Month: June 2016

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This history is not only about a company, but about a Swiss engineer who had a vision. In 1976, Sergio Zappella established GSL, a company producing espresso coffee machines for home use mainly made for third parties.

Five years later, Sergio and Arthur Schmed, a Swiss engineer, created Saeco Srl with its registered office at Gaggio Montano in the province of Bologna. They decided to operate their business under a proprietary brand name and dedicated considerable time and resources to perfecting technology. The result was the production of the first fully-automatic espresso coffee machine in 1985. This innovation quickly became a major market success because of its broad implications for filling a void in consumer demand. The following year, Sergio Zappella and Giovanni Zaccanti established Cosmec SpA; SpA, same as Inc.; for the specific purpose of producing coffee machine parts and eventually prompted the Group to bring all production in-house.

In 1986, improvements were made to the management and control of the sales network for international expansion. From 1989-1993, Cosmec inaugurated production of various espresso coffee and automated vending machines.

In 1995 and 1996, Saeco began marketing its "climate" and "steam" products. In October of 1999, for global reorganization, Cosmec changed its name to the Saeco International Group and assumed the role of the holding company. In December 1999, the Group acquired the control of Gaggia SpA in USThe acquisition of Gaggia, a historical brand in the professional coffee machines sector, allowed Saeco to reinforce its position in this market segment and further increase its sales capacity.

In 2009, Saeco was the European leader in automatic espresso coffee machines manufacturing with a 30% market share. Saeco as a company designed, manufactured and distributed automatic, manual and capsule espresso coffee machines for home and professional use, both under its own brands, Saeco and Gaggia, or on behalf of third-party brands, OEMs and Lavazza. Saeco also manufactured beverage and snack vending machines. Saeco, headquartered in Gaggio Montano, Bologna, Italy, had around 1,400 employees. In March, they closed their doors with estimated sales of 318 million Euros.

On May 25, 2009, Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands, listed on four stock exchanges, announced that it has reached a binding agreement to acquire Saeco International Group SpA, the Italian-based leading espresso machine maker, which is controlled by PAI partners who have in-depth knowledge of its target markets.

Today, Sergio Zappella is Chairman, Giovanni Zaccanti is Vice Chairman and Arthur Schmed are Directors on the Executive Committee of Saeco International Group, which is part of Philips Saeco. Today, Philips Saeco continues to market the high quality Saeco espresso machines, coffee makers and accessory products.

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Source by Joyce Kaaland

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We sat and saw with bated breath the 'Drama of the Drachma' as Greece Prime minister Alexis Tsipras, looked for an 'honest compromise' for the mammoth debt restructuring for his country, while the country itself remained divided on whether they wanted to stay in the Eurozone or go with their own Drachma. The drama was akin to that of draconian landlords in India who not too long ago and perhaps still in some areas, held the noose on the farmers, tightening it every year and never letting them off as they argued for the repayment of their loans and the never ending interests.

The Looming Debt

Greece had been bailed out before and sought a new relief bailout in the backdrop of its looming debt.

On 2 May 2010, the European Commission, European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF), later nicknamed the Troika, launched a € 110 billion bailout loan to rescue Greece from sovereign default and cover its financial needs throughout May 2010 until june 2013 conditional on implementation of austerity measures, structural reforms, and privatization of government assets. The relief as some called it, stemmed from the belief or rather the fear that 'Grexit' or removal of Greece from the Eurozone could spell disaster for the Euro and for the world economy.

In reality, the problem was more basic and internal than that. It was the problem of balance of payments. Clearly, the Greeks were spending more than they were supposed to, creating more domestic debt. In layman terms, the country was borrowing money to spend on keeping the economy afloat as the GDP loomed further. Was it wise on the part of the part of the government to keep spending at the same rate? Was it wise on the part of Troika to bail them out probably aware they would perhaps default on the payouts yet again as the economy was just not generating enough to keep them afloat?

On 5 July 2015 the Greek voters passed a referendum rejecting the terms of a bailout proposition with 61 percent voting 'No' against the austerity measures boosting the leftwing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras stance to keep the country's pride. However, the rising debt which pushed the request for the bailout of 7.2 billion euro pushed them towards Eurozone instead of the Drachma, much against the ire of the local population who had faced the brunt of the previous austerity measures. Although Tsipras argued that the vote "is not a mandate of rupture with Europe, but a mandate that bolsters our negotiating strength to achieve a viable deal".

The deal struck after much negotiations entails:

• tax rise on shipping companies

• unifying VAT rates at standard 23%, including restaurants and catering

• phasing out solidarity grant for pensioners by 2019

• € 300m ($ 332m; £ 216m) defence spending cuts by 2016

• privatisation of ports and sell-off of remaining shares in telecoms giant OTE

• scrapping 30% tax break for wealthiest islands

In a nutshell Greece has created a T-Rex to kill the elephant.

Can this happen to us?

The larger question we all face is Can the Greece story be repeated? Can this happen to us? The answer is a simple and straightforward 'yes'. Yes it can. Although, debt in itself is not bad or odious if it is used for investment to generate future cash flow and positive return above the cost of debt. However, if we are spending more than we earn and borrow to sustain our consumption, we are increasing our debt without the assurance to pay it back. India has been given $ 16.83 billion as loans by IBRD in the year 2015 alone. As long as a country follows the conventional wisdom of not spending more than we earn it can save itself and the people of the country. Being prudent in money matters would only save the country from being run by its' creditors.

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Source by Madhulika Ra Chauhan

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A netsuke (net-skeh) is a miniature sculpture developed in Japan over a period of more than three hundred years. The kimono, the traditional form of Japanese dress, had no pockets. Men suspended pouches (inro) on a silk cord from their sash (obi). To stop the cord from slipping through the "obi", a small toggle is attached. That small toggle is the "netsuke".

Dutchman

The netsuke referred to in the headline of this article was auctioned at the German auctionhouse Lempertz on 27 November 2004. It was estimated at $ 60.000, – (Euro 40.000) but was hammered at a sensational US $ 230.000, – (Euro 154.000). This unusually large (H 5 2/5 ") ivory netsuke of a standing Dutchman holding a dead hare over his shoulder which is attached to a gun, dated late 18th Century, stands out by two characteristics: the somewhat caricature-like facial features and elegant dress, as well as his occupation as a hunter whose bait is an indication of the "South Barbarian meat eaters".

Why US $ 230.000, -?

The exraordinary hammer price of US $ 230.000, – for this specific piece can be explained by looking at its history, theme, craftmanship, condition and off course by its rarity. The object made its way over 100 years in famous netsuke collections, and was already publicized in 1895 by the Japonist art dealer Marcus B. Huish. The representation of the Westerner, especially that of the Dutchman in Japanese art (in woodblock prints and netsuke) is a much coveted subject. This because of the striking depiction by the Japanese artists of this "strange" people from another world giving the beholder a very insightful and comic explanation of the encounter of two very different cultures. The unknown creator, it is unsigned, of this particular netsuke had to be a masterful craftsman because of his magnificent eye for detail and its elegant look. The specific subject of the Dutchman is not uncommon but a quality piece in this condition in combination with its age is a very rare find.

More examples

During the last decades there are more examples of highlights in prices concerning netsukes. On May 1990 at auctionhouse Sotheby's in London a netsuke of a horse was hammered at US $ 260,000, – and through an anitques dealer at Oriental Treasures and Points West in Honolulu a netsuke representing a "Awabi Girl and Octopus" (like Hokusai's famous "Dream of Fisherman's Wife "shunga!) was sold at approx. US $ 250,000.

Themes

Netsuke carvers mostly worked in a bounded area of ​​subjects and themes such as scenes of daily life, animals, erotic encounters (shunga), the signs of the zodiac or subjects with a mythical background. Whatever its subject or theme netsuke is a very attractive and highly collectable art form and the interesting pieces will only continue to increase in value.

Books

One of the most referred books among netsuke collectors are Lazarnick's 'The Signature Book of Netsuke' and from the same author 'Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures'. Both have been issued in limited editions, the first one in 500 copies and the latter in 876 copies. These books are unmissable for the serious netsuke collector.

Netsuke Organisations:

International Netsuke Society

International Netsuke Carvers' Association

Japan Netsuke Society (Nihon Netsuke Kenkyukai)

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Source by Marijn Kruijff

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Austria is located in Central Europe and has a temperate and fairly cool climate. Half the country is located in the Alps and so, the country has an alpine weather. The winters can be quite chilly while the summers can be quite hot. The topographical and climatic conditions of country account for various varieties grown in the country. Some of the native flowers of Austria, which add to the beauty of this country, are mentioned below.

Edelweiss

Edelweiss is one of the popular mountain flowers of Europe as well as the national flower of Austria. The flower is a member of the sunflower family. The flower has the shape of a star with tiny white hairs, which give it a woolly appearance. The hairs protect the flower from the cold. It has a yellow center with five to six tiny flower heads. The flower is used to depict daring and courage due to its ability to grow in the cold mountain climate. Moreover, it is quite difficult and dangerous to get the flower from the mountainous areas where it is grown due to which, it is said to be the symbol of bravery. Besides this, it has significance in the military operations in the Alps. It was the symbol of the alpine division of the Austrian-Hungarian Army in 1907. The flower is also used in folk medicine and is pictured on the euro coins of the country. Moreover, it is commonly grown in gardens throughout the country.

Gentian

This flower is native to the Alps and usually grows in the wild. The flower grows in clusters and is commonly blue, yellow, white and purple. One of the species, which can be found on the observe side of the € 0.01 euro coin, is blue and trumpet-like in shape.

Arnica

The arnica is a perennial flower and is also known as leopard's bane. The flower is yellow-orange in color and blooms during the spring season. This flower is another member of the sunflower family. The flower is commonly used in traditional medicine throughout the country as a remedy for bruises and sprains.

Heather

The flower grows in clusters in a shrubby plant. The flower is purple in color and its blooming period stretches from early spring to late summer. Usually the flower can be found grown along moors and bogs.

These are some of the native flowers of Austria. Apart from them, alpine carnation, alpine rose and hyacinth are also native to the country. Some other flowers like roses are also grown in the country.

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Source by Asma A Mohiuddin

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T-shirt manufacturers use many terms to describe their products. The terms are not always consistent and it helps to have a reference guide.

The following is the official Green Man T-Shirts Guide to understanding t-shirt terms:

20s, 20/1, 20s single: Unit of measurement that defines the fineness of cotton thread. A standard spool of single-ply cotton thread is comprised of 840 yards of cotton thread. If it takes 20 spools to weigh one pound, then the thread on those spools is referred to as 20s cotton, or 20/1. If 30 spools weigh one pound, then the thread on those spools is referred to as 30s cotton thread, or 30/1. If it takes 40 spools to weigh one pound, then the thread on those spools is referred to as 40s cotton, or 40/1. The higher number means a finer thread, and thus a finer, softer fabric is created. T-shirts made of 30s and 40s are softer, finer, and have better drape than t-shirts made of 20s. The terms are used many ways, but it's the number that counts; "20s," "20/1," and "20 singles" are the same. Threads can be twisted together into thicker strands. If two 20/1 cotton threads were twisted together, it would be referred to as 20/2.

Bamboo Fabric: Rayon made ​​from bamboo cellulose . Although rayon is a man-made synthetic material, most experts agree it is readily biodegradable. Bamboo fabric is extremely soft and has excellent drape.

Bamboo: Fast growing plant, classified as a grass, which can be readily processed into rayon to make bamboo rayon clothing.

Bleach Wash: A process that uses bleach to soften and distress the look of the fabric being washed.

Boat Neck: A very wide neckline that runs across the collarbone area to the shoulder points. Derives from early sailors' shirts, where the wide neck enabled quick removal if the sailor fell overboard.

Boy Beater: Women's fashion answer to the wife beater. A women's tank top, although it can be any color.

Brushed Cotton: A method to remove excess lint and fibers from cotton fabric. Brushed cotton usually has a very soft, smooth finish.

Burn-Out: A process that uses sulfuric acid or other strong acid to "burn-out" parts of a fabric knit, usually a polyester / cotton blend. The process gives a see-through, very sheer effect.

Cap Sleeves: Usually refers to shorter sleeves on women's garments.

Carbon Dioxide: CO2. A chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms and one carbon atom. Known as a "greenhouse" gas because of its relationship with global warming. A few t-shirt manufacturers are now measuring and recording the CO2 emissions involved in manufacturing their shirts.

Carbon Trust: Independent organization founded in 2001 in Great Britain that monitors carbon emissions. The Carbon Trust works with companies to help reduce their carbon footprint, and now certifies companies and products as having a "low carbon" or "no carbon" footprint. A few t-shirt companies now manufacture "low carbon footprint" t-shirts.

Carding: A fiber cleaning process that eliminates short fibers and removes dirt and foreign matter. Carding can be done by hand or by large machines using drum rollers. Carded-only cotton is not as desirable as combed cotton.

Cellulase Wash: Another name for enzyme wash . This gives fabric a soft feel and a vintage look, depending on how the wash is done.

Cellulose: Derived from the cell walls of certain plants. Useful in making certain types of fabrics, including acetate, triacetate, and rayon. Bamboo fabric is actually rayon made from bamboo cellulose.

Cheap Cotton T-Shirt: T- shirts made ​​with carded cotton, using 18/1 thread, usually knitted on 20 gauge machines. These t-shirts are coarse, rough, and have poor drapability. Used often as cheap promotional give-aways.

Climate Neutral: A term used to describe a company, process, or product that has zero impact on the Earth's climate. A few t-shirt manufacturers advertise their company as climate neutral.

CO2: Carbon dioxide. A chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms and one carbon atom. Known as a "greenhouse" gas because of its relationship with global warming.

Colorfastness: The ability of a garment to withstand multiple washings without losing its color.

Combed Cotton: A method to remove short fibers and to arrange longer fibers parallel to create a smooth, fine cotton yarn. Combed cotton has high strength, excellent uniformity, and better hand. Combed cotton costs more and is used in finer t-shirts.

Compacting: A process that compacts the space between cotton fiber pockets. Helps to reduce shrinking.

Contrasting Stitching: Stitching with a different color than the garment. Gives a nice design detail in t-shirts.

Control Union: An international organization that offers certification services for a variety of programs – including many organic certification programs. Certifies USDA Organic, as well as GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard).

Cotton Jersey: Knitted, very slightly stretchy fabric with a smooth flat face and a more textured but uniform back. Average weight per yard is about 5.5 to 6 ounces. Basic t-shirts are made of cotton jersey. Fine cotton jersey is usually smoother and has a lighter weight per yard.

Cotton: A natural fiber that is the most popular in the world for fabrics. Cotton fibers are usually ½ to 2 inches long. Longer fibers produce finer cotton fabric. Varieties such as Pima and Egyptian, which feature fibers exceeding 1.5 inches, are more highly valued than ordinary varieties.

Crew Neck: A round close-fitting neckline. Most common neck on t-shirts.

Crop Top: A shirt with a short body to it; made to expose the midriff area.

Double-Needle Stitched: Used mostly on sleeve / bottom hems and refers to a parallel row of stitching. This type of stitching gives durability and a cleaner, more finished look.

Drape, Drapability: Refers to how a fabric hangs. A fabric like bamboo rayon has excellent drape, while a coarse fabric like burlap has very little. T-shirts that have good drape qualities feel nicer to wear.

Drop Tail: A garment that features a longer back than front.

Eco-Friendly: Extremely loose term that refers to a product's "greenness." Almost useless in realistically assessing a product. Favorite term used by green washers.

Egyptian Cotton: Cotton produced in Egypt and valued for its long length of fiber. Apparel made with true Egyptian cotton is prized for its softness and fineness.

Environmental Justice Foundation: A registered charity established in 2000 to help people who suffer most from environmental abuses such as pesticide poisoning, water depletion, and soil destruction. Especially active in curbing abuses in cotton farming.

Enzyme Washed: A wash process using special enzymes to produce a soft finish and smooth look to a fabric. Ages dyes to create a special look to dyed fabrics. Enzyme washing is physically less harsh on the fabric compared to stone washing.

European Cut: A style of t- shirt that is narrower than what one normally finds. For example, a full cut men's t-shirt, size large, usually runs 22 inches across the chest (measured one inch below the sleeve). A men's large European cut will run about half an inch to 1 inch narrower, sometimes more.

Fabric Dyed: Fabric dyed before being cut and sewn into a finished piece of clothing.

Fair Labor Association: A nonprofit organization dedicated to ending sweatshop conditions in factories worldwide. Works to develop Code of Labor Practices, especially important in the apparel business where working conditions have historically been so poor.

Fair Wear Foundation: An international group dedicated to enhancing garment workers' lives all over the world. Works with companies that produce clothing and other sewn products and that take responsibility for their supply chain.

Fine Cotton Jersey: Knitted, very slightly stretchy fabric with a smooth flat face and a more textured but uniform back. Fine cotton jersey is usually smoother and has a lighter weight per yard than regular cotton jersey. T-shirts made with fine cotton jersey have a better drape and feel than regular t-shirts. Usually made with 30s and higher cotton thread, and weighs about 4.3 ounces per square yard.

Fitted Cut: Definitions vary, but generally a fitted cut refers to a cut that flatters the body. Used often in women's t-shirts, the middle section of the shirt will be tighter than the top or bottom. Overall, the shirts run narrower than a basic full cut.

Full Cut: A generous, roomy cut . In t-shirts, tubular styles are generally considered full-cut, but there are exceptions. Full Cut differs from the slimmer European Cuts, Slim Cuts, and Fitted Cuts.

Garment Dyed: Clothing dyed after it has been cut and sewn into a finished article of clothing.

Garment Washed: A process where finished articles of clothing are washed, usually with added softeners to improve the feel and look of the fabric.

GMO Free: GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organisms. First used in the 1990s when consumers became worried about genetically modified food. Many companies now apply the GMO free label on everything from food to natural fabrics, like cotton.

GOTS: Stands for Global Organic Textile Standard . A project of the International Working Group. They have developed standards to ensure organic status of textiles, from the harvesting, manufacturing, and labeling, in order to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer. An organic t-shirt that meets the standards can be GOTS certified.

Green: Generic term used by marketing gurus to promote products. Another favorite term of "green-washers," who are hopping on the environmental bandwagon without any real commitment.

Green-Washing: Take off on the term "white-washing," but in an environmental context. Companies that green-wash are paying lip-service to environmental concerns to attract more business, but have not taken any real steps to be environmentally responsible.

Hand: The way a fabric feels to the touch. A fabric that feels soft and smooth is considered to have a good hand.

Hemp Fabric: Hemp, or Cannabis sativa , has been used for fabric for thousands of years, mostly as an industrial fabric. Newer processing methods have made it suitable for finer clothing, and now it is used in many clothing articles, including t-shirts. Hemp is valued for its strength and durability.

Henley T-Shirt: Similar to a collarless polo shirt, a Henley is a pullover t-shirt featuring 2 or 3 buttons (sometimes up to 5 buttons are used, but that's uncommon). A Henley can be either short or long sleeved.

Ice Wash: A method of stone washing where the stones are first soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate. This method produces a frosted appearance to fabric.

Interlock Knit: A type of knit that is very soft and has a good drape. Interlock knit stitches are tighter, more stretchy than Jersey knit, but less stretchy than rib knit. Used in very fine garments.

Jersey Knit: Commonly found in t- shirts and is the most durable of knits. It is light weight, and has fine vertical ribs. The Jersey knit was named after the British Island in the English Channel. Fine cotton Jersey refers to Jersey Knit made with fine cotton threads such as 30s and 40s.

Knit: Defines how the interlocking loops of yarn that make up fabric were made. There are many types of knits. Jersey Knit is commonly found in t-shirts and is the most durable of knits. It is light weight, and has fine vertical ribs. On the other hand, rib knits have heavy ribs running down the fabric, while interlock knits are used in very fine fabrics. T-shirt collars are usually rib knit.

Muscle Shirt: Sleeveless style t-shirt , but not exactly a tank top. Basic t-shirt, just without the sleeves. The shoulder strap portion is much wider than an ordinary tank top.

Neck Tape: A thin strip of fabric sewn over the seam running across the shoulders and neck area. It covers the seam and looks better than an exposed stitch. Often referred to as "shoulder to shoulder taped."

OekoTek 100: Certification from the International Oeko -Tex® Association, which assures consumers that the apparel they buy is chemical free and poses no risk to their health. Under the Oeko-Tex standard, clothing must be free of formaldehyde, arsenic, lead, cadmium, and other toxic chemicals.

Organic Apparel: A term very loosely applied in the garment industry. It can mean anything from 100% organic to as little as 6% organic. Often combined with terms like Eco-Friendly, Green, and so on. Consumers must check the labels and verify the materials used to see if something is truly organic or not.

Organic Cotton: Cotton grown without the use of pesticides. Certified organic cotton has been inspected to insure it truly is organic.

Organic Soil Association: Founded in 1946 by a group of farmers, scientists and nutritionists concerned about the relationship between farming practices and plant, animal, human, and environmental health. The Organic Soil Association pioneered the first organic standards in 1967, and certifies farms and businesses that meet those standards.

Overdyed: A process where previously dyed garments or fabrics are dyed with an additional color to create a unique look.

Performance T: Name for t-shirts manufactured for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. Performance Ts are characterized by their breathability, moisture wicking, fast drying, and odor control capabilities. Many performance Ts are polyester / cotton blends, or can also be 100% polyester. Bamboo t-shirts, due to their absorbency and wicking properties, have become known as performance t-shirts, although they do not dry as fast as performance t-shirts made of 100% polyester.

PFD: Stands for Prepared For Dyeing. Sold this way to t-shirt customizers who want to create their own look with dyes.

Pigment Dyed: A type of dye that creates a washed out, distressed look.

Pima Cotton: A cotton developed in the US in the early 1900s to compete with Egyptian cotton. It features longer fibers and is used often in fine men's and women's shirts. The name Pima comes from the Pima Indians, who helped with the first crops of the new cotton as it was first grown in the US

Pique: A method of knitting that creates a waffle-type, fine textured surface. Used often in polo shirts.

Polyester: Man-made fiber manufactured from synthetic polymers. Used widely in apparel, especially combined with cotton in 50/50 blends.

Pre-Shrunk: Refers to the process of pre-shrinking fabric before it is cut and sewn. Occasionally it refers to an actual finished garment that has been preshrunk. Clothing that has been preshrunk shrinks less once the buyer washes it. Preshrunk cotton t-shirts will still shrink a bit, however, especially if dried using a clothes dryer.

Raglan T-Shirt: Style of t -shirt featuring sleeves that run directly to the collar. Usually the sleeves are a contrasting color from the body. Raglan sleeves are wider under the arms, and are preferred by wearers who want maximum freedom of movement. Baseball t-shirts usually feature a raglan sleeve style.

Rayon: Man-made fiber that uses plant cellulose as its main ingredient. Rayon is very soft, has excellent drape, and is very absorbent. Originally developed as a silk substitute.

Rib Knit: Characterized by heavy vertical ribs running down the fabric. Rib knits are usually classified as 1×1, 2×1 or 2×2. This lets you know the width of the rib compared to the space between. For example, a 1×1 rib knit or a 2×2 rib knit means the space between each rib is the same width as the ribs. But a 2×1 rib knit means the ribs are twice as wide as the spaces in between. Rib knit is very stretchy and is often used for t-shirt collars, cuffs, and tank tops.

Ring Spun: Refers to yarn made ​​by twisting and thinning a rope of cotton fibers. The continuous spinning results in a softer feel and stronger yarn. Ring-spun t-shirts are noticeably softer to the touch.

Ringer T: A t-shirt with colored sleeve bands and matching crew neck. Most ringers are white, with the armband sleeves and crew necks in various colors.

Sand Wash: Refers to using sand while washing a garment or fabric to soften and distress it.

Satin Washed: Another term for silicone washed , which produces a very smooth and soft finish to fabric, and also gives the fabric good draping properties.

Scoop Neck: Wide, gently curved neckline that varies in depth. Favored in women's shirts.

Sheer Jersey: Very light weight jersey knit , weighing about 3.9 ounces per yard. A little stretchier than fine jersey.

Shoulder to Shoulder Tape: A thin strip of fabric sewn over the seam running across the shoulders and neck area. It covers the seam and looks better than an exposed stitch.

Shrinkage: Usually refers to cotton apparel and the amount it can be expected to shrink. Most cotton t-shirts are pre-shrunk, but 4-5% shrinkage can still be expected.

Side Seamed: Refers to shirts with a seam running down at each side under the arm sleeves to the bottom hem. Side seamed t-shirts are more expensive to manufacture.

Silicone Washed: Refers to using inert silicone in a washing process. Produces a very smooth and soft finish to fabric, and also gives the fabric good draping properties.

Singlet: another term for a men's tank top.

Slim Cut: A style of t- shirt that is narrower than what one normally finds. For example, a full cut men's t-shirt, size large, usually runs 22 inches across the chest (measured one inch below the sleeve). A slim cut will run about half an inch to 1 inch narrower, sometimes more.

Stonewashed: A washing process that uses lava rocks or sometimes silicon and rubber balls. This method makes fabric softer and gives it an aged or distressed look. Sometimes bleach is used in this process.

Tank Top: T-Shirt characterized by thin shoulder straps and no sleeves. The name came from the early term for swimming pools: swimming tanks.

Taped Seam: Not actual "tape, " but a thin strip of fabric sewn over the seam running across the shoulders and neck area of t-shirts. It covers the seam and looks better than an exposed stitch.

Tubular Style: A style that has no side seams; the body of the t-shirt is round and straight. Tubular t-shirts are less expensive to manufacture, and make up the bulk of the cheaper t-shirts.

Unisex T-Shirt: No standard definition exists for a unisex t-shirt, but generally speaking a unisex t-shirt is made ​​of lighter weight, fine cotton jersey, side seamed, and not cut as full as a regular men's t-shirt. The sleeves are not extra short, like cap sleeves, but are not full elbow lengths either. The body length is usually medium / long. However, there are wide variations in unisex t-shirts, depending on the manufacturer.

Uzbekistan: Former USSR satellite that became independent in 1991 and is notorious for its cotton production methods, which include forced child labor and environmentally destructive practices. Ethical apparel companies boycott Uzbekistan cotton; however, many companies do not care and have refused to join in the boycott because Uzbekistan cotton is cheap.

V -Neck: Inverted triangle style of neckline . Can be deep or shallow, depending on the style. Usually favored by women, but a shallow style v-neck is popular among men.

Viscose: Typically another name for rayon, as in viscose rayon.

Weight: Usually expressed ounces per square yard . A 5.5 ounce weight cotton fabric means that one square yard will weigh 5.5 ounces. Fine jersey cotton fabrics usually have lighter weights, while coarser cotton fabrics have heavier weights.

Wife Beater: Derogatory term for a men 's tank top t-shirt. Usually refers to a basic white tank top.

Yarn Dyed: Yarn that is dyed before it is woven into a fabric.

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Source by David Urban

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If there is one sound that has come to represent something about quality in today's dance music industry, it is the French sound. You can not go to a club today without hearing those distinctive filters, that unmistakable disco vibe, and the crisp, sharp beats. French electronic music has established itself as more than a fad; it's about quality through experimentation, and it's showing no signs of going away.

As with all house music, it began with disco. By the late 1970s, disco music had developed into a definable genre, and the 1977 movie Saturday Night Fever shot disco into the public spotlight. The fundamentals of house music today can be traced back to legendary nightclubs such as The Paradise Garage and Studio 54, where disco's short lived notoriety really took off. As disco eventually found itself demoted to smaller venues, the likes of Frankie Knuckles were developing something new. Although Frankie stayed close to disco's roots, other DJs were pushing a sound influenced by alternative genres: reggae, euro pop, hip hop, new wave, etc.

House music became an underground revolution, and as it began to move away from focusing on songs for radio play, the tracks got longer, the basslines more inventive, and the parties more vibrant. With the advent of drum machines in the 1980s, house music began to take form.

Over in France, during the 1970s there was what is commonly referred to as Euro disco, which was essentially any disco music that did not come from the UK or the US. Acts such as Abba were at the forefront of this genre. After a short stint as space disco and the disco backlash in 1979, the term "Euro disco" disappeared altogether and was replaced by just "disco". Throughout the 1980s, disco was a major musical force in France, dominating the radio waves and the clubs. This, along with the influence of P-funk, paved the way for French house music, but it was not until Thomas Bangalter came along that things really began to move.

Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo met in 1987, and after a brief fling with indie rock, they started to study the graces of drum machines and formed Daft Punk. 1995's 'Da Funk' (a classic, still played to this day) led to an album deal with Virgin and the release of Homework in 1997. The album is widely regarded as one of the most influential works of electronic music to come out of the 1990s. Daft Punk proved to French people (and the French music industry and media) that dance music was there to stay, and it could be successful. The album's success was a huge surprise and demonstrative of the fact that electronic music had a broad fan base, transcending boundaries.

To see who influenced Daft Punk's music, all you have to do is listen to the track 'Teachers' from Homework. It lists artists and DJs who Daft Punk learnt something from, taking their sounds and making them into something new: DJ Sneak, DJ Rush, Waxmaster, Hyperactive, Jammin Gerald, Brian Wilson, and the list goes on.

Daft Punk inspired countless other artists to produce a new form of music that developed into the filtered disco sound that became the norm. After Daft Punk came outfits such as Stardust (also Bangalter), Cassius and Bob Sinclar. This was when the music really began to sell commercially, and as a result the quality was diluted and it became more like pop music. While people started getting bored of the French scene, UK producers were stepping up and coming out with all new sounds that put some of the French music to shame.

One band that shot to fame shortly after Daft Punk released Homework was Air. 1998's Moon Safari was an instant classic, peaking at number 6 in the UK charts. For close to ten years now, Air have championed a blissful, electronic sound, adding another string to the French music industry's bow.

Even before French house music had taken its form, Laurent Garnier was playing at legendary UK clubs such as The Hacienda in Manchester. After a strong period of playing out in the late eighties, with sets encompassing everything from deep house to Detroit techno, Garnier began producing and defined his own style, distancing himself from the latest trends and fads in France. Tracks like 'Crispy Bacon' and 'The Man with the Red Face', along with epic, multi-genre DJ sets, have solidified Garnier's status across the world.

In recent years, the new wave of French electronic music has begun to make itself known, with the likes of Justice, Miss Kittin, The Hacker and Para One leading the new school. Jutsice's anthemic remix of Simian's 'Never Be Alone' somehow managed to be an enormous hit in both indie and dance music circles. With the likes of Bib Sinclar making low quality, populist dance hits now, there are still those choosing to innovate rather than sell records for a fast buck. Thomas Bangalter continues to be at the forefront of the scene, and labels like Edbanger and Arcade Mode are helping nurture new talent. Justice in particular have rocketed to fame in a few short years and now they are being booked all over the world with their unique sound and killer remixes making them a household name.

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Source by Matt Crook

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In the current global financial environment, many businesses and countries are feeling the pressure brought down from the exchange rates of certain currencies. The economic recession and even depression in some countries has led to fluctuating exchange rates, affecting some companies negatively and others positively. For example, according to Ed Blocher (2010), the Euro has seen its value drop from $ 1.59 in August 2008 to $ 1.26 in March 2009. These drastic ups and downs that the world is experiencing in the financial market are affecting global trading and causing multinational corporations to address issues such as loss in profits and higher costs.

The impact of the recession experienced by many countries in the past few years has significantly affected the business done by corporations that export goods and services to businesses in other countries. The falling value of the Euro from 2008 to 2009 created several advantages and disadvantages. For US companies selling products to firms in Europe, this event represented a loss in sales because US products now were more expensive in European countries. This fluctuation in sales proved to be devastating for some US exporters, whose international sales represented a large portion of its business. To combat this problem, cost accountants need to accurately determine the costs of certain goods so these goods can be competitively priced. From the European point of view, when firms based in Europe exported goods to the US, higher sales were realized due to the fact that these US buyers were buying at a lower price. For this reason, a multinational corporation in Europe could have, in theory, been doing more business outside of its borders during a recession than it would have normally. This reality has helped some corporations stay afloat during their country's recession. With the value of the Euro now rising to $ 1.35 (Bloomberg.com), these situations are being pushed in the other direction. By creating a strategy centered on reducing costs and adjusting to the market, a firm that exports its product to other countries can remain profitable in an unstable financial market.

As firms in the US begin to embark on a strategy of globalization, they must take into account the current financial status of the counties they wish to do business in. These global efforts must be orchestrated so that the firm enters the market when the exchange rates favor its business. If that firm prices their product accurately, the move to a more global market could prove to be very beneficial. This strategy has been successfully employed by many corporations such as McDonalds, General Electric, and Apple. On the other hand, the global market presents a number of obstacles that a firm must overcome if it is to succeed. Not only can the state of the market threaten a firm's expansion, but so can the culture and the ethical standards of the people. In addition, some countries are plagued with corruption, which should deter corporations from entering that market. For these reasons and more, it is essential that a corporation does a significant amount of research before making a decision to conduct business in a foreign country.

The key to successful expansion lies in the hands of the managers and researchers. The information and research obtained by these people can guide the company to make the correct decisions. For example, to be competitive in a foreign market, a firm must accurately price their product. This is the job of a cost accountant, who uses ABC costing or another method to determine what costs will be incurred during production and where a certain product should be priced. Managers can reduce these costs by determining the necessary number of employees and exploring ways to increase productivity. This is exceedingly difficult in a foreign market, which makes it all the more important.

Overall, the state of the economies of targeted countries can affect the sales of a multinational corporation. When the financial condition in these countries poses a threat to the well-being of a corporation, that corporation must reduce costs and price their products accurately in order to compete with domestic firms. This is difficult, however, and "is more time-consuming, costly, and complicated as compared to budgeting for domestic firms" (Blocher, 391). To succeed in the global market, though, these costs must be incurred. For a successful global firm, these costs are significantly outweighed by the gain in profits that the firm realizes.

Works Cited

Blocher, Ed, David E. Stout, Gary Cokins (2010). Cost Management a Strategic Emphasis. 5th edition.

Bloomberg.com (2010). World Currencies. March 20 Retrieved, 2010 from Http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/currencies/eurafr_currencies.html

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Source by Michael C. White

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By sticking to the most popular pairs in Forex (called the MAJORS) you know you've got the most liquidity:

PAIR

CURRENCIES (NICKNAME)

EUR / USD

Euro / US Dollar (Fiber)

USD / JPY

US Dollar / Japanese Yen (Gopher)

GBP / USD

UK Sterling / US Dollar (Cable)

USD / CHF

US Dollar / Swiss Franc (Swizzy)

USD / CAD

US Dollar / Canadian Dollar (Loonie)

AUD / USD

Australian Dollar / US Dollar (Aussie)

NZD / USD

New Zealand Dollar / US Dollar (Kiwi)

Some currency pairs are more volatile than others. This makes them better to use in trades as they trend. The best currencies to trade are those of countries that are the major role players in the world economy (these are called "G7" countries). The G7 was formed in 1976, when Canada joined the Group of Six: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

You'll see that the spread on the "major pairs" from the G7s is much lower than on less popular pairs from weak countries with chronic economic and political instability. Example: The spread on the EUR / USD is between 1.5 and 3 pips because the major countries making up the Euro Currency and the United States are BOTH G7 countries.

Take South Africa for instance. I think Nelson Mandela is a pretty cool guy. His story is a classic "Think and Grow Rich" example of a definite major purpose and definite desire having transmuted his dream to reality. But I DO NOT trust the WACKO government that has evolved from the hatred not only of whites against blacks (apartheid) but also of blacks against whites. Change happened WAY TOO FAST IN SOUTH AFRICA and because of that it is now an unstable 3rd world political economy. The law of an equal or greater benefit will come of the political economic tragedy that is South Africa but it will be in the future as I write this.

Because of this the spread on the USD / ZAR pair is about 60 pips – 20 times more expensive to trade than the EUR / USD – reflecting the high instability of this African political economy.

The safest place to learn Forex trading is in the EUR / USD pair where a full 1/3 of all Forex trades occur. Then, after you know what you're doing, you can venture out into other pairs on the list below. For instance, there are some CROSS PAIRS that are also good for trading. So when we add the two strongest CROSSES and delete the two weakest MAJORS from your list of TRADABLES above here's an alternative group to trade:

PAIR

CURRENCIES (NICKNAME)

EUR / USD

Euro / US Dollar (Fiber)

USD / JPY

US Dollar / Japanese Yen (Gopher)

GBP / USD

UK Sterling / US Dollar (Cable)

USD / CHF

US Dollar / Swiss Franc (Swizzy)

USD / CAD

US Dollar / Canadian Dollar (Loonie)

GBP / JPY

Euro / Yen Cross (Geppy)

EUR / GBP

Euro / Cable Cross (Chunnel)

THE TRADABLE EIGHTEEN

There are many official currencies that are used all over the world, but there only a handful of currencies that are traded actively in the Forex market. In currency trading, only the most economically and politically stable countries have currencies that are traded enough to be liquid. For example, due to the size and strength of the United States economy, the American dollar is the world's most actively traded currency.

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Source by Daniel Hall

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One of the best tools that e-mini traders possess is the ability to look at correlated markets and profit from them. I should point out, at this point, that there is no 100% correlation between 2 given markets, but many markets are related to each other and can be useful and determining future price movement on the contract you are trading. You can add a great deal of confidence to your e- mini trading by learning which markets are related to each other (either positively or negatively) and how those markets might help in determining potential e-mini trades.

· The markets are positively correlated.

· The markets are negatively correlated.

· The markets are non-correlated.

I personally enjoy trading positively correlated markets and use this tool to my advantage nearly 100% of my trading time. Negatively correlated markets can be just as useful and certain contracts can be identified that have very strong correlations to each other. On the other hand, a non-correlated market is of little use to the average trader because they supply little or no information that will be useful when trading.

I am a very active NASDAQ futures trader and the Russell 1000 (and other Russell contracts). I truly enjoy this pair of correlated markets. Most of the time, there is a strong positive correlation between the NQ and the Russell contracts. Post why? It's pretty simple; most of the stocks in the Russell index are on the NASDAQ exchange. In my experience, the NQ generally leads the Russell indexes; so you will find yourself taking and NQ trade and then a subsequent trade on the Russell. One word of caution, however, before you jump into and NQ and subsequent TF trade make sure that the positive correlation exists on the NQ and TF exists before trading. It is not unusual, though not common, for the Russell index to have a day when it is wandering along its merry way and pays little or no attention to what is occurring on the NASDAQ index. My point here is a fairly simple one and that is to make sure the indexes are moving in tandem and do not assume they are moving in tandem.

An example of negatively correlated market would include the Euro futures contract (6E) and the dollar futures contract (DX). What this means is fairly simple: when the dollar index is moving up the euro index will generally be moving in the opposite direction. I never trade the euro without having a dollar chart on the screen. This practice will save you from diving into trades that are non-correlated to other markets; in this case we are talking about the dollar / euro. Dollar up = Euro down.

The purpose of this short article is simply to introduce you to the concept of correlated markets. There are many other correlated markets that exist and I urge you to explore these correlations as you can greatly improve your trading performance by understanding which markets are related to each other.

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Source by David S. Adams

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When did t-shirts become complicated? It used to be a simple thing: there were standard sizes and you grabbed your size and off you went. But now we have "fashion fits", "European cuts," "slim fits," "boxy," "tube," and so on. We're told sometimes to either order up or down from our "regular" size.

In a store we can try on t-shirts and find our size, but what about online sales? T-shirts sold online are a huge market, especially t-shirts featuring unique designs you can not find in stores. Naturally, you want to get the right fit, so is there a secret to buying t-shirts online and getting the right size?

Well, there is. Here's what to do: find a favorite t-shirt you normally wear and spread it out flat on a table. Take a ruler and measure across the width. Measure from about one inch beneath the bottom of the sleeves across the chest area. This measurement is your true size.

For example, my t-shirts run 22 inches across. Most of the time this represents a standard size "large" in a men's t-shirt. But not always; I've had to order up and buy a size "extra large" many times. (Most often these are t-shirts made overseas, or they are t-shirts featuring a "slim cut." These styles are about an inch narrower than what we would consider a standard size).

Since I know a 22 "measurement fits me, that's what I look for in sizing charts. Most websites list these charts so you can cross-reference easily, but sometimes they do not. Some sites merely list small, medium, large, and so forth, but these terms are not accurate any longer. If that's all I can find for sizing information, I have to pass.

If a site lists overall chest sizes only, then you can usually safely divide that number by 2 to correspond to your measurement. For example, I know that a t-shirt listed as a chest size 44 will measure 22 inches across and therefore will fit me.

Generally speaking, I have found that classic American-made t-shirts run to a "standard" size. These feature the basic boxy-style fit. There are exceptions, such as American Apparel t-shirts which run a little tight and are more similar to the overseas made t-shirts that also run about a size smaller. These almost always feature the "fashion" or "European" cuts. And the more exotic fabrics, such as bamboo rayon, are usually cut a little smaller also.

When in doubt, or if you feel you are between sizes, always order up one size. All t-shirts shrink to some extent, even 50/50 blends and bamboo rayon, and chances are you'll have better luck with sizing up rather than down.

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Source by David Urban