February 2024

Laughing At a Magic Sponge

It is certainly true that any reference to magic

would likely raise my suspicion. But when I think of

the magic sponge I can only begin to chuckle and grin.

And whatever you might think of this exceptional topic,

it would be hard to dismiss the great utility of this compelling item.

There is of course, absolutely no doubt that it has been used to cleanse

the bodies of countless people across each of the four corners of the globe.

In fact, some people have said that it has graced the backs of Kings

and scrubbed the royal heinies of important Queens. One anonymous

British historian reported that Queen Edith of West Anglia was so enamored

with the object that it seemed to interfere with her ordinary marital duties.

And King Edmund the Elder was purportedly so enthralled with his collection

of royal sponges that he never ceased to keep them far from his bedside

whenever he slept alone at night.

But the illustrious sponge was hardly a commodity reserved for the upper crust.

Aficionados of natural history will point to the fact that it became widely used

by commoners several centuries ago. On the Greek Island of Crete, for example,

natural sponges have purportedly been widely available since antiquity. More recently,

in America the natural sponge industry has long been associated with Tarpon Springs, Florida.

This sleepy little town situated on the Gulf of Mexico has been noted for its effectiveness

in fishing for this unique little creature. Fisherman extracted the aquatic animal by two primary means.

They included both hooking and diving for sponge.

At the present time however, synthetic sponges have come to dominate the international market.

Popular forms of synthetic sponge are made from cellulose wood fibres or foamed plastic polymers.

Other categories of sponge include low density polyether, pva (very dense material with no pores)

and polyester. But in recent years, the sponge has taken a bad rap as individuals concerned

with the spread of bacteria and germs have noted that cellulose sponges are likely to provide a

comfortable environment for the growth of microbial toxins unless the sponge is treated between uses.

One form of sponge that has become immensely popular in recent decades is the “bug sponge”.

This sponge was invented by Harold Brown in the 3 M Laboratories situated in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The main feature of this synthetic sponge is a special hard compound that allows drivers

to remove squashed insects from the respective windshields of their very own automobiles.

(Please note: Historical references to Queen Edith of West Anglia and King Edmund the Elder are of questionable veracity. The content was included for mild amusement rather than absolute historical truth.)…

Start Your Own Fashion Business: 5 Little Known Facts That You Need To Know Before You Get Started!

1. Fashion is a Business!

I’m not trying to burst your bubble here, but it’s important for newcomers to the fashion industry to understand that starting a fashion business requires a balance between creativity and business. You can’t have one with out the other. While having amazing fashion designs or being known for taking great fashion photos will be key to launching you into the fashion industry, there are many other elements that are business related that you will need to be on top of to survive and succeed. You’ll need to know what it takes to maintain profit margins, how to be properly prepared to deal with legal issues (like contracts, insurance and creating a partnership or an LLC), and how to deliver products to your clients in a timely and cost-effective manner, among many other things. Taking time to plan for the business aspect of fashion will be critical to your success!

2. It Probably Takes More Money Than You Think To Get Started!

Like most things in life, starting a fashion business costs money! You’ll need to take the time to create realistic estimates on how much it will cost to start and maintain your business. Once you’ve started that process, it will also be important to start figuring out where the start-up capital is coming from (is the business being funded by your personal savings, investments from family, a bank loan, etc?). A word of advice is to multiply what you think it will cost to maintain your business by 10 for good measure, so you are prepared to be able to do whatever it takes financially to make it.

3. Most of Your Time Will Be Spent Doing Other Things!

When I was in college, I used to design jewelry and sold it to several boutiques to make ends meet. I can tell you, firsthand, that most of my time was not spent creating new jewelry designs. 70% of my time was spent on doing everything else that it takes to run a successful business. You have to be prepared to do everything yourself until you are able to hire employees. You will find that a lot of your time will be spent on paperwork, such as customer invoices and keeping track of your sales and expenses. You also have to be prepared to handle shipping, customer service, publicity/press kits and business development (building your client base).

4. You Are On Your Own! Are You Okay With That?

Starting a business means that there you don’t have a boss, which could be a good or bad thing depending on your personality and work ethic. You will need to make all the decisions that are critical to your company’s success. You will spend A LOT of time working (like hours and hours and more hours everyday) and you have to be okay with that because that is what …