Billie Eilish is perhaps the most talented artist of our generation…and I don’t throw that around lightly. At only 13, Eilish wrote “Ocean Eyes” alongside her brother Finneas and launched her prolific career. And at the fair age of 22, Eilish has 24 GRAMMY Award nominations and nine wins, two Oscars, two Golden Globes, and countless other accolades.
Beyond that, she recently announced her third album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, to be released May 17, 2024. She spent the days leading up to the announcement building excitement by adding all of her Instagram followers to her “Close Friends” list. Eilish had the most Instagram followers in 48 hours…with her count increasing by 7 million followers total.
While her debut album, when we all fall asleep…where do we go?, was a chart-topper in its own right, it landed Billie every GRAMMY it was nominated for at the ripe age of 18…Eilish has solidified herself as one of the most revered and sought-after popstars in the world.
Eilish recently caught media attention for quietly revealing her sexuality. In an interview with Variety, she states that she’s always liked girls…and assumed people always knew that. In a viral snippet from her new song, LUNCH, she details a love affair with a girl.
But people don’t only adore Billie for her catchy tracks that consistently top the charts. It’s not just her songwriting ability and unique vocals that keep us hooked. People love her because she’s unafraid to speak her mind.
Whether it be complaining about too many influencers being at an awards show, or calling out other artists for using unsustainable practices…Billie does not hold back.
Billie Eilish On Sustainability
Eilish home
rethinkingthefuture.com
The Eilish home is iconic for many reasons: it’s where Billie and Finneas recorded her debut album, countless other songs, and EPs, in an effort to conserve water there’s no grass, and the roof is covered in solar panels. And being environmentally conscious extends beyond the four walls of their home.
When the hottest young talent is discovered at such an early age like Eilish, record labels are chomping at the bit to sign them. It’s like when a D1 athlete is ready to commit to college…you have your pick.
But what Eilish and her mom, Maggie Baird, were looking for wasn’t about money or label-perks…they were seeking a solid sustainability program. And while that may seem like standard practice, most labels didn’t bring up environmental policies during these meetings at all.
After signing to The Darkroom via Interscope Records, the struggle didn’t stop there. Billie Eilish and her family have been consistent contributors to the fight against climate change.
Maggie Baird has since started Support + Feed, which focuses on the climate crisis and food insecurity. Support + Feed helped Eilish’s 2022 Happier Than Ever tour save 8.8 million gallons of water through plant-based meal service for the artist and crew members.
During Billie’s 2023 Lollapalooza performance, she aided the launch and funding of REVERB’s Music Decarbonization Project – which guaranteed all battery systems used during her set were solar powered. The MCD’s overall mission is to lower – and eventually eliminate –the music industry’s carbon emissions.
But more recently, Billie Eilish called out other artists for releasing multiple versions of vinyls in order to boost vinyl sales. In an interview with Billboard, she says,
“We live in this day and age where, for some reason, it’s very important to some artists to make all sorts of different vinyl and packaging … which ups the sales and ups the numbers and gets them more money and gets them more…”
Artists convince fans to buy different versions of their albums by offering exclusive features on each vinyl. Take Taylor Swift, for example, who released five separate vinyl versions of Midnights, each with a different deluxe “Vault” track.
While Billie may not have been trying to shade one artist in particular, the point is that she’s fed up. After being the rare artist in the industry who go out of their way to remain environmentally conscious, Eilish sets the bar high.
How Eilish’s New Album Is Sustainable
Billie for "Hit Me Hard and Soft"
William Drumm
Social media users were quick to claim Eilish was hypocritical by announcing that HIT ME HARD AND SOFT will have eight vinyl variations. However, each vinyl is made from recycled materials – either 100% recycled black vinyl or BioVinyl, which replaces petroleum used during manufacturing with recycled cooking oil.
This just illustrates that Eilish wasn’t directing criticism towards other artists for using vinyl variants to gain album sales…but she does think there are better ways to do it that benefit the environment without hurting their sales.
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A Sound Investment — My Experience With Audien Hearing Aids
Editor’s Note: I recently celebrated my 60th birthday. Although I still feel like a 30 year old on the inside — my hearing ability was starting to decline. I discovered Audien and couldn’t be happier with the results.
Here’s What My Life Sounded Like Before Audien:
“Can you repeat that?”
“What? I can’t hear you!”
“Huh???”
These are only some of the phrases plaguing my life these days. My husband will tell you that my hearing ability is not what it once was.
I knew my hearing loss was a real issue when we went to eat at our favorite Italian restaurant and everything sounded muffled. The waiter had to practically yell in my ear to tell me about the specials. As much as I hated to admit it, I definitely needed a hearing aid.
After some internet research and talking with friends, I was completely overwhelmed by conventional hearing aid options. Without knowing how well they’d work for me, shelling out upwards of $5,000 was not something I was ready to do…
Hearing loss has already taken a toll on my day-to-day activities, so the last thing I wanted to do was deal with stressful doctor appointments and an involved fitting process uncertain of what the results would be. Plus, as a self-proclaimed fashionista, I didn’t want a clunky, attention-drawing hearing aid to detract from my fabulous outfits.
I needed something affordable, simple to set up, and discreet — Enter Audien.
Here are a few reviews that helped convince me to give Audien a try:
Here’s What My Life Sounds Like After Audien:
For only $289, I got the Audien Atom Pro 2 hearing aids delivered right to my door. I was immediately blown away by the super compact size and modern design. With 4 versatile listening modes — Conversation, Noisy Environment, Road Vehicle, and Outdoor — simply hold down the button to switch between them.
After a quick charge, I chose the conversation mode and popped my hearing aids in. They even come with 3 different ear tip sizes (Medium works best for me) to ensure a comfortable fit. I put them to the test by talking with my husband and everything sounded crystal clear. I honestly couldn’t believe the sound quality for such a terrific price.
Audien’s 45 day money back guarantee gave me total peace of mind when ordering. Although it’s safe to say that I won’t be returning these!
Another amazing feature of the Atom Pro 2 is the self-cleaning UV technology within the case. The pandemic definitely turned me into a bit of a germaphobe, so I love the peace of mind that these stay clean automatically.
The real test was going out to dinner with my sweetie — he sounds just like he did on our first date. By amplifying speech and reducing background noise, the Atom Pro 2s totally transformed our dinner dates. No more repeating, no more shouting in my ear, and no more straining to understand. I chose the Noisy Environment mode for our local bistro, and it worked perfectly.
They’re really easy to charge and the battery lasts for 24 hours. This also means no pesky battery changing involved!
Final Thoughts:
The Atom Pro 2, makes the world sound crystal clear again. Talking on the phone’s a breeze and my husband’s vocal chords can finally relax. I truly wish I knew about Audien sooner, as my quality of life is so much better with them.
If you’re noticing signs of hearing loss, I’d totally recommend checking out Audien — with the 45 day money back guarantee, you’ve got nothing to lose!
Should You Boil Your Drinking Water? Microplastics Are A Hidden Menace
In the iconic film TheGraduate, Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman), a young man wondering what do to with his life, is approached by a well-meaning family friend who advises: “There’s a great future in plastics. Think about it.”
That’s the difference between then and now. In 1967 Braddock was urged to get into plastics; in 2024 we’re looking for ways to get the plastics out of us.
Such paranoid thoughts are prompted by a Washington Post piece about microplastics. But first, a quick science class.
Q: What are microplastics?
A: “Primary microplastics are tiny particles designed for commercial use, such as cosmetics, as well as microfibers, shed from clothing and other textiles, such as fishing nets. Secondary microplastics are particles that result from the breakdown of larger plastic items, such as water bottles. This breakdown is caused by exposure to environmental factors, mainly the sun’s radiation and ocean waves.” (National Geographic Society)
Microplastics have been found in human blood, breast milk, liquid and solid waste, and even placentas. It’s in our drinking water and myriad products such as toothpaste. The world’s precious oceans and the marine life that inhabit them are teeming with microplastics.
Plastic has transcended its already horrible reputation as an environmental problem and turned into a matter of health. ClientEarth puts it like this: “Due to their persistence and the chemicals they are made of, studies suggest they can be highly detrimental to the organisms they come in contact with, including by causing reduced feeding, poisoning, and increasing mortality. They also tend to facilitate the transfer of contaminants along the food chain, with potentially grave consequences for human health.”
So how should we deal with these insidious things?
As the Post reports, scientists “Zhanjun Li and Eddy Y. Zeng report that...
...boiling and filtering water helped remove up to nearly 90 percent of the tiny plastic particles, which they write, can be found in 129 of 159 tap water samples from 14 countries worldwide.”
Li and Yeng found that “At high enough temperatures, calcium carbonate (which is commonly found in tap water) will become solid, effectively encapsulating or ‘encrusting’ the plastic particles, and making them easy to remove through a simple filter, such as a coffee filter.”
Is it time to start boiling water before we filter it for use? Li and Yeng state that their research is more about stimulating deeper research into what microplastics do to the planet than household tips. But if you want to be safe, it’s not a bad idea. Boiling water also “kills potentially harmful microbes, parasites, and viruses.” Let the water cool down for 5 to 10 minutes after boiling so any solids present can settle. Then filter the water with the device of your choice.
Scientists are still investigating microplastics’ negative effects on our health. No doubt further means of reducing and, perhaps, eliminating microplastics from our lives will be discovered and codified in the future. Until then, it’s worth doing what we can to maintain our health. It certainly can’t hurt. Chris Reddy — a senior scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution — is quoted in the Post: “You will always want to limit non-natural things in your uptake.”
The Worst Thing We Can Do Is Stop Hoping — The Loss of Alexey Navalny
Written by Stanislav Kucher
With the brutal death of Alexey Navalny, there's a lot of pain, anger, and despair on the Internet. I’m talking about normal people, not moral monsters, scoundrels, and prostitutes — and people feel powerless. Many are crying not only over Alexey Navalny but also over the loss of hope: “Hope has died”, they write. But these words are a manifestation of self-pity — a quality that Alexey would least like to see in his compatriots.
And not for the sake of the words Navalny called upon people not to give up. Not for the cool pose he was showing everyone an example of true fearlessness and fortitude again and again while going in and out of the punishment cell.
He was encouraging his adherent — was laughing at his jailers, he joked and always smiled. He never slipped into cynicism, pathos, or vulgarity. He remained a human, a person, “my guy” proving “I could do it, and you can too.”
The worst thing we can do — all of us, who are shocked by Alexei’s death — is to stop hoping. We need to turn hope into a goal, and goals into reality. Yes, only a few are capable of self-sacrifice, as demonstrated by Navalny. From each according to his ability . . . But everyone, no matter where they are, can wipe away their tears, figure out what exactly they can do in their place, make a decision, and act to bring about change. Alexey has said more than once — in his videos recorded while free and in his posts from prison — that there are many ways, you can fight, the main thing is not to lose hope and faith in yourself, not to give up.
By dying, idealists become paragons for their contemporaries' children. Navalny and Nemtsov are heroes: the way they lived will frighten thieves and slaves, and inspire generations of free people around the world. Russia will also change, perhaps not as quickly as Boris and Alexey dreamed, but it will change. And the grandchildren of idiots who are posting abominations in Z-publics will stroll along avenues and squares named after the very heroes their ancestors spread rot about. It’s hard to believe now, but it will happen — just as Nemtsov and Navalny dreamed.
This will happen. Let’s not drown the pain in a cocktail of tears, vodka, despair, and apathy. Ask yourself the question . . .
“What can I do if I don’t want my grandchildren to live in a country of lies and death?”
Depending on your place of residence, occupation, age, talent, and personal qualities, the answers will be different for different people. This is fine. It's important that the question itself be asked first.
Stanislav Kucher, publicist and editor of SamizdatOnline
Real People, Real Results — Uqora Customers’ Honest Reviews
Did you know that "urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most frequent clinical bacterial infections in women, accounting for nearly 25% of all infections”?* Hard to believe, right?!
Our editors were shocked but not surprised. We wondered what it would be like not to suffer. Imagine enjoying life without the discomfort, frustration, the ineffective home remedies, and cranberry juice hacks. Not in our lifetime.
But we wanted to get to the bottom of this common issue and help our readers. After much research, we came across a brand dedicated to spreading awareness of UTIs and tackling urinary health with a fresh approach. Meet Uqora, they specialize in UTI Education and make UTI relief products. In collaboration with physicians and scientists, they also created best-selling urinary tract health supplements that are designed to support women through the life stages that can impact urinary tract health.
If looking to get proactive about your urinary health, Uqora’s most popular bundle the Complete Regimen has three products, designed to support your urinary health from multiple angles:Flush— an easy-to-drink beverage mix with a mild pink lemonade flavor. It offers a quick method to literally flush your urinary tract. It alkalizes your urine, reducing its acidity through a blend of unique ingredients. Flush aims to provide urinary support when you need it most, like after sex, exercise, or while traveling.
Defend— this daily supplement is designed to cleanse biofilm and support bladder wall integrity. Biofilm is a collection of microorganisms bound together that attach to surfaces, like the bladder wall. Defend is packed with active ingredients like turmeric root and green tea extract. It also contains Vitamin D, to help tighten junction proteins in the bladder, essentially connecting cells.
Promote — not your typical probiotic — Promote is a probiotic designed to support "good" bacteria that are specific to the vagina. It features three strains—Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, and Lactobacillus Reuter—which live naturally in a healthy vagina. It's great for individuals seeking additional support in maintaining vaginal health, which has been closely linked to urinary health.
From periods to menopause — and through all life’s changes — when one’s urinary health might need extra support, Uqora’s there for you.
Still need convincing? Uqora's site has a library of over 30,000 uncurated reviews** that can be filtered according to age ranges. But here are a few that caught our editors’ eyes.
If you’re still on the fence, Uqora’s happiness guarantee gives you time to try their products risk-free for 60 days. If you’re not satisfied, simply contact their customer success team for a refund. And you can opt out anytime you want — no commitment. A— a safety net you won’t be needing. But how nice to know it’s there!
While you can buy each product individually, we recommend a subscription for the best value. Uqora's best-selling Complete Regimen starts at only $52 (a $90 value), and automatically renews every 4 weeks. Plus, Uqora will email you 3 days before each shipment, just in case you want to adjust anything.
It’s time to say hello to better urinary tract health. Uqora’s got you covered.
*”https://uqora.info/blogs/learning-center/recurrent...
**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
Uqora's dietary supplement products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Results may vary.
8 Things You Didn't Know About Martin Luther King Jr.
The American icon was a complicated man.
Each year, we celebrate the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Most people are aware that King was a civil rights leader who fought against segregation and worked to secure voting rights for Black Americans and other minorities. His work helped push the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through Congress and into law.
But there's far more about Martin Luther King Jr. that isn't common knowledge. Here are a few things that have been forgotten over the course of history:
1. King was a strong supporter of democratic socialism.
During the 2016 election, Bernie Sanders brought the term "democratic socialism" to the forefront of American politics. But Martin Luther King Jr. openly supported the philosophy throughout his life. As a child, King saw the bread lines during the Great Depression. "I can see the effects of this early childhood experience on my present anti-capitalistic feelings," he wrote in 1950 while he was a divinity student. King saw capitalism as "a system that takes necessities from the masses to give luxuries to the classes."
2. King's activism went far beyond the Civil Rights Movement.
He also protested the Vietnam War. In 1967, King delivered a speech entitled "Beyond Vietnam," in which he called for the United States to stop bombing in Vietnam. He also argued that American troops should be pulled out of the area and the U.S. should enter into a truce that would lead to peace talks. King viewed the American intervention in Vietnam as imperialism. He was staunchly anti-war and a pacifist.
3. It wasn't until the year 2000 that MLK Day was observed in every state.
While Martin Luther King Day became a federal holiday in 1986, not every state observed it until South Carolina was the final state to recognize the holiday in 2000. Because MLK Day is a federal holiday — not a national one — only federal employees received a paid day off. The holiday was met with resistance when it was first enacted because some felt King was too subversive to receive federal recognition.
4. King had numerous academic accomplishments.
Throughout his life, King's intellect shined in his writing and activism. As an adolescent, he skipped both the 9th and 12th grades. At 15, he entered Morehouse College and eventually received his Doctorate of Philosophy in Systematic Theology from Boston University in 1955. He was awarded many honorary degrees — Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters, Doctor of Humanities, and Doctor of Divinity.
5. Over 900 streets in the United States are named after Martin Luther King Jr.
After his assassination in 1968, many cities and states re-named streets in his honor. His name even graces streets in foreign countries. Forty states in America have at least one street named after King. Unfortunately, many of the streets in the U.S. with his namesake often struggle economically. These streets tend to have high levels of poverty and racial segregation in comparison to other streets in their respective cities.
6. He was the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
In 1964, King received the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent resistance to racial prejudice in America. At 35, he was the youngest person to ever receive the award. Alfred Nobel, for whom the award is named, described the recipient of the Peace Prize as "the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."
7. King was a fan of Star Trek.
The classic science fiction TV show first aired in 1966. Star Trek made an indelible mark on American pop culture and civil rights. The U.S.S. Enterprise crew was composed of various races and nationalities, including Lieutenant Uhura. Nichelle Nichols sought King's advice about whether she should leave the show after its first season. King encouraged her to stay on. He believed that the representation of an African-American woman in a position of leadership on the Starship Enterprise was too important.
8. He was TIME Magazine's first Black Man of the Year.
In 1963, TIME Magazine named King the Man of the Year. That was the same year King delivered his famous "I Have A Dream" speech on the steps of President Abraham Lincoln's memorial. The magazine cited King's essay "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and his leadership of many peaceful protests as justification for the accolade.
SPEAKERS CORNER - Tech Founders Talking
A series by tech entrepreneurs, anonymous… or not
ZOOM
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Zoom.
Zoom who?
Zoom is you?
When Liberty Project asked me to write this post, I was reluctant. Call it fatigue, call it Irish humility, or false humility… an unreliable distinction. But I didn’t really want to explain myself to the world wide web (as if anyone would care…).
That damned interweb with all of its likes and tweets and blocks and gaslighting. I thought I’d surfed the whole thing, but seems like last night while the rest of us were sleeping they put up more stuff… F**g tech… Sometimes I question my vocation as a tech entrepreneur, given some of the leaking carcinogens the West World web has unleashed on the reality my children and theirs will inherit.
But I digress…. The assignment was clear: answer one simple question in under 1000 words.
The question is:
Why are you betting on Ireland as the future talent pool for your tech company?
I agreed to write this post, so long as I could frame it as a thoughtful account of what’s really going through my head — which has as much to do with metaphysics as it does with business shite. I’m still conflicted about letting my words get published, but I was enticed by the appropriate reassurances from the editorial team at Liberty Project — no editing of my words without approval, total anonymity for myself and the other contributors to this series.
And as a footnote to this, I was asked by Liberty Project to recommend other potential contributors — people I know who are turning to global talent markets. I suggested a few and I hope they write something. It’s an important conversation to have.
So here goes:
About the business stuff: As is true for any momentous corporate decision, the question has countless answers. So I had trouble distilling the essence, the ‘zero moment of truth’ — the ‘ZMOT,’ as the hip techies say. But then I figured it out, and it was a tiny bit mind-expanding.
I’ve hit my limit, I’m done. I’ve had it with American arrogance, which has seeped down from the top of our oligarchist two-party system. It’s metastasized and festered in our brains and society’s vital organs. So much so that the fun and invention and job satisfaction has been ripped away from doing business as a tech entrepreneur in America now. Gone are the days of code and mission, the ‘esprit de corps’ and scrappy small-team dynamics that made it fun to go to work and work from work… It’s enough to hear the banshee call to arms. I’ll not do something for the money alone. It has to make sense.
Well-intended or not, anti-entrepreneur legislation and legal system-driven opportunism has destroyed most of what was electrifying about the early days of tech entrepreneurship. Those who’ve never milked a cow should not claim to be experts on dairy farming. False authority on the part of elected officials masks their shallow personal agendas and fogs the windshield that should be kept clear for true leaders.
Capitalism is, for sure, a flawed system. But, as a tenet of a civil society, it has something going for it that will never expire. Something quite pure: Maslow’s hierarchy of need. Another word for it is greed. Yeah, humans are greedy, and we’re trained by instinct and nurture to get food, safety and shelter covered above all else.
For those who have canines — dogs, not teeth — once you get yourself a pup, a little “need machine” your mission changes. You strive to be a terrific parent, the right one for the right pup. You gotta get them a roof and food and clothes and gear and some kind of education and all that other costly stuff. Of course, it goes much deeper if the pup is a homo sapien.
So you acquire some healthy habits. Those habits, it can be said, are not unlike those who train American Armed Forces and Ukrainians to protect and serve. Those habits require willpower and discipline and the avoidance of temptations like sloth, apathy, addiction, and stealing from other people who are following a similar code.
Why are the young generations so wise and stupid at the same time?
Ink has been sprayed on this by the best minds in the world, yet it remains a mystery.
So here’s one theory, starting on a positive note:
Why are the youngest generations so wise?
Through privilege and strife, they view the world as a place governed by a ton of rules that make no sense. So they storm soccer fields and glue themselves to the Mona Lisa. They riot and pillage, with or without violence. In their fledgling phase, they fling themselves at injustice and challenge the silliness of our poorly run planet. Those crazy kids and their rock’n’roll. This is an inarguable and oft-repeated truth.
Here’s what people don’t talk about: the next bit, the Second Half. The fear of mortality that drives us close to home and family and the things that make us feel comfortable and loved.
Our lives get shorter every moment… Good segue to the next question:
Why are the youngest generations so stupid?
Youth is misspent on the young. The brilliance of imagination and rebellion and societal evolution does not guarantee systemic progress. One is a flash in the brain, and the other is a decades-long/centuries-long movement — away from racism and sexism and anti-semitism and all religious discrimination… towards the acceptance of the broad spectrum of sexuality.
For younger generations, the hierarchy of need is reversed. They kick and yell and demand to be heard. They’re motivated by self-image rather than cranking through a bucket list. They don’t have mouths to feed, or bills that can’t go unpaid without harm to those they love.
America is still a brash teenager. Here’s hoping we can accelerate the development of our frontal lobe.
America needs to figure out what it wants to be as it grows up. Meanwhile, I’ll be recruiting across borders, seeking young and old people who have the benefit of more history and tradition, who still have the hunger.
Playlist For Thought:
empire state of mind (jay-z and alicia)
royals (lorde)
thousands are sailing (pogues)
lose yourself (eminem)
black boys on mopeds (sinead)
dirty boulevard (lou reed)
shipping up to boston (dropkicks)
madame george (van morrison)
body of an american (pogues)
daddy i'm fine (sinead)
wonderful world (louis armstrong)
Equelle — Real Users Share Their Menopause Miracle Moments
One moment you're shivering in the freezer section of the grocery store, and the next, you're fanning yourself like you’re melting in a sauna. Menopause is a challenging journey that catches many off guard.
Symptoms can start as early as your 40s and before you know it, you’re suffering from sleep issues, mood swings, hot flashes, vaginal irritation, and muscle aches.
While hormone replacement treatment (HRT) can be effective for some, some. people avoid it due to potential side effects. So our editors hunted down a non-hormonal alternative that helps address the root cause of menopause symptoms.
Readers, meet Equelle, your companion on this transformative journey.
You’re probably wondering how Equelle can treat symptoms related to estrogen decline without hormones.
Equelle is backed by decades of efficacy and safety research by scientific experts. Its key ingredient, S-equol, is plant-based and has a similar structure to estrogen, so it can mimic some of its beneficial effects and help reduce menopause symptoms.
By taking two tablets, once a day, you may see results in as soon as 4 weeks, with optimal relief in 2-3 months. Plus, it ships directly to your door. So no need for a doctor’s visit or prescription!
Sounds almost too good to be true, right?! Well, here’s what real users are saying…
“I’m going on my 3rd month using Equelle and I can feel a big difference. I barely get one hot flash a day, Equelle works!”
-Barbara
“My hot flashes are barely noticeable now compared to how intense they used to be. I’m grateful that I found this. It does take time to work, but it works for me. Thank you, Equelle!”
-Ruth
“I just started my third month and WOW! My symptoms are almost completely gone! This is the first product that’s actually worked!”
-Shannon
“I was suffering from hot flashes and night sweats, but after taking Equelle, they stopped. It’s a miraculous product and I’m so grateful to have discovered it.”
-Hilary
“I’ve been taking the Equelle for about 3 months now, and I can see decreased incidents of hot flashes/sweats. The product has really improved my daily life”
-Dawn
Still unsure? Have a look at the results of Equelle’s clinical trials:
- Month 1 – Women with frequent hot flashes reported daily hot flash relief* and improvements in sleep quality in poor sleepers.**
- Month 2 – Women reported an average of 5 fewer hot flashes* per day and experienced significant relief from menopausal muscle and joint aches.**
- Month 3 – Women reported an average of 50 minutes more sleep per night**, improved vaginal symptoms like irritation, itching, and soreness.*** Plus, significant improvements in overall mood.**
- Months 3+ – After 12 weeks, 92% of women reported they were satisfied with Equelle.
S-equol has minimal side effects and is shown to have no association with breast cancer; no changes in sex or thyroid hormones; and no negative effects on endometrial health.
In general, botanicals or plant-based supplements may result in possible gastrointestinal upset – just something to be aware of when taking Equelle.
A one-month supply of Equelle costs $50, but if you subscribe you save 20% — that’s only $40 — and you never have to worry about running out. Plus, if you’re not happy with your results after 90 days, Equelle will refund you in full.
Some of our editors tried Equelle, and we can confirm it works. Our mood and sleep have improved dramatically. And the hot flushes have vanished — no more arguing over the temperature in the office!
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Retail sales from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24 increased 3.1 percent from 2022, according to data from Mastercard SpendingPulse, which measures in-store and online retail sales across all forms of payment. Here's a snapshot of scenes around Miami just before and just after Christmas from big-name stores in malls to independent shops.
Written by Samantha Phillips
It's over. Strolling around December 26th we see the fortunate kids riding their new bikes, gleaming helmets featuring animal ears or dinosaur spikes, and oversized Messi t-shirts freshly unwrapped for Christmas, Hanukah, or Kwanzaa.
Retail sales from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24 increased 3.1 percent from 2022, according to data from Mastercard SpendingPulse, which measures in-store and online retail sales across all forms of payment.
Looking back at the holidaze, here's a snapshot of scenes around Miami just before and just after Christmas. I took the consumer temperature from the perspective of retail workers, security guards, and shoppers from big-name stores in malls to independent shops.
Friday 12/22:
The zeitgeist is anxious this year, what with conflict and wars abroad, mass shootings at home, and global warming everywhere, it's not surprising that I sensed stress in the air at Dolphin Mall in Sweetwater. Bankrate.com found that 54% of holiday shoppers expect to feel financially burdened this year. A retail sales associate at Levis witnessed a shopper crying, piles of clothes in disarray, customers "ripping through the piles and yelling at each other." The most common triggers for conflict? "Someone taking the last item of a particular size." This associate has also witnessed altercations in parking lots when one driver aces another for a coveted space.
Moving right along...
Four o’clock that afternoon. Tension is thick in Anthropologie in Shops at Merrick Park in Coral Gables. Only three registers are available for the line of 50 consumers waiting in line. By eight PM 20 customers are still waiting to make their purchases. A sales associate tells me that the most common customer complaints include no wrapping services, slow-moving lines, and no capacity to ring everyone up via phone. "Someone called us unprofessional because we use registers, not phones as ways to check out, and asked to speak to the manager. People also get mad that there aren't enough gift boxes, but we just run out this time of year."
How does she handle it? By being polite to customers and asking for the same courtesy in return.
Nine PM: Merrick Park’s L'Occitane en Provence is getting ready to close. The atmosphere seems calmer here; it might stem from the scent of verbena and lavender wafting through the small corner store. The sales associate at the counter reflects: "Everyone’s stressed, they come, they go, they come back, two, three times, before making a purchase."
This coming and going might not be such a bad idea. I ask a customer stuck in a line how she deals with stress. After thinking it over, this student from a college in Chicago says: "If you're feeling overwhelmed, take a break. You can leave your stuff and the store, or even the mall, and go back later when it's calmer."
Super Saturday 12/23
11:30 AM: I get an earlier start on what is heralded as the second busiest shopping day after Black Friday. Sephora at the packed Dadeland Mall is already heating up with a line of 30. I ask a frazzled-looking salesperson: What's flying off the shelves this holiday season?
His response: Charlotte Tilbury makeup | Junk Elephant - Bronzing Drops | Brazilian Crush - Cheirosa, $38
Have shoppers been stressed? He says he’s seen customers "In line arguing. Last night someone got mad because a mom was holding a place for her daughter but it looked like cutting. I tell them politely. When in line, remember everyone is there for the same reason.” More body cream is needed. With a parting wink, he tells me it's okay not to send more people to Sephora by promoting it in this article at this exact moment...
Suniland Shopping Center in Pinecrest, a two-block cluster of shops and a post office, the stores have a neighborhood vibe.
Runners High "Your Family Footwear Store." About 20 people are shopping in a small sporting goods store. Penny, the rescue pup and store mascot, trots among the stacks of sneakers and is frequently petted. “Some people come just to see Penny," says Bryon Kibort. "I've owned this store for 24 years and been in this shopping center for 39.” A customer from abroad who always visits the store when he’s in the States says: "The prices are the same as in a big chain but the service is better and it's a unique place."
According to the salespeople, the most popular sneakers are Hoka Clifton and Brooks Ghost.
Photo by Samantha Phillips
A few doors away is another independent store, one of several Books & Books booksellers.
Founded by Mitch Kaplan – also co-founder of the acclaimed Miami Book Fair – this store stands out as a beacon of reading in a state where books are regularly banned. The atmosphere feels serene compared to the mall.
Sarah Paredes, a teenager working behind the counter, tells me: "Bookstores are inherently calm. There are good vibes here all the time. Customers are patient online and banter about book recommendations." Sarah grew up coming to the store and currently attends a local high school. The store is like a family, she says, then adds: "It's funny. I answered the phone, and it was my mom, ordering a bunch of $25 gift certificates.”
A co-worker mentions the comfy seating area and the ability to shop with your eyes. This makes the atmosphere calm even though she's busy with a lot of holiday tasks, from gift wrapping to offering personalized reading guidance. As I wait to buy my gift certificates, a friendly woman explains to me that she has a list of all of Florida's banned books and is going to buy them in triplicate here to give as presents. She also just bought 24 mugs online that say "I Read Banned Books" for her friends. My new acquaintance and I admire a t-shirt on the wall together: "fREADom.”
"Reading stops stupidity,” Sarah tells me in parting. Find your local Indie Bookstore here:
Photo by Samantha Phillips
Next up, a chat with the security officer at a busy Apple store on Lincoln Road in South Beach. He’s noticed that some shoppers look overwhelmed and the stress intensifies the closer they get to Christmas. "People get up against it, but that's not what this season is about. They shouldn't lose the significance of the holidays." How does he stay calm? Some of it’s spiritual, he says, along with the fact there aren't Christmas discounts at Apple – customers know the prices. They have to remain cool. One thing's for sure: this security officer is so chill he might have been born at the North Pole.
December 25th
7:50 PM, ten minutes before this CVS closes an hour ahead of time. Looking for batteries, I watch a cluster of customers and two helpful salespeople. I'm surprised that the mood is so jovial. The salesperson immediately asks me if I need help to find the batteries. I ask what people have been buying, as CVS is one of the few stores (besides a liquor store and an IHOP) open at the Suniland in this area of Miami. “Shoppers are buying chocolate, gift cards, and wine." Everyone’s been really friendly. I know where I’ll be going for same-day gifts next year!
December 26th
Perhaps it was the luck of the draw, but many of the lines at the Dadeland Mall were surprisingly calm.
At Merrick Park's J. Crew, the cashier tells me the biggest stress is people returning gifts without a receipt — and also without the email of the person who bought the present. "They don't know what to do, and this holds up the line."
The cashier at Alo seconds this. "We just expect lines this week through New Year’s, since people have to retrieve receipts and then come in for exchanges, discounts, and to use gift cards."
Takeaways
Breathe deep and keep your receipts.
When shopping, bear in mind there might not be enough items in your size, gift boxes, open registers, or gift-wrapping services.
Keep your cool: If we can spend 20 minutes looking for one gift, it's not reasonable to get mad about time when we can't pay immediately. Half the battle of seasonal shopping is mastering our impatience.
Alternative Gifts
If you're still looking around, like the 50% of Americans including 51% of parents and 75% of people between 18 - 34 who postpone gift giving for themselves or others until after the holidays so they can take advantage of discounts (according to a survey from Best Buy). Here are some more personalized ideas: Experiences: Theater, music, dance, tickets, classes, trips…
• Help stop child hunger in the USA: NoKidHUNGRY
• Donate to Unicef (local or global options)
• Offer up baby or pet-sitting
• Write a poem, story, frame self-made art or a photo
• Enter someone in a raffle that goes towards a cause you care about. For example: Brandi Carlise where your donation goes to the Looking Out Foundation.
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*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3749018/
**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
Uqora's dietary supplement products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Results may vary.