The History of Blue Jeans

In 1850, the California gold rush was in full swing, and everyday items were in short supply. Levi Strauss, a 20-year-old Bavarian immigrant, left New York for San Francisco with a small supply of dry goods.

Shortly after his arrival, a prospector wanted to know what Mr. Strauss was selling.

When Strauss told him he had rough canvas to use for tents and wagon covers, the prospector said, "You should have brought pants!," saying he couldn't find a pair of pants strong enough to last.

Strauss had the canvas made into pants. Miners liked the pants, but complained that they tended to chafe. Levi Strauss substituted a twilled cotton cloth from France called "serge de Nimes," which became known as denim.

In 1873, Levi Strauss & Co. began using the pocket stitch design. The two-horse brand The two-horse brand design was first used in 1886.

The red tab attached to the left rear pocket was created in 1936 as a means of identifying Levi's jeans at a distance. All are registered trademarks that are still in use. 

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Need an energy boost?

Do you plod through the day at the office? Are you so tired by the afternoon that exercise is the last thing on your mind? Do you flop into bed at night and roll out of it exhausted in the morning? Your problem might simply be that you have low energy levels, and if so, there are quick and easy natural remedies to give you the boost you need.

Low-energy days are one part genetics, two parts diet and three parts stress. Stress is clearly the main culprit. If, for example, you are stuck in a traffic jam on your way to work and you let negative thoughts and road rage raise your stress level, your body will release enough adrenalin and insulin to keep you running flat out for over a kilometer.

If this energy is left unused, the adrenalin will continue coursing through your veins, diverting energy away from vital bodily functions. This will leave you feeling tired and even slightly depressed for the rest of the day. Instant energy boosters:

4Start the day off with a steaming cup of water and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. This will not only refresh and revitalise you, but will cleanse your palate and will boost your liver  function.

4Feast on this energy-packed smoothie for            breakfast: blend one banana, one mango, half a  medium sized pineapple, a tablespoon of rolled oats and 150ml milk or a small cup of plain, low-fat yoghurt.

4Keep a spray bottle of water or a rehydrating freshener on your desk at work. Use it to freshen up during the long day.

4Burn peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil in an oil burner or spill a few drops onto a tissue and inhale deeply. This will stimulate the trigeminal nerve in your nose and palate, which will in turn boost your energy levels.

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Did you know?

Hiccups happen when the diaphragm, the muscle that controls our breathing, becomes irritated and start to spasm and contract uncontrollably.

With each contraction, air is pulled into the lungs very quickly, passes through the voice box, and then the epiglottis closes behind the rush of air, shaking the vocal chords, causing the "hic" sound.

The irritation can be caused by rapid eating, emotional stress and even some diseases. The best cure? Breathing into a paper bag. This calms the diaphragm by increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in your bloodstream.

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Measles more than just spots

The Department of Health has launched a mass measles immunisation programme in an effort to eradicate this preventable disease. Why is it so important to immunise your child against measles? It is not just a common and harmless childhood infection.

The disease can have serious complications and long-term consequences. In fact, children are still dying from measles in South Africa.  As recently as the 1970’s, hundreds died every year in South Africa from measles.

Measles is now rare, thanks to successful vaccination programmes. But, because the serious consequences of measles and other serious diseases are no longer familiar, people have ceased to fear them. Despite the risk for death due to measles complications, and the availability of an effective tool to prevent these deaths, there are still children who are not vaccinated.

The routine immunisation coverage target for fully immunised children under one year in South Africa is 90%. According to 2003 statistics, measles immunisation coverage is 78%. This figure is below the set target and thus puts the country at a high risk for measles outbreaks.

This was clearly demonstrated by the measles outbreaks in Mpumalanga and Gauteng provinces in 2003.  The Department of Health's 2004 immunisation programme aims to render wider immunity over a greater geographical area. As a result, Lesotho and Swaziland will simultaneously conduct a similar campaign.

Why is measles a threat?

Measles can have serious complications. These are more likely in malnourished children. Vitamin A deficiency in particular worsens the course of measles. The disease also tends to be more severe in infants younger than one year and in any person who is immunosuppressed, for example people with HIV-infection or leukaemia.  The complications that can occur include: Croup; Pneumonia; Middle ear infection; Diarrhea; Bacterial infection and Encephalitis to mention a few.

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