Crocs Gasping For Breath

Remember those shoes (slippers or clogs or whatever you want to call them) that suddenly were seen on everyone’s feet several years ago? They are not-so-pretty rubberized (or foam, maybe) footwear in all sorts of garish colors. Who can forget them?

For one reason or another, Crocs became so popular. Children aged 2 wore them. Your next door neighbor wore them. Your boss might have even worn them. I know President Bush did. Even Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler sported Crocs!

They say that this was a sign of the economic times – there was a boom and the company behind Crocs rode that wave. In spite of the fact that everyone with the slightest bit of fashion sense knew that there was something off about the footwear, about 100 million pairs were sold in seven years.

Almost a decade later, the economy has crashed, and it seems that Crocs is going down with it. Reports say that last year alone, the company lost $185.1 million. Around 2,000 jobs have been cut, and the company is scrambling to find money to pay its debts.

So what happened? Was the pricing too much or did people just wake up to reality (fashion wise)? They say it’s a bit of both. Crocs are not that expensive – you can get a pair for $30. With financial problems, though, even $30 may be too much for some. And then, the good old flip flops seem to be making a comeback, pushing Crocs to the back of the closet.

So where are your Crocs? I know where mine are – oh wait, I never had a pair!

Rare Photo Up For Auction

There is no nurse more famous than the venerable Florence Nightingale. The English nurse known as “The Lady of the Lamp” was not only was the first woman in history to be given the Order of Merit from Edward VII, but tirelessly worked to reform the hospitals of her time. She also established a nursing school and home for nurses after the Crimean War, and received the Royal Red Cross by Queen Victoria.

The reason why this photo of Flo, which was taken not long before her death, is so special is because the famous nurse was not fond of publicity and there aren’t many photographs of her in existence. The historical image, was by popular photographer of the time, Lizzie Caswall Smith, was taken at her home in London in 1910, when she was 90 years old. It was inscribed at the back by Ms. Smith saying:

‘Taken just before she died, house near Park Lane. The only photograph I ever took out of studio. I shall never forget the experience.”

The photo’s provenance is excellent, coming directly from the family of Ms. Caswell Smith. It will go on sale at Dreweatts auction house in Newbury on November 19th.

Starting the Day with the Morning Paper

It has been routine to find the morning paper at the doorsteps and bring it in to the house while breakfast meals are being prepared. First thing that people would check out is of course the front page, usually focusing on current events locally and the world. It is important for people to know what is going on in the world today mainly because it affects everyone today. The impact that published news provide is really something that will surely gather various reactions and opinions for current events and issues.
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Collecting Coupons and Special Discounts

Newspapers are not all news and trends that a country may find in. For the business-minded people, these are the factors due for consideration in line with their work or business. Such external factors would affect the market they are catering to and the need for possible adjustment is a necessity.

On the lighter side, housewives would check on probable sales and discount coupons offered by their favorite department store and supermarket. Coupons can be cut out and used to save on cost for certain items such as food and basic necessities of living in the household.

Ideally, coupons help a lot for people to sustain their manner of living considering that financial savings goes a long way in today�s economy. While some may care less, all coupons added together may reflect a large sum of savings if compiled. All it takes is a simple turn of the page and such coupons and offered discounts will help a lot for the people who want savings on their purchases anywhere.

Checking out the Editorials in Newspapers

People will always put their focus on the front page which would usually contain the headlines of latest news and current events going on locally and the world. But technically, the editorial section is similar to that of a blog where a person would make entries about certain aspects to which they expound on. Ideally these issues would be in line with the ongoing events since they provide supporting insights on such issues.

Editorial from people will provide the opinions and ideas stemming from references on actual events and facts. They are not placed for the sake of argument of one person only. They cover the negative and positive aspects of such issues and provide further analysis so that people may easily understand the whole essence of the headlines and events.

Also, these editorials are technically chains from past issues and events since they refresh the memory of people who may have forgotten about connections to the current topic at hand. These are the things that have already occurred but have been forgotten. It is through editorials that they can be recalled.