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PORTLAND, Ore. – Amazon has issued recalls for solar eclipse glasses, sending hopeful eclipse-watchers into panic as eclipse glasses prices skyrocket, and stunning sellers who say their products are verified safe.
Millions of people are planning to watch the total solar eclipse on August 21, planning elaborate vacations in the path of totality and ordering special glasses that let viewers look at the sun without damaging their eyes. More than 1 million people are expected to travel to Oregon to see the eclipse start its journey during the first total eclipse to cut through the continental U.S. from the west to east coast since 1918.
But many are now scrambling to find new eclipse glasses after Amazon issued a widespread recall starting early Saturday morning amid reports of counterfeiters. Retailers who say they sell verified, NASA and American Astronomical Society-approved eclipse glasses are also caught in the recall, losing record profits with one week to go before the astronomical event.
The American Astronomical Society said while Amazon recalled some counterfeit products, they also recalled legitimate dealers and manufacturers.
Amazon recalls eclipse glasses out of 'caution'
On Saturday, KGW's photography staff received an email from Amazon, explaining the solar camera filters the station purchased for the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse were not confirmed safe for viewing.
The lens caps had the proper ISO number, 12312-2, which has been verified to comply with international safety standards, and it was manufactured by a NASA and AAS-approved company. Amazon on Saturday said the supplier could not confirm the item came from a recommended manufacturer.
"We recommend that you DO NOT use this product to view the sun or the eclipse," Amazon wrote.
At least a dozen KGW viewers said they received recall notices from Amazon Saturday.
Portland resident Dan Fellini bought a pack of four solar eclipse glasses with his wife and a friend.
"Just last night we were talking about the glasses, and thinking maybe we shouldn't trust them, even though the Amazon page made it fairly clear they were legit," he said.
At 2:05 a.m. Fellini received a recall email from Amazon.
Another Portland resident, Will Clark, bought eclipse glasses billed as "CE and ISO tested, safe solar viewing." He received a recall email Saturday morning at 7:28 a.m.
KGW viewer Heather Andersen said she bought two separate sets of solar glasses and learned both were not verified.
"I give up," she said.
Ann Coombs wrote to KGW and said she bought glasses on July 5 so she wouldn't have to scramble to find them before the eclipse. She received a recall notice on Monday, Aug. 14.
"With only a week to go it is very frustrating to find that all your good planning was for nothing," she said.
Verified-safe eclipse glasses on Amazon are now heavily marked up with some going for hundreds of dollars. Purchasers also run the risk of not receiving them before Aug. 21.
Amazon is issuing full refunds. An Amazon spokesperson said Amazon is responding "out of an abundance of caution" after reports of counterfeit products.
"Safety is among our highest priorities. Out of an abundance of caution, we have proactively reached out to customers and provided refunds for eclipse glasses that may not comply with industry standards. We want customers to buy with confidence anytime they make a purchase on Amazon.com and eclipse glasses sold on Amazon.com are required to comply with the relevant ISO standard," the company said in a statement.
Amazon said customers who did not receive an email purchased glasses that were safe to use. The company did not reveal how many glasses were recalled or how much money was refunded. Anyone who is concerned about their eclipse glasses but did not receive an email about the recall can reach out to Amazon customer service.
Amazon suggested customers refer to the NASA and AAS websites for more information about safely viewing the solar eclipse.
AAS responds: Amazon 'made the problem worse'
The press officer for AAS said Amazon responded to counterfeit reports by shutting legitimate retailers out.
"Amazon appears to have let just about anybody sell 'eclipse glasses' and other types of solar viewers on Amazon.com without taking steps to ensure that all such products meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard for filters for direct observation of the sun," said AAS spokesman Dr. Richard Tresh Fienberg.
Fienberg said once AAS realized that was happening, it created a list of authorized dealers and manufacturers so the public would know who to trust. But Amazon's widespread recall included some legitimate companies anyway.
"Now Amazon.com has made the problem worse by contacting customers who bought safe filters from reputable vendors as well as customers who bought possibly unsafe filters from questionable vendors and telling them all the same thing: don't use the viewers to look at the sun, and we'll refund your money," he said. "We don't understand why Amazon isn't being more careful about who they contact — we've explained to Amazon the difference between genuine solar viewers and counterfeits, and we've told them about our online list of reputable vendors of ISO-compliant safe products. Instead of going after the bad guys they appear to be covering their backside and saying that no vendors can be trusted. This is hurting legitimate companies' reputations and potentially costing them a lot of money. It has caused mass confusion within the eclipse-chasing community and the public more generally."
Fienberg said AAS is trying to work with Amazon to fix the issue but said, "so far we have not gotten a satisfactory response."
Recall stuns U.S. Amazon sellers
While Amazon said it responded out of caution, some sellers say their products are approved by NASA and AAS, but still were subject to the recall. That sent some companies into economic turmoil in what was shaping up to be one of their most profitable months ever.
KGW's solar filters came from a company called ICSTARS and manufactured by Thousand Oaks Optical, a NASA- and AAS-approved company. KGW also purchased the same filters from the photography company B&H, although B&H never issued a similar recall.
On Monday, KGW received an email from ICSTARS, reiterating that the filters were safe. Furthermore, ICSTARS said Amazon never contacted them to verify the safety of the filters.
"Amazon has rejected attempts by Daystar or ICSTARS to submit documentation to them," the company wrote. "We do have documentation for this fact."
Jen Winter, the owner of the company, called KGW Monday to reiterate that the lenses are safe. She said she's attempted to reach out to every customer impacted by the recall but many have email blocks in place.
"This has been very difficult for us," she said. "There's millions of dollars in inventory that our tiny little industry has put into this. It's an enormous financial loss."
Winter said she worries about people who may now be left viewing the eclipse without any protection.
"The danger in having no filter is much greater now. We could have people who are hurt because they were told the filter was not safe, and use no filter," she said.
Two other U.S.-based Amazon solar eclipse glasses sellers contacted KGW following Amazon's recall. Both said their products were verified as safe and manufactured by companies approved by NASA, but their glasses are still under a recall.
Manish Panjwani's Los Angeles-based astronomy product business, AgenaAstro, has sold three times its average monthly revenue in the past month. Ninety-five percent is related to the solar eclipse. He hired seven extra temporary workers just to help with the pre-eclipse boom.
Panjwani's eclipse glasses come from two NASA-approved sellers: Thousand Oaks Optical in Arizona and Baader Planetarium in Germany. He said he provided documentation to Amazon proving the products' authenticity weeks ago, with no response from Amazon.
On Saturday morning, he woke up to 100 emails from customers after Amazon issued a recall for his products.
"People have some of the best glasses in the world in their hands right now and they don't believe in that product," he said. "They're out there looking for something inferior."
Panjwani said Amazon is temporarily retaining some of his profits because of the recall. He also has nearly 5,000 glasses at an Amazon warehouse, which customers can no longer purchase.
"That's just sitting there. I cannot sell it and I cannot get it back in time for the eclipse," he said.
Amazon sent Panjwani this statement following the recall:
"Due to the evolving circumstances around Eclipse glasses, it's important that you have funds available to address customer returns. We will be holding back a portion of your funds from prior sales of Eclipse glasses and will continue to evaluate the need to hold a reserve for these funds. As we learn more about the safety concerns related to Eclipse glasses, we'll assess changes regarding your disbursement reserve balance."
A second eclipse glasses seller based in Tucson, Ariz., Lunt Solar System, said their products are also verified but under a recall anyway.
Amazon did not respond to KGW's specific questions about the sellers.
"Customers may have purchased counterfeit versions of legitimate products," an Amazon spokesperson said when asked about the issue.
NASA list of reputable solar eclipse glasses sellers
Published August 12, 2017


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I want to be the "Hot Girl"…
My journey to not be invisible and overlooked anymore! And as big as I am (was) I shouldn't be invisible…
My first post surgery pics…
Posted grneyedmustang on May 30th, 2013 | Filed under liposuction | Comment now »
So I'm going on week four post surgery, and I'm still a bit swollen, but I notice every day that my midsection gets a bit smaller. This past weekend, I felt like I could really tell that I'm smaller now (plus the scale rewarded me with the number 241, which I haven't seen in over a year) – so I took some pictures. A few of them aren't the greatest pictures, but in the pictures I can tell that the kangaroo pouch is disappearing and I have something that now resembles a waist:
I'm still trying to get back into a "regular" routine, some days I'm good to go, other days I'm tired and struggling. Today is a good day. 🙂
I've decided in the month of June, I'm going to try and stick to mostly lean meats and veggies, very few carbs and clean eating. And of course, trying to stay away from the alcohol. I was doing this right before I had surgery and I think it worked well.
Stay tuned 🙂
Another NSV – but the scale isn't being nice to me!!!
Posted grneyedmustang on April 29th, 2013 | Filed under liposuction, running | Comment now »
All this running seems to be paying off occasionally – but dammit the scale is being a very mean (shut yo mouf)!!!
About a week ago my neighborhood had an event called "kill the hill" in which you run in the neighborhood and pick a set point. I chose the 4 mile course…I could have tried the 5 but I didn't know how I was going to fare.
I ran my 4 miles in 41 minutes…about a 10:15 pace! This is with TWO killer hills involved.
I'm so happy – I haven't run that kind of pace since COLLEGE!!!
I am supposed to be running a 10k next month and I'm actually kind of excited since I guess I'm kicking a little ass while running!!! But there is some bittersweet news with the 10k…
I was approved for my surgery (I'm having Lipo) – so my surgery has been scheduled for May 6. My post op instructions state that you can start working out 7 days after, but you should still take it easy. I'm going to ask the doctor if i can still run the 10k, during my preop appointment tomorrow.
If I could get the scale to be nice to me…everything would be GREAT….
Running – I came back with a vengeance!
Posted grneyedmustang on January 4th, 2013 | Filed under 2013, plateau, running, Thanksgiving | Comment now »
So the end of the year was bittersweet for me – there were some good things that happened at year end, and some not so good things that happened. We'll start with the good.
So my "friend" that came to visit me wanted us to run a 5k together. I wanted redemption/vengeance for my miserable 5k that I ran in November, so I agreed. Well, I got my vengeance for multiple reasons:
- I got to take a couple of cute pictures! The non professional pics are below; I'll post the professional pictures once I pay for them.
- I beat THE HELL out of my previous 5k time. I believe that I finished in 35 minutes – which is an eleven minute and some change mile.
- I now know that cold weather is not an excuse to not run. It was 28 degrees the morning of, and I DIDN'T DIE.
So the bad:
- I don't know my exact time 🙁 My chip timer didn't register. I had on my heart rate monitor so I have a good idea of what time I ran – but as soon as I stopped running someone came over and chatted with me about running, and I didn't turn my heart rate monitor off until it was too late.
- The rest of my "friend's" (and I use that term loosely) visit turned out to be a big bucket of fail. I don't know what happened between when we met and the second trip, but it was quite obvious that he wasn't really interested in me "that way" anymore. To add insult to injury – he also made it pretty obvious that he had a crush on my friend/college roommate. He went up to her as soon as the clock struck 2013 on New Years – took a picture – and posted it to facebook. He never took a picture with me. Who does that? Not to mention that the more I talked to him, the more I'm convinced that he's a douchebag asshole.
Oh well, que sera sera. Back to the drawing board. And here's to 2013!
Race number 3. Done. That's about it. Have a laugh at my expense!
Posted grneyedmustang on November 24th, 2012 | Filed under running | Comment now »
So last weekend, I ran my third race. There were MANY lessons learned behind this race. I'm trying to laugh and shake it off because I didn't do as well as I should have.
So now, please have a laugh at my expense.
Issue number 1 – The glow run was a good idea for a "fun run" but I tried to make it a serious run. Running with a lot of glowy flair is fun if you're not taking it seriously. My glowy flair kept getting tangled up with my mp3 player, was in my way, and generally pissed me off. By the end of the race I was done with all my glow sticks, necklaces, earrings, whatever. LOL.
Issue number two – I'm tall, and when I order tee shirts, I generally order mens shirts because women's shirts usually aren't long enough and don't cover my main problem area – my tummy. Well, against my better judgement, I ordered the women's shirt anyway (I like the way the shirt was cut) and decided I was going to try and be "cute" in it. One of my friends saw one of my pre race pictures and said my tee shirt looked like a sports bra because it was so tight and short. Ha Ha Ha! Which brings me to issue number three…
Issue number three – So since my shirt was an extra medium, I decided to wear a girdle because I wanted to be cute in my race pictures. Don't ask me what crack I was smoking, thinking that it would be a good idea to run 3.1 miles in a girdle. Vanity definitely got a hold of my brain before my race. Which brings me to issue 4…
Issue number four – I decided to buy a brand new pair of cute pants for the race. Mind you, I've never worn these pants and don't know how they'll behave while I'm running. Also keep in mind I'm wearing these spandex running pants with a girdle. Do you see where this is headed?
Issue number five – New lycra running pants + Girdle + 3.1 mile run = BAD BUSINESS. Nuff said. I spent the entire 3.1 miles pulling up my pants because I didn't want to be running a race ala Jackie Christie style (see reference below).
Not to mention that since this was a run geared toward families, I spent part of the time battling strollers and children. So I spent the entire race, miserable, uncomfortable, pulling up my pants, fighting my psyche, along with dodging strollers and children. UGGGGGGGH.
And add to this that I was training, but I'm going to be brutally honest, I was half ass training. Yeah, I said it. The weekend before my race I was entertaining out of town friends, and the weekend before that I was drunken gallivating on Bourbon street in New Orleans.
My time wasn't horrible, but it wasn't my best. 13 minute mile.
Not to mention I took the worst picture I've ever taken in my entire life. I'm so ashamed of the picture, I'm going to post it here so I have a reminder of what not to do ever again. Not to mention a reminder to myself of why I need to focus on diet and exercise – that damned belly of mine.
The good news is – I completed the race – and I learned a few lessons with it.
So there may be a chance for redemption really soon. I am dating a guy from back home and he's coming to visit me for New Years (yaaaaaay meee!!!!). He is also into living a healthy life and trying to get it together, so he suggested that we run a race while he's visiting in Dallas. I suggested the Superman 5k, which is a race with a superhero theme.
I won't be running it in a wonder woman costume or a girdle.
I realize I am scared!!!
Posted grneyedmustang on September 15th, 2012 | Filed under fear, running | Comment now »
So now that the weather here in Dallas is feeling absolutely fabulous…I've gotten back into running. While on my 5 mile run today, I made a realization.
So back this train up a little bit…
My first race that I ran after I started running was a 10k (yeah I do it big when I make up my mind to do something, usually)! I actually did pretty well considering it was my first race and all – and the competitive bitch in me was absolutely thrilled that my timing was better than my friends who ran the same race.
After running that race, I decided that I would run at least one race per year while I am physically able to do so.
So last year's race was a 5k here in Dallas. My time improved a bit, but not as much as I hoped it would.
I've signed up for a race this year – the Dallas Glow Run 5k. Kinda like the rave of running. I'm absolutely thrilled to run this race. http://www.glowrun5k.com/dallas.php
Anyway. Back to this morning's run. So I've been wondering why I haven't taken on another 10k. I can do it right?
I realized this morning that I am SCARED.
But if I'm running 5 miles on a regular basis, what's another mile added onto that???!?!?!?!? I mean, a 10k is 6.2 miles, right????
I believe a good part of exercise willpower is psychological – that oftentimes it's a mental mind f*** (or lack thereof if you can overcome your exercise obstacles). Now dieting willpower is a totally different story, but I digress. We're not talking about "dieting willpower" and my belief that there are physiological issues that cause people to "lack willpower" when it comes to dieting.
So I need to fight this mental obstacle which is hindering me from taking on another 10k.
My fear stems from:
- I'm scared that I'll do worse than I did the first time I ran the 10k
- Scared that I can't do it (not rational! I run 5 miles on Saturdays and Sundays NOW)
- I'm scared that the first 10k was a fluke
- I'm scared that I'm a fraud as a runner – especially because I am a "big girl" and I get the "side eye" from people a lot of times when I tell them that I'm a runner. Maybe I'll make these people, my nonbelievers, out to be right, if I attempt another 10k.
My ultimate goal is to run a half marathon (i don't know when because I'm definitely not ready now) – because I'm only half crazy…
But I have to get over this "fear" that I have that I'm not a "real" runner first.
I absolutely hate the word "haters", but in this case, I guess I need to let my "haters" be my motivators…
Recently diagnosed hypothyroid…but feeling better!
Posted grneyedmustang on August 27th, 2012 | Filed under hypothyroidism | Comment now »
It's been a while since I've popped in here and rambled a bit. So here I go!!!
About 5 weeks ago, I was diagnosed hypothyroid. I've had a few "why me" moments, and a relief moment – I've been having issues with certain things off and on for the last two or three years, so hypothyroidism will help explain the "why" behind some of my issues (depression, hair loss, hoarse voice, etc etc).
My doctor prescribed 50 mcg of levothyroxine about 5 weeks ago. I will say that my energy levels have improved tremendously since being prescribed the medication. I really hope it will kick in and help with my hair loss as well. I'd love to have the feeling of leaving the beauty shop with a fresh new 'do again – I miss that.
My mom dropped into town 11 days ago, which has thrown a major kink in my diet plans. I love my mom dearly, but her in my small 1 bedroom apartment for the last 11 days has definitely tried my patience. She did leave today, so I should be able to get back on plan and back into the swing of things. In a few weeks, I'll step on the scale and see what happens.
Feeling very positive today – wish I could feel like this every day!!! Go me!!!
An insightful read…and other good news!
Posted grneyedmustang on March 11th, 2012 | Filed under Calorie Counting, depression, dieting | Comment now »
So today, I began reading this book that was suggested by another 3fc member:
If you struggle with weight related issues, depression, and alcohol, I highly recommend this book – especially if you (like me) are a perfectionist.
I just started reading it this morning, and I'm about halfway done in a matter of hours. It's given me quite a bit of insight into my behaviors, and it also lets me know I'm not the only one out there in this pattern of behavior.
I'm off to do my Sunday Shopping for veggies and stuff.
Also, I'm now down to 239! Woooo hoooo!!!!!
Something is working!
Posted grneyedmustang on March 4th, 2012 | Filed under Calorie Counting, dieting, exercise | 2 Comments »
So I've been taking a new class at the gym, reincorporated strength training into my routine, and started calorie counting at the beginning of February. Something I've done is working (I have the feeling it's counting calories) because as of this morning I am down to 241 – a weight I have not seen since the end of 2010!
Super thrilled right now. So thrilled I'm about to go for a run at my favorite trail. 😀
So my strategy has been:
- Eating less than 1800 calories Monday through Friday
- Having a cheat "day" on Saturday
- Not counting calories on the weekend (but still trying to eat healthy on Sunday)
- Still maintaining a SBD way of eating during the week, with the exception of my cheat day
Next up…calorie counting!
Posted grneyedmustang on February 9th, 2012 | Filed under dieting | 1 Comment »
So I've been feeling lately that my diet needs a swift kick in the rear to get things moving again. I was thinking about Weight Watchers (again!) but Weight Watchers costs $$$ and I am trying to work on eliminating debt this year. So what's the next best thing? Calorie counting!
I've been calorie counting now for the last four days, and it's been a lot simpler than I thought it would be. I ordered a scale from amazon to see what the correct portion of food looks like. I think it's because SB was pretty intense in terms of planning food, so this is just taking it a step further. Also, I am only 4 days in. Talk to me in about a month or two and we'll see how I feel about counting calories! And even though I am counting calories, I am still following a SB based plan – so no white rice, white potatoes, refined sugar, refined flour, etc. etc.
I did have a major "bad" day Superbowl Sunday. I don't want to rehash what I ate but it was BAD. Not to mention what I drank. I will say that there are no more "holidays" until my birthday (well Easter, but I'm usually pretty well behaved there) so I should not have any excuses for any major derailments. I have not stepped on the scale – and I will not step on the scale until next weekend. I'll use that as my "weight" to see if I'm making progress, and if the calorie counting is working.
Found out today I'm not losing it…
Posted grneyedmustang on January 24th, 2012 | Filed under depression, relationships, stress | 2 Comments »
So I have a confession…off and on for the last 3 years I've been depressed off and on about my dating life.
When I was younger, my parents stressed how much I needed to get and education (I can hear my mom now…when I was 15…keep your mind on them books and off them boys!) – and as I got older, focus on my career and the "rest will fall into place".
So here it is, I am "kicking 35 in the throat" and I have no prospects. No kids, no boyfriend, no semblance of a boyfriend, nothing. I don't even have a guy I could call a booty partner! 🙂 (Not that that's what I am looking for). So the catch 22 – I have educated and careered myself right out of a man, because now most of the guys want a "project"/"fixer upper" – or the good guys are already married.
All my life, I've set goals for myself, and for the most part, I've achieved the goals that I've set – which the exception of getting below 200 pounds, but that one's a work in progress.
So the one goal that I've set – find a good man – I have not been able to achieve, and it's driving me crazy. Literally.
I could probably compete with Dr. Phil, Oprah, and Cosmo with the library of books I have on dating and relationships. I have asked many of my friends to give me any feedback (no matter how brutal) on my dating behaviors.
I'm still coming up short.
The list of things that are "wrong" with me as my friends have given it to me:
- Too tall – nothing I can do about this one
- Intimidating (but I'm the nicest person I know! 🙂 )
- Guys feel "insecure" with me because of my accomplishments
- Guys like to feel needed and they don't feel needed with me because I don't "need" anything (but I need love and companionship!)
- Not feminine enough – well I'm feminine when it counts. Yes, I have a BIG personality – I have a big laugh, kind of loud from time to time, sarcastic, corny, extroverted, and outspoken. Whoever I end up with is just going to have to love that part of me, because that is a part of me I've worked to develop and I ain't changing it. (backstory here – I used to be really shy and introverted, because I had extremely low self esteem. Over the years I've learned how to "fake it till I make it" – and I still have self esteem issues.) – I will always be "boisterous and outspoken", though.
New Year – New Goals
Posted grneyedmustang on January 10th, 2012 | Filed under dieting | Comment now »
I know there are a lot of people who don't believe in New Year's resolutions, but I do. Most of my life, I've set goals to make sure I am always working towards something. So here are my New Year's "Goals" (aka resolutions!)
- Cut down on the alcohol – alcohol is my biggest downfall. I am really trying to cut it out, especially on the weekends, because that's where I get into trouble.
- Start Meatless Mondays – so far, this has been a HIT! The recipe for lentil tacos was my first "meatless monday" (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/tasty-lentil-tacos/detail.aspx) and I must say I didn't miss the meat at all. Not sure what next week's Meatless Monday will be – right now I'm thinking some sort of veggie pasta.
- Run another race (this will be number 3!)
- Try some new classes at the gym. I love Spin, but I think it's time to change it up a bit. Tonight, I went to an abs/weights/step aerobic class, and I enjoyed it! I think I'm going to keep doing that one on Tuesdays.
- Get below 240 pounds (first)
- Maybe start Weight Watchers
- Get below 200 pounds
- Non weight related – pay off some credit cards
- Non weight related – keep my apartment cleaner
- Take a vacation! I hardly went anywhere last year except to Philadelphia. This year, I'm going to try and take two or three trips, even if it's just down to Houston for a weekend.
Race Day!
Posted grneyedmustang on November 6th, 2011 | Filed under dieting | 2 Comments »
Well, my 5k is done. Here are my results:
– Made my initial goal of less than 40 minutes
– Did not make my stretch goal
– Beat last year's 10K miles per minute average (10k I averaged a 13.38 minute mile. The 5k I averaged a 12.48 minute mile)
All in all, I'm happy with my results. I wished I could have made the 35 minute mark, but I didn't have very long to train for this race. There was a hill at the beginning which was a KILLER. I am proud to say that I made it all the way up the hill without walking! If this course had have been mostly flat – like another part of the same trail I had been training on – I may have also come a little closer to that 35 minute goal.
I am proud of myself today. Race number two has been added to the belt notches 🙂
Here's a pic, more will be posted once I get them.
My rant – and my hope – yes this big girl does work out…
Posted grneyedmustang on November 5th, 2011 | Filed under dieting, running, South Beach Diet | 1 Comment »
So I stepped on the scale this morning before my workout. I'm pissed at that bitch. I have been busting my ass at the gym (i've even been doing 2 a days for the past two weeks!) and I HAVEN'T LOST ONE POUND. :'(
What I am about to say is not PC, but I'm having a moment.
So I'm at the gym, and I see these two skinny girls, "playing" at the gym (you know, the people pretending to work out, but they're usually too busy talking or texting instead?), and I start thinking about how life is SO NOT FAIR. I would just like to see some results…and in the meantime, I see people who barely try, and are skinny. Or people who eat shit all day, and in the meantime, I gain weight if I even smell it. Or my favorite – people who look at me and assume that I sit around and eat twinkies all day…but then they see me in the gym or on the tracked and are *shocked* (insert gasp here) that the big girl has endurance too!
Ok, rant over.
So tomorrow, I have the 5k that I've been training for. I'm confident that I will meet my goal (to complete it in less than 35 minutes).
Wish me luck. 🙂
Sorry I've been MIA…
Posted grneyedmustang on November 1st, 2011 | Filed under depression, dieting, exercise, South Beach Diet | Comment now »
It's been A WHILE since I've written on my blog (8 months almost). It's been a very challenging year for me, both physically and mentally. I was dealing with some health issues earlier this year that really took the wind out of my "healthy living" sails and made me extremely depressed. As a result, I have gained 10 pounds and they are holding on to me for dear life. I'm feeling better now (with the aid of St John's Wort) and am really trying to get back on the wagon.
So, here it is, a year and a few months since I've been in Dallas, and I am on job number three. Yikes. The last job I had turned out to be not so great. There were a few major red flags – namely, a mandatory week off without pay and my boss quitting – which let me know it was time to leave. So here I am, with a new job. I started this one in September, and I must admit, it is great. My boss seems to be a really nice, and fair guy. The work life balance is wonderful (unlike the last gig) – it is very rare to work more than a 40 hour work week. I work from home 100%, which means I can wake up at 7:50 and start working in my PJ's. All in all, life is good 🙂
No news to report on the dating front, except for all the idiots I dated this year have turned out to be major duds.
My lineup of this year has consisted of-
- The junk food king (didn't believe in physical exercise, ate excessive amounts of junk, did not like to be outside, and played video games all day. I like a guy to be active. NOT COMPATIBLE)
- The 43 year old loser – a very handsome guy, whom I'm sure has coasted through life on his looks. He barely had a job, no car, no place to live, no checking account – I could go on and on. Not to mention despite him being in shape, his "equipment" did not work. And lastly, very selfish…and I really do believe he may have been homeless for real. WTF? Big bucket of fail all around.
- Inconsiderate selfish jackasses numero uno and dos. I like to call them both Laurel and Hardy, Heckle and Jeckle, or GI Joe and Big Bird. GI Joe asked me to crash at my place for a week when he returned from Iraq. He knew I liked him (have known him for years, so if I open up my house to you that has to mean I like you on some kind of level, right????) but did not understand why I was mad at him when he kissed another girl in my face. Numero dos seems to think that he is blameless in any of the problems that happen to him, and had no issue pointing out any of my flaws.
The new year…so far so good…
Posted grneyedmustang on March 9th, 2011 | Filed under dieting | 1 Comment »
This new year has started off pretty good, despite all the upheaval in my life.
Upheaval – I left my old job as a consultant. I decided that being a consultant wasn't really conducive to living a healthy lifestyle. It was VERY HARD to maintain healthy eating habits and exercise while on the road. Not to mention the fact that coworkers wanted to go out and drink frequently while on the road. Aside from the fact that consulting just wasn't for me and a few other factors — I decided to look for another job. So here I am, at another job, that doesn't require nearly as much travel.
Because I got the new job, my commute was 52 miles a day in Dallas traffic. I hate commuting with a passion. I feel like it's one of the biggest nonsensical time wasters ever. Once I got the job, I immediately set out to find a new place to live closer to the job. So ergo upheaval number two for the year – moving. I moved last week to a spot in Downtown Dallas which is really nice – I love it.
I am definitely a creature of habit, so all this upheaval has thrown my diet and exercise into a tizzy. I don't know if I've gained any weight (I haven't stepped on the scale since January), but my clothes are not feeling tight. I was also hitting spin class pretty hard before all my upheaval began, and I haven't totally fallen off the wagon, so I'm hoping that I've minimized any damage to my waistline.
So since the end of the year, I've done fairly well. I went to Arkansas and back to Atlanta over the holidays to visit my family and I received a ton of comments on how good I looked. My grandmother even told me that I didn't need to lose any more weight or otherwise I'd be too skinny (I beg to differ on that one). My new 3fc avatar pic was actually taken during my vacation. I love that pic, I think it looks very nice and "modely"…LOL. I also wonder if my newfound glow has something to do with the relocation to Dallas? I will say that I am a lot happier here in Dallas than I was when I left Atlanta. I was pretty unhappy with things when I left Atlanta. Here, I'm feeling a lot better, I think it has to do with a number of factors, but I'm happier than I've been in a long time. As far as the dating goes, I am dating on a regular basis, but no serious contenders as of yet. There was one who came close, but he really pissed me off right before I moved, and didn't help one iota during the move, so he's been cut from the team.
I had a major NSV yesterday. I've always wanted to shop in White House Black Market, but I felt like I was too big for their clothes. I went in there yesterday with a coworker and fell in LOVE with a shirt. I tried on the shirt and it fit (it was a size XL) – and in fact, it was almost too big! I was talking to the sales associate about the shirt, and she tells me that I look like I could probably wear quite a few items in the store in a size L – that XL's would probably be too big!
This is the shirt in question:
I'm going back to get that shirt on Friday. 🙂
Next stop – Express – I've always wanted to shop there for work clothes, but once again, I think I've been too big.
I need to be more positive, cuz that 6 pounds is gone!
Posted grneyedmustang on December 17th, 2010 | Filed under dieting | 1 Comment »
Just a quick check in and a status update…
So that extra 6 pounds I was sad about is gone. I attribute the loss to two things – TOM weight gain and my rediscovery of spin class. My last weigh in, I was at 239. Woo hoo!!!
I am happy that the scale is moving back the other direction instead of UP. I have been in the gym more regularly, so I'm sure that's helping. I've made a discovery, though, that I don't like, and I need to figure out how to deal with it….
I'm in the gym more frequently these days (I'm even doing two a days occasionally) because I don't really have a social life!
So what's going to happen when I do make friends and start hanging out more? When the weather turns back warm and I wanna be outside, sitting on the patio, having a martini, and chatting with friends?
Hmmmm…I've got approximately 3.5 months to figure that out. You would think that since I've been on SBD since 2008, I'd have that part figured out by now.
WRONG. (Insert the Price is Right "Fail/Lose" music here – which is one of my favorite sound effects, by the way. In fact, here's a link in case you need a laugh/refresher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ytCEuuW2_A )
So I'm happy that the scale is moving again, but what's going to happen when I have a life again?
I'm sad…
Posted grneyedmustang on December 4th, 2010 | Filed under dieting | 1 Comment »
So earlier this week, I decided that I was going to visit my old friend Spin Class. I haven't been to Spin Class in probably a year. I've been thinking about it the past couple of weeks, because I feel it's time to change up my exercise routine. I've actually been a little scared to go, because 1) I'm in a new gym, in a new state, and don't know anyone (familiarity makes me feel comfortable) and 2) I haven't been to Spin in forever! Will I feel like I'm going to die when I try it again?
Well, today I finally made the plunge back into Spin. I had a great time in the class…it was challenging but now physically I feel great. So what's the matter with me?
Well, right before I went to class, I stepped on the scale and got a very UGLY number. 244. OUCH. I don't think I've seen that weight in almost two years.
I'm not going to lie, I'm sitting here very sad. 6 pounds in one month? YIKES. How is that even possible? It is TOM for me so I am HOPING that is what is causing this weight gain.
So I have decided that I really need to focus on getting these last FIFTY plus pounds off.
1- Exercise 1000+ minutes per month (and I'm doing better gymwise, I almost made 1000 last month!)
2 – Eat on plan
3 – Do a 4/3 of "rich" vs "clean" foods. Let me explain this one. I LOVE to cook. I think this is one of the areas I'm struggling with the diet. I haven't been really measuring out unlimited foods, and sometimes, I cook foods with a lot of "ingredients". For example, for dinner, I may have homemade chicken marsala, a side of caesar salad, and SBD mashed potatoes. Each one of those has a LOT of ingredients. I think I am going to scale back and try to eat "clean" 3 or 4 days a week. A "clean" meal would be – for example, broiled fish, steamed asparagus, and salad with vinaigrette dressing. Hopefully that makes sense to the two people that read my blog 🙂
4 – No RESTRICTED FOODS in the house. So far on my "restricted list": Chocolate (I know it's allowed in small quantities on phase II, but I can't have them in the house, because if I have a bad day, I'll binge), Wine, Alcohol, Peanuts (waffling on this one. I love nuts but sometimes they make me "bingey"), Pecans, Flavored Triscuits, Pita Chips.
5 – Try to eat before 9pm. THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR ME. I eat extremely late. I really need to work on this one!
So I'm off to find "dietary inspiration" in some of the reading and weight loss materials I have around the house. I'm trying to do two workouts a day, occasionally, so I'm going to shoot for another workout later today. I have even toyed with the idea of rejoining weight watchers but I LOATHE counting points.
Posted grneyedmustang on November 3rd, 2010 | Filed under depression, exercise, weight loss | 1 Comment »
- I have been having one hell of a time staying in the gym on a regular basis. I don't know what's wrong with me! This is how it usually goes: Monday, I don't go…because the start to the work week was tough. Tuesday…I don't go…because I need to catch up on stuff around the house due to the rough Monday I had. Wednesday is usually when I get the steam to go. Thursday is hit or miss. By Friday, I realize that the week has gone by and get my ass to the gym. Saturday is a no brainer. I love working out on Saturday mornings. There is hardly anyone there and I don't feel "time restricted" since I don't have anywhere to be on Saturday. Sundays are hit or miss too. Some Sundays I hit the gym (and I like working out on Sunday too because of the same reasons for Saturday)…but my downfall – Sunday is generally my rest and relaxation day so I don't always make the gym on Sunday.
Since I seem to be having consistency issues with the gym, I figured I'd put together some post-its to help remind me as to why I need to go. Then I decided I'd have it on my blog too…in case I lose the post-its or something. So here goes:
Top ten reasons not to skip the gym:
- The more you skip, the more painful and "challenging" (and not in a good way) it will be when you go back. You'll have to indulge in the ben-gay, the more time you spend away from the gym.
- Exercise helps depression.
- Where else do you get to hear your favorite party tunes and pretend that you're "dancing"?
- You feel good after working out.
- It helps you stay ahead of the curve – e.g. you won't have to play "weight loss catch up" if you're in the gym. "Weight loss catch up" is that game I unintentionally play after holidays and such, where you have to lose an additional 5 to 10 pounds on top of the 30 more I have to go.
- Does the number 200 look good to you? What about 180?
- Do the sizes 20w/22w mean anything to you? How about the size "12 wide"?
- (Sidebar with #7) Do you want to HAVE to shop on the "big girls" side of the store again?
- Don't you like showing off the fact that you can run, do 40 minutes on the elliptical (at a nice pace/resistance too!) despite the fact that you're not a size 6?
- Do the words high blood sugar/cholesterol/blood pressure mean anything to you?
Posted grneyedmustang on September 29th, 2010 | Filed under dieting | 1 Comment »
So here I am. Been gone for a while. This has been a hectic summer. Over the last four months, I have:
- Run a 10k (good)
- Changed jobs (good)
- Moved to Texas (good)
- Went on a Cruise (good and bad)
- traveled a lot for work (good and bad)
So because of all this going on, my eating and exercising has not been the best. I am happy I haven't gained a lot, but I have put on 7 pounds (as of today).
I went back to Phase I. Had the "SBD FLU" for two days…it totally sucked. After those were up, though, I felt a hell of a lot better. I've been in the gym pretty regularly this month. My goal was to hit 800 minutes. If I go today and tomorrow (I am! I am! I tell ya!) then I should make my exercise goal for the month. Next month I am going to shoot for 1000.
Trying to stay motivated!!! I'd really like to get under 200 pounds in the next year.
Me, +1. Peachtree Road Race, 0.
Posted grneyedmustang on July 6th, 2010 | Filed under dieting | 1 Comment »
I ran the 2010 Peachtree Road Race on July 4. My official finish time was 83 minutes. I had a goal set to complete it in 90 minutes so I am VERY HAPPY that I was under my goal time. I was able to run the first 3 miles without walking so I feel like all that training paid off. And I don't know if this is wrong, but two of my friends also ran in the race this year. I beat both of them 😀
I've been using couch to 5k to train for this race. IT WORKED FOR ME AND CAN WORK FOR YOU. So anyone aspiring to be a runner, if I can do it, you can!
Here's a few photos from the race:
I am SO PROUD OF MYSELF!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Red Pill
Harvey Weinstein fired from the hollywood company he founded
Weinstein Company fires Weinstein.
Hollywood once gushed over Harvey Weinstein. Now they are turning away from the liberal left sexual predator.
The Wrap is reporting that Harvey Weinstein has been fired effective immediately…
The statement said:
"In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company – Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar – have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately."
Internally Weinstein continued to fight for his survival, insiders have told TheWrap.
According to Variety, The Weinstein Company's board of directors has voted to remove Weinstein from the studio, leaving control of the company in the hands of Weinstein's brother, Bob Weinstein, and chief operating officer David Glasser, it was announced in a statement from the company Sunday.
Zerohedge reports…
Weinstein has been rocked by a devastating New York Times report documenting decades of legal settlements stemming from sexual harassment allegations leveled by former employees and associates, as well as accusations of improper sexual advances from actress Ashley Judd. The allegations extend back to Weinstein's days running Miramax, an independent film studio that was then owned by the Walt Disney Co.
In addition to losing his attorney Bloom, and key advisor, Lanny Davis on Saturday, on Friday one third of the all-male board quit on Friday, including billionaire investors Marc Lasry and Dirk Ziff, and Technicolor executive Tim Sarnoff.
Weinstein was said to be furiously resisting efforts to force him out permanently, according to Variety. He has also struggled with forming a coherent response, veering from contrition to combativeness. An initial statement to the Times acknowledged past mistakes, while pledging to reform himself. Shortly after, Weinstein's attorney Charles Harder said he was preparing to sue the paper, accusing it of making "false and defamatory statements." Weinstein also said he was taking a leave of absence, only to continue appearing at work. The board later forced him to take an indefinite leave on Friday.
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Frankenstein Designer Kids: What You Don't Know About Gender-Transitioning Will Blow Your Mind
Following the 'affirmative care' approach, the doctor is required to follow the child's lead, not vice-versa, as many people believe the doctor-patient relationship in this particular case would best work.
Authored by Robert Bridge via The Strategic Culture Foundation:
Puberty-blocking drugs, mastectomies, vaginal surgery and fake penises – all with zero chance of reversal – these are just some of the radical experimental methods being used on children. The madness must stop.
Imagine that you are the parent of a five-year-old boy who innocently informs you one day that he is a girl. Of course, the natural reaction would be to laugh, not phone up the nearest gender transitioning clinic. You have no idea how your little boy came to believe such a thing; possibly it was through something he heard at the daycare center, or maybe a program he saw on television. In any case, he insists that he 'identifies' as a female.
Eventually, possibly at the encouragement of your local school, you pay a visit to a physician. You hope this medical professional will be able to provide you and your child with some sound counseling to clear up his confusion. Prepare yourself to be disappointed. Your doctor will be forced, according to state and medical dictate, to follow the professional guidelines known as 'affirmative care.' It sounds nice and harmless, doesn't it? In fact, the program could be best described as nothing short of diabolical.
The Medical Harms of Hormonal and Surgical Interventions for Gender Dysphoric Children
Following the 'affirmative care' approach, the doctor is required to follow the child's lead, not vice-versa, as many people believe the doctor-patient relationship in this particular case would best work. In other words, if the child tells the doctor that he believes he is a girl, the doctor must comply with that 'reality' no matter what biology tells him or her to be the case. But this is just the beginning of the madness.
As the child's parent, you will be encouraged to start referring to your son as your 'daughter,' and even permit him to choose a feminine name, as well as matching clothes. Teachers will be instructed to let your son use the girl's bathroom while at school. The question of the social stigma attached to such a lifestyle change, complete with bullying, is rarely brought into the equation. Therapists will seldom discuss with the parents the social implications of such a mental and physical change; indeed, many will insist the changes are 'reversible' should the child one day have a change of heart. If only things were that easy.
Let's pause for a moment and ask what should be the most obvious question, especially among medical professionals: 'Is it not terribly naive to support the fleeting belief of a child, who still believes in Santa Claus, that he/she is the opposite sex? Isn't there a very high possibility that the child is just confused and the thought will pass? Moreover, why did we never hear about such episodes just 10 years ago, yet today we are led to believe it is some sort of epidemic?' Instead of working with the child and his newfound identity from such an obvious approach, in the majority of cases the child will be placed on the fast-track to gender transitioning. This is where the horror story begins.
One parent, 'Elaine,' a member of the advocacy group Kelsey Coalition whose daughter underwent "life-altering medical interventions," came to understand that the transition is immensely harmful to the future health and well-being of her child.
"Once the teenage years begin, affirmative care means giving young people cross-sex hormones," Elaine said during a panel discussion organized by the Heritage Foundation. "Girls as young as twelve are prescribed testosterone for lifetime usage, while boys are given estrogen. These are serious hormonal treatments that impact brain development, cardiovascular health and may increase the risk of cancer."
This leads us to the operating table, where adolescents, lacking the mental maturity necessary to make such a huge life-altering choice, are exposed to the knife of irreversible surgical manipulation. Double mastectomies on girls, for example, as well as the fashioning of false penises derived from flesh borrowed from other parts of the body, are just some of the unprecedented procedures now available.
Elaine mentioned the high-profile story of one Jazz Jennings, who was diagnosed with 'gender dysphoria' and raised as a girl since the age of five. He was treated with hormones at the age of eleven, and at the age of 17, Jazz underwent surgery to remove his penis and create a simulated vagina out of his stomach lining.
"After surgery, Jazz's wounds began separating and a blood blister began to form. An emergency surgery was performed. According to Jazz's doctor, 'As I was getting her on the bed, I heard something go 'pop.' When I looked, the whole thing has split open.'"
Elaine called the case of Jazz a "medical experiment on a child" that "has been playing out on television for the past 12 years." It should be noted that a similar drama-packed scenario captivated the nation with the high-profile, made-for-television sexual transition of Caitlyn Jenner, born Bruce Jenner, the former Olympic gold medalist, who was quite possibly the greatest American athlete of all time.
The obvious question is 'how many impressionable children, many experiencing their own bodily changes in the form of puberty, were persuaded to decide in favor of gender transitioning (something that a child could have only heard about from some external media or source, unless the parents engage in such odd discussion topics at the dinner table) after watching these celebrity persona?' By now, few people would doubt the powerful influence that TV celebrities have over people, and especially adolescents. In fact, that is the entire notion behind the idea of a 'positive role model.' I am not sure Caitlin Jenner would qualify for such a part.
According to Michael Laidlaw, M.D., these children, who are experiencing what the medical community has dubbed 'gender dysphoria,' will move beyond their condition either naturally or with the assistance of a therapist. Meanwhile, according to Laidlaw, citing studies, many of the girls and boys who display symptoms have neuro-psychiatric conditions and autism. "Social media and YouTube, things like that, binge-watching YouTube videos of transitioners seem to be playing a role…as well as contagion" in popularizing the idea among the masses.
The movement is predicated upon the modern liberal idea of 'gender identity,' which has been defined as a "person's core internal sense of their own gender," regardless as to what the biological facts of their sex prove.
Dr. Laidlaw presented perhaps the best case against parents and their children rushing to the conclusion that their children need puberty blockers, for example, or extreme doses of hormones, when he discussed what happens when a person is diagnosed with cancer.
"If a child or somebody you knew had cancer, would you want pathology results, would you want imaging to prove [the condition] before you give harmful chemotherapeutics," he asked. Yet we are allowing children and adolescents to undergo irreversible chemical and surgical procedures without being able to see any evidence that shows the presence of 'the opposite sex' in the patient.
In other words, the medical community is monkey-wrenching with not only Mother Nature, but with the lives of children, with radical and irreversible experiments that have not been proven to promote the happiness and wellbeing of those on the receiving (or subtracting) end.
"We are giving very harmful therapies on the basis of no objective diagnosis," Dr. Laidlaw said.
Laidlaw was forced to repeat what has been widely known for millennia.
"There are only two sexes," he said. "Sex is identified at birth, nobody assigns it. Doctors don't arbitrarily assign this person to be a boy and this person to be a girl. We all know how to identify it.
"I would say 'ask your grandmother who doesn't read the scientific journals, and they will tell you exactly how to identify boys from girls.'"
Candace Owens calls out lying Democrat narrative machine [Video]
Candace Owens was the latest near-casualty in the Democrat liberal globalists' attempt to increase anger and division in the US.
In a Congressional hearing led by House Democrats, Candace Owens represented the Republican party's viewpoints in a conference that was supposed to be about "hate crimes" and their perpetration through Internet social media outlets. She was treated with a despicable level of disgust.
It would actually be very difficult for anyone but the most prejudiced liberal Democrat to not see the blatant use of out of context remarks and spin to try to destroy a person for political gain.
A well known conservative commentator, Candace Owens got a clip played of her own statement about nationalism by Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA), which she supports. She made a statement about how the perception of "nationalist" leaders is commonly held to be people like Adolf Hitler, but that this in fact is not true. Here is the exact text of what she said:
I actually don't have any problems at all with the word "nationalism". I think that the definition gets poisoned by elitists that actually want globalism. Globalism is what I don't want. … Whenever we say "nationalism", the first thing people think about, at least in America, is Hitler. You know, he was a national socialist, but if Hitler just wanted to make Germany great and have things run well, OK, fine. The problem is that he wanted—he had dreams outside of Germany. He wanted to globalize. He wanted everybody to be German, everybody to be speaking German. Everybody to look a different way. That's not, to me, that's not nationalism.[59]
Where the Democrats went with this was astounding in its reach into both fiction and insanity. The allegation did not address in any regard what Ms. Owens actually said, but rather, the "concern" over her saying the name "Adolf Hitler" and also that "if Hitler just wanted to make Germany great… fine."
For the next four minutes Candace sat quietly as the Democrats used this foil to prattle on their narrative about the "hatefulness of conservatives" and underlined indirectly Owens' alleged prejudice. But finally, Ms Owens got a chance to speak. And speak, she did:
Here is the video. It is instructive to watch the whole thing, but if you want only Candace's response, go to [05:29] to see and hear what she has to say.
The body of what Ms Owens said in response to this farce is here below (we added emphasis and edited a mistaken phrase that Ms Owens corrected as she spoke – she was very angry as she fiercely defended herself and called the Democrats to account):
"I think it's pretty apparent that Mr. Lieu believes that black people are stupid and will not pursue the full clip in its entirety. He purposely presented an extract, an extracted clip…"
Here, Rep. Jerry Nadler interrupted, trying to correct Ms Owens for calling Rep. Lieu stupid, which she actually did not, as one can see in the text.
"As I said, he is assuming that black people will not go pursue the full two-hour clip. And he purposefully extracted; he cut off — and you didn't hear the question that was asked of me. He's trying to present as if I was launching a defense of Hitler in Germany, when in fact the question that was asked of me was pertaining to whether … or not I believed in nationalism, and that nationalism was bad…
And what I responded to, is that I do not believe we should be characterizing Hitler as a nationalist. He was a homicidal, psychopathic maniac that killed his own people. A nationalist would not kill their own people. That is exactly what I was referring to in the clip and he purposely wanted to give you a cut-up, similar to what they do to Donald Trump, to create a different narrative. That was unbelievably dishonest, and he did not allow me to respond to it, which is worrisome, and and to tell you a lot about where people are today in terms of people trying to drum up narratives.
By the way, I would like to also add that I work for Prager University, which is run by an Orthodox Jew. Not a single Democrat showed up to the Embassy opening in Jerusalem. I sat on a plane for 18 hours to make sure that I was there. I am deeply offended by the insinuation of revealing that clip without the question that was asked of me."
Ms. Owens was not finished. Fox News reported further:
Turning to her 75-year old grandfather seated behind her, Owens remarked, "My grandfather grew up on a sharecropping farm in the segregated South. He grew up in an America where words like 'racism' and 'white nationalism' held real meaning."
Though Owens stood up for truth, a deeper problem still exists
The hearing in which this took place was one in which executives from Facebook and Google answer lawmakers' questions about the companies' spread of "hate crimes" and the mythical issue of "white nationalism" in the United States.
This "white nationalism" is a total farce and only exists in the minds of woke liberals and Democrats. Further, there is nothing illegal about what has popularly come to be called "hate speech", though of course as Christians we are taught not to speak hatefully about anyone, even our enemies.
Of course, since Christianity is rejected in the US, with more and more people saying they do not believe in the traditionally held concept of God, and an increasing number of outright atheists, who deliberately believe there is no such thing as God. Concurrent with this breakdown is the inability for people to handle themselves, and a corresponding increase in unrestrained rage over social media and even face to face.
The mainstream media will not report this, but we will. One of the biggest factors in this madness is the use of social media as a "blasting point" from which anyone can say anything, no matter how vile, to anyone else or to everyone else. Even religious discussion groups, such as Facebook's various groups on Orthodox Christianity (the oldest and purest Christian confession on earth) swiftly devolve into accusations, name calling and enough invective to turn any inquirer into Christianity completely off.
As a matter of fact, the live streaming of this Congressional hearing had to have its comments disabled, and Representative Nadler showed a copy of the transcribed comments to the people in the meeting and read it, perhaps blissfully unaware of how his own dishonesty added to it.
This is a problem. While it is refreshing to many people that Candace Owens stuck up for herself and did so with strength and self-restraint at the same time, the circus antics do reveal exactly what she talked about and further how serious it is.
It is unclear how far this goes. Google and YouTube and Facebook are probably not themselves to blame for the breakdown, but their services are certainly highly employable by people who are energized with self-righteous rage in any direction, and all of that is helping separate us all from one another.
It should be noted that Russia did not have to do one single thing to cause this. This is totally Made In USA.
The Number Of Americans With "No Religion" Has Soared 266% Over The Last 3 Decades
There is no doubt that Christianity is in decline throughout the western world, and churches are dying one after another.
Authored by Michael Snyder via The End of The American Dream blog:
Over the last 30 years, there has been a mass exodus out of organized religion in the United States. Each year the needle has only moved a little bit, but over the long-term what we have witnessed has been nothing short of a seismic shift. Never before in American history have we seen such dramatic movement away from the Christian faith, and this has enormous implications for the future of our nation. According to a survey that was just released, the percentage of Americans that claim to have "no religion" has increased by 266 percent since 1991…
The number of Americans who identify as having no religion has risen 266 percent since 1991, to now tie statistically with the number of Catholics and Evangelicals, according to a new survey.
People with no religion – known as 'nones' among statisticians – account for 23.1 percent of the U.S. population, while Catholics make up 23 percent and Evangelicals account for 22.5 percent, according to the General Social Survey.
In other words, the "nones" are now officially the largest religious group in the United States.
At one time it would have been extremely difficult to imagine that one day the "nones" would someday surpass evangelical Christians, but it has actually happened.
And the biggest movement that we have seen has been among our young people. According to a different survey, two-thirds of Christian young adults say that they stopped going to church at some point between the ages of 18 and 22…
Large numbers of young adults who frequently attended Protestant worship services in high school are dropping out of church.
Two-thirds of young people say they stopped regularly going to church for at least a year between the ages of 18 and 22, a new LifeWay Research surveyshows.
These are the exact same patterns that we saw happen in Europe, and now most of those countries are considered to be "post-Christian societies".
The young adults of today are going to be the leaders of tomorrow, and they have a much higher percentage of "nones" than the population as a whole. According to a study that was conducted a while back by PRRI, 39 percent of our young adults are "religiously unaffiliated" at this point…
Today, nearly four in ten (39%) young adults (ages 18-29) are religiously unaffiliated—three times the unaffiliated rate (13%) among seniors (ages 65 and older). While previous generations were also more likely to be religiously unaffiliated in their twenties, young adults today are nearly four times as likely as young adults a generation ago to identify as religiously unaffiliated. In 1986, for example, only 10% of young adults claimed no religious affiliation.
To go from 10 percent during Ronald Reagan's second term to 39 percent today is an absolutely colossal shift.
Right now, only about 27 percent of U.S. Millennials attend church on a regular basis. Most of them simply have no interest in being heavily involved in organized religion.
And even the young people that are involved in church do not seem very keen on sharing their faith with others. According to one of the most shocking surveys that I have seen in a long time, 47 percent of Millennials that consider themselves to be "practicing Christians" believe that it is "wrong" to share the gospel with others…
A new study from the California-based firm Barna Group, which compiles data on Christian trends in American culture, has revealed a staggering number of American millennials think evangelism is wrong.
The report, commissioned by the discipleship group Alpha USA, showed a whopping 47 percent of millennials — born between 1984 and 1998 — "agree at least somewhat that it is wrong to share one's personal beliefs with someone of a different faith in hopes that they will one day share the same faith."
These numbers are hard to believe, but they are from some of the most respected pollsters in the entire country.
Politically, these trends indicate that America is likely to continue to move to the left. Those that have no religious affiliation are much, much more likely to be Democrats, and so this exodus away from organized religion is tremendous news for the Democratic Party.
In a previous article, I documented the fact that somewhere between 6,000 and 10,000 churches in the United States are dying each year.
That means that more than 100 will die this week.
And thousands more are teetering on the brink. In fact, most churches in America have less than 100 people attending each Sunday…
A majority of churches have fewer than 100 people attending services each Sunday and have declined or nearly flatlined in membership growth, according to a new study from Exponential by LifeWay Research.
The study, which was conducted to help churches better understand growth in the pews, showed that most Protestant churches are not doing well attracting new Christian converts, reporting an average of less than one each month.
But even among all the bad news, there are some promising signs for the Christian faith. The home church movement if flourishing all over the country, and many of those home fellowships are focused on getting back to the roots of the Christian faith. All throughout history there have been relentless attempts to destroy the Christian faith, and yet it is still the largest faith in the entire world.
However, there is no doubt that Christianity is in decline throughout the western world, and churches are dying one after another.
This is what one pastor had to say about the slow death of his church…
'My church is on the decline,' he said. 'We had 50 (congregants) in 2005 and now we have 15. We're probably going to have to close (in a few years).'
'Mainline Christianity is dying,' he added. 'It's at least going away. It makes me feel more comfortable that it's not my fault or my church's fault. It's part of a bigger trend that's happening.'
John Adams, the second president of the United States, once said the following about our form of government…
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
As America has turned away from the Christian faith, we have become steadily less moral and steadily less religious.
If we continue down this path, many believe that the future of our nation is going to be quite bleak indeed.
About the author: Michael Snyder is a nationally-syndicated writer, media personality and political activist. He is the author of four books including Get Prepared Now, The Beginning Of The End and Living A Life That Really Matters. His articles are originally published on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dreamand The Most Important News.
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Thursday, June 5, 2008
Blast from the past
I was really trying to get some stuff done around the house yesterday, so I didn't get a chance to finish a card. So I thought I would go back and grab a picture from a card I made about a year ago. This was one of my favorites at the time and looking at it now I think, oh I could have added this or that or.... It is fun to go back and look at the work you had done in the past and see how much you have grown. Seems as though I have grown a lot in A LOT of ways in the past year. A year older, more inspired and a bit more enthusiastic about my dream of being "known" in the paper crafting world. I wonder where I will be next year, just have to wait and see. I should really post the very first card I ever made as a demonstrator almost 3 years ago. Maybe I will do that if you wanna see it some time. I have it up on my book shelf as a reminder of where I started.
See ya tomorrow for my Friday Card Flick!!
Have a great day!
12 comments:
- Linda said...
Yes, you have grown as a papercrafter but I think this card is simple and elegant! I love the neutral colors. I would love to see your very first card.
- June 5, 2008 at 7:45 AM
- Dawn said...
I still love this card....so simple but beautiful. It was hard for me to give mine away, but now I have a reminder to make it again soon ;) Please share your early work, maybe it will inspire more to get creative seeing where you are at now and where you began.
- June 5, 2008 at 8:06 AM
- Jens Place in Space said...
I would love to see your earlier work. I know what you mean though I look back at my begining layouts and I actually have been redoing some of them lol! This card is beautiful though .
- June 5, 2008 at 8:42 AM
- Kim Gasper said...
I do like the simplicity of this card. I initially thought the stitches were real.
You've got talent, girl! It just keeps getting bigger!
- June 5, 2008 at 9:56 AM
- CraftyC said...
A beautiful card, my style has changed dramatically over the last year too, must be all this inspriration we find when blog hopping!!
- June 5, 2008 at 3:42 PM
- Carrie Gaskin said...
I love this Pam and I so happy to have found you online. I look forward to seeing where you go over the next few years as I believe you not only have a great talent for crafting but you are a darn nice girl too!
- June 5, 2008 at 4:33 PM
- 1 Crafty Gal said...
Ohhh, so gorgeous!
- June 5, 2008 at 7:14 PM
- Ginger said...
It is always good to look back at where you began and how far you have come and in the meantime, you have found what your passion is. It would be great to see your first card. I look back at some of my first scrapbook pages and can't believe I thought they were just great, but other people think they are. So it helps others to see the simple beginning and where they can end up. Just my thoughts on the subject.
- June 5, 2008 at 9:11 PM
- Donna said...
this card is great! Id love to see more too!
- June 5, 2008 at 9:28 PM
- Laura Davis said...
Beautiful as always Pam!!!
- June 6, 2008 at 10:52 AM
- Liz VP said...
Hi Pam
I'm not very good at this computer stuff. Hopefully you won't get this twice. I vote you post your first card. When I look back at my first scrapbook, I see how far I have come, but also the industry!
Post it!!
Liz VP
- June 6, 2008 at 4:41 PM
- Mel M. M. M. said...
Gorgeous! I love the stitching along the flourish; what a fresh way to use a classic stamp. :0)
- June 9, 2008 at 9:47 AM


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Natalac Feat. C-4 - Stealin From A Deadman (LIVE Interview w/ Tupac TRUE BEEF)- Bare Truth [Label Submitted]
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Investing abroad always poses risk. You can't be sure there won't be a border skirmish or a coup or rocketing inflation. If you're careful, though, you can profit nicely in overseas markets, some with double-digit year-over-year growth.
Among the markets favored these days by those in the know:Turkey, South Korea, Israel, India, China, South Africa, and Brazil.
In a series of reports on global investment Thursday, CNBC reporter Jackie DeAngelis used Israel as an example, citing its long-standing tension with Iran as a negative drag on the Tel Aviv stock exchange, whose member companies are known for strong growth and cutting-edge investing opportunities.


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Shopping for performance? You have come to the right place, dazzle and WOW you friends with a diabolo.
Excellent and fun to learn with. Build your diabolo skill up for amazing tricks, impress your friends by adding flashy LED lights to your kit or make there eyes light up as you spin your fire diabolo.
If you are just starting out with Diabolo, the larger sizes such as the Hurricane and Typhoon diablos are recommend and make learning much easier. For learning newer more advanced tricks like grinds the Superglass handsticks are perfect. Strong reliable handsticks with smaller ends make grinds and advanced tricks even easier.
Spin for hours with a bearing diabolo, we have the hurricane and the Quartz Diabolo's available both with triple bearing axels in them meaning once up to speed these will spin for much longer then fixed axel diabolo's.
LED lights kits fit onto the Hurricane, Typhoon, Quartz 2 and V2 Luna Spin diabolos. Batteries are available to keep them running, all that is needed are three LR44 batteries and a small screw driver to replace the batteries.
We have many learning tools available including books and access to over 150 free online lessons when you purchase from our site.
Don't worry if you get addicted to diabolo spinning, we have many types of string available to help keep you spinning and its good for you.Diabolo string will wear out, this is the nature of the product due to the amount of frictions created when spinning them, have a bearing diabolo will help reduce this friction.
It is fairly difficult to know with precision when the diabolo was invented. Historians however agree that in China, where it was discovered, the game of Diabolo has been practised for more than 4000 years. In China today, like the first ones, diabolos are still made in bamboo, with openings on the side making it whistle while spinning. French and English missionarys brought these strange objects back to Europe, named by an unknown erudite "Diaballo" (later diabolo). In 1906, a French inventor Gustave Pillipart presented a diabolo made of two metal cup, with the edges protected by rubber. The modern diabolo was invented!
Spinning a diabolo helps with, co-ordination, Stress (its relaxing), It teaches concentration, patience, timing, tracking skills, gross and fine motor skills
As well as the social and creative elements of diaboling with your friends.


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Costa Rica translates into "rich coast". Not only does it offer rich biodiversity thanks to its natural history, but its people are also rated in the top countries in the Human Development Index. The way of life in Costa Rica is and has been one of cultural importance in the past and continues today with a strong love for the past and the peoples of the past. With very little outside influence on Costa Rican culture, not only is Costa Rica great for ecotourism but for cultural tourism as well, giving you the opportunity to experience both the unspoiled wilderness and the cultures of thousands of years. Continue reading
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United Reservation Services Reviews Sacramento
Looking at the top destinations for travel and vacation, United Reservation Services invites you to take a closer look at the Sacramento area, a great place to explore on your California Vacation.
Sacramento, capital city of California and home to over 2.5 million in the metro area, it is one of the most diverse and ecologically minded areas in the U.S. Once a major distribution point and commercial and agricultural center today, Sacramento continues to grow and thrive offering residents and visitors alike, ample opportunities to explore the history, art and culture and many other sites and activities of interest year round. Continue reading


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Founded in 604 AD, King's Rochester has a strong foundation and a clear vision for education in the 21st Century. Life has never been so full of opportunities, with challenge and change ever-present and our aim is to develop confident, rounded individuals who make the most of their abilities in preparation for a successful, fulfilled life.
Our academic results are outstanding at all levels but we believe that independent thinking and a love of learning are just as important as great grades. To achieve this, we keep our class sizes small so that teachers know their pupils as individuals and can help each of them shine.
The achievement of academic potential is central, but an education based only on qualifications is limited and, frankly, rather dull. We offer a huge range of sporting, artistic and cultural opportunities because we want our pupils to establish interests that stay with them for life, as well as learning the skills that will make them stand out in a fast-changing world.
Happy children perform to their best and King's is an exceptionally happy and friendly school where moral values and self-discipline underpin our community. King's pupils are confident but also grounded and it is their enthusiasm that brings a great sense of fun to each school day. Founded in the Christian faith, we make daily use of the magnificent setting of Rochester Cathedral and welcome pupils from all backgrounds. This is a school where all are cared for as individuals and where links between home and school are a strength and source of pride.
Easily accessible from Kent and the South East and half an hour by train from central London, King's has a beautiful location in the heart of historic Rochester. We offer co-education from 3 to 18 and our structure of Pre-Prep, Prep and Senior Schools enables us to offer a tailor-made experience for each age group while giving access to the excellent facilities of the whole school.
I hope our website gives you a taste of life at King's, but our happy and purposeful atmosphere is impossible to experience online. Do come and visit - you can be assured of a warm welcome.
Roger Overend
Acting Principal and Acting Headmaster of the Senior School.
King's Rochester
King's Rochester is a limited company registered in England and Wales with company number 3791543
and a registered charity number 1084266. A member of the Woodard Corporation.


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Some people are happy collecting fast cars or nice watches. But the ultimate vanity purchase may be the private island.
Billionaire Richard Branson owns several. Magician David Copperfield has a dozen. Singer Celine Dion is trying to sell hers. And tech titan Larry Ellison is closing a deal to buy nearly all of the Hawaiian island of Lanai.
Although private islands are often associated with the very rich, they aren't always that exclusive or even all that expensive.
PHOTOS: Private islands for sale
Private Islands Inc., a Toronto-based island marketing firm, lists about 500 islands worldwide from less than $50,000 to more than $100 million, Chief Executive Chris Krolow said.
U.S., Canadian and British buyers make up about 80% of the market; far-flung locales such as the Caribbean have a more international buyer base, he said. The Bahamas and Belize are hot, as is Panama. In the Mediterranean, Greek islands are popular.
"Before the recession, a lot of islands were priced by owners who had what we call Coke-bottle glasses," Krolow said. "They put crazy price tags on their islands."
Price drops in areas such as the Bahamas and a sense that values have bottomed out have brought increased interest in island ownership.
"It has opened the door to people looking," Krolow said. "They are more comfortable now."
Ego, extravagance and identity play roles in some high-profile trophy purchases, experts say, but others are motivated by privacy and security.
"These types of people are looking to create something for themselves, to put up a flag and say, 'This is my own little country,'" Krolow said. "They all tend to be very entrepreneurial. Not just the wealthy, but those who are determined to do something different."
Celebrities have long populated the ranks of island owners, including Marlon Brando, Nicolas Cage and Johnny Depp. Even those not pursued by paparazzi can understand the desire for seclusion these days, said clinical psychologist Stephen Goldbart, co-founder of the San Francisco-based Money, Meaning & Choices Institute.
"We are all living in a world where there isn't much privacy," said Goldbart. One of his clients has bought an island, and several others are interested in making their own purchases. "The need for feeling safe and secure has increased radically since the economic downturn."
Island buyers tend to fall into two groups: people who are making lifestyle choices and entrepreneurs developing resorts.
Oracle Corp.CEO Ellison's recent deal to buy 98% of Lanai could be considered an example of a trophy purchase since ownership has been a money-losing proposition for seller David Murdock, the Los Angeles billionaire who controls Dole Food Co.
The estimated $500-million deal makes little sense from a financial standpoint, said Paul Habibi, who teaches real estate at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Among the reasons he cites are a lack of resort potential because of a mostly rocky beachfront and scant infrastructure.
"It is probably more of a quality-of-life investment — a pride-of-ownership purchase," Habibi said. "Who wouldn't want to own a Hawaiian island?"
Murdock, though unloading the 141-square-mile island, is keeping his Lanai home and some other assets, including a woodworking shop and 1,000 rare orchid plants.
Dion and her husband, Rene Angelil, put their private island up for sale in Quebec in late spring. The couple, who also own a home in Florida, could seldom get to their island mansion because of Dion's touring schedule, so they listed it for sale at more than $29 million.
The fence-enclosed 20-acre isle near Montreal is reached by bridge across a river. A slate-roofed, French Normandy-style house resembling a castle stands at its heart, offering 24,000 square feet of opulent living space.
Then there are trophy islands that amount to white elephants.
Red Rock is a nearly six-acre undeveloped island in San Francisco Bay. Accessible by boat or helicopter and without structures, it was recently reduced to $5 million from an original listed price of $22 million.
Michael Caffey understands the downside of owing a coastal island in California. The TV producer inherited a 1.3-acre parcel called White Rock Island off Santa Catalina Island and has been trying to sell it for years.
Listed at $657,000, the land is virtually impossible to develop "unless you are the governor," Caffey said. "The problem is the Coastal Commission."
Miami-based entrepreneur Christian Jagodzinski bought his Fiji atoll when he was flush with funds from the sale of his online business to Amazon in the late '90s.
"At the time you have a lot of money, you look at what kinds of toys to buy," said Jagodzinski, who splits his time between Florida and the south of France. Houses and property seemed to be purchases he could both enjoy and make money on.
"When I looked at Fiji, I thought the resort offerings there were sub-par," he said. So he bought sprawling Katafanga Island in Fiji's Lau group intent on operating a top-notch, exclusive resort.
But his initial partnership floundered. Once the development money was gone, construction stalled. He has since listed the 225-acre isle at $20 million in the hope of recouping his investment.
In an effort to reach West Coast buyers and tap into Hollywood A-list and billionaire buyers, he hired Trista Rullan, a listing agent with Hilton & Hyland in Beverly Hills. Owners of Fiji islands include actor Mel Gibson and Fiji Water founder David Gilmour.
Among the most striking features of Katafanga Island are its natural resources including a bioluminescent lagoon, Rullan said. "It literally glows in the dark. You can see fish swimming."
White sand beaches ring the pristine island, which has an infrastructure for 20 villas. A break in the surrounding natural reef can allow yachts as long as 200 feet to enter the protected waters.
Jagodzinski's chief investment officer, Bram Portnoy, recently returned from a visit to Katafanga, where he stayed in a 1,500-square-foot, two-bedroom villa with an infinity pool and 1,000-square-foot terrace.
There is no commercial fishing in the area, but seafood is abundant. Jagodzinski's guests can snorkel and feast on the island's coconut crabs and locally caught lobster, barracuda and eel.
"You are in the middle of nowhere in a good sense," Portnoy said. The island is a 75-minute flight by twin-engine plane from Fiji's Nadi International Airport.
Jagodzinski appreciates the remote location. "That's the main reason to live on an island," he said. "You have this feeling of isolation that you rarely get in this culture anymore."
Ultimately, though, island ownership isn't for most people.
Beyond the cash needed, hurdles may include getting building permits and environmental issues. Areas where there are concerns about political stability are a harder resale.
"At end of the day," Krolow said, "there are only a handful of properties and buyers that can be aligned."


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By Shawn Langlois
Good morning.
The rotation out of bonds into stocks and Apple's swift retreat have dominated the virtual ink in recent weeks. So let's meld the two.
The Random Roger blog explains how the selling of Apple shares is a win for the rest of the market as investors rotate out of Apple /quotes/zigman/68270 /quotes/nls/aapl AAPL and into other techs. The proof: Apple is down 17% this year while the First Trust Equal Weight Nasdaq 100 ETF /quotes/zigman/100698 /quotes/nls/qqew QQEW , which is underweight Apple, is up 7%.
"To the extent that portfolio managers … are selling [Apple] and will want to keep those proceeds in the tech sector, other large cap tech stocks could see serious buying," writes Roger Nusbaum, who runs the blog and manages money for the AdvisorShares Global Alphaa & Beta ETF /quotes/zigman/10836548 /quotes/nls/rrgr RRGR .
He would have told CNBC this tidbit, but his appearance was canceled because "an Alderman somewhere has suffered a gruesome cuticle injury."
At any rate, Tim Knight (highlighted below) makes the technical case for further rotation out of Apple. Yahoo, up nicely in premarket action, could be one of the beneficiaries. Perhaps Amazon, which reports later today.
Key market gauges: Stocks may have ended their winning streak yesterday, but they did it without too much damage to investors. The trend looks to continue today, with futures on the Dow /quotes/zigman/9049316 YMH3 and the S&P /quotes/zigman/8751039 ESH3 moving slightly lower.
Gold futures /quotes/zigman/8702781 GCJ3 are edging higher, but the precious metal is still headed for its worst monthly drop since 2011, according to Bloomberg, as demand for safe haven investments has waned amid the global economic recovery.
The economy: The closely-watched Case-Shiller index hit at 9 a.m. Eastern and econmists were looking for a lower number vs. prior month but an increase vs. a year ago that was bolstered by low home inventories. That's about what they got. Here's why one analyst says it's too early to call a housing recovery.
After that, the Conference Board's barometer of consumer confidence is expected to show that higher payroll taxes and fiscal uncertainties pushed the reading to its lowest level in five months. The Fed also starts its two-day policy meeting, the first of the year, but we won't get an official statement from the central bank until tomorrow. Read: What to watch on U.S. economy on Tuesday.
Earnings: Amazon.com /quotes/zigman/63011 /quotes/nls/amzn AMZN , due up after the close, is expected to report fourth-quarter profit of 28 cents a share on revenue of $22.26 billion. Here's why Wall Street is keeping an eye on Amazon's sales tax hit.
Other notables reporting include Ford /quotes/zigman/264304 /quotes/nls/f F , Harley Davidson /quotes/zigman/228798 /quotes/nls/hog HOG , International Paper /quotes/zigman/230211 /quotes/nls/ip IP , JetBlue /quotes/zigman/87304 /quotes/nls/jblu JBLU and Pfizer /quotes/zigman/238207 /quotes/nls/pfe PFE .
The buzz: Another feather in Marissa Mayer's cap as Yahoo /quotes/zigman/59898 /quotes/nls/yhoo YHOO managed to beat Wall Street targets again under her watchful eye. The stock is poised for a nice pop in early action as the chief pushes to make Yahoo "the absolute best place to work." Read about Mayer's 3 goals for Yahoo, from TechCrunch.
VMware /quotes/zigman/464645 /quotes/nls/vmw VMW shares are getting plenty of attention in the wee hours. Unfortunately for investors, it's not under the best of circumstances. The stock is off more than 15% premarket in reaction to a disappointing outlook.
Pfizer's report will draw its share of clicks but much of the focus on this stock surround the prospects of its animal vaccine and medicine spin-off Zoetis Inc. Read about the richest IPO since Facebook.
Other top-trending tickers include Groupon /quotes/zigman/7212269 /quotes/nls/grpn GRPN , Lennar /quotes/zigman/232035 /quotes/nls/len LEN and the Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bull 3x Shares fund /quotes/zigman/3059250 /quotes/nls/nugt NUGT .
The chart of the day: A few hours after illustrating why he thinks Apple is about to drop to the low-$300s, the Slope of Hope blog's Tim Knight posted this bearish take on where the iShares Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund /quotes/zigman/1480195 /quotes/nls/tlt TLT is headed. And technicals are pointing to $100 from yesterday's close at $117.60.
The call of the day: Research In Motion /quotes/zigman/18534 /quotes/nls/rimm RIMM shares left single digits back in November (rotating out of Apple?) as hype continues to build around its BlackBerry 10 launch. But here's a Seeking Alpha contributor that sees the likelihood of the stock returning to those lowly levels within six months. "If BB10 does not succeed, RIM faces a difficult period of restructuring; this will most likely include licensing patents and software, and selling off divisions," writes Tim Iordanov. Read why the BlackBerry 10 is RIM's last shot, courtesy of MarketWatch's Dan Gallagher.
Random reads: From Soros to Gundlach, The Short Side of Long blog over the weekend compiled these "great interviews from market masters."
The listification of financial news continues, and Forbes is at the forefront. In that spirit, here are 12 stocks for an Obama-agenda-centric core portfolio for 2013.
How Jesse Litvak "got just a little too greedy" and may have brought an end to the heady days of bond traders making millions by misrepresenting prices to buysider clients. Read the full story from Zero Hedge.
House of Cards, a $100 million adaptation of the classic British series from back in 1990, is being produced by … Netflix /quotes/zigman/87598 /quotes/nls/nflx NFLX ? Huh? Yes, and here's "why TV's house of cards is tumbling down," from the Telegraph.
My German is a little rusty, but it looks like Dieter Zetsche, the charismatic Daimler Group boss who used to pour me beers at a firehouse in downtown Detroit, has a new girlfriend. Either that or he bought a new horse.
Need to Know starts early and is updated as needed until the opening bell, but sign up here to get it delivered once to your e-mail box. Be sure to check the Need to Know item. The e-mailed version will be sent out at approximately 8:45 a.m. Eastern. Follow @slangwise on Twitter.


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For this Mandy there are 15183 different names on Yasni.
Most common last names for Mandy are: Jamieson, Schrier, Anders
In the ranking of the most common first names Mandy is on position 520.
During the last seven days Mandy was searched for 26 times.
Female first name (English): Mandy, the lovable, Latin (Word format); Amandus = lovable, sweet, used only since the 17th century


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Joanna Aizenberg's muse is the whole of the natural world. The Harvard University materials scientist takes her inspiration from creatures that suggest engineering of substances in unexpected ways. Ocean creatures in particular have proved inspirational. The brittle star, a relative of the starfish and the sea urchin, has a shell coated with lenses, which may furnish ideas for new types of optical communication systems. There is also the deep-sea sponge with a crown composed of optical fibers.
Aizenberg's early life in Russia and her brilliant, creative career as an engineer that followed at Harvard
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are the focus of a question-and-answer feature in the February 2012 Scientific American.
Her laboratory has mustered a basic understanding of the physics of water to design a finely structured polymer coating that resists every attempt to accrete a layer of ice at temperatures as low as 30 degrees Celsius. The material, or some analogue thereof, might one day find its way into aircraft, power-transmission towers and building roofs.
Watch this incredible video of a droplet of water pinging off Aizenberg's no-icing, super-hydrophobic surface. For comparison, the video starts with two other surfaces—one hydrophilic and the other merely hydrophobic.