Summit Vienna

Father’s Day is coming up and, while we all love our dads – it’s a scary thought that one day we will actually turn into them. There’s no escaping this eventuality.

It’s all in the genes, you see. For those who are worried that they might gradually be morphing into their father, here are ten warning signs to watch out for. Once you recognise a few of these in yourself, it’s time to accept it – you are your Dad.

1. You find yourself baffled by modern technology
One minute, you’re fine – you definitely know your WAP from your SMS. Then before you know it, the phone salesman is talking gobbledegook. Hypertransumation protocols? Interisational capabilities? Your may be nodding and smiling politely but your inner self is a whirlwind of turmoil and confusion screaming “Please, let me go!”

2. You make a ‘huufff’ noise every time you sit down, stand up or bend over
Perhaps it’s a genuine medical condition or more likely it’s a subconscious cry for help? “Help – I’m getting old!” perhaps?

3. The idea of spending many hours in a shed becomes appealing
For some reason, you now like making useless things out of random bits of wood and metal – pure workmanship at its best! Not forgetting your new habit of hoarding screws. From now on, you will never throw a screw away – NEVER!  Read more...

Once Christmas has passed and the New Year has been rung in, most folks living in the Deep South have one more celebration to see them through the dreary winter. Mardi Gras has become a living breathing entity to a portion of the Gulf Coast and many traditions have sprung up around the holiday.

First celebrated in the United States in 1703, this holiday already had a long tradition with European Christians. What began as a single feast to commemorate the beginning of the Lenten season on Ash Wednesday has turned into a two-week celebration that culminates on the Tuesday before.

Mardi gras means Fat Tuesday in French and it is traditionally the last day for Catholics to indulge before fasting begins for the 40 days of Lent. It is a time of extravagant fun for those leaving in areas fortunate enough to celebrate it.

Although originally celebrated by Mobilians here in the United States, the celebration quickly spread westward to the Crescent City, New Orleans, Louisiana. Now each year millions pour into both cities to enjoy the two-week long block parties that this celebration has become.  Read more...

Although the art of ballet is more commonly associated with females, there are plenty of opportunities for men to become involved in the activity. Whether its part of a troupe putting on a show or as a smaller outlet, ballet is as valid an activity and lifestyle participation sport for men as it is for women. This means that the full range of ballet products and clothing lines are available for both genders with a full range of ballet shows being made available for men. Traditionally men have a larger size of feet than women which invariably means that they require a larger type of shoe. If ballet pumps and footwear ranges were only produced for women there may be a difficulty for men to participate fully but in recent years it has been possible to get ballet footwear in all sizes imaginable.

This means that ballet can be an activity for all the family but there is no doubt that the activities main interest group lies in the female market with the children and teenage market being extremely buoyant. With so many activities vying for attention of children and parents these days it is no surprise to see so many traditional sports and activities pass by but there has been no dip in the participation levels of ballet. This may be because the activity is traditionally viewed as one of the most feminine past-times and naturally appeals to little girls growing up dreaming of being a princess. The dance element is a major reason for this but another strong reason in the activities enduring image is in the costume and clothing that is associated with it. Ballet shoes remain highly evocative of a style and image that young girls and their parents want to emulate which makes the choice of footwear so important in enjoying the activity.  Read more...

George Best was undoubtedly the most naturally gifted player to ever wear the famous Manchester United Shirt. Even though Best self-destructed and destroyed his own career in the saddest of manners, he is considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time. If he had not taken the path of drinking and generally abusing his body, one can only speculate the legacy he would have created. Like Paul Gascoigne years later, Best’s potential was never fully realised.

George Best was born on 22nd May 1946 in the Cregagh area of Belfast. He led an unremarkable early childhood and although he was never without his ball, he was considered to small to ever consider a career in the game, despite his obvious ability. However he was eventually spotted by Bob Bishop, the Manchester United scout. Bishop was so captivated by Best’s talent that he sent a telegram to Matt Busby claiming to have found a genius. After a successful trial he was signed to the Red Devils.

George Best played at Manchester United for six seasons and scored 115 goals. His debut was against West Bromwich Albion aged just 17. Best formed a formidable combination with Dennis Law and Bobby Charlton. Too much for their opponents, Manchester United swept to 2 league titles and a European Cup, beating Benfica 4-1 in the final. That year was 1967 and Best was named European Footballer Of The Year.  Read more...

This Brazilian hardwood is one of the best products that can be purchased for use in outdoor projects. Ipe wood is a tropical hardwood originating in Central and South America. Because of the location of the trees natural growth, the tree possesses certain attributes that favor its growth in a rainforest environment. These attributes are also favorable for wood that will be used in outdoor door projects. One of these traits in particular is the ability of the wood to resist insects and moisture. Results from tests performed by the United States Naval Research Laboratory show Ipe wood left in the ground for 25 years still showed no attacks by termites and awarded the wood its highest rating. Also of importance when using the wood around the home, this hardwood has proven to be particularly fire resistant. In tests done by the National Fire Protection Association, the wood was given a rating of Class A and Class 1 by the UBC. These are both the same ratings that are carried by concrete and steel.

Another feature unique to Ipe is its incredible hardness. Standard decking size is 4/4 material with a net ¾ inch thickness. On 24 inch Centers the 4/4 material will provide a 100lb live load rating that out performs the more common woods used today. The hardness rating for this wood is 3640 Janka. Red Oak only carries a Janka of 1260. It is 364 percent harder than Teak. This superior strength also supplies another nice feature; the wood is naturally resistant to splintering. This is a definite bonus when building decking around swimming pools and hot tubs where the normal shoe attire is bare feet.  Read more...