It's practically an understatement, as the year 2009 reaches it halfway point in a few weeks, that America and indeed the entire world lives in changing times. With all the economic turmoil of late last year and the months of economic slowdown that preceded it, the current months and years ahead, for millions of us, seem only brighter by comparison.We suggest that the times to come should not be about having the best or the biggest, conceptions that helped get us into our present economic straits. As we move farther into the 21st Century, we believe the time is right to reawaken our sense of the individual and renew our appreciation of the homemade. In particular, we believe for a myriad of social and political reasons the time has come to take special interest, and individuals and as a culture, of the benefits of handmade jewelry.Appreciating the singular, rather than the standardJust this week General Motors, the patriarch and best example of mass production, filed for bankruptcy, creating an economic vacuum in the city of Detroit that might never be filled again. The event sent tremors through the national financial news outlets and something like a low-key panic among hundreds .. more »

The most common width for wedding bands for men are between 6-8mm. Tungsten is the new metal for men in the jewelry industry and is also one of the most exciting. There are various types of tungsten wedding rings in the market today and the 6mm ones are the most sought after as wedding bands. The heavy weight of tungsten metal makes any tungsten rings above 8mm a small chore on the fingers. Hence, 6mm rings are usually the preferred choice.Another good reason to have a 6mm ring is that the surface of the tungsten rings is wide enough to cater for stronger design lines. In addition to that, it also allows enough width to have a beveled design without compromising the surface design. The 6mm width also provides the wearer a certain level of comfort without having to disrupt daily activities which requires a lot of hand movements. These rings also have another unique feature of feeling solid and robust and not heavy enough to fatigue the finger. On the contrary, lighter rings feel cheap by comparison.Tungsten rings have also been recognized for its durability and toughness. The shine of the polished finish of the tungsten wedding rings will .. more »

The rank structure in the military of Israel is somewhat unique because it is a fully integrated force and thus it is the same in all the branches of service. Including the Navy, Army, and the Air Force. This is in contrast to many other country's armed forces as they have a separate rank system for each branch of service.Where the insignia is placed on the uniform differs between the different types of personnel. For example the insignia for an enlisted person is worn on the on the sleeves. An officer's insignia on the other hand is worn on the shoulders.Each corps of the defense force has as part of its uniform a beret of its own unique color. Many of them also have pins on the front of their berets which are the symbol that represents their corps. These pins are worn regardless of rank with the single exception of the general corps berets that are worn by recruits.Each of these beret pins have a decoration that contains the name of the unit that the individual soldier is in plus its sign. For example someone who is of the general staff will wear a pin that is a sword .. more »

Silver jewelry is appealing to most buyers since it is less expensive than gold jewelry. It also compliments almost any outfit and has become the new found style in fashion these days. That is why there is an increasing demand of this jewelry thus most merchants offer wholesale to interested buyers.Today, internet is the best source where you can find online stores for wholesale jewelry, they offer a wide selection and a much lower price than any convention jewelry store in your area. With a lot of merchants dealing these type of jewelry, it is just right to know how to select the best quality in your desired pieces of jewelry.Points to Remember about Silver Jewelry When you buy sterling silver jewelry, look for one that has a mark of "925". Although generally speaking, there is no such thing as high quality or low quality sterling silver. It is available in one quality that is basic sterling silver. Important fact also to remembers is that while buying jewelry made from silver, know that its monetary value depend on its weight. So the heavier it is, the higher its cost. Unlike with gold metals whose value depends on its karat and .. more »