Sheepskin, or wool, has clothed people for millennia, keeping them warm in wintery climates and comfortable in warmer environments. Also known as sherling or fleece, sheepskin continues to be a timeless choice. It is an extremely versatile fabric, and is used to make many kinds of clothing, from coats and hats to socks and gloves. Footwear has been one of the most popular uses for sheepskin; boots, slippers, and clogs made of sheepskin are valued for their comfort and style.
The initial European colonists settled hundreds of years ago in Australia with their sheep. The Australian rural landscape is uniquely suited to sheep, as the weather remains relatively mild and the landscape encompasses massive expanses of natural grassland. Similar to most any primitive lifestyle, it was important for the earliest settlers to put all possessions to complete use, as resources were often scarce. Not only were sheep used as a lucrative crop, for trading purposes, and as a source of food, but they were used for clothing as well. Over the years, the sheep became the primary crop and chief export for the entire country. With its dominance of the sheep industry for such an extended time, it is no wonder Australia was said to 'ride on the sheep's back'. The country's largest and most significant form of land use is for wool production, with roughly 70,000 wool-growing properties spreading from north of Queensland to the mid-north of Western Australia, including Tasmania and the Islands of the Bass Strait.
Australian Merino
The numbers of sheep are overwhelming. Individual flocks range from as little of a few hundred to as many as 100,000 or more!
Three-quarters of all Australian sheep run in flocks of 3,000 or more. Australia produces 30 percent of all wool used worldwide, from over 100 million sheep. Other significant sheep flocks are found in the he USSR (117 million), China (111 million), New Zealand (50 million) and India (40 million).
More than 80 percent of all Australian sheep are a breed called the "Australian Merino". The outstanding feature of this sheep is its large size, and is known primarily for its heavy fleeces of fine quality wool. It is a distinct breed that has adapted to the specific conditions of the Australian countryside. Geelong, on the south east coast of Australia, is considered the wool capital of the world. In fact, Emu Australia, a premier manufacturer of sheepskin products, controls all processes from sourcing and tanning to manufacturing in the Geelong location.
"sheepskin = sherling = fleece = wool"
Over time, sheepskin boot production became as much a part of the Australian history as the cowboy boot is to America's Western heritage. Sheepskin hides were put to use to create all forms of clothing, including footwear. The Aussie ranchers made their boots from the skins of the Merino sheep, after discovering the unsurpassed quality of Merino sheep wool.
From the 1820s on, it is this highly valued wool that was Australias primary export product. The Merino sheepskin is perhaps natures most perfect material for footwear: durable, yet extremely soft and lightweight, it creates a boot that has a rich suede texture on the outside and the smooth, gentle fleece lining on the inside. This is one reason why ug boots are so cozy.
What Makes Sheepskin Special
Still strong enough for outdoor wear, it is the Merino sheepskin that is responsible for the boots' snug, comfy, foot-molding property that feels like gigantic socks when slipped around your feet. The exceptional fleece lining is a product that can be worn all times of the year, in extreme cold or in the heat of summer. In cold conditions, the fleece supplies the feet with an insulating layer of warmth by trapping in body heat. In the heat, the natural fibers of the fleece actually keep your feet cool by pulling perspiration away from your skin; thus keeping air circulating in the boots keeping your feet dry.
Since sheepskin is naturally thermostatic, you can wear them in conditions from-30 F to as high as your thermometer will go! Also, sheepskin contains lanolin and will moisturize your feet when worn barefoot. In Australia and the US, the typical way to wear sheepskin footwear is without socks.
Sheepskin Today
In 2002, fashion industries around the world determined it was an appropriate time to really popularize sheepskin products. How? By producing and promoting countless styles of clothes made out of sheepskin. What started out as purely beach-scene style made its way to ski areas and ultimately wound up finding popularity in the mainstream fashion industry.
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Article by 30below Australia, 100% premium Sheepskin Ugg Boot Store
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While nutritional concerns apply to both genders after gastric bypass weight loss surgery one thing differs: women must supplement iron, and men must not supplement iron.
Men are at risk of iron toxicity if they supplement their diet with iron. According to the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences men should only intake 8 mg of iron a day versus the 18mg women should take daily until they turn 50 and drop daily intake to 8mg.
Iron poisoning, caused by acute ingestion of large quantities of iron-containing supplements, causes nausea, vomiting, damage to the lining of the intestinal tract, shock, and liver failure, and is a leading cause of death among children.
Chronic iron overload, or excessive iron storage, can cause a variety of symptoms including loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss, headaches, bronze or gray hue to the skin, dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath. It is generally believed that chronic iron toxicity occurs only in people who require regular blood transfusions, take iron supplements, or in those with a genetic iron storage.
Although iron overload is not likely to develop from food sources alone, men, because they do not experience iron losses, may be at greater risk for the problems associated with excessive iron. In recent years, excess iron intake and storage, especially in men, has been implicated as a cause of heart disease and cancer. In addition, iron has been found in increased levels in the joints of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Kaye Bailey 2005 - All Rights Reserved
Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.blogspot.com
LivingAfterWLS is a no-nonsense resource for people Living After Weight Loss Surgery. Our community is growing in numbers even as we are shrinking in pounds. Together we support one another in this lifestyle, that it turns out, is NOT the easy way out.
Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often. To subscribe to the LivingAfterWLS monthly newsletter "You Have Arrived" click on http://www.livingafterwls.com and enter your details in the subscription box
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Reduce the Stress Factor: This comes first in this list of advices, since stress is directly related with a variety of health problems. Experts suggest that those suffering from stress should sleep for 30 minutes during the day; apart from the required 6-8 hours of night sleep. Even if your work does not allow you to be home before 6 p.m. try sleeping for half an hour when you get back. It is rejuvenating and equals two hours of night sleep. Moreover, instead of watching TV you should listen to your favorite music, sit comfortably on the couch and read something pleasant. The continuous parade of images on the TV screen increases your stress levels, while reading and listening to a tune can both entertain you and help you reexamine your worries later with a clear head.
Eat Healthier Food: Apart from stress, the high levels of sugar in your blood in combination to an unhealthy diet you follow can weaken your heart. Thus, you should add to your daily nutrition, foods that contain fibers, like whole grain products, fruits and vegetables, pulse, etc. If you cannot say goodbye to sweet flavors, it is best for you to eat dark chocolate, honey roasted nuts or dried fruits. These will provide you with the sugar you want to taste, but will not add tremendously to your daily calorie intake.
Find Time to Exercise: Imperative for your good health and your normal heart's operation is to exercise regularly and frequently. If it is difficult to find those extra minutes during the day to visit the gym or participate in any sport, select to use the public transportation that is available in your area and get off one stop before your final destination in order to walk; if that is feasible of course. If you have to drive, try parking five minutes further away from your house or office and then walk the rest of the distance. Use the stares instead of the elevator and during the weekend if you select to dine outside your house, go somewhere that you can walk before dinning (e.g. sea, mountain).
Drink Water: Extremely important for your body to stay fit is to drink water. Water is one of the few things you should never exclude from your diet. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day and try to choose water instead of a soda drink or coffee during or after dinning.
Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://fitness-talk.net/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://forahealthyman.com/ and http://learntobecloser.com/
¶ 1:19 PM 0 comments
How many surgeries does a Katoey needs to take to live like a real woman?
A "phuying praphet song" (ladyboy) from Bangkok. She has been taking hormone replacement therapy at an early age of 13 and had SRS at the age of 20. Looks like a cute and beautiful girl, right?
Undergo female sex hormone replacement therapy.
Have breast implants.
Undergo cosmetic surgeries to shape their bodies such as jawbone, hips and buttocks.
Undergo voice chord surgery and reduce the size of adam's apple. Finally undergo male-to-female sexual reassignment surgery (SRS) to complete the transition.
Thailand is the cheapest place to have SRS
Thailand is indeed the cheapest place in the world for ladyboys to perform any surgeries they want.
It is perhaps the only country that accepts transgenders in society due to the high value of tolerance the Buddhist culture places on.
Some families even welcome their new daughters and pay for the surgery cost.
Thailand is one of the cost effective (cheapest) places to perform male-to-female sexual reassignment surgery (SRS). In the West, it would cost around USD$25,000. In Thailand, USD$1600 would cover for the procedure. Countries such as Japan and Singapore will cost even more.
After SRS, they will be able to function like a real woman and engage in sexual intercourse of course.
Did you know that it is possible for a katoey to be pregnant? Doctor Chen Huanran, a Beijing sex change surgeon claimed that he has developed the technology to make a transgender pregnant and the cost of the procedure is around US$24,156.
The life of a katoey...
Most katoeys seek a world in which they can freely behave and live the way they want.
A place where no one will judge or laugh at them so that they can live their life as a real woman.
The transition of the famous Champion Thai kickboxer, Nong Tum who was banned from the ring after she had SRS.
That's why most katoeys choose to work in restuarants, or as a performer in the famous Ladyboy show. Others simply choose to work as a prostitute or sex workers because it's the easiest way to make quick money. Guess what will they do with the money? To pay for the surgeries of course!
Not all katoeys work in the nightlife industry though. Some katoeys do hold normal day jobs such as shop assistant, secretary, nurse, hairdresser, waitress, beautician and even TV stars where they can still have their freedom to live as a woman.
The life of a katoey is never easy. To make it worse, the law in Thailand doesn't recognize them as female even after they had SRS.
You can find view the original article here at (http://mythaisensei.com/thai_culture/thai_katoey_srs.html)
RippaSama is a passionate Thai language lover who just can't stop learning Thai when he is on fire. If you want to read and learn more about his Thai language lessons and tips, you can visit (http://MyThaiSensei.com)
Copyright 2006 - RippaSama. You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made, the author's name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.
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