Random Musings of a Curious Mind

Certified Diamonds

With just a week to go until Valentine's Day, thoughts are probably turning to chocolates, flowers, and ... my personal favorite - jewelry. Actually, I'm not a big jewelry buff - especially not the super expensive options. I'm too hard on what I wear, when I wear it, to justify a serious expenditure.

Now, a good, sturdy, dependable, water-resistant watch?! Or two?! Bring 'em on! Can't have enough! {hint, hint}

As with everything else in my shopping adventures, I do like to window shop and publish personal recommendations or warnings - as warranted. One reason I don't personally own any diamonds is that they are darned pricey and, unless you're very careful, the quality may not be equivalent to the cost. Enter: certified diamonds.

I've heard the term, often lately, on the myriad of television commercials for local stores and national chains. Just what it means or what protection it offers, I wasn't sure. So, I decided to get educated.

One common phrase in the ads is GIA and EGL certs. GIA is the Gemological Institute of America; the laboratory that introduced the first systematic methods for diamond grading in 1955. EGL is the European Gemological Laboratory; as of 1986, EGL USA is an independently owned organization with offices in the United States and Canada. They introduced the internationally-used rating system for smaller diamonds.

There are other highly respected international laboratories responsible for grading diamonds, using (as I understand it) the systems designed by the GIA and EGL. Undoubtedly, there are many groups offering certification, but most sites I looked at used one or two of the same five. Obviously, the value of the certificate is only as good as the reputation of the laboratory.

A completed cert, also called a diamond dossier, should include analysis of the diamond’s dimensions, clarity, color, polish, and symmetry. With consistent standards, it becomes simple to compare any number of stones - by price, color, clarity, carat, shape, or cut - to ensure getting the best value and best quality.


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Jules

Electronic Cigarettes?

Okay, this is an interesting concept. Have you heard of electronic cigarettes?

I am not certain, exactly, how this works. According to the sites I've visited, an atomized cartridge plugs into a battery unit and - you smoke. As a smoker, this intrigues me. A lot.

There are different flavors and strengths available. Which, now that I'm moving beyond the WOW-this-is cool phase, has some interesting possibilities for quitting smoking.

No, seriously. Stay with me here. There are about 250-300 puffs per cartridge, depending on manufacturer. The strengths vary from 16mg to 0mg of nicotine. With me now?

Heavy smokers start at the 16mg level, work their way through the strengths until they're getting 0mg. Not a bad idea at all. At least to my way of thinking.

I am going to have to try this. Even if I don't quit, I just can't resist the whole concept.


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Jules

Removing Acne Scars

During my recent hunt for information on acne medications, I noticed that several comments were made about acne scars. In fact, a user of one product complained that it actually increased scarring. That led me to wonder what acne scar removal products are available .

The short answer - a lot. The longer answer - a lot of questionable information, combined with products that are best handed out by dermatologists. I would be very reluctant to arbitrarily slather some of these gels and creams on my face without professional guidance.

Basically, in order to remove or, more accurately, reduce scarring caused by acne it is necessary to remove the scar tissue. This involves chemicallly scrubbing off layers of skin. That's what dermabrasion means. And it's going to hurt.

The skin is going to become red and irritated - that's just how it is. What worries me is the risk for doing more damage if the products are not properly applied. By going online and making that medication decision without guidance, how does one know they're choosing wisely?

I searched for review and information sites, but was disappointed there, as well. Many simply regurgitated manufacturer claims. Others offered reviews that couldn't be found and links that went nowhere.

Once again, very frustrating.


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Jules

Diet Supplements?

Now, maybe I'm a tad confused - wouldn't be the first time. But, aren't diet supplements ... never mind. I figured it out.

I was thinking of dietary supplements - those pills and potions that are designed to augment less-than-stellar eating habits. You know, vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants - good stuff, by and large. Whereas, diet supplements are pills and potions designed to enhance and improve weight-loss efforts. Confusingly similar, aren't they?

Oddly enough, caution should be taken with both types of supplements. Some vitamins - A & E, for example - are fat-soluble which, among other things, means that they are slow to leave the body. The risk of dangerous levels in the body is higher than with water-soluble vitamins, such as C.

If that weren't enough. Safe dosage levels may vary greatly. The risk of birth defects exists for both too-low and too-high levels. However, research indicates that the amount of Vitamin A present in standard supplements may be based on old data.

In 2001, the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine revised the RDA for Vitamin A - downward, dramatically. The new recommendations are: Men 19+ years old - 900 mcg (3,000 IU)/day; Women 19+ years old - 700 mcg (2,333 IU)/day. (RDAs for pregnant and lactating women are higher.)

The multivitamins we have in the house, as suspected, use Daily Values as established in 1968 - not the latest revisions. So, even something that might be beneficial, can cause problems.

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Jules

Getting Rid of Belly Fat

One of the great 'joys' of being female - and female at my age - is this extra layer of fat that we women carry. It's what gives us that lovely little rounded appearance to our bellies. And it is incredibly difficult to minimize.

Once, several years ago, I managed to virtually eliminate that little 'problem' and I wasn't even trying. During a time when Mark was most ill, I did a lot of hefting, toting, running, carrying, and other strenuous work. Calories burned far exceeded calories consumed. It just happened.

Now, they have supplements to reduce belly fat. Or at least half of the Internet claims that they do. The problem I ran into is, among other things, most of the sites seem inter-related. Clones, as it were.

Today, I found no less than 10 - yup Ten - sites with the exact same marketing format for their 'top picks.' Six of those sites blatantly used javascripts to pull marketing details. The other four were a tad more subtle. But all 10 pages were identical ...

Down to the shared typographical error in the description for their #1 product.

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Jules

Serious Acne Treatment

Okay, this is getting seriously annoying. Got up today, looked in the mirror, and found a brand new collection of blemishes. At my age, zits are very very not amusing. (Okay, they're not fun at any age.)

Notice - amidst all the whining - I said blemishes. With the reading I've been doing about acne and treatments, I don't think my skin problems qualify as serious. Especially not for something as powerful as tazorac, a treatment I stumbled across today.

While not new, it was introduced in 1997, I hadn't heard of Tazorac until recently. Briefly, Tazarotene is a retinoid - related to vitamin A - used as a topical acne treatment for moderate to severe acne. Apparently, it is also quite popular, with dozens of user comments on the Internet. And, happily, not those planted-by-company-stooges comments.

There are lots of review sites out there; I've spent plenty of time looking for them today. Some have precious little information; some have nothing to offer, at all. Others let actual sufferers explain how they use a product, what their symptoms are like, and whether or not others should invest their time, money, and energy.

Those are the sites that I enjoy finding.


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Jules

Ouch! New Shoes!

As I mentioned previously, I bought myself new shoes. Running in and out at all times of the day and night, I need comfy shoes that I can slip on easily. Which is what I thought I had found. Not so much.

I have long, skinny feet that make shoe shopping a real challenge. Rarely do I buy anything that I haven't tried on first. But, there was this Christmas bonus just waiting for me at Amazon, so I ignored the little voice and went looking.

After a frustrating search - even 'found' money must be spent wisely - I settled on a pair of Reeboks. The price was right; they looked easy-on and easy-off. Best of all, they came in my size! Now to wait for delivery.

Note: delivery services slow waaaay down after the Christmas rush! Eventually, my new shoes arrived. White canvas with a light tan diagonal strap across the arch - they were just as cute as the picture. There's where the good news ends.

The first time I wore them, just a quick trip to the corner store for chips, they rubbed my heels - badly. By the time I got home, my heels were actually bleeding. This was seriously not good.

A couple of days later - with socks protecting my poor feet - I tried again. Nope - not gonna work. The shoes are now non-returnable, as the heels are stained from my bleeding feet.

Never again will I try to buy shoes online. I don't care how cute they are or how great the price. Even my old tennies hurt my feet now - and probably will for a while.

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Jules

Acne Treatment

Santa was looking out for me this year. He stuffed my stocking with all sorts of goodies to take care of my skin. And, because he's a wise old elf, they actually work. When I remember to use them.

Since not all skin goodies are created equal, I decided it was time to start looking at acne medicine claims and reviews again. As with everything else that has a life on the WWW, not all goodies are good for you. And not all products work.

Acne is a tricky problem. There are so many possible causes and so many sites offering 'expert' advice, it is mind-boggling. For example, my skin problems are easily diagnosed - insufficient skin care, periodic high stress, and not keeping my hands off my face. I don't need $100.00 acne cream; I just need to drink more water and wash my face twice a day. (Well, that may be over simplifying, but close enough.)

Individuals with moderate to severe breakouts, have an entirely different situation. And, to be perfectly honest, shouldn't be trying for Internet miracles. Without knowing the underlying cause - which can run the gamut from stress to infection to overwashing - how in the world can someone treat their acne online? Yet, that's exactly what so many try to do.

Not to mention, like me and my new shoes, you don't know what you've purchased until it's in your hands. The guy selling you the miracle cure is not likely to tell you it's snake oil. Especially if he's making $10 on every bottle sold.

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Jules

Exercise Equipment

Personally, I resolved to make no resolutions this year. The failure rate is just too high and too depressing. But saving money doesn't require resolve and January is a great time to save.

Whether online or brick-and-mortar, stores need to clear it or count it. Having helped with year-end inventory in the past, I understand their motivation. Why not let their needs meet yours and get a great deal?

Looking at treadmills or elliptical machines for your new, physically-fit lifestyle? Many sites are offering tremendous New Year discounts - 50% off, and more. Personally, I love online shopping - they deliver and haul it up the stairs for me!

Hmmmm? Doesn't sound like someone looking to get in shape in 2010, does it?

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Jules

Supporting the World's Artisans

It's not that I dislike shopping. Heaven knows I do enough of it. But when it comes down to parting with cold, hard (and hard-earned) cash, I like to know that I'm getting a good value.

This year, I can also support artisans around the world.

While trying to find different "gifts for her" - something for our manager and Mark's GI NP - I stumbled across a couple of craft stores that have some really fun things. The earrings and bracelets weren't like what everyone else carries. And the prices were so reasonable, that I don't have to feel guilty for picking up a thing or two just for me.

In fact, I have my eye on ... well, let's just say I'm narrowing down my options.

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Jules

Zazzle Mugs from JMark Afghans, etc.

Just In: Zazzle is offering a BOGO on mugs until 11:59pm December 14th !! All mugs are Buy One Get One Free - with the code 12DEALZAZZLE !

Whether you're looking for amazing scenery or making a statement - we have the mug for you!.

Order by 3:00pm, December 17th to ensure delivery by Christmas!

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Jules

Bronze Ceiling Fans

One of the latest and greatest additions to our apartment, in a vain attempt to justify the outrageous rents, was a ceiling fan. Mark was thrilled; I've never had one before. After some time in the hot Arizona weather, I am forced to admit he had a point. Except for one slight problem.

We live at the confluence of filthy-air and just-can't-breath. As long as the windows are closed, the apartment stays quite dust- and crud-free. Then, come October/November, when the temperatures approach humane again, we open the windows and turn on the fans.

This addition of polluted outdoor air has turned our lovely white ceiling fan a nasty shade of brown - which it is also sharing with the ceiling directly above it. (I don't want to know what my lungs look like!) So, I thought I'd see what it would cost to replace the once-pristine fan with one that's the color of the dust.

I know, I know! - most normal people would just clean the fan! But, Minka Aire has such lovely bronze-tone fans, it's very tempting to replace the white one. Naturally, I would have to repaint the ceiling in a lovely pollution-brown color to hide the dust. A small price to pay for the illusion of clean. Right?!

It's just a thought! (Think Mark'll go for it?!)

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Jules

New Wireless Card - Hip, Hip, Hooray! - I Hope?!

We were having more than a lilttle trouble with the wireless card that came with the ThinkPad. It's not that it didn't work, mind you. But it didn't work with any kind of speed - at all.

A couple of days ago, well okay a week ago, I ordered a new card. While I was waiting, I pulled out the card that I used to use with my Dell. Definite improvement!

Today, the new card arrived and after an initial - "The network adapter is not plugged in" panic attack - is up and running. Can't say that it's hugely faster than the old Linksys. But that isn't really why I chose this card.

What caught my attention is the promise that the NetGear WPN511 basically ignored pesky interferences like walls. Although I haven't put it to the test, this means that I can be a total bum now. Just sitting in bed and surfing away.

We shall see.

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Jules

Playstation 3

We have had a number of gaming systems in our house. Playstation (replaced by PS2), Playstation 2 (totalled by the youngest), Xbox (sitting in the bedroom, gathering dust). There were even a couple of standalone units that hooked to the TV, that the boys played for about 5 minutes one Christmas morning.

With three computers in the house, we don't really use separate systems. Although, two of the computers aren't really designed for gaming - substandard (read: old) graphics cards, and minimal RAM. So, maybe a a href="http://www.buy.com/cat/playstation-3-games-accessories-and-ps3-systems/63113.html" target="_blank">PS3 would have it's place.

I noticed, during one of my 'surfing' expeditions, that the prices really haven't come down. On the other hand, the goodies that you get with the system do seem to have increased - dramatically. And, as I had forgotten, it does nearly as much as a computer.

Didn't realize you could get on the Internet - and the 160GB hard drive looks really good. Hmmmm?! May have to rethink this.

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Jules

Phentermine

Phentermine has long been touted as an effective appetite suppressant. A stimulant, similar to amphetamine, it affects the central nervous system. In addition, a 'drug of abuse', it is available only by prescription. As it may be contraindicated in many people - those with heart disease, high blood pressure, glaucoma, substance abuse history, arteriosclerosis, or diabetes - it should only be taken under the supervision of a medical professional.

That said, many manufacturers are trying to design a weight-loss supplement that mirrors the results of Phentermine, without the prescription. According to some review sites, there is one over-the-counter supplement that contains 18.75mg of Phentermine. Not something I would feel comfortable putting into my system without monitoring by my doctor.

Like it or not, there is really no way to know how much of what is in OTC diet pills. In reviewing one product, I found that the website had 'borrowed heavily' from an article on the effectiveness of some of the ingredients. Of course, they only 'borrowed' the information that worked in their favor.

If you research these supplements - and it's easy to do online - you'll find that the claims are borderline, if not out and out lies. One popular ingredient - phenylethylamine (PEA) - is reported to mimic the affect of amphetamines on the brain. Well, yes, but not in oral administration. And, more importantly, it is known to interact with certain anti-depressants.

Frankly, the ingredient combinations that one finds in the 'top-of-the-line' supplements are a tad frightening. In and of themselves, each one may or may not be effective; and may or may not be dangerous. Thrown together in one pill, it's almost impossible to be sure.

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Jules

Lacy Afghan - 2009 Christmas Special

Thank you friends, for all of your interest in our first-ever Seasonal Afghan Special Offer. Unfortunately, the offer is no longer available. You can, as always, take advantage of our normal order options, as listed below.

JMark Afghans, etc. is offering - for a limited time - our favorite Lacy Afghan at amazing prices!

This offer is available only to readers of "Random Musings of a Curious Mind" who order before December 10th.

(To ensure that your order is completed in plenty of time for Christmas, we are offering only 3 sizes and a limited number of yarn colors.)

Ordering couldn't be easier! Simply pick a size, a yarn color, and click {Buy}. For your convenience, we offer PayPal or Google Checkout to complete your order. (No personal information is required, until you place your order through our secure options.)

As always, if you have any questions or problems - Contact Jules - for more information.

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Jules

Update Your Office

It's been five months, give or take, since we moved into the new apartment. With something akin to desperation, we managed to arrange and organize our piles of stuff and mounds of furniture into a functional system. There would be no more stubbed toes and banged shins. Then, Frankie moved back in.

Don't get me wrong - it is absolutely wonderful having him home. But, our interior design plan didn't leave a lot of room for more stuff. (It takes an act of Congress to get into my dresser these days.) The monster of a computer desk, which we have banged into and stumbled over for years, (the one that I keep threatening to replace) is eating up space that we could really use for other things. Like it or not, I really think it's time to rethink our office furniture set-up.

Frankly, we would do better with a much (much) smaller desk and a 4-drawer filing cabinet. Maybe, a desk with a 2-drawer filing cabinet on each side. Then, we could shift everything else we own around and make room in my closet! Hey, I like that idea!

Just one - not so small - problem: Everything I like is bigger that what we have now! Oh, boy. Back to the drawing board - oooh, I need one of those, too!

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Jules

Greeting Cards for the Holidays

This year I'm going to do it! Seriously! I'm going to send out holiday cards to everyone I know.

If I start now, it won't be too much of a project. Just a couple of cards every day and, before long, I'll have them all sent out. That will give me time and energy to add a personal note to each card. And, because I'm not trying to do everything at once, it will be easy to keep the notes from being tedious and redundant. Hopefully?!

The other alternative, of course, is a holiday newsletter. Though I used to hate getting them, I can understand just how much they simplify the process. One creative page, detailing a year's worth of our lives. But then there's the supremely difficult decision:

What, exactly, have we done this year that would be interesting to anyone, other than us?

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Jules

Order Now to Guarantee Christmas Delivery

Just a quick reminder that JMark Afghans, etc. doesn't crochet your afghan - or hat, scarf, or shawl - until you order it.

For some of the larger, more involved designs, that means that it takes at least a couple of weeks to finish your order.

If you've been thinking of a special, one-of-a-kind gift for your loved ones - please be sure to order now.

All of our items ship second-day, but - the closer we get to Christmas Day - even the USPS can't guarantee timely delivery.

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Jules

Santa!? Please Fix My Truck!

Well, there are only 33 days until Christmas. Therefore, I do believe that it's time to start my list for Santa. Don't want to miss the please-send-me-this deadline since, after all, I have been very good this year. No really - I have!

Everyone knows that Santa is extremely busy, so there's nothing wrong with cutting out pictures or bookmarking websites - just to help out, you know. For example, there are specific Mopar parts involved in repairing a Dodge truck. Can't just slap any old head gasket onto a Dakota Sport (from 1995, 2.5L engine, standard 5-speed transmission), and expect a Christmas miracle. Well, one can hope, but how practical is that?

No, it's important to get the specifics just right when sending a request to Santa. And if, by chance, there are a couple of elves with mechanical expertise who would like to spend a little time with us - we wouldn't complain. In fact, we'd be willing to pay handsomely - with all the hot chocolate and sugar cookies they can hold!

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Jules