pleasant shopping experience and service.
What Walmart and the rest of the retailers, among which Costco and Wegmans, learned is that efficiency is important but maintaining a balance with positive experiences remains crucial.
Leave a Reply