Amazon's Shabby Monitoring of Sellers

 Amazon will sometimes reject my product reviews. It doesn't happen often but it happens. Most recently it happened when I noted that a product had different ingredients listed on the product page than what was on the label of the product I received. I wish they were as diligent about checking the product page information as they are about gatekeeping on customer reviews.

I got a fast refund for the product I just mentioned. Just yesterday I got another product that had different ingredients shown on the label than what the product page showed.

In this most recent instance, the difference was irritating but not harmful. 

I bought this balm because of the ingredients shown on Amazon. You know how I have gotten about checking the 1st 5 ingredients. Well, this was kind of bait and switch, don't you think?

what I ordered

what I got

Totally different arrangement of the ingredients, yes?

I was irritated but not too concerned.

However.

In the other instance... I refuse to use the product because one of the ingredients is a little sketchy.

what I ordered
(magnified for you)

what I got

What is that on the next to the last line on the ingredients? Urea? Urea is something I've had used during pedicures to remove dead skin. Just sloughed it right off after a few minutes of massage. I'm not sure it's something I want near my hair.

You all know that I rely heavily on Amazon - and Walmart, Target, and whoever else delivers - since I no longer drive. I don't think it's a pesky thing to ask that they try being more accurate.

Anyway, once again, I will be contacting Amazon and the seller to let them know about this. At least I usually hear back from Amazon or the sellers there. Walmart is still new to problem-solving. That's one of the reasons I have not switched from Prime to Walmart+. Same price but totally different services.

Jeff Bezos is no longer hungry so he no longer cares.

Peace

--Free

COVID, Science, Peace & Faith

I am having a night of insomnia. At least it's not wasted. While sitting up, I found something that I wanted to share from YouTube. 

This video is a reminder to me that 1) God is in charge, 2) Anything can create panic if we allow it, 3) COVID is not the only health issue to exist.

Like many Christians, I have struggled not to give in to fear and panic during this whole COVID situation. Because I have a fairly serious existing health condition, I sometimes let myself get caught up in the panic and madness that is 2020-2021. Listening to someone I respect as a fellow Christian speak on this subject has been helpful. And I am reminded that prayer is my best defense in anything.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2 Corinthians 5:1 KJV)

So, just to reiterate...

By the way, Dr. Lisle is featured in several YouTube videos discussing God and science. He and the late Chuck Missler are favorite speakers of mine and I am glad for the videos preserving their talks.

Peace

--Free

A Homemade Hydration Wash-and-Go Juice

 Winter has been rough on my hair. It's getting better as the weather warms up and the moisture is creeping in. However, I did come up with a simple blend of products for when

1. my curls are just naturally dry, or 
2. I use my favorite curling product (that leaves my hair crunchy), or
3. when I need to do a wash-and-go and the "go" part does not mean having to go fool with my hair before it's ready for the world.

So, here's the thing: I love Long Aid activator gel because it brings out all the pop-pop-pop in my curl pattern. I always get huge jars because they last forever, then put some in smaller jars. (I see that I bought my last big jar in 2019 because it doesn't take much to produce a curl pattern.)

However...

The gel leaves my hair with more crunch than fresh Fritos. So my "Homemade Hydration Juice" is my personal game-changer. (I'm working on the name!)

This is what my wash-and-go looks like when I've used the homemade juice I am going to tell you about. You know, because I am not stingy or begrudging like some folks...

And that is just slightly damp

Like I've said, my hair looks like that with just a little bit of Long Aid by itself but... it's crunchingly untouchable. What you can't tell from a photo is how SOFT and un-greasy my curls are with the "special sauce" I concocted. Also, I get more elongation that I normally do with freshly-washed hair.

Okay, I'm going to stop acting like those food sites that never get to the dang recipe so, without any further fooling around, here is what I blended up. (Disclaimer: you can do your own thing because I am not a professional):

• A bottle with a good spray nozzle. This is important. I got my glass ones here. (And, no I am not paid for the link!)
• Long Aid (or probably any other activator gel). (Not paid for this either.)
• Camille Rose Honey Hydrate  that you need to shop the best price for (And, no, still not getting paid.)
• ** Almond oil (but can use any good, thin, light-weight, and not-too-greasy oil.)
• Some good water. I use spring water because I think it's "softer" than purified.
• optional: I might start adding some Rosemary essence but I have not yet. 
• additional: I do add another water-like ingredient that doesn't affect this end result.

I'm not nitpicky with the measurements but for about 10-12 ounces of water, I try to do about 3 to 5 tablespoons of the Long Aid (depends on how much curl definition I want) and not quite a half tablespoon of the Honey Hyrdate (HH is pricey but it does not take much).  By the way, I add only about half a teaspoon of my secret ingredient.

Give that a good shake every single time you use it.

I don't make a lot at one time because I don't know how well all the ingredients will "set" together for more than a couple of weeks.

I wish I had come up with the juice sooner. I was motivated by my recent resolution to cut way back on buying hair products. 

Right now, I have a shelf full that I plan to find innovative ways to tweak until I have used them up. I've been playing with different combos. For instance, if a product is too thick, I add something thin - water, oil, floral essence. Because I have dry hair, most products are not moisturizing enough. That's where either the Honey Hydrate (which, out of the bottle, is too moisturizing for any curl definition) or a light oil comes into the mix. 

I have one product that left my hair feeling a little "gluey" so I will start using it on my edges for when I pull my hair back.

You must know how desperate I am to 1) save money, and 2) use some of these products I've been hoarding. 

Since I don't plan on buying anything (except to replenish the Honey Hydrate and Long Aid), I am experimenting on myself. I have some ideas for using tea and coffee sprays. Also, I had a huge box of green tea that was off-brand and kind of week. I am using that to steep with some grapeseed and olive oil.

By the way, when I started this use-and-reduce thing with products, I ran across a new YouTube channel. It's called Curly Chemistry (but I keep wanting to call the very personable young lady the Curly Chemist!). I love her style of explaining things. Plus, I think it is high time to have someone with her knowledge talking about the subject of hair and products. 

In one video, the Curly Chemist (I'm going to keep calling her that) dropped some knowledge that I have been using since I heard it. I now always focus more on the first 5 ingredients of products for my hair (and skin). In addition, I went through my product junkie arsenal and checked the First Five of all the products that I love for some reason or the other. That was an interesting exercise, let me tell you.

In addition to the Honey Hydrate (and the Long Aid), one product I plan to occasionally replenish is Taliah Waajid's  Bamboo and Coconut Milk Leave-in Conditioner Intense Moisture. Like they HH, by itself, it's almost too moisture-intense (if I want lasting curl definition) but it's perfect for when I need an extra softness boost.

So there you have it. I'm not advising you to use this recipe, I'm just telling you about it. Just keep in mind that I'm no professional on anything-to-do-with-hair. Just know that. However, if I were going to market this, I'd call it Homegirl's Hydration Juice. ROFL.

Maybe soon, I will be able to let you know how the coffee and tea items worked out.

Peace

--Free

** The almond oil I use is the only one I really like. I have used others that are too greasy-feeling. Maybe it's the type but this is the one I get from Making Cosmetics (still not paid!)

 

I had to reset my password so I can't get into my account to link straight to it but you can find it from the info up there.

(UPDATE) The Vape Ban is About Power - Not Health

UPDATE - the mail ban has been postponed. I am hearing that it's on hold until September or October but... So far, 2 of my 3 favorite online shops have worked out alternate shipping arrangements. I'm pretty sure that many other shops will be able to come up with alternatives by the time the ban actually goes into effect.

 I won't rant for too long but...

This vape mail ban is ridiculous. Doctors will still be prescribing nicotine gum and patches because, well, money. People will still be able to buy alcohol because, well, money. No one is going to be banning or slowing up the sale of fast food burgers, tacos, or pizzas because, well, money. They are even making marijuana and heroin more accessible and acceptable. But for all the people who have and are using vaping to quit tobacco - well, too bad. 

Cannabis at Work: 

How Employers Are Reacting to the Legalization of Marijuana

If I ever questioned whether or not vaping was as bad as smoking tobacco, I feel I have gotten an answer. As many comedians like to point out, the money is not in the cure, it's in the disease. Tobacco smoking creates patients. Vaping creates freedom from tobacco.

I'm pissed. I quit a lifelong tobacco addiction via vaping. Even when I crave a cigarette now, I have - or had - the choice to just hit some nic-free vape and move on with life. I vow not to return to tobacco only because I want to defeat the purpose of the assault on vaping. If I go back to tobacco, They win.

(By the way, notice how differently vaping is treated in places with a less profitable system of healthcare.) But now that the WHO is getting involved, even those places are looking over their shoulders...

I just hope that the vape industry can get lobbyists and supporters as powerful as those of the tobacco industry. And vape enthusiasts are trying to fight back, trust me. (If you want to get involved, just check that link.)

For now, every vaping adult I know is stocking up big-time so that They can create their own juices. A lot of people are making sure to have the materials to build coils for a long time. And lots more people will never leave tobacco addiction as easily as vape enthusiasts were able to.

So this is not about the health of people. This is about power and money. The money really is in the disease and not the cure.

If vape enthusiasts were as dangerous to society as drug addicts, I bet They'd be more willing to make allowances.

Oregon 1st state to decriminalize possession of drugs

When I am watching people struggle with tobacco addiction, I'm going to hope They make it without resorting to marijuana or heroin - you know the more acceptable habits.

Apparently, some people do still recognize that there are many things to worry about other than vaping.

The New Street Drugs You Need to Know in 2021

And if you wonder who "They" are, just look at whoever profits most from the diseases caused by smoking and formerly illegal drug usage.

If you want to get a true gauge of how much safer/better vaping is than tobacco use, poll those who have both smoked and used vapes. Do they feel better or worse? Do they cough more or less? Do they breathe better or not? Oh, and did they quit and stay quit longer after using e-cigs than with the gum and patch?

While polling, ask some kids what they have a harder time getting hold of - cigarettes or vape? I bet most kids who smoke started from parental example. Unless their parents now vape, guess where the kid will still be able to get hold of smokes? 

I can just see the future of vaping. There will be people sneaking around dark alleys trying to score some bootlegged, unregulated e-juice and hot vape devices - so that they can quit cigarettes... It would be kind of funny if it wasn't so unfunny.

As the kids used to say, don't get it twisted. This is all about money and control, not improving anyone's health.

Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** Suave Curl Defining Cream (with shea and coconut oil)

 Money talks and now that so many people are going natural and showing off the beauty of their curls - kinky curls, coily curls, tight curls, loose curls - brands are trying to get in the game.

A long while back, Pantene surprised me with how good their Gold Series products are. At least 2 of the 3 that I tried, I liked. I wasn't crazy about the Detangling Milk but I loved the Hydrating Butter Creme and the small sample of shampoo that I tried was nice. I would love to try the oil treatment but I need to use up products I already have...

Now here comes Suave making nice moves. 

I scored a dual sample of the Curl Defining Cream from the Suave line for "naturally curly and coil hair" in one of my beauty boxes from Target or Walmart. I've been getting quite a few products geared to natural hair in these boxes. Look, these folks know what's up. Natural hair chicks tend to be product junkies. We are always looking to find the best creams, butters, milks, gels, and oils to nurture our finicky tresses. 

When I first got the samples, I didn't even try them. I was so busy rotating the various hair products I already have. Plus, I was thinking, "It's Suave". That's judgemental I know but it's the first thing I thought. It's hard enough to find good products from lines that originally catered to textured hair types.

The other day, I was looking for something to use after taking down my African threading. My hair wasn't super-dry but it was late and I didn't want to use any of my "good" products until I had time to do a twist-up or something. The Suave packets were tucked in the middle of my full-sized items so I grabbed them.

1 sample fits my palm

I wasn't expecting much. As long as the cream wasn't stinky, sticky, or ended up crunchy, I was going to be fine.

Well.

I must go ahead and give Suave credit for coming up with a nice product.

The cream is the consistency of hair milk - definitely not thick enough to be a pudding and just barely dense enough to be called cream. 

What I liked most was the this gave my normally dull hair a bit of shine. Usually, the only way I get shine is by using oil, and that never lasts.

See the SHINE????

This cream has enough slip that I will be able to "rake" in some curls. It's not greasy but it's not crunchy, and it softened my hair.

This next part is a straight-up screen freeze from the Walmart site where the price runs (at this time) $4.98 for a 12-ounce bottle.

Click to enlarge or use
CTRL-+

So, yeah. I'm not mad. Keep in mind that I am not one of those folks who gets too deep into reading the labels for my hair products. I don't want anything obviously damaging but I don't dissect the ingredients. 

The price is what gets me the most. I have spent double the amount on creams that didn't do half what this one does. If the full-sized product turns out to be as good as the sample, I'm going to be really happy.

If you go looking for this, make sure to look for it as shown in the bottle in the photo. If you search their  "curl defining cream", I don't know what you turn up.

Peace

--Free

Where Did All the G+ People Go?

 This is a callout to all the wonderful people who used to populate the Google Plus world.

I was looking for some of the blogs and people I use to follow on an almost daily basis and, sadly, many are lost. At least, I cannot find some of them.

Where are you?

If you were on Google Plus and have any skills, can you please, please, please, set up something similar? I am sure I am not the only person who misses that huge circle of people and interests. 

Custom Tinted Face Primer?

 I was being frugal again and came up with something that I wanted to share. I am very likely not the first chick to come up with this since a lot of us like blending and mixing our cosmetics. 

What I wanted was a tinted matte face primer but I had preferences:

1. Can't make me look ashy or chalky
2. Can't dry out my skin
3. Can't make my skin greasy or unpleasant to the touch
4. Can't be more than $10
5. Can't be messy to work with

Yeah. So. Getting 4 out of 5 wouldn't be difficult but the price was going to be a problem. Instead of trying to find something to buy, I decided to see what I already had to work with. 

Found this:

I reviewed this last year

I love everything about it except that, when worn alone, it makes me look chalky.

Also had this:

Also reviewed Juvia last year
Have never been back to the site &
will never go back

one of many shades
that didn't work

There was a whole saga of me trying to find the right Juvia foundation shade. This is one that was much too dark. By itself. Mixed with the Hard Candy though...

souffle-to-powder texture

The result was a sort of souffle-to-matte texture. Interesting and light.

You can see how subtle the effects are - just a touch of a powdery blurring with very little of the foundation color showing. Basically, this did not make my black skin look ashy.

I can experiment later with different shades

I love that I can experiment and make up a whole palette of shades for my eyes, cheeks, etc. For my overall look though, that right there is a perfect shade of a blur for my skin. PERFECT.

Since the pandemic, I haven't been wearing much in the way of foundation. For one thing, it's too messy for masks and, also, why? Not much showing off anything but these bright and shiny eyes! With this homemade blurring product, I can mattify my face and not worry about getting my masks all gross with foundation transfer.

The best thing about this is that I was able to use some foundation that would otherwise go to waste. The Hard Candy Balm is running right about $7 to $9, depending on the retailer. I could not find it on Amazon but Walmart is stocked up - and it might be the only place outside of the Hard Candy site.

Some people have compared this to the e.l.f. primer products but I happened to already have the Hard Candy sitting around. So, without having to buy anything, I came up with a really useful product.

Peace

--Free

I Tried African Threading on My Natural Hair (Part 2)

 Okay. folks. I lasted four and a half days. I took the threading out today because I had so much shea butter in that my head was just slick! LOL

So, I am going to do a wash and re-thread my hair tonight or tomorrow. This time, I am making a few changes:

• I will NOT use nearly as much shea butter. I could barely pull my hair apart for all the shea.
• I will steam my hair when I apply my leave-in moisturizers (prior to threading).
• I am going to use 3 pieces of yarn for each threading. I learned this from a video. I can then thread all the way down the length of my hair and braid the ends of yarn. Last time I had exposed ends.
• I am going to spray the yarn with moisturizer before or after threading. (When I did the takedown this time, I noticed that the shea had kept the yarn from drying out my hair. A LOT of shea was left in that yarn...)
• I am going to attempt to be more uniform in the size of the threaded sections. Last time, I had some very large and very small sections. This made it a pain to scarf-wrap my hair every day. 
• I'm also going to measure and pre-cut my yarn this time. Last time, I liked pulling strands from the ball and cutting but I had some uneven yarn pieces. I would rather have more yarn than having to tie on additional pieces when I run short.

All in all, though, I am pretty thrilled with the anti-shrinkage. I haven't seen my hair at this length since the last time I straightened with an electric appliance. And I didn't do any damage. Love that!

By the way, I found an old facial steamer I had gotten to review a few years ago. The nozzle sprays wide enough that I can get a wide reach. I had no idea how to use it for my hair until the past several weeks of reading up on using steam for hair care. I actually even have my AfroSheen Steam mask to use. We'll see how that goes. 

Here is a contrast of what my hair looked like before and after the 1st attempt (using a single wrap). Keep in mind that I have not washed out the clump of dried shea butter in the After photos...

This is what the nape/backside looked like.

That was a tricky mirror shot

Now that I am finishing this post the day after I started all the above...

I did not end up moisturizing my yarn. I forgot. I did use 3 strands this time and that did make the ends easier to work with. I did go much lighter on shea. I used shea to seal my hair after washing but stuck to some lighter leave-in products for threading and am moisturizing my scalp daily with JBCO.

Even with this being my 2nd time, I still had problems starting at the root (without getting it too tight or too loose), and I can never judge the best measure of the yarn. I guess I will get better the more I thread.

For now, I am really pleased with this threading and I feel comfortable enough leaving it in for a week.  When I do the next takedown, I will just update this post with any news and photos.

Peace

--Free

I Tried African Threading on My Natural Hair (Part 1)

 African threading is probably the most ingenious hair care technique known. And I am mad that I hadn't heard about it before a couple of weeks ago. I don't usually shout about it but some cultures just never get the credit they deserve.

Why is this not a bigger deal? I don't know. But let's talk about the genius of hair threading. First, some background. I tried to find some older resources but apparently, the threading trend wasn't hot online before 2010 (if my search results can be trusted).

This is what I did find and like, so I am sharing:

• African Hair Threading History and Tutorial
• "What Is African Threading?

This video tutorial is the best one I have seen for learning how to do threading. (And, for some reason, I now think I might have seen this at some point in the past.)

Currently, there are a lot of videos and articles about threading - some that have been out long enough that I should have noticed before now. I have learned a lot about how to do it but the information sometimes conflicts on what threading material to use (yarn, rubberized thread, metal thread, etc.) or techniques for the ends (tuck and wrap or leave loose, etc.).  I like the idea of tucking the ends and was wrapping but it was tricky for me to do with yarn. I could do it with the rubber thread but... well, more on that in a moment.

I used that video tutorial (above) and some of the one in that linked history & tutorial  for general guides. However, I did end up trying different threading materials. The first was rubberized thread and did not work well with my very shea-moisturized hair! Here is my process for the 1st and 2nd attempts.

The Supplies I Used

Trying this for the first time & 
got it cheaper at Sally's

Okay Smooth All Natural,100% Pure
Unrefined Daily Skin Moisturizer

And for my scalp, my favorite JBCO
 (until I find something better-priced!)

"Bead String Rubber
Stretchy String Elastic String"

This is what my hair looked like (unstretched) before I did my first (successful) yarn-threading. It has been washed, deep-conditioned, sealed and moisturized.

This is what my first (and failed) attempt with the rubberized thread looked like:

No Bueno! Unh uh!
(but the ends are tucked)

I could not get my threading started closer to the root. Again, I think it's because my fingers were too slick with shea.

 

I removed the rubber thread the very next day, re-washed and conditioned my hair, and started over. This time I went with acrylic yarn. This is cheaper and much MUCH easier for me to use as an inexperienced threader.

This also took less time because I wasn't struggling (unsuccessfully) to keep the threading near the root.  

I did trim the yarn afterward

"Kizzy! Kizzy!!"

I think I did an okay job, I will need to learn to keep the gaps smaller and to get closer to the ends of the hair. The toughest thing will be learning to end up with something stylish enough to wear uncovered. In the meantime, I am wearing scarves. I usually wear these neck-gaiter-type scarves just because they are  a cute (and lazy) way to keep my head warm in the winter.

I can't wait to get through the next several days (5 or 7 is what I am shooting for) so that I can re-thread and see if I do a better job. I am pleased though. The one thing I worry about is that I used too much shea butter. It was literally oozing from between the threads when I finished wrapping my hair. I think it will dry down some though from being threaded and being tucked into a scarf. Plus, it is super arid here in the winter so...

By the way, the threading is not uncomfortable to sleep on. I sleep with the scarf on so that I can secure the threading in a suitable arrangement for laying on. 

I will do a Part 2 when I take down and re-thread my hair in - well, however many days I can last!

Peace

--Free

FYI: I linked to the gaiter scarves I use just because I love them so much. I don't get any compensation or affiliate credit. I bought them last year when they were about 10 bucks and, after many washing and almost daily wear, they are like new. I want to get more but I see the price has gone up. The price depends on the color/pattern you choose; I got the Dark Grey set of 6.

**RECIPES** Drinking Chia Seeds (without gagging)

**UPDATE**

I have CKD stage 3b and have learned that I have to watch my intake of chia seeds. 

Before you ever try something new in your diet, make sure to talk to your medical care team.

 Chia seeds are a great source of fiber, highly nutritious, high in antioxidants, a good source of protein, and omega 3. 

You can get a nice fix of seeds by mixing them into food, cereals, and baked goods.

Or - and this is the quickest way to ingest them - you can drink them. People make chia water or add chia to their juices. 

Personally, I have a slight aversion to the texture of soaked chia seeds. I can deal better with them in a juice because it reminds me of drinking aloe juice with the pulp. Otherwise, I just feel like I'm drinking globulets of something. Ick.

So here is what I came up with and want to share with anyone interested. I dump the chia (about 2 tablespoons twice a day) into about 8 ounces of water and drink it down before the seeds plump. 

Of course, I do have to swish some follow-up water to rinse away any residual seeds from my mouth and teeth but I don't mind. 

Because I'm not crazy about wet seeds, I bake them into this cookie recipe. (My alterations below the recipe.)

Apologies to Allrecipes but showing an image was easier than typing out the recipe because my brain is on off-mode today.

Source Link 
Allrecipes.com

My alterations & notes:

• I omit the raisins so my cookies are flatter. Adding an extra tablespoon or so bulks them up or you can add more oats.
• I omit the coconut flakes and double up on the seeds. I go overboard with chia, flax and sunflower. I also add about 2 tablespoons of ground flax.
• I once cut back slightly on the dry sugars. Instead of 1 cup each, I did about 3/4 cup each. And...
• I once substituted half the brown sugar with a golden monk fruit sweetener. This is the one time that I couldn't tell a huge difference in substituted sweetener.
• I once used 1 2/4 cup brown sugar (half light/half dark) and 2/4 cup white sugar for a total of 2 cups of sugar in the recipe. This was good but I really had to watch the bake time!
• As with any recipe, don't let the butter get too soft for creaming. I did this once and my cookies literally melted and stuck to the parchment. I couldn't even scrape them off and ended up wasting all those precious ingredients...
• I tried adding a tablespoon of blackstrap molasses once and this gave the cookies a darker bake and a slightly sweeter texture. Watch your bake though, the extra sweetness can shorten the time in the oven.
• This recipe can take a LOT of chia seeds. They are small enough that they don't over-bulk the dough.

This recipe is pretty forgiving and I've found you can play with a lot of the ingredients as long as your basic dry ingredients remain about the same.

The chia seeds kind of pop when you bite them

That's just one way to get a lot of chia seeds (and make your sweet tooth happy) but if you want to keep it healthier, stick to the waters. 

I do my first hit of chia water in the morning before I eat or drink anything else. I take another hit at night before bed (or earlier if I want to curb snack cravings). 

Knocking back the seeds this way is so much easier for me than dealing with wet clumps of them.

NOTE: I didn't find this out until I was prepping for this post. Apparently, if you have renal issues... 

oh, me, me!

:-(

...you should read up about ingesting lots of chia. Sucks for me. I will be checking with my docs since I am just borderline because of the sarcoidosis...

Peace

--Free

Facebook Is Not My Family nor Is It My Friend

 Family, friends, all loved ones:

Please stop limiting your important announcements to Facebook posts.

I don't live and die by Facebook. I can go DAYS without opening Facebook.

I don't want to miss out on knowing when someone in my family needs prayer or some other support just BECAUSE I DON'T WORSHIP FACEBOOK.

People, stop. 

The first time I knew Facebook was going to be a problem was a few years ago, I couldn't locate an obituary for a friend. I searched the local papers and found nothing. Turns out, the only obituary of any substance was on Facebook. 

That should not be a thing.

So, stop. Please. 

If you have something important that a friend or family member or other loved one should be aware of, don't assume that Facebook is the center of their universe. 

Living our lives online is a big part of the reason for many of our current problems.

Want to get a broad idea of what's happening in the world? You might have to check several sources and then use your critical thinking skills to process the information but, trust me, you can do it. Pick up your newspaper. Pick up more than one newspaper. Don't depend on the Facebook algorithms to supply your daily dose of world news and information.   

Want to keep up on your friends - you know, the people you actually know and have seen without a filter? Then pick up your phone every now and then for more than checking your online social media. Remember, you had a social circle before you relegated everything to Facebook and Instagram and all the other Like-me-notice-me networks.

Want to keep some part of your humanity that isn't controlled by AI or some billionaire selling your life away for their profits? Maybe put down your phone and try practicing making eye contact, heart contact, life contact, actual contact with the living and breathing, and God-created people in your life.

Want to feel better about yourself? About your own daily blessings? About the way you look and feel and live? You know - the home you have, the kids you have, the spouse you have, the possessions you have, the clothes you wear, the way your life is? PUT DOWN THE DAMN PHONE.

Is it great to have some of the benefits of social media? Absolutely. It is until it's not.

It is when:

• You can find and share resources that help you live and learn better.
• You can help society in general with solutions to problems.
• You can teach yourself and your child about things that help enrich your lives.

It is not when:

• You can't tell what is real or not about -
• basic news and information
• people who may or may not be your friend (or enemy)
• what ordinary human beings look like as children, teens, adults, and seniors
• normal expectations for normal daily living in a society
• You are indoctrinated to indulge in every one of the deadly sins. 
  
  
  
• You find yourself coveting how other people look, live, eat, vacation, and couple-up or (Lord help me) 'un-couple'.
• You are so busy watching other people live their lives (or what they portray) to live your own with any semblance of natural joy.
• You can't engage in any kind of conversational debate without using social media as your (unchecked) fact source.
• You always come in on the middle of potentially serious issues without getting a more well-rounded idea (see the 1619 debate; QAnon; Black Lives (or Blue lives or All lives) Matter; and on and on and on.)

And I really could go on and on but I will just stop by pointing back to the Boiling Frog Syndrome. Some of us are old enough to remember life without cellphones. For those that do, remember how you could remember important phone numbers - or at least your own? We don't have to anymore - until we do. Don't lose that phone and have to use someone's landline...

Every advancement - or let's more accurately say "progression" - in technology, we gain something and we lose something. 

Reaching way back, we learned to better record and store information and we lost oral history traditions. That's neither all bad nor all good. We did lose the necessity to communicate in some ways. (Does anyone remember their family griots? Ours was my mother and aunts and uncles.)

Closer in time, we gained access to a wide wealth of information and learning (via the internet and other media technology), yet many of us don't take advantage. There is less of a restriction on educational resources (in developed and able societies) but is there? I don't have numbers but I would be interested to see them for comparisons of some things. Wonder what the average daily engagement is among certain age groups for Facebook or Instagram or TikTok for, say, Wikipedia or Khan Academy? (And did y'all know that there is such a thing as Wikiversity?) 

I often wonder how many people actually read the entire articles in the links they so quickly share on Twitter? I personally know that I will get more interaction from people online if I share a link to something about a singer, actor, or reality TV personality than if I link to some educational resources. I have numbers from this very blog on the engagement made with certain posts. Trust me, people are not really running the numbers up on the posts I did listing links to autodidact resources... Don't believe me? Here is what my Most Viewed Stats show as of today:

Not one education resource shown

The Number 1 post is a silly one I did poking fun of people being less than adult-like in their behaviors. That has been in the top spot from about a month after it first posted. It's not even that well-written. All the other spots are taken by product review posts. We want to laugh and be beautiful more than we want to learn something, I guess.

(By the way, if you are interested,

you can use the Search at the top left

of the blog to look up "educational" 

for those resources.)

I say all this just to remind everyone: Make the internet and social media work for you and not the other way round. Let it be nutrition to your life and not just empty calories. (Yeah, corny, but you know what I mean.)

Peace

--Free

P.S.: I just re-read this and I am very pleased if I say so myself. I am not usually able to put out anything as coherent as this post. My brain was feeling great today and I was so motivated. Maybe I should get this mad more often and see if it helps alleviate my sarc symptoms. 

**REVIEW** Sweet Almond Oil

 Of all the many, many oils I have used over the years, I never got around to trying sweet almond oil. I have no idea how I missed this one. Now that I have tried it... Wow. It's up there with my favorites like Marula and pumpkin seed. I would have to say that it beats both of those as a treatment for the face. Pumpkin can be too thick and "heavy"; Marula is better, in my opinion, for the hair. Plus, good quality Marula tends to be pricy.

This is the brand of sweet almond that I am trying:

There are, of course, several brands but I chose this one for the positive reviews and cheap price - under $3 for the 4-ounce bottle. It really does only take a few drops to treat my face and neck. If I decide to try it on my hair (as a post-wash sealer/moisturizer), I will be getting a much larger bottle.

I am raving about this over other oils (to use on the face) because of the way it soaks into the skin. There is very little residue detectable and almost zero added shine. How great is it that this relieves my dry facial skin without making me look all greasy?

Another positive: one ingredient and only one.

There are probably a million benefits listed online but I will skip those. What I love about this - in addition to the above-mentioned things - is how soft it makes my skin feel. I will probably use this as my "wake-up" oil. In the winter, the first thing in the morning, I have to pat my dried-out skin with a bit of water from my bedside water bottle. If I don't, it almost hurts to yawn. Seriously. Actually, I sometimes even hydrate my face on my nighttime jogs to the bathroom. 

The summer weather here is much more humid and awesome for the skin. Winter though is incredibly parching. 

This stuff is pretty much a friend to my entire face and neck. I have already put some in a little tube for use on my lips.

Anyway, I wanted to share a short take on this oil. It's going to be my best friend first thing in the morning and last thing at night. If I ever try another brand (doubtful), I will come back and compare.

Peace

--Free

**UPDATING LINKS** Archaeology, History, and People from the Bible

 This will be a post that I update on a semi-regular basis. It's going to be a list of links to articles and information. Everything here will relate in some way to people from the Bible in archeology and secular history. Please enjoy.

• List of biblical figures identified in extra-biblical sources 
• 53 People in the Bible Confirmed Archaeologically (from Bible Archeology Society)
• When Bible History and Ancient History Meet Face to Face (from The Mystery of History)
• Unearthing the World of Jesus
• Archaeology of Israel
• Archaeological Excavations Relating to Jewish History - Index
• Archeology of the Hebrew Bible
• 15 Historical Proofs of the Bible

Perhaps you should bookmark this page so that you can come back and check for updates.

Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** Tangle Teezer Thick & Curly Detangling Hairbrush

 Listen. If you have kinky-curly-nappy-knotty-whatever hair, you need this in your life. 

I have tried a Denman brush, a flexible vent brush, and a couple other brushes to help with tangling and snagging. The Denman brush works better for smoothing in some curls and waves. The vent brush is what I have been using for detangling and, until now, it was my favorite. Until now.

This Tangle Teezer surprised the crap out of me. For one thing, I almost canceled the order right after I bought it. I thought about the price ($12+ with tax), for something that looked so small, then I saw that it wasn't due to be delivered until the 2nd week of February (I ordered it on January 18th and I am not a patient woman). While I was putting in the cancellation, I got the notice that the item had shipped. Okay. So I decided that I could also return it if I was disappointed.

The Teezer turned out not to be as small as it seemed from the Amazon photos. It's just about the size of my computer mouse and is even shaped to be palmed just like the mouse. It's more comfortable to hold than brushes with handles. The shape also helps in how you use the brush to detangle from ends to root.

Now, back to where I started this post...

I have some of the kinkiest, knottiest, 4C hair that there is. It's great when it's been moisturized and styled but, chile, right after washing, this stuff is a job. In other words, I usually have to fight to get to the point of not ripping out at least some of my hair on wash day. Or any day when my hair is dried out. Wash days can be a nightmare. I am not ashamed to admit that I have put off washing my hair for a day or two just because I could not deal with the detangling struggles. Ugh!

But not with the Teezer.

I am shocked that this works so well because the bristles seem a bit fragile when I run my fingers across them. They are not silicone-soft but they are not stiff and unyielding. Yet, they manage to just sort of glide through the kinks and knots in my hair. I brushed my hair tonight before doing a co-wash. Then I brushed it after I washed it so that I could put up my twists. This is what the brush looks like.

 

This is what my vent brush looks like after I used it (pre-wash) to brush through one small section of hair. I wanted something to compare.

SO, yeah, I'm only mad that I never heard of this Tangle Teezer before. As soon as I realized how good it was at detangling, I went ahead and lightly trimmed my ends tonight. I want to see how good my hair looks without so much breakage in a couple of months.

There are some good videos online of ladies using the Tangle Teezer. I have one warning: Be very careful that you get the right Teezer for your type of hair. I read one review where a 4C chick was disappointed because she got the Teezer for a thinner, straighter type of hair. Now, excuse me, while I go tie up my twists for the night. I can wait to use this Teezer again.

Peace

--Free