Thursday, November 29, 2012

New Report Shows Continued Jobs Shortage - News Video on Youtube Highlights Network Marketing Provides Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs in Booming Anti-Aging Sector

MLM Network Marketing provides opportunities for women entrepreneurs in booming anti-aging sector, skincare products popular with aging boomers.

The U.S. Department of Labor releases its closely watched monthly jobs report, which may show modest improvement in the jobs picture but likely also will highlight a continued jobs shortage with millions of long-term unemployed Americans still struggling to find work in a bad economy. Today's Bureau of Labor Statistics report follows last month's report showing the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 8.3 percent.

Although economists predict some improvement in the jobs picture, they do not expect to see significant movement in a job market in which the unemployment rate has been above 8 percent for 42 consecutive months and the average length of joblessness for those remaining in the labor force is nearly 39 weeks. These data exclude the millions of Americans who have stopped looking altogether and dropped out of the workforce. Six million job seekers have exhausted their unemployment benefits since the start of the economic downturn in 2007, according to a National Employment Law Project report.

With nearly 13 million Americans unemployed, and 21 million either under- or unemployed, sustained strong job growth is needed just to make a dent in the problem, according to recent statements from the Federal Reserve. Small businesses, many started by women, remain the nation's primary creator of new jobs.

Over the past year, statistics show high numbers of women leaving the workforce due to the Great Recession an women's coats d for personal considerations. Many women leave the labor force temporarily or permanently to care for children and other family members, making work-from-home careers an attractive option that provides the flexibility necessary to balance work and family responsibilities.

And the historic period of high unemployment is fueling consideration of alternative careers, with many women entrepreneurs exploring work-from-home opportunities including new ventures in multi-level marketing focused on the booming anti-aging sector.

Reports show that despite the challenging economic outlook women entrepreneurs are capitalizing on new work-from-home opportunities in MLM marketing, an alternative to traditional office jobs, starting their own successful businesses from home and making money on their own terms.

According to reports, as the nation's population ages demand is expected to rise for such anti-aging therapies as skincare products and vitamin supplements, a network marketing segment poised for expansion as the nation's aging baby boomers start to retire.

Direct selling is the sale of a consumer product or service, person-to-person, away from a fixed retail location, marketed through independent sales representatives who are sometimes also referred to as consultants, distributors or other titles.

Just about any product or service can be purchased through direct selling somewhere in the world. Many people think of cosmetics, wellness products and home décor as products that are often sold through direct sales, but add to that countless other product categories including kitchen products, jewelry, clothing, organic gardening supplies, spa products, scrap booking supplies, rubber stamps and much, much more.

To Learn More: http://beautyadvisor.myarbonne.com/

ShopRDR.com Reveals the Inspiration Behind Fashion’s Most Beloved Handbags

Whether it is a Chanel quilted leather shoulder bag or a Louis Vuitton clutch; at the heart of every lover of high-end women's fashion lies an affinity for designer handbags. Today, Rodeo Drive Resale (http://www.shoprdr.com), premier seller of 100% authentic Louis Vuitton bags, Chanel purses and Ferragamo shoes, as ShopRDR.com kicks off its designer handbag promotion, the online reseller looks at a few of the world's most popular luxury handbags and the public personalities that inspired their creation.

There have been countless public figures who have inspired fashion, but here are a few shopRDR.com favorites:

1)    Sophia Bag By Ferragamo – The first actress of the talkie era to win an Academy Award for a non-English-speaking performance, silver screen star Sophia Loren has starred in countless films, and was the symbol of beauty for an entire generation. Her star power and jaw-dropping beauty would eventually lead way to the Sofia bag by luxury designer by Salvatore Ferragamo. Simple yet fashionable, the bag remains popular among younger stars including Jennifer Aniston and Katie Holmes.

2)    The SC By Louis Vuitton – Every luxury bag lover has their preference, but most agree: When it comes to style and status, few brands can match the reputation of this French fashion label. Described by American fashion designer Marc Jacobs as "the epitome of this girl I fantasize of," in a feature story published on NYmag.com, acclaimed director Sofia Coppola became the muse behind Louis Vuitton's aptly named bag, The SC. ShopRDR.com currently has a beautiful Louis Vuitton monogram canvas bag on sale, authenticity guaranteed.

3)    The Jackie By Gucci –Exclusive, luxurious and instantly recognizable, Gucci, established in 1921, has become a status symbol for the rich and powerful. According to a story posted at Shine.Yahoo.com, Gucci's Hobo Bag was renamed The Jackie in honor of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy O women's jackets nassis and her affinity toward the popular fashion accessory.

4)    The Birkin Bag By Hermès – A June 8, 2011 article explains the origin of the Birkin bag: While seated on a flight next to actress Jane Birkin, Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas observed as Birkin struggled to fit her straw bag into the overhead compartment, only to have the bag's contents fell to the floor. Birkin would later comment on the difficulties in finding a suitable leather weekend bag. In 1984, Dumas crafted a bag specifically for the actress. Years later, the Birkin bag has become a fashion favorite and an international symbol of wealth.

Brand new or pre-owned, designer handbags can become as iconic for their design as for their carrier. It is for this reason shopRDR.com cordially invites luxury lovers to become fashion stars in their own right during its "Any Color … So Long As It's Black," handbag and purse promotion.

While the phrase " … So Long As It's Black" may lead shoppers to believe all items featured will be in black, this is not the case: In addition to Vuitton and Dior, shopRDR.com's promotion also features bags by Chloe, Marc Jacobs, Coach and Michael Kors in an array of colors, sizes and styles.

As the year inches closer toward the holiday season, Raya says searches of these brands will likely increase, with many top designers offering more reasonable prices to buyers hoping to build their luxury collection.

"Expect to see the rise of the brand savvy shopper this holiday season, particularly when it comes to high-end fashion. Designers like Coach and Gucci, once considered elite fashion among midrange shoppers, have become much more affordable in recent years," she says.
Rodeo Drive Resale (shopRDR.com) has built a reputation of providing amazing deals on handbags, clothing and accessories from the top designers of upscale fashion. The company offers a 100% guarantee of authenticity on each item sold, and works daily with a network of clients looking to buy, sell, or for consignment of their luxury goods.

ShopRDR.com loves high-end fashion, and believes finding a high quality, classic piece should be an easy, enjoyable -- and most importantly -- hassle-free shopping experience. For the finest in Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Gucci, St. John Knits, Christian Louboutin, Tiffany & Co. and more, visit RDR online at http://www.shopRDR.com or call 1-888-697-3725. Also find shopRDR.com's blog at http://blog.shopRDR.com.

Also find shopRDR at:
Blog: blog.shopRDR.com
Facebook: facebook.com/shopRDR
Twitter: twitter.com/shopRDR
YouTube: youtube.com/ shopRDR
Pinterest: pinterest.com/shopRDR

Rodeo Drive Resale (shopRDR.com)
1-888-697-3725
service(at)shopRDR(dot)com

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Red Wing Shoes, Local Doctors, and the Non-Profit "Our Hearts to Your Soles" Collaborate to Provide Shoes and Clothing to Those in Need

On Tuesday, November 20, 2012 between 430pm and 7pm, "Our Hearts to Your Soles", a local non-profit working in conjunction with "Soles4Souls", a national non-profit, will be distributing thousands of Red Wing shoes and boots to homeless shelters in approximately forty U.S. Cities, including Minneapolis. This is the eighth year the Twin Cities has been involved in the program. The event will be held at St. Stephen's Human Services located at 2123 Clinton Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404.

Local physicians, surgeons, nurses, physical therapists, their families, and a host of volunteers are organizing the event in tandem with "Our Hearts to Your Souls" and "Soles4Souls". Dr. Lance Silverman, an Orthopedic Surgeon, and Chris Boosalis, Minnesota Prosthetics and Orthotics, are spearheading the event. Silverman Ankle & Foot provides the financial support for the event.

Dr. Silverman saw a need in the community and recognized the value of partnering with "Our Hearts to Your Soles" to fill that need. "I wanted to help those that couldn't get proper footwear because of economic and societal challenges they faced," said Silverman. "The homeless in the Twin Cities are at significant risk given our winter weather. Snow and ice increase the risk of injury from slips and falls and the temperatures can cause frostbite if proper footwear is not available. As an ankle & foot specialist, I wanted to help."

Historically the event has provided nearly 500 needy individuals with socks, shoes and a professional medical examination, all at no charge. At this year's event, Isotoner is donating 300 hats, Dignity U Wear is donating 600 pairs of socks, physical therapists from around the Twin Cities wi women's coats ll help teach therapeutic exercise, and several lawyers will be available to provide free legal advice.

About Red Wing Shoe Company
Founded in 1905 in the quiet river town of Red Wing, Minnesota, the Red Wing Shoe Company has consistently crafted dependable boots for working men and women. Today, Red Wing boots are found around the globe. They have recently donated more than 10,000 pairs of high quality Red Wing footwear to Soles4Souls Inc., the international shoe charity dedicated to providing free footwear to people in need. More than 500 pairs of shoes and boots are reserved for the Minnesota event. http://www.redwingshoes.com

About Soles4Souls
Nashville-based Soles4Souls? facilitates the donations of both new and used shoes, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide. Since its inception, Soles4Souls has distributed millions of pairs (one pair every 9 seconds) to people in over 60 countries, including Honduras, Romania, Thailand, and the Sudan. The charity has been featured on CNN Headline News, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, ABC News, FOX, CBS, and hundreds of regional news outlets across North America. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS; donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. http://www.soles4souls.org http://www.giveshoes.org or 866-521-SHOE.

About Our Hearts to Your Soles
Seven years ago Matthew Conti and his father Dr. Stephen Conti, an orthopedic surgeon created the unique non-profit organization known as "Our Hearts to Your Soles." Laura Conti, Matthew's sister who, at 20 years old, is expanding the organization into a nationwide network, currently manages the program.

With help and support from Soles4Souls and Red Wing Shoes, each November, Our Hearts to Your Soles screens, fits and provides footwear to thousands of homeless men and women.

The Minnesota chapter of Our Hearts to Your Soles relies on local support for success. Minnesota Prosthetics and Orthotics, Silverman Ankle & Foot and Red Wing Shoes have once again generously provided this year's financial backing.

"Our Hearts to Your Soles" is in need of donations. Volunteers facilitate program administration; virtually 100% of your donation will go directly to the homeless. Just $15 can give a foot examination and a pair of new shoes and socks to one person!

About Dignity U Wear
Dignity U Wear distributes dignity in the form of brand new clothing. Their goal is to distribute clothing in a way that maximizes the impact that clothing has on lives. With that in mind, they collaborate with other great social service agencies on projects and programs where the clothing is given to people at the right time. Dignity was founded in 2000 by an extraordinary person; philanthropist and Holocaust survivor, Henri Landwirth. "I know what it means to stripped of personal dignity," he says, "to not have clothes of one's own and to give up all hope. When I see people suffering indignities, I know we have to help: and through Dignity U Wear, we do."
Visit their website at: http://www.dignityuwear.org/.

About Isotoner
The totes ISOTONER Corporation, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, is the world's largest marketer of umbrellas, gloves, rainwear, rubber overshoes, and other weather-related accessories. Founded in 1910, the Aris Glove Company originally manufactured fine quality leather gloves and knit accessories in Europe and later in the United States. In the early 1970's, Aris developed a glove made from nylon/spandex fabric with leather trim. The glove was marketed under the ISOTONER name combining the terms "isometric" and "toning" to reflect the 4-way stretch and massaging properties. The ISOTONER glove was a major success for the company. Aris changed its name to ARIS ISOTONER, Incorporated and in 1969 became a subsidiary of Consolidated Foods, now the Sara Lee Corporation. In 1997, totes and ISOTONER merged to form the totes ISOTONER Corporation. Visit them online at: http://www.totes-isotoner.com.

About Silverman Ankle & Foot
Silverman Ankle & Foot is your choice for excellence in foot and ankle care in Minnesota. We are committed to providing each and every patient with the highest standard of care, and the personal attention they deserve. Working one-on-one with patients, Dr. Silverman provides a comfortable and understanding environment - with your health and personal well being his top priority. For more information call (952) 920-4333 Ext 5, email at info (at) anklefootmd (dot) com, or find us online at http://www.anklefootmd.com, and blog.anklefootmd.com.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Good Customer Service Is Not Good Enough Anymore

Do your customers leave your store / take delivery of your products and think, "Wow, it is so nice to buy from this business!!" Is your business well known / famous for your customer service?

Do your customers tell others about you? If not, you do not have renowned customer service.

Face it. Your customers can buy the products and service you sell from a lot of different competitors. The only thing you really have to differentiate your business and yourself is your service.

So what is good customer service these days? Does it mean getting a customer out the door fast? Or having a sales assistant help find the right item, size and color? Or keeping costs as low as possible? Keeping the restrooms clean? Self-checkout? No self-checkout?

Is it having the latest stuff shoppers don't even know they want until they see it? Making a delivery on time? Fixing errors quickly? Having a live person answering the phone?

Good customer service can only be defined by what is important to each individual customer.

Renowned customer service is service that is so good that the customer finds it important to them and tells others about it.

I was very fortunate, my father taught me what Renowned Customer Service was when I was 17 years old.
My father taught valuable lessens one of two ways. By example or by experience. Unfortunately for me one snowy Christmas eve in central Pennsylvania he taught me Renowned Customer Service through experience.

I was home from college on holiday vacation and working at the business with my dad. On the morning of Christmas Eve a customer, a truck driver, came into the electronics store and purchased our low end, lost leader black and white 19" diagonal television for his family. A sale we lost $10 on.

I asked my father why he sold the lost leaader.
He told me that the man was down on his luck and only hagging on financially. His family had been without a television for over 2 years. The man could not afford a more expensive television and in fact was delivering freight to the west cost over Christmas to pay for the television and catch up on his bills.

He then instructed me to deliver the television to the man's home after we closed at 6pm.

Plus the television was a surprise for his wife and 4 children.

I left the store at 6pm that evening to deliver the surprise gift. It had been snowing most of the day and now there was a strong sleet storm hitting our area.

The first mistake I made was not to wear a heavy winter coat. I figured that I would only be out of the warm truck a few minutes. When I arrived at the customers home I took the television out of the back of the truck, carried it up a dozen or so steps. Standing on the porch, that did not have a roof on it so I was being bombarded by snow and ice, I knocked on the door.

A lady opened the door, I could see four small children in the living room sitting near a small Christmas tree. I told her I was from Janet's and had a television for her that her husband had purchased. She immediately told me I was making a mistake that they could not afford a television and her husband never would have made such a purchase. She them shut the door in my face.

I picked up the television, off the porch I went, down the steps and back into the truck. Now I knew I could not go home without at least telephoning my father first and telling him what had happened. So I went next door to one of her neighbors and asked to use the telephone. I called my father and he said. "Do not come home before you deliver that television."

Back out in the snowy, icy weather I went, into the truck, back to the customers house, out of the truck, hauling the television up the steps and on to the poach. I knocked on the door. This time when the lady came to the door she did not open it so I had to talk through the glass. I told her I had telephoned my father and I was not mistaken, the television was for her. She again told me I was making a mistake and told me to get off her porch or she would call the police.

Off the porch, down the steps, through the snow and ice. I was now freezing. Back in the truck. Back women's jackets to the neighbors to call my father again. I again told him of my problem and all he said was "Deliver the television" and he hung up on me.

I sat out in front of the customers house for a while trying to think of what I could say to her to get her to accept delivery. Then a police car pulled up beside me. She had called the cops!

The police office motioned for me to come over to his window, he was not about to get out in the snow and ice storm, the weather had now developed into.

I told him what was going on and he said while finally getting out of his warm cruiser, "Get the TV and come with me." We went back up the steps and on the porch. He knocked on the door, got the lady to let us in the house and said, "I know Janet's store very well and they usually do not make mistakes.

Mr. Janet will sign that if in fact this is a mistake and this television was not purchased by your husband you get to keep it anyway. After a bit more discussion she accepted the television.

When I arrived home, cold, wet and still freezing my father was sitting in front of a roaring fire drinking egg nog. I said in a demanding tone, "What the Hell was that all about."

Before I could continue he looked at me and said, "We are 100% Customer-Centered. Everything we do is about and for the customer. Not about us. We do not have good service we have 'renowned service'.

I promised the customer we would deliver the television and we deliver what we promise. If you want to be successful selling products and services you will be 100% Customer-Centered. Not almost 100% - but 100%!

99.9 % is not good enough.If it were in the USA
* 12 newborn babies will be given to the wrong parents each day
* 114,500 mismatched pairs of shoes will be shipped a year
* 18,322 pieces of mail will be mishandled every hour
* 2,000,000 documents will be lost by the IRS this year
* 2.5 million books will be shipped with the wrong covers
* 315 entries in Webster's Dictionary will be misspelled
* 20,000 drug prescriptions will be filled incorrectly in a year
* 103,260 income tax returns will be processed incorrectly during the year
* 5.5 million cases of soft drinks produced will be flat
* 291 pacemaker operations will be performed incorrectly
* Two planes will crash each day at Chicago's O'Hare airport

10 Commandments of 100% Customer-Centered Service
1. The one who solves the customers needs, problems and wants the easiest for them will get the sale.
2. The customer is the most important person in our business.
3. The customer is the Boss, who can fire everyone.
4. The customer deserves all of our attention.
5. The customer is always right, never wrong.
6. The customer is the total purpose of our business.
7. The customer is doing us a favor when allowing us to serve them.
8. The customers feelings and emotions are of the most importance to us.
9. The customer is deserving of our most attentive treatment possible.
10. The customer is the only reason we (as a business) exist.
How can you afford to have a staff member give each customer the same 100% Customer-Centered Service? You can't afford not to.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Horse Breeds: Polish Konik, Pony of the Americas, Pottok, Przewalski, Pyrenean Tarpan

*POLISH KONIK*

Sometimes called Konik polski in Poland, and the Polish Pony elsewhere; the Polish Konik is a pony used for riding and draft in Poland. They are usually mouse gray colored with a stripe on the dorsal.

*PONY OF THE AMERICAS*

In 1954, a pony was developed intended to have good appearance, speed and fulfill a need for small riders who were too big for a pony but too small for a full sized horse. The Pony of the Americas is growing in popularity and is a distinctive member of the pony breeds. They have color similarities to the Appaloosa Horse. The Pony of Americas is athletic and can jump, move quickly, and is known for intelligence and patience.

Physical Description

Pony of the Americas breed have refined heads and Arab-like noses. Their eyes are expressive and they have full bodies with sloping shoulders. They are versatile and can perform a wide variety of tasks. They appear to be small horses.

A Pony of the Americas eyes look like a human eye, and they have iris's encircled with white. Their skin has irregular black and white spots, and their hooves are striped. Their coat patterns vary widely, and all have spots that are shaped like eggs. The size of the spots can be anywhere from a speck to a spot that is four inches or more in diameter. POA's are between 46 and 56" at the withers.

Pony of the Americas History

Fifteen years after ponies were born of the stallion "Black Hand #1" and sired by a shetland from an Appaloosa mare, the Pony of the Americas registry contained over 12,000 registered horses that were the offspring of that breeding.

*POTTOK*

An ancient breed from small horses that are found in Spain and France, the Pottok were once considered a wild horse breed. Now, Pottok horses are domesticated and have owners.

Pottok horses are tough and have high levels of endurance. At one time, the women's jackets breed was used for pack animals and to help work in the mines, but since the 1970's they became used for riding and for children's mounts because of their extremely calm dispositions.

Pottok's make good harness animals, and can be put in shows as a dressage mount. In 1983, there was a purebred Pottok called Kuzko who become a champion in the combined show jumping and dressage category.

*PRZEWALSKI*

The Mongolian Wild Horse, or the Przewalski as the breed is called, is one of the last remaining wild horse species. Other wild horses have been domesticated or have been descended from domesticated horses. Until about 1990 or so, the Przewalski breed of horses were extinct in the wild as they were exterminated by hunters. The Przewalski Foundation in the Netherlands and breeding preserves in the Ukraine combined to reintroduce the horses to Mongolia.

The Przewalski breed was named after a man it is believed discovered the horses, named Colonel Przewalski, in 1881. There are many different stories about the first people to discover Przewalski horses however, and no one is entirely sure who was first.

A Przewalski horse is similar to domestic horses, but they are smaller and their mane stands upright along their necks and their tails are low set. Most of the breed are tan, dun, sandy or reddish bay in color, and have a dorsal stripe and shoulder stripe.

The breed is very rare, and almost all of the remaining hundred or so Przewalski horses live in zoos.

*PYRENEAN TARPAN*

A breed that takes on a different name depending on the country they're in, the Pyrenean Tarpan is part of the Konink breed type and the result of an attempt to preserve the purity of this type of horse. In Poland, they are called Pottok; in France they were called Navarre Pony, and in Spain they are Asturian, while in Portugal they are known as Garrano. The breeds are regional but very similar genetically.

When the ice age occurred, the change in the environment caused the horses to become brown and black to help them avoid predators. Baby horses of the Pyrenean Tarpan breed have the original tarpan coloration for their first three months of life.

As the population of humans increased, the wild ponies were forced into the mountains. Before 1950, it was very difficult to find the Pyrenean Tarpan horse but since 1970, people have been keeping the Pyrenean Tarpans with tehir Welsh, Shetland, Arabians, Spanish and Breton horses.

starting in 1990, groups and organizations studying the Pyrenean Tarpan have been working to conserve the remaining members of the breed. They released horses into various areas of the wild mountains to avoid inbreeding.

Horse Breeds: Polish Konik, Pony of the Americas, Pottok, Przewalski, Pyrenean Tarpan

*POLISH KONIK*

Sometimes called Konik polski in Poland, and the Polish Pony elsewhere; the Polish Konik is a pony used for riding and draft in Poland. They are usually mouse gray colored with a stripe on the dorsal.

*PONY OF THE AMERICAS*

In 1954, a pony was developed intended to have good appearance, speed and fulfill a need for small riders who were too big for a pony but too small for a full sized horse. The Pony of the Americas is growing in popularity and is a distinctive member of the pony breeds. They have color similarities to the Appaloosa Horse. The Pony of Americas is athletic and can jump, move quickly, and is known for intelligence and patience.

Physical Description

Pony of the Americas breed have refined heads and Arab-like noses. Their eyes are expressive and they have full bodies with sloping shoulders. They are versatile and can perform a wide variety of tasks. They appear to be small horses.

A Pony of the Americas eyes look like a human eye, and they have iris's encircled with white. Their skin has irregular black and white spots, and their hooves are striped. Their coat patterns vary widely, and all have spots that are shaped like eggs. The size of the spots can be anywhere from a speck to a spot that is four inches or more in diameter. POA's are between 46 and 56" at the withers.

Pony of the Americas History

Fifteen years after ponies were born of the stallion "Black Hand #1" and sired by a shetland from an Appaloosa mare, the Pony of the Americas registry contained over 12,000 registered horses that were the offspring of that breeding.

*POTTOK*

An ancient breed from small horses that are found in Spain and France, the Pottok were once considered a wild horse breed. Now, Pottok horses are domesticated and have owners.

Pottok horses are tough and have high levels of endurance. At one time, the women's jackets breed was used for pack animals and to help work in the mines, but since the 1970's they became used for riding and for children's mounts because of their extremely calm dispositions.

Pottok's make good harness animals, and can be put in shows as a dressage mount. In 1983, there was a purebred Pottok called Kuzko who become a champion in the combined show jumping and dressage category.

*PRZEWALSKI*

The Mongolian Wild Horse, or the Przewalski as the breed is called, is one of the last remaining wild horse species. Other wild horses have been domesticated or have been descended from domesticated horses. Until about 1990 or so, the Przewalski breed of horses were extinct in the wild as they were exterminated by hunters. The Przewalski Foundation in the Netherlands and breeding preserves in the Ukraine combined to reintroduce the horses to Mongolia.

The Przewalski breed was named after a man it is believed discovered the horses, named Colonel Przewalski, in 1881. There are many different stories about the first people to discover Przewalski horses however, and no one is entirely sure who was first.

A Przewalski horse is similar to domestic horses, but they are smaller and their mane stands upright along their necks and their tails are low set. Most of the breed are tan, dun, sandy or reddish bay in color, and have a dorsal stripe and shoulder stripe.

The breed is very rare, and almost all of the remaining hundred or so Przewalski horses live in zoos.

*PYRENEAN TARPAN*

A breed that takes on a different name depending on the country they're in, the Pyrenean Tarpan is part of the Konink breed type and the result of an attempt to preserve the purity of this type of horse. In Poland, they are called Pottok; in France they were called Navarre Pony, and in Spain they are Asturian, while in Portugal they are known as Garrano. The breeds are regional but very similar genetically.

When the ice age occurred, the change in the environment caused the horses to become brown and black to help them avoid predators. Baby horses of the Pyrenean Tarpan breed have the original tarpan coloration for their first three months of life.

As the population of humans increased, the wild ponies were forced into the mountains. Before 1950, it was very difficult to find the Pyrenean Tarpan horse but since 1970, people have been keeping the Pyrenean Tarpans with tehir Welsh, Shetland, Arabians, Spanish and Breton horses.

starting in 1990, groups and organizations studying the Pyrenean Tarpan have been working to conserve the remaining members of the breed. They released horses into various areas of the wild mountains to avoid inbreeding.

The Omega Watches Company is Everywhere

Copyright (c) 2010 Chandra L Coleman

In the world of luxury watches, Omega is making headlines. In the past week, the company has announced the opening of a new boutique, as well as the revamping of one of its most famous watches. Currently, Omega has 75 flagship stores located throughout the world. The new store, established in Vancouver, Canada is the company's fourth in North America; the others are in Beverley Hills, Mexico City and New York City.

The move behind this new store is that Omega will, once again, be the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games; this time sponsoring the Winter Games in Vancouver that women's jackets commence on February 12. Omega continues to seek out this opportunity because it not only gets to promote its watch collections, but also allows it to create limited edition pieces that commemorate the event. The 2010 Winter Games marks the 24th time that Omega Watches is the official timekeeper for an Olympic event.

The new 500 square foot Omega boutique opened last Friday, December 5, in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel, and features watches from $2,000 to as much as $400,000. Gregory Swift, Omega's brand president, expects the "heart" of the collection to be in the $5,000-to-$10,000 price range. Included in this selection of Omega men's watches and Omega women's watches will be the limited edition Vancouver 2010 watches.

Omega hopes to generate millions of dollars in the four months that this new retail location will be open; it will close at the end of March 2010. The company is putting all sorts of resources into facilitating watch sales, including a multilingual staff of about six people before the Olympics kicks off, and double its staff during the Games. There will even be an on-site Omega watchmaker with a fully outfitted bench in the store, allowing visitors to see the detailed and precise work that goes into creating each and every Omega watch.

Selecting from the roster of Omega Ambassadors, some of the following are sure to be seen at the Vancouver store at one point or another: George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, Cindy Crawford, Michael Phelps, Sergio Garcia and Michelle Wie.

In addition to this new storefront, Omega is also thinking about Valentine's Day, timing the release of one of its revamped watches around this date. The new Omega De Ville 4-Counters Co-Axial Chronograph watch may be the perfect gift for that special someone. The De Ville collection is not new, but this enhancement brings it new light with its compelling four-counter chronograph readout that stretches horizontally across the dark metallic grey dial. Although some watch connoisseurs may think it too closely resembles the limited edition Speedmaster Chronograph 5-Counter watch that Omega released during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the new De Ville is not to be mistaken for the former. This De Ville 4-Counters Co-Axial will feature finely brushed stainless steel, which will be used for almost every surface of the 41 mm sized case, bezel and bracelet. The bracelet also features four slender links that are done in an elegant high polish as well.

The dial deserves special mention too; there are four subdials which are recessed below the primary surface. The indices and hands capture the light of the red accents on the dial, which give off their own sporty, yet sophisticated, look and feel. There are two windows; one located below the Omega logo, and the other at 6 o'clock which displays the day of the week and the date. "The chronograph mechanism records elapsed minutes, hours, and even days (up to 7), as well as continuously running small seconds; the latter is clearly demarcated from the other chronograph functions by a skeletonized dagger-shaped hand."

The watch runs on the self-winding Omega Calibre 3890, which itself presents a number of horologically desirable elements, including the well-known Omega Co-Axial Escapement and a freely sprung balance that optimizes isochronism and resistance to shocks. A power reserve of 52 hours is respectable and the rapid balance beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour enables the chronograph to record elapsed time to the nearest 1/8th second. This Calibre includes a Cotes de Geneve patterns on the bridges and central winding mass. The watch is water resistant to 100 meters and the triple-folding clasp on the stainless steel bracelet displays the world famous Omega symbol in 18-karat red gold.

No matter where you are, it's hard to ignore the noise that surrounds Omega watches these days.