Make your own Viviscal recipe

Well y'all, after taking down a fake breast-enlargment cream in my off-hours, I gave it a five-year rest.

I'm back.  And I have another company to complain about: Viviscal.  Here's two reasons: (1) they use shark cartilage, which is "harvested" in the most cruel and inhumane way possible, and (2) they are fleecing American women, and that pisses me off.

SHARK CARTILAGE: DON'T BUY IT!!!  Mermaid Kat, an aquatic performance artist and amazing mermaid shows here that sharks peaceful undersea creatures that should be treated with respect.  They are warm-blooded creatures who have live young!  Shark cartilage is a cruel, dreadful product and I hate that Viviscal supports the disgusting industry of "harvesting" shark cartilage.

$50/MONTH USD?  HECK NO.  If you wanted to, you could make your own cocktail of supplements to include ingredients equivalent to Viviscal.  Here's how:

(1) 500mg or so of gelatin or collagen hydrolysate, twice a day (or 1,000mg daily),

(2) 15 mg zinc supplement

(3) 150 mcg biotin.

That's it.  You can get these ingredients on the cheap.  What I have paid for them is 

(a) $0.56/day:  $17 for 120 capsules  of gelatin, 500mg/ea. (You can get it cheaper, but I insist on fish cartilage so as to not support the environmentally NOT sustainable meat industry).

(b) $0.17/day: $6 for 35 biotin gummy vitamins, 150mcg/ea (You can get this cheaper too--I like the gummies, and these are vitamin B gummies that have other B vitamins, not just biotin).

(c) $0.07/day: $7 for 100 capsules of zinc, 15mg/ea (You can get this a little cheaper too.

All together, buying those pills separately, each day the cost is $0.80, a total of $24/month.

So, for Viviscal, $49.99/month

For ingredients, $24/month (or less!)

Does it work?  Yes. I tried it, and it worked for me.  I have more hair, thicker hair, and longer hairs because I've been taking this cocktail the last four months.  It has NOTICEABLY changed my hair, especially in areas near the front of my scalp where I was thinning.

I will be uploading more documentation (videos) of my personal results, but I wanted to make this recipe available to anyone who wants to try it out and see if it works.  PLEASE leave a comment about your experience if you try it out.  I can't fund a huge study like Viviscal did, but I'm convinced that these ingredients will have a similar effect.

If you try it, make sure to take a baseline video or pictures and then take some more every month for a few months.  That's what I did and I see a huge difference between day 1 and day 100.  I might not have noticed how dramatic the change was if I hadn't documented the change with detailed videos.

I make no money off of writing this.  This is not a "monetized" blog.  I'm not selling any particular brand of gelatin, zinc, or biotin.  I'm putting this out there because I want to save sharks, and I want to help other women save money.  I mean, seriously?  $50/month?  We aren't all lawyers and doctors here.

Melania Trump Fashion: Proof She Has No Friends

People.  If, for any reason, you suddenly come into vast wealth, hire a stylist.  They're not terribly expensive.  I mean, I'll look over your event fashion and give you a "yes" or "no" for free.  It's not hard to take a selfie in the fitting room mirror and send it off to your friends.

That assumes you have friends.  Even just one friend.  Or a female family member who you are on speaking terms with.

Melania Trump has no friends.  Just her husband, who wears his ties so low he has to pin them back when he pees.

Before today, I had considered following Melania's fashion crimes with blog posts.  I couldn't be bothered.  But today, I am bothered enough to sit down and do it.

Here it is.  The Erdem "Emery" disaster that happened at a Mar-a-Lago gala on New Year's Eve 2017.  I was absolutely certain it was photoshopped at first.  It's that dreadful.

The shoes.  The hair.  The bust.  Everything.
This is how it's SUPPOSED to look:

See how they put it with red shoes?  That's really nice.  I little matchy, but nice.  Simple hair.  The included blue belt That's one good option.

Or you can go with Erdem's original styling:

The Erdem styling is even better--the drape doesn't pull at the hips.  The shoes are funky which makes it all tongue-in-cheek. The hair is up so it doesn't compete with the neckline.  It's a little bit fabulous.  Not a lot fabulous.  But....I get it.  It's memorable if you see the local "it" girl wearing this. You see the incredible fabric in person.

 You wish you could pull it off.  And then in five years you see it in a picture and think...."That doesn't age well."

But, unless you LITERALLY asked NO ONE if this looks good, you don't do this:

Final thought......maybe she gets her fashion advice from her sister.

Trolling: The Solar System

Paid Protesters Want Benefits, Sick Leave

Protest Industry Considers Benefits for Employees

The burgeoning protest industry is bringing thousands of new jobs to cities across the nation.  This has been great for the economy, but some worry that protest workers are foregoing important benefits that come with mainline employment.

Some protest workers are happy just to have a little extra cash, and don't need paid leave or benefits.  At a recent Saturday morning protest outside Doug Lamborn's Colorado Springs office, a local second grade teacher said, "I thank my lucky stars that I can finally earn an extra $25.00, one weekend a month.  I'm not even registered to vote, but it's a great way to help save up for my trips to Vegas. Before this job came along, my Saturday mornings were a total economic waste."  Asked if she ever called in sick to her protesting job, she said, "I haven't been sick yet, so I haven't needed to.  But I don't expect to be paid if I can't make it to a rally. I don't worry about benefits or time off.  I already have that with my day job."

Among more serious protest workers, however, there is growing concern.  In blog comments and on message boards, some liberal-side protesters claim that they are being taken advantage of by George Soros, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and the Mainstream Media.

One anonymous message board participant told this reporter via direct message, "I take my paid protesting very seriously. I really see a future in this industry. I go the extra mile for this job whenever possible.  But then one time I had the flu and couldn't go to a protest. Soros left me high and dry.  There needs to be sick leave.  Otherwise, it doesn't make sense to really invest in this job."

Another message board user was frustrated by the lack of action among liberal-side workers: "You would think, being professional protesters, we would be able to pull ourselves together and protest this terrible abuse of workers, but without George Soros giving orders, we are totally unable to function as a group."

However, as the numbers of protest workers increases, the idea of unionizing becomes less far-fetched.  Said one district manager, who met with this reporter under cover of night, "I would support a workers' union to demand sick leave and benefits.  I hate what I am forced to do to these dedicated employees.  Not one has gone to the press, and they really make those rallies look great. But when our workers need a sick day, or want to opt in to benefits, we can't help them out.  I'll admit sometimes I'm tempted to hijack the movement and protest for better treatment for our workers."

Providing protest workers with paid leave might be possible, but providing a benefits package "would be difficult," this district manager stated.

Protest workers in Denver at the Tax March were happy to shed light on the inner workings of the business.  The secrecy of the payment scheme shows why receiving benefits could be problematic.

Multiple protesters confirmed that they are sent a secret text from an anonymous number with the time and place they are to show up each week in order to get paid.  To earn additional pay, they can bring signs that meet strict size and quality standards.  Said one, "You can't just show up with a cardboard box and write your message with your kid's crayons.  The signs need to look legit, like you care about what it says."

Workers in Denver can make up to $45 for 90 minutes of this type of basic protesting, if they "act real enthusiastic and bring a great sign."  That figure does not include travel time.

Protest workers said that they receive their payment one of several ways.  Some liberal-side organizers hand off twenties to workers at the end of rallies through handshakes, "like drug dealers on TV."  Others receive funds in the form of Starbucks gift card codes via text.  Some liberal-side female protesters are even paid in Ivanka Trump merchandise, which shows how mercenary they are.  This payment method is especially difficult for conservatives to spot.  It just looks like friends are having a clothing swap after a rally.

Adding health, dental, or other benefits to protester compensation would leave a financial trail that would be easy to uncover, and could potentially damage the industry and hurt jobs.  "The president is definitely onto us and how we are all paid to be here," said one protester.  "If he investigates, it will all come out and we will have to find other jobs. Receiving benefits would make it even easier for him to prove."

But other protest workers, when asked about how they could receive benefits without leaving a financial trail, said that they had "no idea how that would even work," but they were in favor of the idea anyway.

Some Protesters Would "Switch Sides" for Benefits

Protest workers said they would be happy to 'switch sides' if the pay was competitive enough.  "We're here because we get paid," one protester stated bluntly.  "All of us have received offers to work for conservatives, but they barely pay anything. And since they can't get illegals to do the work for them--you know, it would jam their message--their only option is to out-bid the liberals, but they're too stinking cheap.  They have to settle for really lame protesters, as you can basically see from any interview at a pro-Trump protest.  They're lucky to get ten idiots out there, with that kind of pay.  Anyone who is serious about their career works liberal rallies."

Asked about sick leave and benefits, this protester also commented, "I would be personally willing to 'switch sides' if [conservatives] offered benefits and, like, just basic FMLA.  Those are things I don't get at either of my jobs because I'm part-time.  I'll work for whoever pays, and they just don't pay."

A Deep State employee with the Park Service spoke with this reporter on condition of anonymity.  That employee confirmed the discrepancy between conservative and liberal wages.  "I've seen secret documents confirming that liberal protesters are paid on average 50% more than conservative protesters pretty much everywhere.  The one exception is those Trump rallies.  People at those rallies are paid more than double what any other protesters are paid, so it's pretty competitive to get picked.  But they are required to act like insane, sycophant groupies.  You have to pay more to get people to really give up their souls like that."  But still, these workers are not offered health benefits or sick leave.

The Deep State employee commented that, "Those Trump rally people are so far gone, I'm not sure that anything other than immediately receiving wads of cash would make a difference.  But yeah, for regular demonstrators, I think benefits would make a huge difference as they decide where they want to work."

There is some concern among liberal elites that President Trump will go forward with an investigation into payment of protesters.  Such an investigation would reveal that not only liberal-side protesters are there for the money, but that Trump rally attendees are paid exorbitant rates to stroke his ego.  Such a discovery by the President could propel the United States into nuclear war with one of its many new enemies before he could be soothed by his aides.

Workers at a liberal march look serious, hold approved signs.

My newest design for a cheap air cleaning machine

I developed this design after living downwind of a refinery and in the apartment above a smoker for a year.  It's simple and it works.  The idea is to address two types of air pollutants: particulate matter (like dust, dander, ash from smoke, etc.) and VOCs (gasses, not particles).  Particles can be removed with a mechanical filter, just like you can remove a fish from a fish tank with a net or lint from the exhaust on your drier with a lint trap.  Gasses cannot be trapped with filters like this though.  Gasses must be chemically, not physically removed.  Carbon is great for this purpose because it will "adsorb," or stick to, lots of different kinds of gasses that you shouldn't be breathing.

An ideal system removes all particles and all toxic gasses from your air.  This system doesn't do that, but it will help, and it's waaay more affordable than an industrial air cleaner.

First, we want to get the particulate matter out of the air with a physical filter.  Then, we want to run the remaining gasses over carbon so some of the toxic gasses will be adsorbed out.  Here's the easiest way I've found.  I drew it during a morning college class to try to stay awake.

Smoking neighbors? This is how to purify your air so you can breath easy!

A COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO GET SMOKE-FREE AIR (YES IT WORKS!!!)

My Story
I got my very own cigarette-smoking neighbor in the apartment under mine when I moved in to a new complex.  Of course, the smoke comes right into my apartment.  I checked, and it is impossible to stop the flow of smoke.

So like any normal 21st-century gal, I looked online for air-cleaning solutions.

I must have read about a dozen pages with advice like, "that's too bad, you're stuck with the smoke," or "you should have checked the apartment out more thoroughly before you signed a lease," or "ask your neighbor to quit smoking."  All this sage wisdom got me nowhere nearer to clean air, however!

But I kept searching because .... well, we have particle accelerators and genetically modified corn in this world.  There just had to be a way to get smoke out of the air.

Why people think it's hard to get smoke out of the air:

I found out that the tricky thing about smoke particles is that they are exactly the size that is hardest to filter out of air.  They're so small it's hard to trap them physically, but so large it's hard to trap them electrostatically.  You need a specialized air filter.

The solution I found:

In my searching, I saw a simple and brilliant idea.  Some people have made air filtration devices out of furnace filters taped to cheap box fans.  It's kind of ugly . . . but I'm not rich enough to be picky about the way I clean my air!  With my limited budget and a whole living room and kitchen to keep smoke-free, this was the most attractive idea to me.

Then I found furnace filters designed to filter out smoke-size particles (0.1-3.0 microns in diameter).  I decided to take a leap of faith and try out a cheap box fan from Walmart attached to a very, very good filter.  I call it a leap of faith because the filter was upwards of $80, which would be a pretty painful expenditure for me if it didn't work.

But it did work.  I turned it on for a few minutes in my 500-square-foot living area, and the smoke odor was gone.  Completely, totally, 100% gone.  I breathed a huge sigh of relief.


My Budget: As low as possible....which turned out to be $110 for me at the time.

I'm a student, so anywhere I can save money, I will.  But breathing at home is a necessity. I wound up spending about $110--money well spent considering I can now sit in my own living room without smoke stinging my eyes or making it hard to breath!  And it was a heck of a lot cheaper than getting an industrial air cleaner, or multiple HEPA air filter machines, or even moving apartments.

How to make this smoke-be-gone contraption yourself:

If you want to try making one yourself, watch this how-to video from the University of Michigan: http://youtu.be/kH5APw_SLUU. (this link will open a new window.)  The University of Michigan guy shows a MERV 13 filter removing about 90% of the particles from the air.  A MERV 13 filter is about $10 online.  (At Home Depot they don't have MERV-rated filters, so if I were replicating this U of M experiment I would spend the money on whatever their finest furnace filter was.)

The filter in the video is taking out 90% of particles that are 3 microns in size.  But smoke particles are often smaller than that--as small as 0.1 micron in size--up to 30 times smaller!  Plus, leaving 10% of the smoke in the air seemed like a lot.  I guessed that MERV 13 wouldn't work on cigarette smoke.

So, I'll admit it: I didn't even try the cheaper MERV 13 like the one in the video.  I went straight for the MERV 16, which filters out more of the really small particles.  I would love to know if the cheaper MERV 13 would be as effective as the much-more-expensive MERV 16.  But I was desperate, probably not thinking straight, and I wanted something that worked now.

~~ Materials ~~

Make sure you watch the University of Michigan video before you start on anything!  The link is three paragraphs up.

1. A 20" x 20" MERV 16 air filter.**  About $100.  You may need to buy online to get one of these.  They're about 5" thick and they are expensive.  I paid $80 for mine on Amazon, but as I write I see it's increased to $100.  Mine is a Lennox Healthy Climate MERV 16 filter with a charcoal coating (absorbs smelly gasses, but isn't meant to filter particles). I haven't tried any other brands.  The important thing is that its MERV 16, and not a lower number.

Note that excessive heat, sun, humidity, and oils will shorter the life of your filter.

2. A 20" x 20" cheap-o furnace filter from the local store.  About $10-$20.  This is going to be a pre-filter that will protect your investment in the MERV 16 filter by keeping it from getting gunked-up prematurely.

3. A 20" x 20" box fan.  About $20.  You might already have one.  

4. Clear packaging tape, which is strong strong and doesn't stretch.  Don't use masking or duct tape unless you're really in a pinch.

~~ Directions ~~

1.  Get your MERV 16 filter, cheap filter, box fan, and tape together.

2. Figure out which way your fan blows.

3. Figure out which direction the air should be flowing through the filters.  There will be arrows or writing on the filters to show you which way the air should go.

4. Put the fan and the filters in the right order and facing the right way.   The air goes through the cheap filter first, then through the MERV 16, then through the fan (different order than the U of M guy did).  Like so:

Air In >>> Cheap filter  >>> MERV 16 Filter >>> Fan >>> Air Out 

5. Tape the fan and the filters together.  Don't get tape all over the grille and filter media, and try to make a good seal between the fan and the filters.

6. Turn on the fan.  It doesn't need to go at the highest speed.  Mine moves the air really slowly over the filters and I leave it at the lowest speed because it's less noise.

8.  Forget you have smoking neighbors. :-D

_________________________________

I hope this post is helpful for you!  If you have any other suggestions or questions, leave them in the comments.

** MERV air filter ratings go from 1 to 20.  A MERV 1 filters things like string and thumbtacks out of the air (used by cheap apartment managers to keep furnaces from being destroyed by large objects being sucked into the air intake).  A MERV 20 filter takes out everything that is not a gas (used for electronics manufacturing or completely sterilizing air).  A MERV 16 is about 95% effective for removing particles that are .1-.3 microns in size (like cigarette smoke.)  It will not remove gasses like VOCs.  In fact, vapors from things like acetone or gasoline will damage the filter.  MERV 16, as far as I know, is highest number consumers can (or would need to) buy.

*** Rationale: Since we spent about $100 on our super-duper air-cleaning MERV 16 filters, we don't want to send filthy air through them and clog them up quickly.  Therefore, we clean the air a little bit before sending it through the MERV 16 by sending it through the cheaper filter first (probably a MERV 8 or 9).  This "pre-filter" will clean out the big particles like pollen, dust, mold, and dander.  Then, our MERV 16 only has to take care of the really small particles, like cigarette smoke.  This will lengthen the life of the filter and save us money.

Is Adorna Cream Effective?

Why I looked into Adorna: My best friend decided to try it.

A few months ago I was walking downtown with Katie.  She suddenly hesitated as if considering whether or not to actually say what she was thinking.  She decided to proceed:  "Promise not to laugh, I've bought a cream called Adorna," she said, "you rub it on your breasts and it makes them increase one to two cup sizes.  I'm going to try it."

She was serious.  She doesn't like her breasts and thinks they're too small (they're not).  She convinced me that there was a very slight chance that Adorna wasn't a scam.  But honestly I was hoping it didn't work because something that actually makes your breasts grow is probably dangerous.

Her results and experience with customer service (not good):

After using it for a couple of months, she is frustrated and even a little distraught over its ineffectiveness.  She's been on the phone with them six or seven times asking all kinds of questions about the permanence of the effects of the cream, how to apply it, when people see results, how many people see results and what the results typically are.  The answers have been less than satisfying.

Most recently she wanted a full list of ingredients which is not available on their website, packaging, or even by phone.  They just told her their "five key ingredients" which could, at best, make a paste if the herbs/roots were mashed up fresh and never dehydrated, but then they would mold and rot because it would be like mashed potatoes in a jar.  Clearly, there's more in there, and there's no telling what!

What I've found out (not good):

As I've started looking into it myself, I've found that none of their "key ingredients" actually work. Some of them have chemicals that have some relationship to estrogen in them, but so does soy....that doesn't mean you put it on your breasts to make them grow!  They might say that it's the combination of ingredients that's so effective, but there's no evidence of that at all.

So, being a modern woman, I looked up Adorna Breast Enhancing Cream on the internet.  All I could find was advertising hype written by someone who has bad grammar.  Even their fake online "testimonials" have the same weird grammar, so probably the same writer.  And the same writer, as far as I can tell, has even written many multiple reviews on other sites.  IT'S ALL FAKE. I have found NO credible account of anyone out there actually enlarging their breasts by using this product!

Just as a note, the claims made by Adorna are not evaluated by the FDA and Adorna is not "FDA-approved." 

Protect Yourself! I have collected the following facts that I hope will convince you to stay clear of Adorna.  But if you have to try this cream, note that the "terms and conditions" require you to return the jar of cream in its original condition if you want a refund, so if you try it, you can't return it.  Also, generally Adorna sells things on a plan where you get a"free sample" but if you don't call or write to cancel, you're automatically on a monthly subscription!!!!  

Reason 1 not to buy:  Here are the "key ingredients":

Dong Quai: A plant.  Its root is used medicinally and has a hodgepodge of chemicals in it.  It might act like estrogen, or it might block estrogen.  It could be like a blood thinner, or dilate blood vessels, or induce uterine contractions, who knows?  It hasn't really been studied much.  It is possibly effective in the treatment of premature ejaculation when applied topically to the penis along with other herbs and could maybe possibly help with symptoms of menopause, but no one really knows.  It has been shown to affect estrogen and other hormones in animals but we don't know if it does the same in humans.

Mexican Wild Yam:  A plant.  Contains diosgenin, a chemical which is extracted and made into a concentrate for laboratory use.  When diosgenin is administered to mice that have had their ovaries removed in quantities of 20-40mg per kg of body weight daily it has caused breast growth.  So if you wanted to start your own human study on that to see if it's effective and safe for you, you could inject about 200mg of pure diosgenin into yourself every day.  The tiny amount of diosgenin present in Mexican Yam, applied topically, is hardly a replica of the mouse studies.

Resveratrol: A chemical.  It's found in red grape skins, red wine, and nuts.  It has been shown in animal studies to have some of the same effects on the aging process that calorie restriction does.  It does not cause your breasts to grow.  Some people are trying to find out how resveratrol works.

Dandelion Root:  A plant. Who knows what the theory here is--dandelion root is traditionally a laxative and diuretic.

Hyaluronic Acid: A chemical extracted from rooster combs or bacteria in a laboratory.  Occurs naturally in the human body.  Used in eye surgery and as a treatment for osteoarthritis.  Some people use it as an anti-aging supplement or skin moisturizer, when injected into the skin can be used as a "filler."

Pueraria Mirifica (Nov. 9 2015 update):  I've seen this mentioned as an ingredient in conjunction with Adorna on a couple more of this company's marketing pages, though it's not on the "official" website. This is a plant root. According to drugs.com: "Most commercial products containing pueraria are available as rejuvenating, antiaging, or skin-lightening creams or gels, as beauty soaps, or as capsules or tablets for increasing appetite, enlarging breasts, modulating hair growth or regrowth, and other rejuvenating purposes. However, there is no literature to support these uses."

Reason 2 not to buy: What exactly IS Adorna LLC? Where is it located and who owns it?

Adorna LLC is registered in Connecticut by a man named Bryan V.  Adorna was technically started by Sybarite Elite Inc, a company run by Bryan V.  So Sybarite owns Adorna, but both have only one human in their records: Bryan V..  Remember that name.

Now, on the Adorna.com website, it says:

"All data compiled within Adorna, Womens Breast Kept Secret, including its trademarks have been compiled by Healthier Image Labs.

Real consumers have tried Adorna, and have had success. Five out of six people saw results within the first week of trying. All testimonials are backed by signed and notarized affidavits to make sure that the data being collected was under oath and true."

Sounds legit, right?  Healthier Image Labs sounds like a third party checking in on Adorna.  But in fact, Healthier Image Labs is yet another LLC started by Bryan V.  Its mailing address is a rented mailbox at the UPS store!

Furthermore, the affidavits are more like a preparation for a lawsuit or trial, and have nothing to do with a scientific study.  We can't read the affidavits to see what "results" the people had.  No reputable scientist looked at them and signed off on them.  The "study" wasn't published in a scientific journal. This isn't proof that Adorna works.  It's a marketing ploy, and shows that they have no better "evidence" to show their product works.

So who is Bryan V.?  According to his LinkedIn profile, as of October 2016, he's a marketing major  who went to Central Connecticut State University.  He is not a scientist or dermatologist.  He didn't go to business school.  Marketing. And apparently, he really loves to register LLC's and corporations in Connecticut and make marketing websites!  For instance, Musclexedge.com.  He also registered and dissolved an entity called Illuminated Teeth.  And SleepWellFormula.com--that's him too.  And the defunct Bitcoin Coaching Systems, and the current BitcoinMoneySystems.com.  Something called Aquasis Media, too.   Those were the ones I could find. That is the dl on Bryan V. and how he tries to sell to the unwary.  Eight registered businesses in one state.  Lots of websites.

If you want to see the public records for yourself, go to the website for the Connecticut Secretary of State and search the following names:

ADORNA
SYBARITE ELITE
HEALTHIER IMAGE LABORATORIES
MUSCLEXEDGE.COM
ILLUMINATED TEETH
SLEEP WELL FORMULA.COM
BITCOIN COACHING SYSTEMS
AQUASIS MEDIA

May 13, 2016: One of the commenters on this post said they now list the ingredients in the cream on the package, so perhaps they've changed?  I hope so!

Save your money!  There are lots of breast enhancement forums that aren't making a profit off of women who want a bigger bust, and the advice and potions they recommend are free!

Sept. 18, 2018: Still not effective.

April 30, 2024:  Besties!!! . . . you mean this brand is STILL being sold?