Fountains of Prague

As in many of the older and more historic parts of Europe, the water fountains that were built were originally used as the main source of drinking as well as bathing. People would come to fill their buckets and take water to their homes or consume the water on the spot.

In the Czech Republic's city of Prague, water fountains of all types stood in every possible open space. While the fountains used to be the main source of drinking water, they have since become decorative sculptures. While some fountains were simple wooden-framed reservoirs others were ornately decorated. Still others were statues and delicately carved sculptures of classical, biblical and natural themes.

Author Ignát Hermann wrote that once upon a time there existed more than 400 usable fountains in Prague during the 19th century. As time went on, there became fewer fountains - even less for drinking. Currently most fountains are seen mainly in recreational or tourist areas. The following are some of the more popular water fountains that you will still find fully functioning within the city of Prague.

Water Features at Prague Castle

Fountains have always been popular features at the homes and castles of nobility. Prague Castle is no different. There are four water fixtures featured at this popular tourist attraction.
The first is Kohl Fountain, also known as Lion Fountain, located in the second courtyard of Prague Castle. Built in 1686, Kohl fountain is one of the oldest in Prague. This fountain was a significant part of the castle's water and fire systems. Being one of the largest castle water reservoirs, one of its main purposes was to extinguish fires.

The third courtyard of Prague Castle is home to the Eagle Fountain of 1661. This small Baroque fountain is located next to the Gothic gate which leads to a small yard below. Another water fountain located in the third courtyard of Prague Castle is the Fountain with the figure of St. George. The statue of St. George once decorated a fountain based on Plečnik's design in 1928. However, the statue was dismantled and installed in Jiřské Square in the 1990s.

The Singing Fountain at Belvedér is one of the most magnificent fountains of the Renaissance. It is located at the Summerhouse of Queen Ann in the Královská (or Royal) Garden of Prague Castle. The fountain was cast by Master Jaros in 1562-68 after a drawing and wax model by Italian painter Francesco Terzio of Bergamo. The wooden mould was cut by Hanus Peysser. The fountain, made of bronze blended with bell metal, is ornately decorated with hunting themes. If you squat down below the level of the fountain basin you can enjoy the "singing" water jets. These jets produce a lyrical, rhythmical sound by the water dropping on a resonating bronze plate.

The last water feature at Prague Castle is not a fountain but a well located in the second courtyard. This well has an octagonal basin and a wrought-iron superstructure. The creator of this well is unknown. The iron grille is topped with a metal rose. It is located right next to the Kohl Fountain.

Other Famous Fountains in Prague

Aside from Prague Castle there are a few other famous fountains scattered throughout the city. In Old Town there is the fountain located in the center of Malé Square. This is the very oldest fountain in Prague and it is protected by a hand-wrought Renaissance grille from 1560. This piece of history has been updated through the centuries with mechanical pumps and stone socles added to ensure proper water flow. Artistically the angelic décor of this fountain make it a true masterpiece.

In New Town there is an 1890 fountain located below the National Museum ramp, which is embellished with a sculpted group called Tschechia. Tschechia is an allegory of the Czech rivers by Antonín Wagner. The fountain basins are made of Hradec Králové sandstone, red Skandinavian granite and yellow Untersberg marble. The bronze lion's head waterspout makes this fountain quite an attraction.

Located in Kinských Square is a fountain called "The Trapdoor of Time." It is a newer fountain erected in 2002. The two granite slabs (made from a cracked rock) symbolizes the trapdoor of time that "devours all deeds of man." This fountain has 64 nozzles, 24 of which have a special bubbling feature that creates a unique water stream. 40 lights are used to illuminate the fountain at night. The jets in the central quarry-faced granite crack shoots water eight meters high.

There are still several other water fountains located throughout the city that hold their own special historical significance. Some fountains are still working but most are not. If touring the fountains of Prague is something that has piqued your interest, any travel guide can help direct you toward these amazing water fountain antiquities.
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Joy Toys

The oldest and most prolific of the Australian soft toy manufacturers, Joy Toys is known for its quality. Highly sought - after by collectors, Joy Toys teddy bears command high prices on the Australian market.

Early Days - 1920s

The teddy bear industry began in Australia in South Yarra, Melbourne. Joy Toys commenced business in the early 1920s, as teddies became popular, and as WW1 meant a ban on teddies being imported from Germany, and disrupted shipments from Britain. Established by George Kirby and his wife, the company flourished.

The earliest bears produces were fully jointed, from fine quality English mohair, stuffed with wood wool, and had twill pads with four foot claws. Eyes were glass, of the best quality. As German bears had been the predominant imports, these early Joy Toys bears resembled German bears.

1930s-40s

The company continued its success, with the bears becoming distinctly Australian in appearance, but with British characteristics. Necks became immobile, and arm pads were tapered and made of cotton, including twill. The distinctive Joy Toys nose appeared, in which an outer stitch on each side was extended up, and with a "Y" shaped mouth. Kapok (soft, silky fibre from the seed pod of a tropical tree) was used as the stuffing. Often the eyes are missing from these early bears, which appears to have been a fault in the production.

In 1935 Joy Toys acquired the licencing rights to produce Walt Disney character toys and this helped the company to grow. Mickey Mouse was a popular toy, with pie-crust eyes, and similar to the original rat-like "Steamboat Willy".

In 1946 the British firm of Tri-ang took over the Joy Toys Ltd firm in Whangerie, N.Z. Tri-ang was originally founded by the Lines Brothers in 1850, and which also owned Pedigree.

Dolls were produced, often of felt with buckram (cloth mask) painted faces. Good examples still exist though they are a favourite with moths and so some damage is usually present!

1950s-60s

Joy Toys teddies of this period often display a distinctive smile! Happy bears are appealing and sell well! In the 1950s they had jointed (though stumpier) arms and legs, made from mohair/synthetic plush, velveteen or, later in the 60s, synthetic plush. Paw pads were often from a similar fabric, sometimes reversed. Crumbed rubber was also used for stuffing during this period, which deteriorated over time and so many of these bears have an unfortunate lumpiness!

During the 1960s, with the introduction of machine washable synthetic materials, the company developed a distictive unjointed teddy, with outstretched arms and straight legs. Pads were of a similar fabric. The same sweet smiling face, glass eyes and embroidered nose and mouth, could be seen in a range of animals that were also produced, such as pandas and dogs. Stuffing was plastic foam moulded into the shape of the body.

Golliwogs were made at this time, with smiling vinyl faces, short fuzzy black hair, cloth bodies and jacket "tails". These toys are highly sought-after.

Another distinctive toy of the 60s and early 70s was the long-legged range. These included golly wogs and poodles. Each "stood" three feet tall with long dangly arms and legs. Stuffed with foam, gollies had flat cotton faces, whereas poodles had shaped faces, curly "hair' and a tail.

In 1966 Lines Bros (Tri-ang) took over the company, though it continued to operate under the Joy Toys name.

1960s-70s

Teddies produced in the early 1970s were of the unjointed shape. Produced from synthetic materials, they still generally had the beautiful glass eyes that Joy Toys was renowned for.

A vast range of soft toy animals also continued to be manufactured at this time, including giraffes in various sizes, dogs and cats. Giraffes, as they had been since the 1950s, were made from artificial silk plushes, giving them a lovely satiny sheen.

In the late 1960s, and into the early 1970s, tariffs were removed by the Australian government on imported toys. Consequently, the market was flooded with cheap imports from Asia. This made it impossible for Joy Toys to compete successfully. After attempting to stay in business with a range of cheaper quality toys, it closed in 1976.
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BioCare - Vitamin E and Skin Care

For many years now BioCare products have been considered to be the finest in top quality vitamins and minerals. When it comes to new innovative products, manufacturing processes, and exciting beneficial ingredients, they have been the first in the United Kingdom, and perhaps even in the world to introduce many of them. Much research goes into each and every ingredient insuring the public will be safe from harm and supplied with all of the essential ingredients required to add to their daily diet. BioCare vitamins include a wide range of excellent quality products and their ingredients are guaranteed fresh, in a readily available form, and made from the purest of raw materials.

Skin care is vital to good health

We must take care of our skin as it is the largest organ of the human body and many times when there are problems within our body they will manifest themselves as skin problems such as rashes and discolouration. This is why proper intake of vitamin E is so vital to our daily diet and we can get that through BioCare vitamins taken on a daily basis.

Balanced diet is a key to good health

As a valuable antioxidant, Vitamin E is essential to skin growth and renewal and there is additional evidence that it assists in cardiovascular health and hormonal regulation.

Most of us realize how important it is to have a balanced diet but all too often it can prove to be difficult if not impossible to eat what we should. Busy schedules and traveling about cause us to grab whatever we can for meals. But our bodies require more than just a quick high calorie snack to maintain proper health and this is where BioCare supplements can prove to be quite beneficial.

We've learned it young but tend to forget

We have been taught while in grade school about the benefits of proper diet and that we need to eat quality foods from the major food groups. BioCare products restore those much needed healthy ingredients by adding BioCare supplements and vitamins to our daily diet.
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Cosmetic Dentistry - Change the Way Your Teeth Appear

If you've got a toothache or mouth pain, you're going to be focusing on getting that resolved as soon as you can. But sometimes, no matter the expertise of the dentist, your tooth may look different after the procedure. Cosmetic dentistry provides you with the opportunity to resolve the way your teeth appear, whether it's due to a dead nerve making the tooth look grey, stains on your teeth or just the color you were born with. Cosmetic dentists can move teeth, extract teeth, whiten them and change their shape, which will change the appearance of your smile dramatically.

It used to be that everyone would notice if you'd had a filling. While many of us may not have gold teeth, we probably have the odd tooth filled with silver colored amalgam or other materials. Alternatively, you can now fill these with porcelain or an alternative that matches the color of your teeth, looking seamless when you smile or laugh. You can replace existing fillings with this to give your mouth a fresh new look.

Cosmetic dentistry is all about keeping the look of your teeth as natural and healthy as possible. They often can use materials that are also more durable, giving you longer and better use of any damaged teeth. Lasers are also used to help whiten teeth, bleaching them with high levels of light. This can make you look younger and remove staining caused by dieting, smoking, caffeine or red wine.

You can also have teeth that were previously thought of as un-saveable, composite bonded and rebuilt within your mouth, providing a strong structure that will feel like new. It will feel like you have your tooth back again - without the pain! If your tooth is chipped, split or badly discolored, a solution is to use a dental veneer that is bonded to the tooth. These can also be used to reduce gaps between teeth.

Maybe you've lost a tooth, instead of having a gap, you can use a dental implant that is an artificial tooth. This can make you look younger, and feel more confident.

If you think you need a lot of work, you may need a full mouth makeover. This process involves various procedures, where a range of different cosmetic dentistry skills are employed to change the whole shape of your smile. Don't let yourself get all stressed about the appearance of your teeth, contact your dentist today to discuss cosmetic dentistry.
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Governing the Planet

"I believe that national sovereignty will shrink in the face of universal interdependence." ~ Explorer, diver and conservationist, Jacques Cousteau

Imagine a roadway through an ancient village, with houses on either side - a few big houses, owned by the rich, as well as modest middle-class homes. One day, after renovating his house, one of the rich residents throws his old unwanted furniture and out on the side of the road. Poor people take away some of the furniture, but some of it remains.

Soon after, one of the more modest neighbors has some old stuff that he leaves on the street, too. Soon other neighbors on the road are putting their old stuff out, too. Poor people come and take some of it, but before long the street is becoming clogged with junk. It's hard to even walk down the road. People trying to use the road are upset. Some blame the first rich person who started it all. Others blame the neighbors who put out more stuff and actually blocked the road.

Can the residents resolve this crisis on their own? Or does it require the intervention of a higher authority? Local governments were set up as social mechanisms purely because certain decisions affecting a set of citizens cannot be left to the citizens themselves; people must cede power to a higher authority to lay down the rules and enforce them. This has been the principle behind all forms of governments.

Let's zoom forward to the 21st century and air quality. We have the USA trying to take the lead in arriving at a global consensus. However, the US Congress is unlikely to pass a Carbon-Cap bill until 2010, if at all. India has agreed to keep the per capita emissions below that of the developed nations, while China has agreed to cut emissions per unit of GDP. These concessions are inadequate since the planet may not be able to accommodate China and India reaching even 50% of the US per capita emission levels.

Amid the political posturing and wrangling, greenhouse gases continue to block the earth's atmosphere at unprecedented levels, compromising our future generations. Can the current approach - leaving the future of the earth to independent sovereign states - produce quick and decisive action? Apparently not: at the Pittsburgh summit, the G20 nations dropped the December climate control deadline. This lack of urgency is troubling, and dangerous.

Just as humanity invented governments and governance at a tribal village level, expanding to larger states and finally to nation states, is it not time that we looked at world government to tackle specific issues? In line with principle of Subsidiarity, decision-making needs to happen at the lowest appropriate level. But decisions that impact the world as a whole need to be ceded up to the world government - matters like environment, global financial regulations and global peace. What form will these global governments take? Will we need to create new institutions by function or as a broad based body that handles all common issues?

What kind of legislative and enforcement powers will be effective? These questions, and more, must be answered - the sooner the better - if we want a sustainable planet. I look forward to your continued engagement and participation to create the burning platform for action.
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Obama's Socialized Medicine

Obama Health Care

The founders of our country didn't trust our government, why should we? With all the checks and balances that were built into it, the federal government was designed to be highly inefficient. The founders knew we had to have a government, but knew that power corrupts. That is why it was purposely conceived to be next to impossible to make large wholesale changes, if the constitution was followed.

Our government was founded on the principle that the states would have more power than the federal government, based on the theory that the more issues are decided on a local level, the more relevant they would be and also the more accountable the politicians would have to be. Also it gave an opportunity to try a new concept at the state or local level before adopting it on the national scene. Thus leaving an opportunity to scape the whole idea if it didn't work out the way everyone thought it would.

Our present government is not operating any way close to the way it was intended, the whole idea of passing bills without reading them, and now trying to adopt bills without voting on them is absurd! What kind of a free people would stand for anything close to that, it sounds more like something Castro or Chavez would do and get away with.

There isn't any question our health care system needs some reform, however adopting the socialism the liberals are trying to push through is like raising the bridge instead of lowering the river.

Two of the best solutions, tort reform and allowing one to buy insurance across state lines would do a lot to reduce costs and create a healthier environment. Socialized medicine will only raise costs and reduce services, already almost 30% of our doctors are going to quit practicing and some major drug stores are refusing to accept any more Medicaid customers. It will only get worse. Obama health care proposals are not about health care, they are only about power, control, and changing America into a socialist progressive country. Karl Marx would be proud.

The government has had over 200 years to reform the post office, they are losing over 4 billion dollars this year, and by Obama's own admission, Fed-Ex and UPS are making money, Woodrow Wilson promised when social security was enacted only the rich would be taxed, how's that working out for you?

Social security was enacted so every one could collect at age 65, only problem was, the life expectancy was only 64 at the time. It still wasn't doing too bad until the mid 60s when Lyndon Johnson and his merry band of socialist started raiding the fund to funnel money into the general fund to pay the bills our government was running up.

Medicare by the same token is going broke and now congress wants to take money from it to pay for socialized medicine. Sounds like fuzzy math to me.
Source: EzineArticles.com

Natural Tinnitus Treatment

Eliminating or reducing tinnitus will often solve these secondary issues, but in some cases, treatment must continue for some time to achieve a full recovery.

Tinnitus can be caused by stress, ear infections, hearing loss, exposure to loud noises, wax or fluid buildup in the ears, or even something as serious as an aneurysm, although this is extremely rare. Tinnitus treatment can be as simple as eliminating the infection, flushing the ear of wax or using an assistive hearing device. In other cases, surgical intervention has been performed to correct a structural abnormality in the bony structure of the ear that has been linked to tinnitus.

Natural tinnitus treatment should involve undertaking a healthy lifestyle. Some causes of tinnitus, such as high blood pressure, can be managed by diet modifications and through incorporating exercise into your weekly routine in many cases. Reducing high blood pressure will often result in the elimination of tinnitus without further treatment.

Some people suffering from tinnitus have been found to have a deficiency in Vitamin B12. Effective tinnitus treatment can be achieved through supplementing the diet with foods rich in Vitamin B12, which include most animal products such as milk, eggs, meats and fish.

Some claims also suggest that ginkgo biloba can be an effective component of tinnitus treatment. Ginkgo biloba actually increases blood circulation in the head and neck, which can be effective because circulatory issues are often implicated as potential causes of tinnitus.

Sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and zinc can also be used as tinnitus treatments. Spinach is high in zinc, which has been linked to both tinnitus and hearing loss. If you don't like spinach, try green beans, asparagus or cucumbers. Spinach can also be incorporated into many recipes in such a way that it's hardly noticeable, which can be an easy way to add zinc to your diet.

While tinnitus treatment generally focuses on curing the underlying cause, there are some situations in which the cause of tinnitus is not known. For these situations, general healthy lifestyle changes can be highly effective, because they bring the body back into balance and often fix little problems we never knew existed. Rather than continue suffering from this frustrating condition, why not undertake some healthy lifestyle changes that could relieve your tinnitus and improve your general health?
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Men's Cargo Pants

Cargo pants are similar with a khaki pants or trouser which is commonly and originally worn by the military people and is also typically used by men. Today it is widely used by a lot of people because it has plenty of features that suit the trend of the modern world. These pants is airy, comfortable and has more than enough pockets which are also ideal in any outdoor activities such as hunting, paint ball games and many more. If you plan to buy one then read on these few guidelines.

If you do not know exactly what to look for in a cargo pants then finding the right one may not be that easy, especially for men that does not have a clue when shopping for one. There are several things to consider before purchasing this kind of trouser or pants.

First know the size of your waist so you would need a measuring tape with this. This will help you know the exact size for your pants. Measure around your waist that is located at the hip bone or just below the lower ribs and remember to give a little allowance or a little room when measuring so that it would not feel that tight, especially when full from eating. You can also measure the length by using the measuring tape and measure from your hip to your ankle. If you are already in the mall purchasing the right kind of pants for you and you already know the measure of your waist but do not have any idea for the length, then you can just measure the pants over your legs and estimate the length.

Second is to know your style. Before buying one try picturing yourself wearing it and if you are decided then you are ready for the next step.

The third step is to know the right color combination that you really want. There are plenty of cargo pants which have different kinds of color and will definitely suit your preference like the typical cargo that has three variations of green.

With the global financial crisis that is happening today people cannot afford to spend on a low quality cargo pants that will wear out in just a couple of days. That is why it is best to invest in this pants that has a best quality. It may be a bit pricey but it is more expensive when purchasing this kind of pants that will wore out and will burden you to buy another.

There are plenty of styles of this kind of pants that you can choose from and is out in the market today, and also have the most excellent quality from the fabric, style and to the detailed accessories that most men will look good on.
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Toy Manufacturing - A Truly International Enterprise

Children find toys endlessly fascinating and derive hours of fun from playing with them, and parents love giving them. Hardly any adult or child will give much thought to how the toys came to be made. Parents are happy to know that their child's toys are made to the highest standards and leave it at that, while children's knowledge of toy making is usually limited to the kindly toymaker Geppetto, the "father" of Pinocchio. But the real-life story of how today's toys are manufactured is just as fascinating.

Like all other manufacturing industries, the toy sector has experienced profound changes over the past 30 years due to the massive growth of the global economy. Large-scale manufacture in the UK, and much of the rest of Europe has all but ceased. Nowadays, components for a single product can be made in several different countries - with China fast becoming a major player in the international toy trade.

The manufacture of any toy - no matter how traditional - begins at the design stage. Designers are either employed in-house, or an outside team of professionals is engaged. Computer aided and mechanical design processes are often utilised before the prototype formation goes ahead. The toy company itself then subjects this to product review, moulding, trial production, evaluation, and finally full production.

When it comes to making the components or the toys themselves, however, the process is almost always outsourced to a third party.

A very wide range of raw materials are used in the toy manufacturing process - wood, fabrics, plastics, resins, paperboard and card, metal, zinc alloy and electronic components.

The manufacturing process itself depends entirely on the sort of toys being made. Dolls and action figures are usually made from injection-moulded plastics, whereas toy cars and trains tend to be manufactured from die-cast metals, and hand or spray-painted afterwards. Components for self-assembly kits and board games will require a professional printer, while dolls and stuffed toys are almost always sewn and stuffed by hand. Many toy makers purchase components from one vendor and then assemble the finished product at another facility.

Nowadays the emphasis is on traditional toys made from high-quality, durable, traditional materials. The vast majority of traditional toys are manufactured from wood, metals, fabrics and environmentally-friendly plastics, and are made to meet - and in many cases exceed - international standards on quality and safety.

In an increasingly globalised economy, it is important to combine great value with great quality and a number of toy manufacturers are able to do just that.
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Help During Your Foreclosure Procedure

When you are going through your foreclosure procedure, it feels like you are all alone. But it does not have to be that way. There is help out there for you, it is just not always easily available.

Depending on who has your mortgage, you might be able to do find help within your mortgage company's foreclosure department. Word of warning here: these people are busy and you will have to be persistent in order to get them to call you back. One way or another, you are going to have to deal with these folks because they are the only ones who will be able to tell you what they require from you.

If you can, getting an attorney who specializes in foreclosure can certainly help. They will be able to tell you what your rights are and help you in working with your mortgage company. If you are in foreclosure, chances are that you cannot afford this kind of help but even having a consultation with an attorney can help.

Your state, city and county might also be of help in your foreclosure procedure. Many areas have workshops, classes or free phone lines to help you during your foreclosure process. Call your state, city and county offices to see if they have any programs where you can get free help and advice.

If you have family or friends who are willing to help, get financial and emotional support from them. I know it can be difficult and awkward to ask family members for financial help. I know I had a hard time with it but they love you and likely will help you if they can. Even if they cannot help you financially, they will certainly be there to help you emotionally while you are going through this difficult time.

It is important to get help during your foreclosure procedure. It is difficult to go this process alone and you will be better able to deal with it emotionally and financially if you get help.
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EMF Testing Practicality and Advisability

Samsung Electronics is the largest South Korean company that is constantly making its name bigger and more known throughout the world. They have products such as mobile phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, laptops, TVs, washing machines, air conditioners, microwave ovens, refrigerators and Samsung fridge freezers.

While walking in a showroom, you will certainly be overwhelmed by the vast array of choices you have when making any kind of purchase from Samsung. With regard to the Samsung fridge freezers, you can choose from the RL44ECPS, the RL41SCBP, the RSJ1JEMH, the RL41WGPS and many more. The colors range from white, black, silver and stainless steel which makes any choice you make easy to match with your kitchen. Whether you have a small kitchen or a wide spaced kitchen, the Samsung freezers of your choice will be able to fit. The dimensions can be as narrow as 59" where it is a freestanding fridge, with the freezer positioned at the bottom and the fridge on top, or as wide as 1775" that has a side-by-side design. You don't have to worry about storage space even if you buy the Samsung product with the narrowest dimensions. On the outside, it looks really compact but really, it's very spacious inside.

All the fridge freezers that come from Samsung come with features such as being frost free and having antibacterial protection. Other features are added to more advanced models of fridges like super cool setting, water dispenser, ice dispenser, child lock and open door alarm. There are also features of a dynamic cooling system, auto defrost, salad drawer and power cut save time of up to 12 hours. Others come with an LCD display, a temperature display and outside control options.

On the inside, you will love the beauty and class the Samsung fridges have with their glass shelves. The fridge features different capacities like 231 liters, 346 liters and even 520 liters. Depending on what you purchase, you can have four to five fridge shelves that include an egg tray, dairy compartment, wine rack or bottle holder, separate compartments and adjustable shelves. There are spill guard shelves too. The freezer on the other hand, can be positioned in the bottom part of the freezers or on the left side. Its capacities are 123 liters to 180 liters. There are four to five freezer compartments that have the fast freeze setting or auto defrost and others come with ice cube trays or pull out freeze drawers.

With a fridge freezer from Samsung, you can never go wrong.

Before you purchase any Samsung fridge freezers, make sure you visit BestFridgeFreezers.com now for more tips and guides on the best freezers including Bosch fridge freezers.
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Kids Socks

Your little ones' feet need to be protected from the damp cold of winter and hot, dry summer. Kids socks may be only of practical concern to you, but kids have a whole different take on the subject. The plain white sock doesn't cut it. Kids look at socks as a fashion statement of sorts, colorful, cartooned, lacy and patterned exposes of personality. Pay attention! There's more than meets the eye when it comes to buying kids socks.

Naturally, you'll want warm and bulky socks for winter and thinner, cool socks for summer. That's the practical side. Kids, on the other hand, think nothing of these practical considerations. They want kids socks that are fun!

As most parents know, kids get great pleasure at looking down and seeing, protruding from a sneaker, their favorite cartoon character, a bit of lace or just plain bright color. Kids socks should display part of the ankle, for their viewing pleasure. Otherwise, what fun is a pair of socks? As a parent, your objective is a protected foot. As a kid, you won't be convinced to wear this clothing item unless it's fun.

In the children's clothing departments, you'll find patterned socks, thickly striped or pinstriped kids socks as well as polka dots and geometrical shapes. The best fun in the kids socks assortments, are the cartoon characters. Portraits of their favorites are readily available. Look for characters suited to your child's' age group. Characters like Dora the Explorer and Blue from Blues Clues are well received by younger children. This doesn't mean they won't enjoy some of the same characters as the older kids. Sponge Bob Square Pants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Lion King, the Little Mermaid and Boobah are loved by children of every age group. Children always love the classical characters, like Bugs Bunny, Tweety, Sylvester the Cat, Mickey Mouse, and Donald Duck.

Kids sock designs go beyond patterns and cartoon characters. There are amusing little variations. Pom-pom socks are quite popular today, with fluffy little balls attached at the back of the ankle. Some kids socks come with teeny-tiny stuffed, detachable cartoon characters on the back. These little fellas do double-duty as a plaything and cozy, fun wear.

When buying kids socks, a common mistake parents make is assuming the sock will fit into the shoe. Not necessarily. While summer socks easily slide into a sneaker, winter socks can be so thick that your kids feet become uncomfortably "smooshed". Make sure your kids winter shoes are just a tiny bit bigger to accommodate the thicker sock.

When buying whimsical socks for your kids, make sure that their fun won't be foiled by little feet stuffed too tightly into their shoe. In addition, don't make older kids feel like "big babies" with cartoon characters only suited to preschool and kindergarten kids. If you want to make absolutely sure your child will love their socks, let them do the shopping, according to the season.
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