Falke " The Most Superior Sock for Men?

By Pri Vag

A great fitting and comfortable pair of socks can really help your feet enjoy their day, from arch support to climate regulating fabrics. Whilst many different fashion brands focus more on the appearance, sock specialists such as Falke have invested in technical functionality for a well rounded sock.

Lots of designer socks for men look great, but do they last? All too often I have to throw my best socks out because they have holes in the toes or heels. Whilst quality is very important in a good sock, I have been surprised at the ways in which a sock can be improved for comfort. I have very slim fit and need to wear orthotics in my shoes, so any extra help from my socks is very welcome.

Whilst most specialist sock brands make some effort to make technically proficient socks, I have found none that compare to Falke. It is a German company that has been established for over 100 years, specialising in innovative socks aimed at improving quality and comfort. This article focuses less on the actual appearance of the sock (pattern and colour) and more in terms of their design construction and clever use of materials.

The first hurdle a sock must overcome to be considered technically proficient is availability in a large range of sizes. The wider the range of sizes, the better fitting the sock will be as it is more tailored to the shape of your foot. The reason this is so important is because socks are designed to fit from the heel to the arch to the ball of your foot to the toes. If the sock is slightly too big the sock provides no support, whilst if it is too small it will constrict your foot causing discomfort.

Whilst most sock specialist brands have a range of sizes (as opposed to the one size fits all approach from many fashion brands), few have as many size options as Falke. In fact, their mens dress socks come in six different sizes; 39-40, 41-42, 43-44, 45-46, 47-48, 49-50. This vast array of sizes guarantees that you will find a pair of mens socks that fits perfectly.

A technically superior pair of socks must also be of excellent quality. Falke make every effort to create a durable sock, with its reinforced heel and toe (most common places for holes) and reinforced stress zones on every pair of mens socks. In addition, a majority of their socks have a pressure-free hand linked toe which ensures that the toe seem is closed with a flat and smooth finish. Without this feature, the seam bobbles and can cause discomfort when wearing a snug fitting pair of dress shoes.

About the Author:

David Cole is a trained designer, and has worked in the mens fashion industry for 4 years since graduating. He has a particular interest in mens accessories, and runs a website called Herbert Jones Mens Accessories that offers underwear, socks, belts, bags and more from the top designer brands.

Purchasing Replacement Ballasts

By Theo Bronx

As a business owner, I knew that incandescent bulbs were simply not a cost effective way to light my commercial building. They used lots of energy and needed to be replaced all of the time. I switched over all of my lighting years ago to fluorescent. I was very pleased with the switch but I realized that even fluorescent lighting required regular maintenance and replacement parts. Every few years I needed to replace the lighting ballast and the fluorescent bulbs.

For a number of years fluorescent lighting has been a popular choice in commercial buildings and now it is increasing in its popularity amongst homeowners. Commercial lighting is always best left to an electrician if you need a fluorescent light ballast replaced in your building. If you have fluorescent lighting in your home and you are experienced in dealing with electrical elements than you can replace your own lighting ballast with caution.

I ordered the replacement lighting ballast for my home from the original manufacturer. The part came with detailed instructions. I read through every step and I even called the manufacturer with a question that I had. Once I installed the ballast the first time, it was easy thereafter.

After waiting a few weeks for replacement fluorescent light ballast for my commercial building from the manufacturer I decided to see if I could find these parts somewhere else. I didn't want to wait that long for the part, but they were so expensive that I couldn't afford to order several at a time.

I contacted a commercial retailer in my area that carried lighting accessories. Although they did have some ballast in stock, they did not have the one that I needed. They offered to order the part for me, but it would cost just as much as it did when I bought it from the manufacturer and probably take just as long for me to receive it. I knew that there had to be a faster and cheaper way to find the part myself.

Luckily, I found several online retailers that carried a huge selection of lighting accessories and replacement parts. I was impressed by the selection available and the low prices. The very same ballast that I needed was half of the cost that I had been paying for it.

I compared a few of the online retailers paying special attention to shipping and handling charges and warranties to make sure that I was getting the best deal possible.

Once you are satisfied that you are getting a good deal and ordering from a reputable retailer, place your order and enjoy the additional savings.

About the Author:

The writer is an expert electrician who understands the new lighting ballast technology for light bulbs and has written various articles pertaining to choosing the correct fluorescent light ballast for your household.

History Of Ties

By Pri Vag

Ancient Neckties

Throughout human history, in many cultures around the world, men and women have adorned their bodies by wrapping or suspending something from the neck. The earliest historical example is in ancient Egypt. The rectangular piece of cloth that was tied and hung down till the shoulders was a very important part of an Egyptian's clothing because it showed his social status. In China, all the statues around the grave of Emperor Shi Huang Ti bear a piece of cloth around their necks, which is considered an ancestor of the modern necktie. In art from the Roman Empire, men are also depicted bearing neckwear that much resembles the contemporary necktie.

The necktie can be traced back to the time of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) when Croatian mercenaries from the Military Frontier in French service, wearing their traditional small, knotted neckerchiefs, aroused the interest of the Parisians. Due to the slight difference between the Croatian word for Croats, "Hrvati", and the French word, "Croates", the garment gained the name "Cravat". The new article of clothing started a fashion craze in Europe where both men and women wore pieces of fabric around their necks. In the late seventeenth century, the men wore lace cravats that took a large amount of time and effort to arrange. These cravats were often tied in place by cravat strings, arranged neatly and tied in a bow.

1650-1720: the Steinkirk

The Battle of Steenkerque took place in 1692. In this battle, the princes, while hurriedly dressing for battle, just wound these cravats around their necks. They twisted the ends of the fabric together and passed the twisted ends through a jacket buttonhole. These cravats were generally referred to as Steinkirks.

1720-1800: Stocks, Solitaires, Neckcloths, Cravats

In 1715, another kind of neckwear, called "stocks" made its appearance. Stocks were initially just a small piece of muslin folded into a narrow band wound a few times round the shirt collar and secured from behind with a pin. It was fashionable for the men to wear their hair long, past shoulder length. The ends were tucked into a black silk bag worn at the nape of the neck. This was known as the bag-wig hairstyle, and the neckwear worn with it was the stock.

A variation of the bag wig would be the solitaire. This form had matching ribbons stitched around the bag. After the stock was in place, the ribbons would be brought forward and tied in a large bow in front of the wearer.

Sometime in the late eighteenth century, cravats began to make an appearance again. This can be attributed to a group of young men called the macaronis (of Yankee Doodle fame). These were young Englishmen who returned from Europe and brought with them new ideas about fashion from Italy. The French contemporaries of the macaronis were the Incroyables.

About the Author:

For a fantastic selection of online bow ties or country ties please visit http://www.soprano-ties.com/.

What's Up With Recent Gas Prices ?

By Adrian Fletcher

Gas prices are certainly a topical issue right now. and the number one question is : will gas prices ever go down to the level they used to be a few short months ago? Even if small price cuts are possible, a return to reasonable gas prices doesn't seem probable. Given the potentially bleak outlook for the economy, the price of gas is rapidly leaving the reach of hard-working individuals who are unlikely to see a pay raise in line with the ever-rising cost of everyday goods.

Demand for gasoline will drop as drivers use their cars less. They may develop more economical driving practices or share journeys with workmates or neighbors. Car fuel efficiency needs to increase, and new alternative fuels need to be ready for mass production. As production of new fuels ramp up, supply and demand for gasoline will keep prices stable, albeit high.

With this said, requirements for refining gasoline to make it more clean-burning prevent gas prices from ever falling significantly, and the emission standards set by law continue to become stricter. Oil Refineries will require more capital to expand and do routine maintenance to keep up with demand. You can be sure that oil companies will first point to these reasons for rising fuel prices.

So will the government act to regulate the gas price? In some countries they have tried this but it has proved difficult to implement given the varied political agendas at stake and the vast amount of taxes that are applied to gasoline use. So while the prices of everything in the United States skyrockets due to the cost of fuel it is up to the people to make the difference if they want gas prices to go down.

People will travel less and spend less, hurting our economy even more, and as the cost of food rises, the quality of food people purchase will decrease which will probably result in higher health care and insurance costs. People will also need to start planning their activities better, for example planning all errands on a single day to reduce traveling and fuel consumption.

People need to make sure that their voices are heard and registered with their elected officials at all levels, since they, as taxpayers, are responsible for the officials' salaries. Write, call, and email them whenever you can. Despite big oil companies have a strong lobby with governments, elected officials still have to listen to the voices of their constituents, and that should lead to moves that reduce gas prices.

So will gas prices ever go down to more comfortable levels? Who knows, there are many factors that seem to influence the price, that it seems unlikely that they will all change to bring the price down. However, with your opinion added to the growing numbers of people who want change, our country's leaders may pay attention and take action to put a halt to the out-of-control, upward spiral of gas prices.

About the Author:

For unbiased consumer reports on the leading water for gas conversion kits visit http://waterforgasreports.com, including a report on half water half gas.

Catch A Glimpse OF Designer Sunglasses

By Terry Petrov

As far as fashion is concerned, designer sunglasses are hot. Many celebrities like Paris Hilton or the Olsen twins can be seen in Hollywood, day or night, wearing the latest designer sunglasses. When on the red carpet, these celebrities are frequently asked, what are you wearing, then they lower their sunglasses down to their nose and peer over the rims to mention designer names such as Vera Wang, Dior, Valentino, Gucci and Serengeti.

Stars like Donald Trump and Britney Spears have their own name brand sunglasses on the market while others may be wearing Marc Jacobs or Armani sunglasses for a classy look or Baby Phat for punk style. The mood for the day might be for the retro 1950's look of Fossil sunglasses.

It may happen that your favourite clothing designer will be the designer of the sunglasses with which you choose to accessorize your brand name clothing. For example, if you are a smart Tommy dresser you could add to the look of a Tommy Hilfiger clothing ensemble with some Tommy Hilfiger sunglasses. If casual wear is what you are after then Kate Spade should be your choice. Carrera is known for a sporty look. For a sensual mood, Valentino frames that have smooth round edges and Swarovsky crystals might just put you (or whoever is looking at you) in the mood.

If you have the cash or credit card to purchase them, trendy cool-looking designer or brand name sunglasses can be a status symbol. Nevertheless, quality should not be given up if you want to be fashionable when buying sunglasses. Always remember that even though sunglasses can be seen as just another fashionable accessory they do actually protect your eyes from the damage caused by the suns ultra-violet rays. Of course, keep in mind that designer prescription sunglasses significantly reduce eyestrain and generally improve vision just like regular glasses.

Quality sunglasses are usually polarized in order to reduce the glare caused by the suns rays that could be reflected off surfaces such as cars, water, snow, or even the highway. By blocking off the horizontal light reflections and only allowing the vertical light reflections, polarized sunglasses can be really useful. Polarizing designer sunglasses makes them extremely fashionable in areas such as golfing, boating, biking, swimming, fishing and aircraft flying.

Designer sunglasses are being targeted towards children who enjoy the same hot styles and brand-names as their parents and their as their idols. Childrens sunglasses have Disney and lots of cartoon characters in many colours on them as well as in many shapes and styles. Of course childrens sunglasses are polarized in order to protect their delicate eyes from the harmful UV radiation. Due to the childs sensitive eyes, sunglasses should become part of their everyday activities. As children play mostly outside and engage in outdoor activities sunglasses can prevent their eyes from long term damage .

About the Author:

When it comes to searching for and buying designer sunglasses it is best you go online to find great deals. You can find great deals on Serengeti Summit Sunglasses. These sunglasses are very nice looking and popular and made by Serengeti Summit.

A Touch Of Georgian Elegance for Your Patio

By Christine Lane

Imagine lazy Sunday afternoons soaking up the sun on your Georgian style enclosed patio. Looking out on your perfect, manicured lawn dotted with tupelo and black walnut trees, listening to the soft breezes rustling their leaves. Bees buzzing lazily amongst the honeysuckle flowers that drape over the fence, and on the other side an expanse of green pasture with horses grazing peacefully.

Now you can have a Georgian style patio on your back porch with a little planning. Think back to the movies that you seen with the wrap around porches on the tall white two and three story houses where everyone came to visit and sit during the hot part of the day while they sip on ice tea. Today the old fashioned porches are replaced with tinted glass and air conditioning, taking out the natural look and feel. But you can get the look back again and start by checking the roof.

When beginning your redecorating pay attention to the roof of the patio. If the roof is still the original or close to the original and it is still in tact you will be able to upgrade it while keeping the same Georgian look. Or you may want to consider a roof that is environment friendly. Now that your porch is enclosed you won't need to worry about the rain and weather coming in so you can use the big fluffy pillows that you see in the movies.

Most of the old fashioned porches and patios had wood flooring down. If yours still has the wood flooring you may want to try to bring it back to life. Restain it, sand it and make it look great. You can also put down a good area rug as well. These area rugs come in indoor and outdoor styles and both look great. Use light colors for the patio and get creative with the patterns.

Bring some of the garden into your patio by placing begonias in macrame plant holders and place several little pots of African Violets all around the room. Tall plants such as Pholodendrons or palm trees is also a good idea as they make the porch look taller and more roomy.

For intimate evening light, consider recessed lighting, which won't interfere with the natural light of daytime. If the sun is too much in the day, add slatted wooden blinds, light curtains or cloth blinds in a suitably coordinated color. These should cut down the sun but not cut it out altogether. Valances are suitable as well for your Georgian styling.

Wall hangings should be chosen to complement your color scheme but also to add a little contrast. The best idea is to choose decorations which have two or three tones complementing the dcor and a few splashes added of vibrant color. Another touch of contrast in color can be added by figurines or vases, sparingly used.

About the Author:

Leading Home Decorators have finally revealed that rugs are their number one choice for home decorating. And this Dynamic Rugs Shiraz Collection, has been very popular this year.

Thinking Of Lawn Maintenance, Think Of Lawn Vacuum

By Ferdinand Emy

Want your lawn to look its optimal? You might consider employing a lawn vacuum. A lawn vacuum is a peculiar type of device that is utilised to remove leaves and other debris from a lawn. These types of lawn cleaning devices are very effortless to use. If you are tired of your lawn looking cluttered then a lawn vacuum is an excellent tool to think of using.

When shopping for a lawn vacuum its necessary to think of the size of the unit that you need. There are various sizes of lawn vacuums that range from small wattage to large wattage. A little lawn vacuum would be around five hundred watts while a large lawn vacuum could reach up to three thousand watts. When picking out a lawn vacuum, think of that a lawn vacuum with a higher watt capacity will offer you with more suction power. Plus, a heavier and larger lawn vacuum will also be able to operating for longer periods of time than a lower wattage lawn vacuum.

Think of whether you will be employing your lawn vacuum on a little lawn or a large lawn. If you have a relatively small lawn and will only require to employ the lawn vacuum occasionally then a little unit should work just fine. On the other hand, if you have large lawn or you do commercial landscaping then it would be optimal to go ahead and invest in a large lawn vacuum. The end result will certainly be worth the additional investment.

Keep in mind when utilizing a lawn vacuum that as is the case with a regular vacuum you'll require to empty the debris from the vacuum on a regular basis. Clearing the debris regularly will ensure that your vacuum operates at peak efficiency and likewise extend the operational life of your lawn vacuum. If you do not empty the vacuum regularly you may find that it doesn't work nearly as well as it should.

If you choose to use a lawn vacuum in a commercial capacity you might similarly consider utilizing a sort of vacuum that can be attached to an ATV so as to obtain cleaning that's quicker and more effective. This may aid you to make the most utilize of your time and also offer for an even cleaner looking lawn, which may be particularly necessary if youre involved in commercial landscaping.

About the Author:

If you liked this article, why don't you visit the experts on Lawn Maintenance now and we will show you just what exactly you need to maintain a very beautiful lawn

Sew Leather on a Sewing Machine

By Ethan O. Tanner

In recent years, the use of leather in different projects has really gained in popularity. Leather can be used to craft an assortment of long lasting products. Many people have started to work with leather using a sewing machine. If you are not sure how to work with leather in a sewing machine, this can be a very complicated task. Here, you will find some easy and clear-cut steps that will assist you while working with leather in a sewing machine.

The first thing that you should know when you are allowing for working with leather on a sewing machine is that standard sewing machine needles will not work for your project. You will need to go to a craft store and buy special needles that are specifically designed for leather. Tripoint Sewing needles are designed for leather and will adequately cut the material. Leather sewing needles come in many sizes, so, you will have to evaluate the thickness of the leather that you are working with to decide the needle size that is required.

Leather is a unique type of material. It is imperative that you recognize that some stitches will not be able to work. For instance, doing a small stitch on leather usually does not work well. Many people have performed small stitches and have found that the material is damaged after doing so. It is important that you buy a small piece of leather in order to test the stitch that you wish to use. If the stitch works, then you can use it. The standard size stitch that seems to do well when working with leather on a sewing machine is about three to three and a half inches.

On most sewing machines, you can fine-tune the overall tension of the thread that you are working with. It is essential to know that if you are working with thin pieces of leather on your sewing machine that the tension should be increased. If you are working with heavy pieces of leather on a sewing machine, the thread tension should be decreased. If you find that the thread is continuously breaking, you should try to adjust the tension on the thread of the sewing machine to see if it helps.

Working with leather on a sewing machine can prove to be quite a test to have the material stay together. When you are functioning with basic types of material, you can simply bind the fabric together using pins and similar items. You will find that if you do this with leather, you will noticeably scar the material. The top thing that you can use in order to bind leather material together while using a sewing machine is alligator clips. I even prefer to place a piece of tape over both sides of the binding spot prior to placing the clips in place to stay away from having to worry about clip marks.

Working with leather on a sewing machine can be a complicated task, but if you follow the listed steps, you are sure to find that you are a winner in this task! Your leather project will be an excellent product that will last for a long time.

About the Author:

Leather expert and knowledgeable author Ethan O. Tanner shares his understanding of Leather and working with a sewing machine forsewing leathercrafts. Visit the Uber Article Directory to get a totally unique version of this article for reprint.