Online Reviews

Rolex Introduction Part 1

Rolex is one of the top global brands for over a century. The crown symbol is recognized throughout the world. Rolex watches are designed to exceed expectations. It takes more than a year to assemble over 220 minute pieces. This is done systematically by hand and is extremely detailed oriented. In fact about 400 operations are conducted only on the main plate. The assembly is put through rigorous testing and retesting. So rigorous in its testing that if the movement deflects for less than one second, the entire assembly is often disassembled and the entire process is restarted from the beginning. Due to high standards and excellent quality control, Rolex is the brand that will continue to be the leader in luxury wristwatches.

Known to be the world’s bestselling watch company, with over 100 years of history, Rolex could be written as the definitive textbook in branding, with an emphasis for luxury items. Unfortunately, for many customers today, branding has taken on a negative nuance. Pop culture ads that rely on fashion and polling trends, naming right battles, mass production that sacrifice quality through outsourcing – these are some of the different means that companies use to gain success. However, Rolex has stood its ground and has not resorted to any such means in building its image. It let’s its quality products speak for itself. Hence it stands as the standard in the wristwatch industry.

Quality, performance, innovation and stability are the four pillars that Rolex has built its brand, since the inception of the history of wristwatches. The company first sold pocket watches and folding watches called travel clocks when it was first formed in 1905 as Wilsdorf & Davis. Interestingly, until this time, it was only women who wore wristwatches. Later it became popular when people realized how impractical it was to have pocket watches, this was during the Boer War of South Africa (1899-1902) when they noticed the soldiers with wristwatches.

Seeing the opportunity in this new market, Hans Wilsdorf, along with his brother-in-law, William Davis formed the company and began producing high quality watches. Around three years after W & D was formed, the company’s name was officially changed to Rolex, a name that was trademarked by Wilsdorf. Somewhere during that time, the benefits of having a logo and brand name to distinguish a product from its competitors was just being discovered, and Wilsdorf capitalized on this opportunity. In essence they wanted a name that was easy to pronounce by all, had no meaning as such in any European language and something that was short and easy to spell. Another example of simple brand name was George Eastman naming his camera Kodak.

Quality

It was from Herman Aegler’s Rebberg firm that Rolex got their mechanics in a watch. As a teenager Wilsdorf worked at Cuno Korten with Aegler, a watch exporter in Switzerland. Quite often Wilsdorf would set up 15 watches and check them each for accuracy and it was here at Cuno Korten that Wilsdorf’s obession with accuracy began. Also he would submit the most accurate ones to the Neuchatel Observatory for testing without permission. However this was overlooked since all the testing passed and he received much praise from his seniors. Much later Aegler’s company came to produce exclusively for Rolex, as it does today. Aegler’s descendants still run the company, although owned by Rolex.

With his new company, Wilsdorf’s obsession for accuracy continued. He was awarded the world’s first chronometer award for a wristwatch, after sending the first Rolex movement to the School of Horology in Bienne, Switzerland. Rolex began to gain a worldwide reputation for the finest quality watches, with this award. Rolex watches went on to win a number of awards. Rolex received numerous awards. In 1914, Rolex received the Class A Certificate of Precision award from the Kew Observatory in England, previously only given to marine chronometers. During the testing the watches were subjected to three temperatures and five positions. This entire testing lasted for 45 days. After, Wilsdorf insisted that all Rolex watches would be sold only with an Official Timing Certificate and all their watches would be subjected to a similar testing.

Rolex Introduction Part 1 / Madison Preston

Author Madison Preston owns a website, where you can find volumes of info on Rolex Watches…. You can visit his website for complete information on Rolex Watch, Rolex Submariner, Rolex Daytona, and tips to Rolex Yachtmaster

Cholesterol In Review

As someone who is affected personally with the task of lowering my own cholesterol levels, I would like to share some of the steps you can take to decrease your bad cholesterol and raise your good cholesterol.

I have a B.S. in Biological Science with a minor in Human Physiology. Although I offer educated information and research, the information in this article should not be used in substitute for a doctor’s recommendation, and is not intended to cure any disease.

Cholesterol travels through the blood attached to a protein. This cholesterol-protein package is called a lipoprotein. Lipoproteins are either high density or low density, depending on how much protein they have in relation to fat. Lipoproteins with more protein than fat are called high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Lipoproteins with more fat than protein are called low-density lipoproteins (LDL). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol is sometimes called “good” cholesterol. HDL cholesterol helps remove LDL cholesterol from the body by binding with it in the bloodstream and carrying it back to the liver for disposal. A high level of HDL cholesterol appears to lower your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is sometimes called “bad” cholesterol. LDL cholesterol collects inside the walls of the arteries and often contributes to the formation of plaque. LDL cholesterol is calculated from the total cholesterol, HDL, and triglyceride levels.

A high LDL cholesterol level is considered a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) because, under certain conditions, it can cause hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).Cholesterol is measured either in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL) or in millimoles per liter of blood (mmol/L).An LDL cholesterol level of less than 100 mg/dL (less than 2.6 mmol/L) is considered optimal.100 to 129 (2.6 to 3.35) is considered near optimal. 130 to 158 (3.35 to 4.10) is considered borderline high.160 to 189 (4.12 to 4.88) is considered high.190 and above (4.90 to 4.88) is considered very high.

With this in mind there are factors that work against lowering LDL “bad” cholesterol: 1. Your family history can play into your cholesterol equation (Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, June 11,2005). Since high cholesterol runs in my family I have genetics working against me as well. 2. Stress may lead to an increase in blood cholesterol (Pharma Marketletter, Dec 12, 2005) 3. Smoking may raise LDL cholesterol (http://www.indiana.edu, March 15, 2006) 4. Foods with Saturated fat can raise LDL cholesterol (http://www.indiana.edu, March 15, 2006)

Factors that can lower LDL “bad” cholesterol 1. Exercise raises HDL cholesterol and lowers LDL cholesterol 2. Reduce the stress in your life 3. Stop smoking 4. A high-fiber diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish (but low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol) improves cholesterol levels

Most of what I have listed should be of no surprise to you. However, there are two more options to reducing your cholesterol levels. The first one is to take prescription drugs for lowering cholesterol. I have heard of good results with this method to drastically lower cholesterol. Although this method seems effective it is not without a price. For example, my brother and both of my parents have tried a couple of different prescription drugs for cholesterol discovering side effects. Their cholesterol was lowered significantly but they had unbearable muscle and joint pain while taking the medication. These side effects lead me to looking for alternative health products.

I found that there are a number of naturally based health products that significantly lower cholesterol. I have personally tried a couple of products and have not experienced any side effects like my family members. I can say that I have been able to successfully avoid the prescription drugs at this time, and I am hoping to maintain my current good status by eating right, exercising and supplementing with natural health products.

I am finding that I will either need to continue supplementing naturally or take prescription drugs for lowering cholesterol since my family history is playing a major factor in my high cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol In Review / Rich Marsiglia

Author Rich Marsiglia, Natural Health Products at YourHealthyPlace

Coffee Grounds & Your Future

Reading your fortune with coffee is a lot like taking a Rorschach test. You need to get the big picture and interpret the symbols correctly to know what lies ahead.

Here’s the step-by-step guide to how to prepare to read coffee grounds:

*Use a white cup to get an accurate reading

*Grind your beans as usual. You can use espresso, but do not allow cream, milk or sugar or anything else to be added

*Heat water to a boil

*Make your coffee in a French press as usual

*Then add a large pinch of coffee grounds to your cup and pour the freshly made coffee over it. Then stir.

*Drink the coffee by holding both hands on the cup

*When finished drinking the coffee, tip the cup on a 90 degree angle and slowly turn the cup to allow all excess grounds to be expelled onto a saucer. Do not tap the cup. Do not swirl more than 3 times.

There are three things to consider when reading coffee grounds: the rim, the middle and the bottom of the cup. The bottom is your past, the middle is you present and the top is your future. You need to look for shapes and patterns.

Here are some examples of some of the things to look for when you read your coffee grounds:
*Axes: Bravery

*Cakes & Pies: Good fortune

*Cigarettes: You must follow through on your plan

*Cows: Meeting an old flame

*Elephants: Ask for a favor

*Garlic: Strength against an aggressive person

*Guns: You are treating someone unfairly

*Hats: Someone is trying to cover something up

*Chickens: Wistful feelings of home. You need to call or visit

*Knots: Don’t worry about the little things

*Mice: Trouble in business

*Oars: Sacrifice for someone else.

*Pigs: A desire will not come to fruition

*Planes: You will not be going anywhere

*Rabbits: Fertility

*Rocks: Obstacles in your path to success either real or imagined

*Shoes: You will have a long way to travel before you are happy

*See-Saws: Ups & downs heading your way

*Snakes: Make your decision you are wise

*Stairs: Change is coming

*Tigers: Find your strength and move forward

*Trees: People find you noble

*Urns: Trust your intuition

*Weasels: There is a false person in your midst

*Wolves: You have strength

There are many, many ways to interpret coffee grounds. Most of it is common sense. There are many coffee ground interpretation books out there. Get one and practice and the next time you have a friend over for coffee…give it a swirl.

Coffee Grounds & Your Future / Kate Simpson

ate Simpson is currently in rehabilitation for an addiction to chocolate-covered coffee beans. When she is feeling better, she will continue to write for coffeebeanqueen.com – an awesome site for caffeine freaks with information about fair trade coffee, coffee pods, mail order coffee and so much more.