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laraehrlich-blog · 5 years

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Led by the Plastic Free Foundation, Plastic Free July is a massive patch of plastic pollution in the ocean twice the size of the state of READ MORE:

Alternatives to Plastic Bags

Free Water Bottles

Reusable Straws

Products Made From Recycled Plastic Bottles

Clothes Made From Recycled Plastic

Eco Friendly Bags

Other Recycled Plastic Products

Products with Plastic Free Packaging

S TO PLASTIC BAGS

Lotsa Style’s Plastic-Free Products

Lotsa Style line. Their broad range of plastic-free items not only helps reduce plastic use, but they also Reusable Beeswax Food Wrap, a brilliant alternative to cling wrap. Made from organic cotton and beeswax, the wrap is washable and works well for all kinds of foods.

We also loved their Reusable Silicone Food Bag, a sustainable version of the classic sandwich bag. These high-quality bags lock airtight, keeping food fresh and preventing leaks. It’s safe for microwaves and freezers, doesn’t hold odors, and (best of all) can be washed in the dishwasher.

But our favorite Lotsa Style products are their Wheat Straw Plates. They’re a green alternative to plastic plates, which we use for our family picnics at

Lunchbox’s 3-in-1 Splash Box

Lunchbox’s 3-in-1 Splash Box makes making lunch easy and eco-friendly. The 3-piece set is made from durable stainless steel, with leak-proof silicone lids. It’s both dishwasher- and oven-safe, which makes heating and cleaning up afterwards a breeze.

But the feature we like the most is how the 3 pieces (which hold a total of four cups of food) nest together. Once you’re done eating, the mini snack container fits inside the top container, with a silicone strap to hold it all together.

Lotus Trolley Bags

Lotus Trolley Bag is an awesome replacement for the mess of random tote bags we used to use when we went Large Club Cart version specifically sized for Costco, Sams, BJ Wholesale, etc. They make a great alternative to plastic bags for groceries!

EQPD LastBag

In an effort to eliminate single-use plastic bags, Eqpd (pronounced “equipped”) took it upon themselves to create the ultimate solution.

The company is based in rural Twisp, Washington, in the Cascade READ MORE: The 40 Best Backpacks for Travelers

FREE WATER BOTTLES

BINDLE BOTTLE

plastic pollution problem.

There are tons of free water bottles on the market, but the Bindle Bottle is noteworthy for its innovative twist.

Made from stainless steel, the bottle has a hidden waterproof, scent-proof storage compartment. It measures 3.2″ H x 2.75″ W, so it’s large enough to hold your cash, credit card, ID, and more.

The new 20 oz Slim version is small enough to fit in cupholders or on a bike rack, with dual-walled, vacuum-insulated construction to ensure your drink stays cold (or hot) for hours.

Takeya Actives Insulated Water Bottle

Takeya are great for keeping cold liquids cold (up to 24 hours) or hot liquids hot (up to 12 hours). They’re available in either 24 oz or 40 oz sizes, and in a variety of colors.

Thanks to their insulated Spout Lid, the bottles allow for easy and controlled drinking, even with just one hand. The -free water bottles are easy to clean and safe to use, with no metallic aftertaste.

The wide mouth allows ice to fit in, and the double powder coated exterior protects your hands from extreme hot and cold conditions. The removable silicone bumper also ensures fewer dents and bumps on the bottle’s exterior. We use ours literally every single day!

LifeStraw Go

READ MORE: 60+ Cool Camping Gear Reviews

STRAWS

Final Straw (Shark Butt Gray & Coral Cases)

FinalStraw has found an awesome answer to the world’s plastic straw problem, which has proven increasingly dangerous for READ MORE: 5 Rare Sharks Worth Saving

NaturalNeo Organic Bamboo Straws

READ MORE: Top Foods to Buy Organic (& When It’s Not Necessary)

MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLES

American Backcountry Bearly & Appalachian Trail T-Shirts

American Backcountry recently unveiled their newest line of T-shirts. The REPREVE shirts are made using recycled bottles, and each shirt contains up to seven plastic water bottles.

The T-shirts made from the REPREVE fabric are cotton tees, and so they don’t have the usual moisture-wicking properties of other American Backcountry products. However, they still feature the epic graphic designs.

American Backcountry prides itself in celebrating America’s public lands

, and these shirts help keep those public lands clean as well.

They’re also quite stylish, with the Bearly design reminding us of an adorable Black Bear family we recently photographed in

Waterlust’s Sun Kissed Sea Leggings & Rash Guard

Purchasing this matching set of “Sun Kissed Sea” leggings and rash guard from Waterlust will save up to 20 plastic bottles from the planet’s landfills/oceans!

Not only that, but 10% of the profits from your purchase are donated to University of Miami research on air-sea interaction.

The rash guard is made from 92% RPET, while the leggings are made from 86% RPET. They both have colorfully stunning ocean-inspired patterns, which are created using eco-friendly printing methods.

Both of the products provide 4-way stretch comfort and are quick-drying, breathable, and moisture-wicking. They also feature UPF 50+ sun protection, making this the perfect outfit for activities such as READ MORE: 10 Best Places to Scuba Diving (World Travel Bucket List)

Connor Airflow Outdoor Hat

Not many companies are as committed to the zero waste lifestyle as Conner Hats. Their products are handmade with organic and recycled materials, and their warehouses are all 100% solar-powered. They even use recycled paper tags and biodegradable packaging!

The Airflow Outdoor hat is a fantastic purchase for those who enjoy outdoor recreation such as READ MORE: The 2o Best Caribbean Islands to Visit

MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC

Patagonia Men’s Cloud Ridge & Women’s Stretch Rainshadow Jackets

Patagonia clothing is always striving to be more sustainable and eco-friendly. They’ll help you move one step closer to plastic-free living with their new rain jacket styles, which are made from 100% recycled face fabric.

We’ve tried out two of these styles, the first being the Men’s Cloud Ridge jacket. The 3-layer recycled polyester shell is waterproof/breathable and offers next-to-skin comfort. This jacket is ideal for adventuring through humid tropical

Orvis Flat Creek Tech Men’s Flannel

Orvis works hard to help with sustainable campaigns and making the planet a cleaner place. This is evident in their long-standing commitment to donating 5% of all pre-tax profits to conservation

projects.

Now they’ve done even better with this eco-friendly flannel shirt for men. The shirt is made from recycled

Royal Robbins Jammer Knit Dress & Pants

Royal Robbins recently caught Mary’s eye with their Jammer Knit clothing range. Their dress and pants are both made from 79% RePET polyester, which is created using recycled PET plastic.

The dress features an internal shelf bra, princess seams for flattering shape, and a hidden side zipper pocket. It’s available in jet black, ink-blue floral print or asphalt floral print, and goes well as a casual outfit or dressed up for a day out.

The jammer pants are comfy and offer the flexibility of leggings with the durability of hiking pants.

They are the perfect item for everything from lazing at home to exploring READ MORE: The Best Travel Clothes for Women & Men

Indigo Swimwear’s Olivia Top & Bottom in Jungle Tropic

The plastic bottle is the most common form of plastic pollution in the ocean. But Indigo Swimwear also recycles old fishing nets and other ocean waste into this sexy, sustainable swimsuit.

Made from NYL regenerated nylon, the Olivia bikini looks great, with its single shoulder crossover top, cheek-baring bottom, and lush tropical flower print.

It’s also great for the environment and READ MORE: The Ultimate Beach Vacation Packing List

Costa Sunglasses Victoria & Baffin

Costa del Mar is a revolutionary line of sunglasses. The glasses’ frames are made completely from discarded fishing nets, and created to be fully recyclable.

Not only are these shades a sustainable product, but they’re helping to create a cycle of plastic reuse as well. The Bio-Resin raw material process is part of the company’s Kick Plastic initiative to Baffin for men and the Victoria for women.

The masculine, textured Baffin is named after the cold current that brings in the old, discarded fishing nets they used in creating these manly sunglasses. The curvier, sleeker Victoria gets its name from the port city in British Colombia.

Adidas Terrex Two Parley

Adidas created their Terrex Two Parley sneakers in collaboration with the Parley for the Oceans, a

Arbor Collective Foundation Shoes

These stylish shoes are created with Arbor’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and durability.

Each pair features reground rubber soles made from recycled materials, free-range and hormone-free leather lining, and all locally-sourced materials.

Designed for the active man, with a great blend of comfort, style, and performance, these shoes are the perfect companion for any journey. The responsive polyurethane sock liners help to keep your feet comfy all day long.

The classic lace-up look, combined with added premium details, allows these shoes to go well with almost any outfit. If you don’t want to “READ MORE: The Best Travel Shoes for Women & Men

FRIENDLY BAGS

Camelbak Pivot Tote

Camelbak is one of the most eco friendly bags we’ve tested.

The 20-liter bag is made from 70% repurposed materials, and can quickly change from a tote to a backpack, with stowable straps.

It has lots of storage features, including a 15″ padded laptop pocket and a zippered side pocket big enough for water bottles. It comes in black, but of course we love the olive green color option!

Sand Cloud Ambassador Plus Bundle

You don’t have to be a Sand Cloud Ambassador bundle includes a two-toned laptop sleeve backpack, whale tail baseball hat, a reusable glass bottle that says “SAVE THE FISHIES,” a silver metal straw, two bamboo toothbrushes, and organic reef safe sunscreen.

Best of all, 10% of all profits are donated to NGOs, including Marine Conservation Institute, Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Hawaii Wildlife Fund, Ocean Connecters, Surfrider Foundation, and more!

United By Blue 25L Rift Pack

United by Blue means you’re receiving a high-quality product, and contributing to cleaner oceans.

This is thanks to the company’s promise to remove one pound of trash from the ocean for every product bought from them.

Their 25L Rift Pack backpack is also made from 100% recycled polyester, making it an awesome buy for those looking to cut down on their plastic waste.

The bag is available in five stylish designs, all of which are lightweight enough to carry all day, and feature ample pockets and extra compartments. From everyday use to exploring the wild, this bag will become your new best adventure friend!

Tortuga Inner Backpack 35L

The Tortuga Setout backpack offers the space-saving convenience of rolling luggage with the practicality of a backpack. Now that convenience is combined with the added benefit of being eco-friendly.

While the brand is not well-known for eco-friendly products, they have recently joined the movement. Both the 35L and 45L Setout backpacks (which are available in navy and black) are now being made from recycled PET polyester.

This backpack offers a large compartment with space for clothing, as well as smaller sections for accessories and a safe compartment for your laptop.

Thanks to a suspension system that keeps the bag feeling lightweight on your back as you move, this is definitely one of the best backpacks for travel we’ve tested in 2019.

OGIO Alpha Convoy 520S Travel Bag

OGIO has created the ideal carry-on luggage.

Not only is CORDURA tougher than normal polyester, but it’s stain-resistant, tear-resistant, and more lightweight as well. Producing recycled polyester also helps to lower energy consumption and reduce waste, making this an all-round sustainable material.

The Alpha Convoy 520S is available in black, charcoal, and woodland camo. The bag is perfect as a carry-on, and complies with all international airline requirements.

The 4-wheel spinner offers a large primary storage space as well as numerous smaller pockets, allowing for convenient organization during your trip.

READ MORE: The Best Carry-on Luggage (Backpacks, Duffels & Rollers)

RECYCLED PLASTIC

Jenga Ocean Game

Enjoy the fun side of zero-waste living and purchase this Jenga Ocean game from Bureo.

This new version of the longtime family-favorite game has been created using only recycled plastic, made from discarded fishing nets.

Each game contains over 25 square feet of recycled nets, which are all sourced through Bureo’s recycling program, Net Positiva. This translates to over 2 pounds of plastic fishing nets in each Jenga game sold.

The individual Jenga Ocean blocks all have cute ocean-inspired artwork, hand-drawn by artist Lake Buckley. From family game nights to barbeques with friends, there is never a bad time to bring out Jenga, especially when it helps contribute to a plastic free environment!

Tervis Tumblers Limited Edition

When you buy these reusable tumblers from Tervis, you’re joining the fight to protect our oceans. That’s because 100% of the tumbler’s proceeds (and no, that’s not a typo!) go towards organizations that work to protect the oceans.

The limited edition ocean-themed tumblers are made from at least 50% recycled materials, and they are -free. With a choice of two charismatic marine animals– either a READ MORE: 10 Simple Wildlife Photography Tips

WITH PLASTIC FREE PACKAGING

Unwrapped Life Shampoo & Conditioner bar

When you think about it, it’s incredible how much plastic there is in packaging the everyday items we all need. Plastic wrap, plastic bags, and plastic bottles have become so ubiquitous, it’s easy to forget how utterly unnecessary they are.

As their name implies, Unwrapped Life is a company dedicated to eliminating this unnecessary waste, offering hair care, toiletries, and household products free from plastic packaging.

The zero waste brand offers 7 different dry Shampoo & Conditioner Travel Sets, with names like the Balancer, the Detoxifier, and The Hydrator. Each bar is vegan (made with 100% essential oil), color-safe, and packaged in reusable tins in a compostable paper box.

The only downside of Unwrapped Life’s eco friendly products is that they’re a bit on the expensive side. The travel sets run $40 Canadian, which is about $30 US.

However they should last around 50 to 75 washes, depending on hair length, which is the equivalent of two to three 16-ounce bottles of liquid shampoo and conditioner.

READ READ: 10 DIY Natural Travel Toiletries & Personal Care Products

Repurpose Compostable Products

Repurpose Compostables’ wide range of compostable kitchenware is taking the plastic free world by storm.

Perfect for picnics and plates, bowls, cups, and utensils. They’re all made from sustainable plants, such as corn, sugar cane, and eucalyptus.

The bowls, plates, and cups are all designed to withstand food and beverages of varying temperatures (even hot

The post 25 Awesome Plastic Free Products (for Plastic Free July & Beyond) appeared first on Green Global Travel.

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wtf-triassic · 5 years

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Vancleavea campi

By Tas Dixon

Etymology: Named after Phillip Van Cleave

First Described By: Long & Murry, 1995

Classification: Biota, Archaea, Proteoarchaeota, Asgardarchaeota, Eukaryota, Neokaryota, Scotokaryota, Opimoda, Podiata, Amorphea, Obazoa, Opisthokonta, Holozoa, Filozoa, Choanozoa, Animalia, Eumetazoa, Parahoxozoa, Bilateria, Nephrozoa, Deuterostomia, Chordata, Olfactores, Vertebrata, Craniata, Gnathostomata, Eugnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Rhipidistia, Tetrapodomorpha, Eotetrapodiformes, Elpistostegalia, Stegocephalia, Tetrapoda, Reptiliomorpha, Amniota, Sauropsida, Eureptilia, Romeriida, Diapsida, Neodiapsida, Sauria, Archosauromorpha, Crocopoda, Archosauriformes, Eucrocopoda, Proterochampsia?, Doswelliidae?

Status: Extinct

Time and Place: 228 to 203.6 million years ago, in the Norian of the Late Triassic

Vancleavea is best known from the Petrified Forest in Arizona and Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, but is found throughout the Chinle Formation in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Utah in the southern United States. It is also known from the Tecovas Formation in Texas, and the Redonda and Bull Canyon Formations in New Mexico.

Physical Description: Vancleavea is a peculiar reptile, even by Triassic archosauromorph standards. It effectively resembles an armoured, scaly eel with tiny legs, a long neck, the tail of a crocodile and a frighteningly fang-toothed skull. The largest complete specimen is approximately 1.2 metres (3.9 feet) long, although isolated pieces from other specimens indicate it could grow larger. Most of its body is covered in an array of overlapping bony osteoderms that come in 5 different shapes on the main body, throat, underbelly, limbs and tail (as well as possibly some strange spike-like osteoderms of unknown position). Uniquely, the osteoderms on the tail are tall and flat from side to side, forming a tall fin along the top of the tail for swimming. No other tetrapod—except for the closely related Litorosuchus—has a tail fin like this (usually they are made of tall neural spines from the tail bones).

Vancleavea’s skull is also unusual, as it is very robust and solid, despite the relatively thin and pointed snout. The back of the skull is boxy and has completely closed over the upper temporal fenestra, leaving just the very large lower temporal fenestra. The antorbital fenestra in front of the eyes, a typical feature of archosauriform reptiles, has also been lost, and the snout is short with nostrils that point directly upwards. The jaw bones of Vancleavea are heavily pitted and have a rough texture, which combined with the large teeth imply Vancleavea lacked lips and had exposed fangs, similar to crocodiles. Vancleavea had three fangs on each side of its jaws, one at the front, one on the lower jaw, and another on the upper jaw behind the bottom fang. The dentary fang slotted into a gap in the upper jaw when the mouth was closed, again similar to crocodiles.

The body of Vancleavea is long and tubular, enhanced by both the unusually long neck and the small size of its limbs. It’s unlikely Vancleavea’s limbs were strong enough to lift its body off the ground on land, and in fact the forelimb is so reduced that the shape of some its finger bones suggests it had even lost the claws on its hands. All in all Vancleavea is very clearly built to be semi-, if not almost entirely, aquatic, swimming with a sinuous, eel-like motion and rarely crawling onto land, perhaps only to lay its eggs.

Diet: The massive, serrated fangs and conical teeth indicate Vancleavea was carnivorous, likely feeding on fish and other aquatic prey, such as small temnospondyl amphibians.

Behavior: Vancleavea is almost certainly semi-aquatic, using its deep, finned tail to scull through the water similar to living crocodilians. It’s speculated that Vancleavea lived as an ambush predator, lunging forward to snag prey in its fangs. It lived in slow-moving freshwater environments, and its elongated, sinuous body would have been perfect for winding through plants and logs and other obstacles in the water.

Ecosystem: Vancleavea is known from much of the Chinle Formation, one of the most well known Late Triassic formations in the world, and its longevity means that it coexisted with a wide variety of other animals. There were of course the dinosaurs, including the likes of Coelophysis, Chindesaurus and Daemonosaurus, along with other dinosauriforms such as silesaurids and the lagerpetid Dromomeron, as well as early pterosaurs. Pseudosuchian archosaurs were incredibly abundant, such as the numerous herbivorous aetosaurs and Revueltosaurus, the dinosaur-like poposauroids including the herbivorous beaked Shuvosaurus and Effigia, as well as the predatory Poposaurus. Rauisuchid pseudosuchians were among the top predators, such as Postosuchus, while small long-legged crocodylomorphs like Hesperosuchus and Parrishia chased after smaller prey. Various other archosauromorphs were present too, including the bizarre drepanosaurs, herbivorous allokotosaurs such as Trilophosaurus and an unnamed azendohsaurid, and the strange armoured Doswellia, possibly Vancleavea’s closest relative. There was even an early turtle, Chinlechelys, one of the earliest known to have a fully formed shell, and a relative of the tuatara, Whitakersaurus. The only definitively known synapsid from the Chinle is the large herbivorous dicynodont Placerias.

In the water, Vancleavea would have coexisted with numerous species of giant phytosaurs—crocodile-like reptiles that may-or-may-not be pseudosuchians—such as Leptosuchus and Machaeoprosopus, as well as the predatory temnospondyl amphibian Anaschisma (formerly known as Koskinonodon). Vancleavea’s heavy armour may have been necessary protection against these predators, which could have had jaws almost as long as it was! Fish were abundant in the freshwater ecosystem, with various ray-finned fish such as the pike-like Saurichthys, the large lungfish Arganodus, freshwater sharks such as Xenacanthus, and even a freshwater coelacanth, Chinlea. Many of these fish grew to as large or larger than Vancleavea, and may have competed with it or even preyed upon it (at least as juveniles).

Vancleavea also coexisted with several other, more mysterious reptiles that are mostly only known from teeth. One of these, Acallosuchus, was discovered close by to the original specimen of Vancleavea. The skull and skeleton were originally suggested to belong to the same animal, but we now know Vancleavea had a very different skull to Acallosuchus. Supposedly its skull was long, pointed and triangular, with a knobbly texture on the bones. I say “supposedly” because the skull disintegrated while it was excavated, and all that’s left is a crude drawing and a few pieces of bone. The identity of Acallosuchus remains a mystery. Other mysterious species that Vancleavea coexisted with are the former ornithischians Tecovasaurus and Crosbysaurus, Colognathus, Palacrodon, the possibly venomous Uatchitodon, and the extremely enigmatic Kraterokheirodon known only from two teeth so unlike any known tetrapod alive or extinct it can only be classified as Amniota incertae sedis! Vancleavea was once in the same boat as all these creatures, known only by pieces of the skeleton and its armour, and with any luck, Acallosuchus and the other mystery creatures will end up like Vancleavea and turn up some complete skeletons one day.

Other: Vancleavea is known from throughout the Chinle Formation and several other localities in the southern US, however, most of these specimens consist of isolated bones and osteoderms. The Chinle Formation covers many tens of millions of years from top to bottom, and it’s unlikely the single species V. campi was that long-lived (its range spans a whole 20 million years!). Variations between some specimens suggest that there may be more diversity within Vancleavea then we currently recognise. However, until better specimens are found and can be compared, we can’t be sure how Vancleavea evolved and changed throughout the course of the Chinle.

Vancleavea has a fairly complicated history, the holotype was first discovered in the Petrified Forest by fossil collector Phillip Van Cleave, who lent it his name, but it wasn’t described and named until 1995 and still only consisted of a fragmentary skeleton. Nearly complete specimens from Ghost Ranch were discovered in 1982, but they wouldn’t be recognised as Vancleavea until decades later. In 2008, new specimens from the Petrified Forest were published, but Vancleavea still had to wait another year before the Ghost Ranch specimens were extensively described and its strangeness could be fully appreciated.

Until recently, Vancleavea was the only known stem-archosaur of its kind known in the world, and its relationship to other archosauriforms was enigmatic. However, the discovery of the closely related Litorosuchus from China indicates that the Vancleavea-family (“vancleaveans”) was indeed more diverse and widespread. Unlike Vancleavea, Litorosuchus was marine, and had a much longer, almost spinosaur-like snout. The position of Vancleavea in the archosauromorph tree is still uncertain, but it has been suggested to be a type of proterochampsian, a group of typically crocodile-like reptiles closely related to archosaurs proper. Particularly, it has been allied to the family Doswelliidae, a peculiar family of proterochampsians with similarly strange armour and skeletons. Regardless of where it truly belongs, Vancleavea is at least generally agreed to be a fairly derived archosauriform, quite close to the crown group of Archosauria, albeit having evolved down a very unusual, unique route all of its own.

~ By Scott Reid

Sources under the cut

Hunt, Adrian P.; Lucas, Spencer G.; Spielmann, Justin A. (January 2005). "The holotype specimen of Vancleavea campi from Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, with notes on the taxonomy and distribution of the taxon". New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin. 29: 59–65.

Li, C.; Wu, X.-C.; Zhao, L.-J.; Nesbitt, S.J.; Stocker, M.R.; Wang, L.-T. (2016). "A new armored archosauriform (Diapsida: Archosauromorpha) from the marine Middle Triassic of China, with implications for the diverse life styles of archosauriforms prior to the diversification of Archosauria". The Science of Nature. 103 (95): 95.

Long, R. A. & Murry, P. A. (1995). "Late Triassic (Carnian and Norian) tetrapods from the southwestern United States". New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin. 4: 1–254.

Miller, Zachery (November 17 20016). D&D Monsters of the Triassic. Waxing Paleontologist.

Nesbitt, S. J.; Stocker, M. R.; Small, B. J.; & A. Downs (November 26, 2009). "The osteology and relationships of Vancleavea campi (Reptilia: Archosauriformes)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 157 (4): 814–864.

Parker, W. G.; Barton, B. (2008). "New information on the Upper Triassic archosauriform Vancleavea campi based on new material from the Chinle Formation of Arizona". Palaeontologia Electronica. 11 (3)

#vancleavea #archosauromorph #diapsid #reptile #triassic #triassic madness #triassic march madness #prehistoric life #paleontology

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cosmotographer · 5 years

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The Leica M10 Review

…yes I know it’s 2020 and it’s late

This review was a long time coming since I had originally planned on writing this review last Spring. It was during that time when I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to pick up a second-hand Leica M10 in black from a fellow forum member in exchange for two of my lenses at the time (Summilux 35mm FLE and the Summicron 50mm V5). Was it worth selling my M240 at the time and trading off two lenses for the M10?

Before I continue with this review, I should caveat by saying that this is my second M10 as I sold the first one during the first draft of this review last year after my trip from Miami and Key West. I had sold it over the summer because I didn’t feel the premium wasn’t worth it to me, therefore I had sold it off and picked up a mint silver chrome M-P 240 which I loved and took it several trips with me.

Fast forward to 2020, an opportunity had come up for an M10 while I was at the gym one morning. I was catching up on Leica things during a break (as you do) and I had found a silver chrome M10 for sale for a price that was hard to pass up. A price so good, that I had completely stopped working out and went into full-time stalker mode with the seller on securing the purchase via text message. After less than 5 minutes of communicating back and forth, we had agreed on a price and a successful transaction was made.

I said farewell my beloved M-P (Typ 240) as it sold in less than a day to a gentleman in Texas. You were the best iteration of the best value digital Leica M camera, but how does the M10 compare and do I still think it was worth the money to upgrade?

My first Leica M10 in black

“Minute changes like these is what legendary products need. Nothing drastic, but incremental improvements.”

Introduction

When the M10 was first introduced in January 2017, it was a cause for celebration as reviews sang their praises as the ‘best Leica yet’ while commenting on its new 24 megapixel sensor paired with the latest Maestro II processor, a bigger viewfinder magnification with better eye-relief, a body that is as slim as the M7 film camera, a new manual ISO dial and what is this?

They’ve removed video recording!

Nobody cared. Moving on.

Not only did Leica giveth and taketh away with the M10, but they had also made the camera significantly more simplified compared to its predecessor. Leica’s new devotion to minimalism that could be seen back in 2015 with the introduction of the Leica Q, transferred over to the M10 as the camera now has less buttons, removed any superfluous menu options which led to a more structured and cleaner menu system. They even changed the power switch so that it only does one thing now: On or Off. This is a big deal as the Leica Q had a problem with some users accidentally switching to “Continuous” as the power switch had the tendency to go full-auto. Minute changes like these is what legendary products need. Nothing drastic, but incremental improvements.

Look at every new iteration of the the Porsche 911. It’s not the same car, but just improved.

As the difference in technology between the M240 (2012) and the M10 (2017) span 5 years, the improvements of the M10 can be noticed instantly with its new slimmer profile when you pick it up for the first time. While the M240 wasn’t a big camera compared to other full-frame cameras, but if you compared Leica’s other rangefinders, the M240 was a thicc boy. After a few weeks of getting reacquainted with the M10 again, I felt that the M10 is just like any other Leica: it’s more than the sum of its parts and more about its evolution rather than revolution. That’s why, at least currently, it’s the best digital iteration of Leica’s fabled rangefinder (until the M11).

My new Leica M10 in silver chrome

“…it’s more than the sum of its parts and more about its evolution rather than revolution.”

Build & Design

The M10’s new slimmer body and lighter weight compared to the M240 was very obvious and noticeable to me. As your right thumb rub against the right corner of the body next to the exposure dial, you’ll also notice the new paint finish as Leica had decided to use matte/chrome treated paint compared to the previous “black paint” finish in the previous gens. I personally prefer the black paint finish as the lacquer paint would fade over time, showing the dull gold glow of the brass underneath. This brassing gave the camera a nice patina, like a worn leather jacket after years of use.

Brassing on a Leica M240

I believe that Leica did this intentionally to give the camera a more timeless look as the brassing would give the camera an aged look over time, but I feel that the patina brings out the character of the camera. With each worn paint on different parts of the body, there is a story that comes with it. The new chrome paint finish will not age as gracefully, as it will just dull over the time, losing its matte luster to just a shiny sheen of metal.

Leica M10 Cutaway | Courtesy of Leica Camera AG

Tough as Nails

Just because the M10 doesn’t brass like its predecessors, doesn’t the camera feels cheap. The components are still machined from solid brass and magnesium alloy chassis, holding in all the components in such a small body. Nothing about the build quality is different with the M10 and they are still built to same high standards. Don’t let the smaller size of the M10 fool you either as the weight between the M240 and the M10 are almost identical (1.46 lbs vs. 1.50 lbs).

Width: 33.7mm

Weight: 1.46 lbs

Leica may not openly advertise this, but the body is weather-sealed against light precipitation and dust.

Refined Shutter

The shutter sound is definitely quieter and more refined than the M240, but the feel is about the same. Half press locks the exposure and full press releases the shutter with a refined “click”. I can’t explain the sound, but it feels slightly muffled compared to the M240. It’s definitely quieter than the M9’s robo-sex doll shutter cock sound, but I kind of like that as that’s part of the M9’s many charms.

I can’t speak for the shutter feel on the M10-P or M10-D as I don’t have any experience with them yet, but they have the quietest mechanical curtain shutters. Maybe one day I’ll pick one up (actually I know I’ll have one in the future).

Diamonds are Forever

Most of the back panel is dominated by a 3-inch TFT LCD monitor which has 1,036,800 dots and can display 16 million colors in addition to providing 100% frame coverage during live view. The difference in resolution between the M240 and the M10 may not be noticeable, at least to me, but the difference in contrast is very apparent. It’s also years ahead of the M9, which is only useful for checking exposure as it has the same screen quality of a GameBoy.

The LCD glass screen itself deserves its own paragraph as it’s sporting the latest Gorilla Glass, specifically developed for this camera by Corning. While the glass feel strong and strudy, I personally question its durability compared to the Leica M-P’s (Typ 240) more robust and exotic sapphire glass. Something that Leica had also omitted from the M10-P and M10-D. This is a big difference as sapphire glass is borderline industructible by conventional means, which is why it’s used on high-end watches that can only be scratched by diamonds. I wouldn’t be surprised if the M10’s screen is very similar to the Leica Q.

Balanced

Lastly, the body feels more balanced due to better weight distribution between the front and rear of the body if you hold the camera up by just the strap with a lens attached. This is one of the major benefits of the M10’s slimmer body as it pairs perfectly with compact lenses like the Summicron 35mm ASPH or the Voigtlander Ultron 35mm. This may not seem like a big deal, but weight distribution is counts if you want to pull some weight off your left hand, relieving some pressure off your fingers as you focus.

Miami, Florida | M10 + Summicron 35mm ASPH

“…body is weather-sealed against light precipitation and dust”

User Experience

There is something to be said about the user experience of a thinner, faster, and more accurate Leica rangefinder, especially with its improved eye relief for people with glasses. Compared to the M240, there are some noticeable improvements.

Pin-Point Accuracy

The new viewfinder has a magnification of .73x compared to the M240’s .68x magnification. This may not seem much, but that is a big difference when you’re looking inside a tiny window and you’ll notice it right away when you’re focusing your lenses. It’s much easier to nail a sharp focus and with fast lenses, this is a big improvement. By just walking around with the Voigtlander Ultron 35/1.7 ASPH I had at the time, I noticed that I was nailing focus with very little to no micro-adjustments to get a sharp focus patch. That means there is one less thing to worry about on getting a sharp focus. The second one being the quality of your eye sight to see the patch clearly.

This new viewfinder can also be a double-edged sword for those that wear glasses as composing with 28mm or 36mm lenses will have a more difficult time to compose since the eye-relief, while is improved, it’s still not ideal for glasses.

New Viewfinder | Courtesy of Leica Camera AG

Simplified Menu System

Leica had released a firmware update in 2018, which introduced the Favorites Menu that was brought over from the Leica Q. A very handy upgrade since it no longer required you to dive into the 2.5 pages of menus to change something as simple as White Balance. These are mostly quality of life improvements and once you set up your menu settings, you will very rarely ever go back in terms of shooting experience as I have everything that I need on the body of the camera: ISO, Aperture, Shutter. The dials feels solid and tactile, as you would expect from a Leica.

Carry Spares

The battery life will be a hit for people as the Leica M10’s BP-SCL5 battery has 1300 mAh of charge, which is noticeably smaller than the M240’s 1600 mAh battery. The difference of 300 mAh may not seem much and you should be able to hit 300 photos on one battery if you don’t use Live View (or EVF), but this is a far cry from the M240’s BP-SCL2 battery as a single one of those guys would last me all weekend.

Thumbs Up

The exposure compensation dial is just where it needs to be like the M240, but the Leica M10 has a slight curvature on the left side of the dial that acts as a pseduo thumb rest. Doesn’t seem like much, but it makes a noticeable difference in ergonomics, especially on a slimmer body like the M10. I still ended up buying a OEM Leica thumb grip and I recommend it wholeheartedly as we all know that Leica cameras were built for Lego people.

Controls at your finger tips

“…you will very rarely ever go back in terms of shooting experience as I have everything that I need on the body of the camera.”

Big Brains

The MAESTRO II processor is quick and depending on the Read/Write speed of your SD card, it’s as quick as the Leica Q on writing those DNG files. It’s capable of taking 5 shots per second on continuous which is impressive for a M camera.

Wi-Fi is Lo-Fi

The built-in Wi-Fi feature is nice to have, but I doubt I’ll ever use it as my dedicated source of raw transfers since I prefer to use the SD card to transfer photos via iPad Pro or on the PC. The app itself is cumbersome and the transfer speeds are abysmally slow. To make matter worse, using the Wi-Fi feature absolutely destroys your battery life.

A Bakery in Richmond, VA | Leica M10 + Voigtlander 35/1.4 MC II

“…thumbs up grip is crazy expensive at $240 a pop”

Things I Don’t Like

Despite all these improvements, not everything is perfect with the M10. This may be the best digital Leica M camera to date, but there are a couple of issues I want to point out as they were noticeable that prevented the camera from winning over me completely.

Double Thumbs

The buttons on the back are big and easy to use, but it will take some time to get used to getting around the menu system if you’re coming from the M240…especially when you want to delete a photo.

You first have to press the “PLAY” button, which is one of the three primary buttons on the back, then press “MENU” to bring up the delete option since there is no dedicated delete button anymore. Then once you do that, you have to use the center button on the D-Pad to confirm your choice (what would be the INFO button on the M240). It’s not very intuitive but neither was the M240’s use of the “SET” button on the left. This is a minor issue as you’ll get use to it after a couple of days.

That ISO Dial

The new ISO dial on the left of side of the camera was one of the defining features of the M10 and while it is nice to have, I personally think it’s highly overrated. To change the ISO, you need to lift the switch up to unlock it (which surprisingly takes a bit of effort with your left fingers) and then turn the dial to your desired ISO settings, then press the dial back down until it snaps in to lock the ISO dial. I’m not of fan of this effort of using the ISO dial and practically impossible with gloves on.

I personally leave the dial unlocked and upright position while I’m shooting without the fear of accidentally bumping the dial to the wrong settings since theres enough resistance to stay in place. The constant adjustments to the ISO dial will require you to alter your grip a lot when it’s in locked position.

Also, good luck using the ISO dial in the dark as you can’t see anything. At least on the previous M240, you could easily manipulate the ISO on the LCD screen while turning the exposure compensation dial.

Overall, I think they just should have made the dial more tactile to reduce the chance of accidentally bumping the dial, a la Fujifilm X-Pro3. It’s a cool feature but I hated using it and I promise you that this feature will either be revised or removed in the next generation Leica M11 body.

The Options List

This should come to no surprise to anyone as Leica anything is expensive, but I want to point out that the accessories for the Leica M10 are noticeably more expensive than the M240. Par for the course, but here is the breakdown in costs for my recommended accessories.

Leica Thumb Grip – $240

Leica BP-SCL5 Batteries – $190 (however, cheaper than the M240 batteries)

Periscope

This is a WTF moment for me and for those that need GPS coordinates baked into their DNG files. If you want this feature, it’s only available if you use the optional Leica Visoflex EVF which costs a cool $600, which is odd to me. I never used or cared about this feature but it made me raise an eyebrow.

Image Quality

It’s strange to categorize the quality of the image output from a camera body, so I guess you can call this part the sensor’s characteristics.

The overall fidelity and tonality produced by the Leica M10 is excellent and while it may not win any DXO scores because Leica couldn’t give a shit about winning sensor awards, the overall output is absolutely beautiful. This is also very dependent on the type of glass you put in front of the sensor, but to keep things consistent, I’ve used both the 35mm and 50mm Summicron lenses to get a good reading on how the M10 likes to paint its pictures.

The M10’s DNG files have noticeable bump in saturation, and contrast straight out of camera when you upload them into Lightroom. Compared to the DNG files from the Leica Q, the output from the M10 is consistently more “colorful” with a hint of warmer tones. Another underrated improvement over its predecessor is the the white balance. How the M10 figures out its white balance is a big improvement as it is definitely more accurate compared to the M240’s yellowish tint.

The dynamic range is actually pretty good based on my experience in Lightroom. You can pull several stops on both highlights and shadows without destroying the file, and it should be satisfactory as long as you don’t expect Sony levels of dynamic range.

This doesn’t mean that you should be lazy on setting your exposure before taking the photo because a good baseline photo in RAW is much more preferable than trying to salvage your mistakes in post. A good rule of thumb is to underexpose my photos just a little bit to save the highlights during your tricky in/out lighting situations.

Expose for those highlights

This photo was heavily underexposed but the dynamic range headroom on the M10 allowed me to pull up the shadows while maintaining micro-contrast. The windows are actually looking inside the factory floor with the flood lights and not actually looking outside.

In Summary

What Leica had done here was to take a successful formula and make minor improvements to an already successful camera, but doing this also risked alienating fans. This is a known problem with any manufacturer that have a rabid fanbase with a long history (a la Porsche 911). When Leica developed the M10, it took some risks with some of these changes, but it’s easy to see that Leica went back to what they were very good and just made improvements to their existing core strengths. They understood who their base customers were and listened. It simplified the camera to its basics (it has three menu buttons for crying out loud) and took video out. While most DSLR and Mirrorless photographers will laugh at the idea of taking stuff out but charging the same price (if not more) for such a “low-tech” camera, this is not what Leica is about.

They cater to the niche and not the masses – something they’ve been doing for a long time and longer than any manufacturer.

M10 vs. M240

Now, some of you on the fence of purchasing a Leica M10 may be asking yourself if this camera was worth the upgrade over the M240?

Yes and No. Let me explain.

I came from a background of owning the following Leica cameras chronologically.

Leica M9 (Black),

Leica M9 (Steel Gray),

Leica M240 (Silver),

Leica M10 (Black),

Leica M-P 240 (Silver),

Leica M10 (Silver).

So I’ve been around the block and back and I feel as though I have some experience on this topic and for the most part, I would say no, it’s not worth the upgrade in my opinion. While the M10’s improvements are tangible, I don’t feel as though the incremental improvements are worth the premium. For example…

While the ISO dial is great, M240 owners can just as easily change their settings using the rear LCD and rear dial.

The improved viewfinder is wonderful and the magnification is great, but if you shoot between 35mm-50mm lenses, you won’t really notice it too much.

The battery life is worse on the M10.

The M240 is thicker than the M10, but I don’t think you’ll notice the difference when you’re out in the real world taking photos, especially if you use a thumb grip for both.

The improved LCD screen is nice, but I never looked at the M240’s screen and thought it was crap in 2020.

ISO Performance – if you’re not Batman and prowl the street at night often and don’t shoot a lot in low light, this is hard to justify.

This is how I feel after owning the two cameras (twice) back to back, but it’s ultimately up to you if you feel that it’s worth it to you. Otherwise, the M10 is the best digital M camera that you can get right now. With the predictable upgrades without changing the primary formula of what made the Leica M so great, it makes you wonder what the future holds for the next Leica M as we’re going to be due for an upgrade in 2022.

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[eafl id=”5419″ name=”M10 Battery” text=”Leica BP-SCL5 Battery”]

[eafl id=”5421″ name=”Leica M10 Thumb” text=”Leica M10 Thumb Grip”]

[eafl id=”5267″ name=”Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH II” text=”Leica Summicron 35mm f/2 ASPH II”]

[eafl id=”5282″ name=”Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.4 MC II” text=”Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.4 MC II”]

[eafl id=”5285″ name=”Voigtlander Ultron 35 f/2 Vintage” text=”Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f/2 ASPH”]

I finally review the Leica M10 and wanted to share my experience and if it's worth the upgrade over the M240 The Leica M10 Review ...yes I know it's 2020 and it's late This review was a long time coming since I had originally planned on writing this review last Spring.

#leica #Featured #gear #m10 #review

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gorilla-astro · 5 years

Photo

The pinwheel galaxy (m101) Located in the constellation Ursa major (big Dipper area) at 21 million light years away, m101 is a face on Galaxy with a lot to show Discovered by Pierre Mechain on March 27th 1781. Later sent to Charles messier to verify its position and be included in the catalogue. M101 spans a diameter of 170,000 light years. A large Galaxy indeed but still doesn't beat our home Galaxy which is 258,000 light years in diameter. However! M101 has estimated 1 trillion stars about twice as much as our home the milky way galaxy. Quite impressive indeed! This Galaxy is asymmetrical due to the strong gravitational forces of it's neighboring galaxies. This causes many strong star forming regions in it's spiral arms. In dark skies this object is best seen in telescopes with apetures of 8+ inches, but don't let that stop you from using what equipment you have to view the cosmos with. Field Equipment and software: Gso rc6 with astrophysics ccdt67 reducer spaced for 0.72x reduction. Modified zwo off axis guider using a zwo 290mm mini for guide cam, main imaging camera zwo asi1600mm cool set at -20c for the first night then to -10c the 2nd night as the weather was getting warmer. Zwo 8 position electronic filter using the zwo lrgb filters. Software: sgpro, stellarium, phd2, qhy polemaster with software, and eqmod. Data: Luminance 48x5min (4 hours) Red 22x6min (2hr 12min) Green 22x6min (2hr 12min) Blue 26x6min (2hr 36min) Total integration: 11 hours Calibration frames used for each channel Calibrated and processed in pixinsight To be honest I wish I could've gotten more data but this spring was brutal in terms of cloudy nights, severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings (Texas). Thank you all for looking and always keep your head up to the stars! I love sharing small pieces of the sky with you all! https://www.instagram.com/p/BzIwYPwguvi/?igshid=1iiwrzrkv56e7

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keepingupwiththekennedykurse · 6 years

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Meet the Kennedys

(Source)

The Kennedy Dynasty began in 1914, when Irish banker Joseph P. Kennedy married the oldest daughter of the mayor of Boston, Rose Fitzgerald. Over the course of the next 18 years, they would have 9 children.

Their oldest child was Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Being the first in the family, his father was determined to form him into a politician with hopes of one day being President of the United States. An untimely death at the age of 29 brought Joe Jr.'s political career to an end before it even started.

Next in line was John. Growing up, he was overshadowed by his older brother's success and sophistication. Joe Sr. never looked at his son John's future with much hope because John was either suffering dangerously poor health or constantly causing mischief with his friends. It wasn't until the death of Joe Jr. that Joe Sr. realized John would have to be the son that got into politics. At the age of 29, he served in Congress for Massachusetts. Through the years he worked his way up to Senate, then a vice presidential nominee in 1956, and eventually became the 35th president in 1960. While campaigning for re-election for the 1964 Presidential election, he was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.

Rosemary, often referred to as the "Forgotten Kennedy", was the first daughter of Joe Sr. and Rose. Early in her life, Rosemary's parents noticed that she was having struggling with academics and was promiscuous as a young adult. As a result, she underwent a surgery that would change her in means of personality and functionality. She was locked away in an asylum where she lived to the age of 87, but was rarely visited by her family.

After Rosemary, Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy was born. She is most known for her participation in the Red Cross during World War II. She eventually becomes Lady Hartington of England when she marries William Cavendish, the Marquess of Harrington. She is widowed In their first month of marriage. She dies in a fashion similar to her oldest brother- in a plane crash, at the young age of 28.

The next three females of the Kennedy family, fortunately, lived full lives and did not experience any major tragedies.

Eunice is the fifth Kennedy child. She started the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation. According to the Foundation Directory Online, this foundation aims for the,"prevention of mental retardation by identifying its causes and improving means by which society deals with its mentally retarded citizens." She was much involved with anything that had to do with bettering the lives of those with mental disabilities. She worked with the Special Olympics, the Chicago Juvenile Court, and a women's penitentiary in West Virginia. She married, had five children, and lived to the age of 88.

Next came Patricia. Throughout her life she was involved in show business and the political campaigns of her brothers John, Robert, and Edward. She married an actor and had four children. She lived until the age 82.

Jean Kennedy started her adult life majoring in English at the Manhattenville College, but got involved in politics while her older brother Jack was campaigning for the 1960 election. She started with working for peace in Northern Ireland, which was divided by some people wanting Ireland to be apart of the United Kingdom, while others wanted Ireland to be independent. This conflict continued for over 30 years. President Bill Clinton made Jean Kennedy the United States Ambassador for Ireland in 1993. She is also the only surviving Kennedy offspring of Joe Sr. and Rose.

Robert is the eighth Kennedy and the United States Attorney General for his older brother, John. John and Bobby had an extremely strong relationship and they both worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. in the Civil Rights Movement. After John was assassinated in 1963, Robert continued to work for Civil Rights and was aiming to be the Democratic nominee for the 1968 Presidential election. Here we see another parallel- while he was campaigning he was assassinated- the same fate as his older brother while campaigning for his re-election.

The youngest Kennedy is Edward "Teddy" Kennedy. Although he did live a full life, it was filled with a lot of what one might call "close calls". In 1964, he was riding in an airplane with three other people in very poor weather conditions, causing yet another plane crash. Unfortunately, the crash resulted in two causalities, but surprisingly, Teddy wasn't one of the people who died in the crash. Years later in 1968, he was involved in yet another crash, this time involving a car. He was driving one night with one other passenger on a small island near Martha's Vineyard known as Chappaquiddick. Accidently (but could be argued otherwise depending on who you talk to) he drove off of a bridge into a pond. He was able to escape the car fine, but his female passenger was stuck in the car and drowned. She ended up dying, but yet again, he survived. Chappaquiddick became a huge scandal in his life and for awhile affected his political career. He served as a Senator of Massachusetts up until his death in 2009. He died of brain cancer.

In this blog, I would like to explore the Kennedy Curse in detail. I believe that there is something suspicious about this curse and I find it ironic how many parallels there are (plane crashes and assassinations are a big parallel). Also, there are more unfortunate events spanning even to the Kennedy's offspring that I would like to explore as well: how the Kennedy Curse still exists decades later.

Although I haven't gotten to research all the events of the Curse in detail yet, I am still in awe at how such a perfect family could have such bad luck, which has led me to another topic to research. I want to see if all the money and prominence (things that we usually associate with success and good living) was the cause for all this bad luck. Maybe fame and fortune isn't everything it is cracked up to be after all...

But trust me, we're going to find out.

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opengrowth · 3 years

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4 Growth Stocks to Add to Your Portfolio

The unpredictable economic blackout of 2020 made investors skeptical about the market conditions. The global economy experienced a considerable shock in terms of demand, supply and finance. Investors resorted to consider cyclical stocks to lean on for a while. However, with the rollout of vaccinations in 2021, the economy started healing and gave new hope to investors and companies alike. As we delve deeper into the volatility of the market conditions, this article provides an insight into four growth stocks that can raise the bar and reap great returns.

Growth stocks are the ones that do not guarantee a dividend but promise a higher capital return. Investors who do not wish for a short-term profit invest in growth stocks. The intention is financial inclusion as well as to grow the profits faster than any other business. Reinvestment of the return increases the earnings per share, thereby increasing the value of the company's stocks.

How to Invest in Stocks?

"Do not put all eggs in one basket"- Warren Buffet.

As beginners, we often fail in understanding personal wealth management and making the right choice for investing. So when you decide to invest in stocks, you must evaluate two things- the amount and the risk you are willing to take. You can choose to pay commission to a broker who manages your investments or invest in your employer's 401(k). You can easily open an online brokerage account with the help of a Robo advisor and proceed with the instructions on stocks, profile management and other services. It is effective to plan your budget and aim for long-term benefits when you invest. There are many user-friendly online tools like stock chart analysis by experts, simple moving average, relative strength index, etc. S&P 500 Index, i.e. (the Standard and Poor's 500 Index), shows the weighted market capitalization index of the top 500 US public companies.

Hot Stocks to Invest for Growth

As we look at the statistics of the performance of the given stocks, they have grown in a short span. Various reasons could have contributed to it- the market conditions, rise in demand for its products, or innovation and developments. Here is a look at the companies' portfolios and why you should invest in them.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.(REGN)

A leading pharmaceutical company based in Tarrytown, New York, showcases a robust rise in the value per share in the first quarter of 2021. REGN invents, develops, produces and promotes medicines for the treatment of severe health conditions. Recently, it has announced the effect of their REGEN COV therapy which reduces the death risk in COVID terminal patients by 20%.

The revenue spurted at about $ 2.52 billion at the end of the first fiscal quarter, and the per-share earnings stood at $ 10.09. Looking at the fundamental changes and favorable position, analysts expect the stock price to rise to about $18 in the next quarter. The current value of the stock is $581. The growth prospect of REGN invites investors as the company's position implies a Strong buy as per the Zacks Rating.

Teradata Corp (TDC)

TDC is a hybrid multi-cloud analytics company that provides data analysis to companies. It offers solutions, software, hardware and other consultancy services. The company's in-house reforms to provide software solutions at large are calling in for a growth prospect.

With a 13% rise in the revenue for the first quarter, analysts predict the company to grow to ensure a good return. In the past three months, the stock value has increased to $50.25. The supportive government policies, rise in growth and value attributes makes it one of the best stocks to invest in for a better capital return. A rank of 3 by Zacks implies it to be an excellent place to invest.

Energy Transfer LP (ET)

ET is a company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, that stores and transports natural gas, crude oil and propane. It operates about 9000 miles of natural gas pipelines and sells to power plants, industries, and local distribution.

On February 17, 2021, the company declared that it has entered into a merger agreement and will acquire Enable Midstream Partners in an all-equity transaction at $7.2 billion. This merger will create commercial opportunities for ET and increase the consumer base with more excellent connectivity.

The quarterly revenue for ET stands at $16.99 billion on March 31, 2021, with about a 46% rise. The company's earnings are at $1.21, which stood at a loss of $0.32 for the same period the previous year. It shows gravitating towards profitability shortly. Analysts on valuation predict the revenue to rise at a 71.1% growth rate to $66.63 billion by the end of 2021. ET's EPS is projected to grow at a rate of 986.1% in the current year. A significant surge indicates the best time to invest in ET's stocks is now.

Alkermes plc (ALKS)

Alkermes is a biopharmaceutical company that develops medicines for severe mental illness, cancer and other CNS (Central Nervous System) diseases. It has its headquarter in Dublin, Ireland. The intense research and development team innovates different medicines that promise to relieve patients from severe illnesses. In June 2021, they received approval from the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) of their latest medicine LYBALVI. This invention is sure to open doors of trade for the brand that will positively change its stock price.

Earnings have grown at 16.4% per year over the last five years, and analysts predict it to grow 74.3% per year. The yearly return stands at 19.6%, showing prospects of growth soon. It has great potential in the future as it offers value and growth attributes.

#stock market #investors

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orbemnews · 3 years

Link

Severe storms threaten the South with tornadoes and hurricane-force winds Friday night The area under the threat of severe weather spans from southeastern Texas through the Florida Panhandle at the Gulf Coast to lower Michigan. The greatest threat will be in parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama which the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) labeled a level 4 out of 5, or “moderate risk.” This includes Jackson, Mississippi and Monroe, Louisiana. “Significant severe storms, including widespread damaging winds, and at least a few tornadoes are expected across portions of northeast Louisiana into Mississippi, especially overnight,” said the SPC. The SPC is also warning that some areas, especially those in the region labeled “moderate risk,” could experience hurricane-force winds, which are winds of at least 74 mph. The overnight hours will be of most concern for these dangerous storms, but the threat will begin earlier in the day. During the day Friday, there will be rounds of showers and thunderstorms across the Southeast, with some of these possibly turning severe. The main threats posed by these storms are hail and wind. Severe storms were beginning to break out acros the South as of Friday afternoon. The SPC has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana, in effect until 6 pm CDT. A separate watch is in effect until 7 pm CDT for central Alabama. The SPC anticipates multiple lines of storms to form in this region, so even though there could be storms as early as Friday afternoon, the severe risk will continue well into Friday night. By Friday evening, scattered storms are forecast to also form further east into Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, and unfortunately the worst of the storms could happen after sunset. “While tornadoes are possible, it appears the straight line winds will be the primary concern,” said the National Weather Service office in Jackson, Mississippi. “Having said that, there could be swaths of wind damage that resemble EF-0 to EF-1 type (tornado) damage, so folks should certainly take the wind threat seriously.” The rest of the South could also deal with several rounds of strong storms. The weather won’t clear up until early Saturday morning west of the Mississippi River while locations east of there will likely still be stormy. Threat shifts east Saturday The storm system triggering this anticipated severe weather outbreak will continue to trek east, forcing the thunderstorms to move east as well. The severe weather threat will shift more toward the Southeast on Saturday. With many severe weather setups, the strong storms occur typically late in the day, but we could see persistent, threatening storms Friday night continuing into Saturday. On Saturday, the area most at risk for severe weather will be near the Gulf Coast. This includes cities such as Montgomery and Mobile in Alabama and Pensacola, Florida, in the level 3 out of 5, “enhanced risk.” There is also the risk for a few strong storms farther north across the Southeast and even as far north as Chicago and Cleveland. Tornadoes do remain possible, especially near the Gulf Coast. The storms by this point in time will likely have evolved more into a line of storms instead of the multiple lines and supercell thunderstorms, which are the discrete spinning storms, expected Friday into Friday night. By Saturday night, the severe threat will begin to diminish. As the storms near the East Coast in Georgia and the Carolinas, they may dissipate while showers move into central Florida. Rounds of storms could trigger flash flooding This storm system will draw in a good deal of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, allowing for heavy rain to fall from the thunderstorms Friday into Saturday. In some areas, especially centered around Mississippi, multiple occurrences of these heavy storms are anticipated, creating the risk for several hours of potential rainfall rates in excess of 2 inches per hour. Rainfall amounts will be variable, as it depends on the track of the thunderstorms, but generally, 1 to 2 inches of rainfall is forecast for much of the South. The likeliest areas to see totals between two and five inches will be across Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. There will be a period of drier weather for this region by Sunday, but the next chance for rain will likely arrive on Tuesday. Source link Orbem News #Friday #hurricaneforce #night #severe #SeverestormsthreatentheSouthwithtornadoesandhurricane-forcewindsFridaynight-CNN #South #storms #Threaten #tornadoes #Weather #winds

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marymosley · 4 years

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The Harder They Fall: Trump Attorney Moves Against Stormy Daniels And Michael Cohen

C-Span/YouTube Screenshot

There is something crushingly ironic in a recent letter received by former Trump counsel Michael Cohen from current Trump counsel Charles Harder. Cohen has been getting the word out that he is writing a tell-all book in his latest effort to cash in on his scandalous career. He then received a letter from Harder that he will sue Cohen if he violates . . . you guessed it . . . his nondisclosure agreement (NDA). The same grounds that Cohen used against Stormy Daniels. Speaking of Daniels, she also received mail from Harder, who is seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars for attorneys fees used to represent Trump against her (also a threat made by Cohen in prior litigation). There are two critical differences in all of this. First, unlike Cohen, Harder is a competent lawyer. Second, Harder actually has a strong case against both individuals.

A friend of Cohen got the word out through the Daily Beast and other publications that “A lot of [the book] will be about looking at things he’s said and done with women and other [politically incorrect] things. It’ll be an insider’s look about what it was like to be alongside the president for 12 years.”

It is vintage Michael Cohen. Not only is he still trying to use anyone and anything to make a buck, but he is entirely discarding any ethical and contractual concerns over the interests of his former client. He presumably obtained this information when doing confidential work for his client since, given his notorious reputation as a legal thug, few people would be interested in Michael Cohen’s view of publicly available facts.

A friend of Cohen told the Daily Beast: “A lot of [the book] will be about looking at things he’s said and done with women and other [politically incorrect] things. It’ll be an insider’s look about what it was like to be alongside the president for 12 years.”

According to the Daily Beast, Harder is citing a NDA that Cohen signed. Most attorneys do not need a NDA since ethics rules are sufficient to prevent such disclosures, which is precisely why Harder needs to cite the NDA to Cohen.

Harder could simply take some of Cohen’s own words when he was threatening journalists, students, and others deemed a threat to Trump. For example in threatening a journalist, Cohen wrote:

“Mark my words for it, I will make sure that you and I meet one day over in the courthouse and I will take you for every penny you still don’t have, and I will come after your Daily Beast and everybody else that you possibly know. Do not even think about going where I know you’re planning on going. And that’s my warning for the day.”

Cohen then morphs into a bad rendition of a mobster after being asked for a statement: He warns Mak to “tread very f–king lightly because what I’m going to do to you is going to be f–ing disgusting. . . . Do you understand me? Don’t think you can hide behind your pen because it’s not going to happen. . . . I’m more than happy to discuss it with your attorney and with your legal counsel because motherf—er you’re going to need it.”

Or he could just cite the NDA and wait for Cohen to be Cohen.

Harder also went after Daniels for what could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Daniels sued Trump over a tweet that ridiculed Daniels over her release of a sketch of a man who Daniels claimed approached her one day in a threatening manner after she went public. It was the subject of widespread ridicule, particularly after the sketch was shown to bear striking resemblance to Daniels’ former boyfriend. Trump tweeted that it was “a nonexistent man. A total con job, playing the Fake News Media for Fools (but they know it)!”

Donald J. Trump

@realDonaldTrump

A sketch years later about a nonexistent man. A total con job, playing the Fake News Media for Fools (but they know it)! https://twitter.com/shennafoxmusic/status/986544764395900928 …

Shenna

Text Trump 88022@TheRealShenna

Replying to @realDonaldTrump

Oops! This is awkward! @StormyDaniels’s Ex

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As a public figures in a national controversy, Daniels was in a poor position to bring such a lawsuit. Moreover, this was a widely shared view. After she predictably lost the case, Harder hit her with an anti-SLAPP statute claim. Judge S. James Otero agreed that ordered that Daniels pay $292,052.33 in attorney fees and a $1,000 penalty sanction herself under the Texas Citizen Participation Act.

That looked largely symbolic until Daniels recently won a recent false arrest case. Harder jumped on the news with a new filing in federal court.

To Mr. Trump’s knowledge, Ms. Clifford does not possess any assets in this jurisdiction. Ms. Clifford is a resident of Texas and owns no real property in California. In contrast, she possesses substantial assets in the Southern District of Ohio in the form of the $450,000 in settlement funds being held by that court. Accordingly, Mr. Trump respectfully requests that the Court certify the Attorneys’ Fees Order for registration in the Southern District of Ohio.

He could win that case.

By the way, another figure Michael Avenatti is back in the news. Unlike Cohen who is still awaiting a compassionate release due to the pandemic, Avenatti was released for at least 90 days to go into home confinement in the home of a friend in Venice, California. Avenatti is due to be sentenced on extortion charges in June.

So, if you thought Trump NDAs, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, and Michael Avenatti are so 2018, think again.

The Harder They Fall: Trump Attorney Moves Against Stormy Daniels And Michael Cohen published first on https://immigrationlawyerto.tumblr.com/

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orbemnews · 4 years

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Davies snaps up Texas firm Davies, a provider of specialist professional services and technology for the insurance industry, has announced the acquisition of The Littleton Group, a Texas-based provider of insurance claims services. Littleton provides third-party administration and claims adjusting for insurance carriers, managing general agents, offshore and stateside captives, municipalities, private entities and self-insured businesses. Littleton will join Davies’s US-based Claims Solutions arm, adding scale to its existing property and casualty operations. Littleton CEO Steve Streetman will join Davies in an advisory and consulting role. Littleton COO Jeff Bode will continue to lead day-to-day operations, reporting to Peter Wilson, head of Davies’s US property and casualty claims operations. All 165 Littleton employees will continue in their roles. “I am delighted to welcome Steve and the wider Littleton team to Davies,” said Dan Saulter, CEO of Davies. “Building out property and casualty claims capability in the US is a strategic focus and a growing market. Littleton has a longstanding, excellent reputation in the market, and the 165-strong workforce joining Davies as part of the deal bring a wealth of experience and technical expertise to our growing business.” Read more: Davies names new head of US claims business “We’re really pleased to be joining forces with Davies, an organization committed to growth and innovation within the claims market in the US,” Streetman said. “Davies’ history of investing in people and technology, along with a commitment to always put the interests of clients first, aligns well with our values. The cultural fit with Davies was an important factor, and I believe the combination with Davies will present Littleton employees more career development opportunities and an exciting future as the company continues to grow.” Davies has established and expanded its US operations through both organic and M&A growth, and now boasts claims capability spanning the property and casualty, life and health, and transportation insurance markets. Davies’ offering in the US includes a full range of TPA and loss-adjusting services across all 50 states, captive management, auditing, and actuarial services. Davies has more than 4,250 employees working from locations across the US, the UK, Ireland, Canada, and Bermuda. Source link Orbem News #Davies #firm #snaps #Texas

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dicklawfirm · 5 years

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Damaging winds in Houston ☔⚡ be prepared.

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Eric Dick has Texas roots second to none. Being a direct descendant of the Tumlinson family, the “Come and Take It” cannon basically is his family crest. In 2016, he was overwhelmingly elected to Harris County Department of Education. He follows his family tradition in seeking justice by being a home insurance lawyer that represents policyholders with his or her denied or underpaid claims.

More than 66,000 Houston residents left without power!

Vicious High Damaging Winds Rip Through Houston

High property damaging winds from a line of storms moved across southeast Texas last week incurring extensive property damage and power outages for tens of thousands in the Houston region. Throughout that night high winds continued to whip Houston with a series of tornado warnings and rain storms that pushed from Brazoria County to areas south and east of Houston. Expect to see homeowners all over Harris County cleaning up downed limbs, trees, fences and blown away lawn furniture for the rest of the month. The weather service’s log of damage reports includes structural damage to a Buffalo Speedway gas station and downed trees in The Woodlands. One tree there crashed into a home on Drybrook Road, prompting the Spring Fire Department to respond for a reported gas leak. "Transformers began to explode near Hobby Airport, emitting a pulsing light that could be seen for miles" - ABC13

HOUSTON STORM DAMAGE!

BE PREPARED FOR MORE STORM DAMAGE THIS YEAR!

Preparing for Storms in Southeast Texas. Think ahead before storms arise, plan accordingly in case of an emergency. Your life, your family and your property depend on it.

What to do now

1. Make a plan. Talk with your family or coworkers about where you will go during extreme weather. Know the safest place in your home or office.

2. Prepare an emergency supply kit. The kit should have a number of items, including water (a gallon per person per day), non perishable food, a flashlight with extra batteries, prescriptions, first aid supplies, a charger and backup battery.

3. Charge your phone(s) and fill up your gas tank.

4. Put away any items in your yard or on your patio that could blow away.

5. Check your insurance policies. The Insurance Council of Texas (ICT) recommends you ensure your auto, homeowners or renters, flood and wind policies are active, as they can be essential for storm recovery. On the road?

1. Never stop under bridges or overpass to protect yourself from hail.

2. Bridges give no protection from wind-driven hail.

3. Your parked car will block traffic and may cause several car accidents.

4. Seek shelter in a strong, sturdy building if possible. BE SMART, BE SAFE, BE PREPARED!

Hidalgo again urges Harris County residents to buy flood insurance

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Tuesday again implored homeowners to please purchase flood insurance, regardless of whether they live in a mapped floodplain. Hidalgo made her remarks after meeting with acting FEMA director Peter Gaynor. She praised the federal government for providing more than $10 million in aid to help around 2,000 families recover from last September’s Tropical Storm Imelda, but said flood insurance is the best way for homeowners to protect themselves.

No. 1 Worst Insurance Company 2019 #badfaith

Houston Insurance CEO's House Hits the Market - Valued at $30 Million

Insurance CEO mansion likely built from denying insurance claims?

The CEO of a Houston-based insurance holding company has put his Memorial-area mansion on the market, with an asking price of $29.5 million.

The property is owned by Stephen Way, the founder and CEO of Houston International Insurance Group, and sits on 2.5 acres in one of the wealthiest zip codes in Houston (77024). This chateau features eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms and other lavishly appointed rooms, including a reception hall, salon, dining room, music room, east gallery hall, family room, sun room and a breakfast/informal dining room. There is also an elegant entertaining kitchen, a catering kitchen, butler’s pantry and office.

Way's Houston International Insurance Group recently completed a $20 million subordinated debt offering in preparation for a planned initial public offering. The company raised the funds from three unnamed investors, according to a June 11 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company accepted minimum investments of $4 million from investors and made its first sale on May 24, per the SEC filing. The 20-year subordinated debt offering is listed as long-term debt for accounting purposes.

Listen to previous episodes of The Eric Dick Show here.

Forward

Damaging winds in Houston ☔⚡ be prepared.

#Eric Dick #Houston Texas #Insurance Lawyer #Insurance Attorney #Houston Attorney #Dick Law Firm #Houston Insurance Attorney #Insurance Attorney Houston #Eric Dick Houston #Storm Damage Lawyer #Storm Damage Attorney #Attorney Eric Dick #Lawyer Eric Dick #Houston Attorney Eric Dick #Houston Lawyer Eric Dick

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gorilla-astro · 5 years

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svetlanawagner-blog · 5 years

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As I entered the bright white building, I heard the quiet whirring of small machines. I weaved through the museum doing my best to interpret and experience the art but couldn’t shake a feeling of familiarity. Then it hit me, I’ve seen this same artist before in NYC! Who would have guessed we would find a slice of the big apple in the small town of Marfa.

A big thank you to Travel Texas for hosting our trip. All opinions are always our own. This post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. Read our full disclosure for more info. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Local Adventurer possible.

Last Updated: July 8, 2019

25 Coolest Things to Do in Marfa TX

We ended our West Texas Road Trip in Marfa. Before visiting, we knew very little of the area other than hearing about the artsy community and seeing Prada Marfa and El Cosmico on instagram.

Marfa truly surprised us and felt like an anomoly. It’s quaint and charming and has small town vibes, but it’s also is completely different from any small town we’ve previously seen.

We found it hard to describe, and it almost felt like the twilight zone. We expected to find eclectic desert art and instead found an art scene as sophisticated as NYC. Sometimes it felt like a small town in West Texas, and other times it felt like a neighborhood in Brooklyn.

If you’re planning a trip out to Marfa, we’ve put together a guide to help you plan your trip.

Content Menu

Title of Subsection

photo:

What You Need to Know Before You Visit Marfa

Like a lot of the small towns in West Texas, hours are limited. Visit between Thursday to Sunday for the best experience, but even then there’s no guarantee that all businesses will be open.

Be flexible with your schedule. Even with posted hours, some stores and restaurants may close. Some even run out of food and close once the food is out. They’ve adopted a siesta mentality and close whenever they feel like it.

The closest major airport is in El Paso (about 3 hours away). Take advantage of your location and see other surrounding sites in West Texas. Here is our road trip guide.

Renting a car is the best way to get around town. When we talked to locals and asked about Uber, they said there are only 1-2 drivers locally.

Talk to locals to find out what else is going on around town. We heard about a free concert from a bartender which was the perfect way to end the night.

Cell phone coverage can be spotty. We have T-mobile and it worked in most cases but as soon as we were out of the main area, we lost signal.

If you plan on visiting during a holiday weekend, book early. This has become a popular destination.

Marfa is in a desert climate. it gets hot during the day but chilly at night. Have layers ready. During the winter, it can snow and gets dangerous to drive.

1. Marfa Mystery Lights

US-90, Marfa, TX 79843, map

The Marfa Lights have mystified people for generations. The glowing orbs appear in the desert outside Marfa and have been described as white, blue, yellow, and red. The first mention of the lights comes from Robert Reed Ellison in 1883 and you can see them from an official viewing platform, although you can’t predict when they will appear.

2. Ballroom Marfa

108 E San Antonio St, Marfa, TX 79843, map

Ballroom Marfa is one of the iconic contemporary art spaces in Marfa. They curate art from well-known and emerging artists from all over the world. During our visit, we saw an artist that was also on display at MOMA PS1 while we lived in NYC. They also host music acts in their space. Visit their site for their upcoming schedule.

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-3pm

More: 25 Fun Things to do Indoors in NYC

3. Judd Foundation

104 S Highland Ave, Marfa, TX 79843, map

Donald Judd is attributed with bringing the NYC art scene to Marfa, Texas. The foundation maintains and preserves Judd’s pieces, workspaces, libraries, and archives. You can take a guided to tour to visit different properties in Marfa.

4. Chinati Foundation

1 Cavalry Row,Marfa,TX,79843, Marfa, TX 79843, map

The Chinati Foundation is a contemporary art museum founded by Donald Judd. They specialize in large-scale installations spread over the 340 acres of land where Fort D.A. Russell used to be. Public tours are a great way to get more insight into the pieces or you can explore on your own.

Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 9am-5pm

5. Ayn Foundation

107 – 109 Highland St, Marfa, TX 79843, map

The Ayn Foundation focuses on large-scale products by major international artists. It currently includes Andy Warhol’s The Last Supper and Maria Zerres’ September Eleven.

6. Marfa Book Company

105 S Highland Ave, Marfa, TX 79843, map

MBCo has been around for almost twenty years and functions as a bookstore, publisher, and performance space. Stop by to check out their unique selection of books or visit during their talks, readings, or performances.

7. Freda

207 S Highland Ave, Marfa, TX 79843, map

This shop is a local favorite where you’ll find jewelry, found objects, vintage clothing and more. A record playing in the corner sets the mood while you shop.

8. Cobra Rock Boot Company

107 S Dean St, Marfa, TX 79843, map

If you love handcrafted artisan products, then you need to see the boots made by Cobra Rock. As you walk in, you are immediately greeted by the smell of leather. You can browse through items by other small independent designers, see the machines they use to make the boots, or order your very own.

9. Moonlight Gemstones

1001 W San Antonio St, Marfa, TX 79843, map

If you’re looking to pick up a gift our souvenier, check out Moonlight Gemstone. They specialize in West Texas Agates but carry a wide variety of choices. They also do custom gemstone cutting. and create custom silver jewelry.

10. Wrong Store

110 W Dallas St, Marfa, TX 79843, map

Awarded the Most Beautiful Independent Store in Texas by Architectural Digest, this shop is an eclectic collection of local items, carved wooden pieces, and artsy wares.

11. Marfa Brands

213 S Dean St, Marfa, TX 79843, map

What started as a hobby, Marfa Brands makes soaps with fans from all over the world. Hand pouring 150 bars at a time, you’ll find combinations like Rosemary Peppermint, Bergamot Grapefruit with Lemon Peel and Earl Grey Tea, and Oak Moss with Kelp and Sea Salt.

12. Prada Marfa

14880 US-90, Valentine, TX 79854, map

This is probably the most popular photo of Marfa, even though it’s not technically in Marfa. The permanent installation was created in 2005 and actually houses items from the fall/winter 2005 collection.

13. Tiny Target

US-90, Alpine, TX 79830, map

In early 2016, an anonymous artist painted a bullseye and the word Target on an old railroad structure. This is also outside of Marfa (about 45 mins east), but is often associated with Marfa.

14. Marfa Museum Thrift Store

610 W San Antonio St, Marfa, TX 79843, map

Fans of thrifting can stop by to see if they can find any treasures in this artsy and ecclectic town.

15. Building 98

Bonnie St, Marfa, TX 79843, map

Once a US army base bachelor offer quarter, it is now known for the WWII German POW murals. The western murals were completed in 1945 and show Marfa’s history in the arts.

16. Marfa Holocaust and Historic Model Ship Museum

901 E Oak St Marfa, TX 79843, map

Find historic artifacts, documents, and books about the Aliyah Bet (Jewish “illegal immigration” ships). What makes it really special is the collection of over 140 handmade, plank-on-frame ship models.

17. El Cosmico

802 S Highland Ave, Marfa, TX 79843, map

El Cosmico has your choice of teepees, yurts, and RVs, and looks like it’s made for the gram.

18. Planet Marfa

200 S Abbot St, Marfa, TX 79843, map

Planet Marfa is a great place to unwind after a long day. The quirky beer garden features a tepee and vintage school bus where you can hang out too.

19. Lost Horse Saloon

306 E San Antonio St, Marfa, TX 79843, map

This local watering hole is a popular hangout spot. The rustic, Western-style decor is the perfect backdrop for drinks and live music.

20. House Bar (Casita Bar)

Ranch Rd 2810, Marfa, TX 79843, map

Step into the 80s at one of the most unique bars we’ve ever been to. It was converted from an old home, and the decor is next level here. They host shows and we only found out about it because we asked the folks at Planet Marfa.

21. The Get Go

208 S Dean St, Marfa, TX 79843, map

The Get Go is an independent grocery store opened in 2007. It features local products, organic and alternative ingredients, and more. Not only can you pick up supplies if everything else is closed, it’s also a great way to get a glimpse of local life in Marfa.

More: 13 Secrets to Traveling like a Local

22. Frama at Tumbleweed Laundry

120 N Austin St, Marfa, TX 79843, map

If you’re looking for a place to get good coffee, a scoop of ice cream, and do your laundry, come to this coffee shop and laundromat pairing.

More: All the Best Stops on the Ultimate West Coast Road Trip

23. Marfa and Presidio County Museum

110 W San Antonio St, Marfa, TX 79843, map

Located in a historic adobe home built in the 1880s, this museum has a little bit of everything Marfa and Presidio County. It coveres ranching, local military, geology, settlers, Native Americans, and more.

24. Presidio County Courthouse

300 Highland St, Marfa, TX 79843, map

The Presidio County Courthouse was added tot he National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It’s a beautiful building in the heart of the city and you can even check ou the interior.

25. Stardust motel sign

US-90, Marfa, TX 79843, map

The Stardust Motel sign sits on its own just outside of town. There’s no trace of the motel itself, but the light still flickers from time to time.

Map of Things to Do in Marfa TX

More Things to Do in Marfa TX

Cast + Crew

Chinati Hot Springs (Presidio, TX)

Etherington Fine Art

Exhibitions 2D

Faith Alive Cowboy Church Radio Station

Garza Marfa

Ice Plant Museum

Julie Speed Studio

Marfa Activity Center

Marfa Contemporary – Closed

Marfa Fim Festival (late spring)

Marfa Gliders

Marfa Maid Dairy

Marfa Municipal Golf Course

Marfa Myths Music Festival

Marfa Visitor Center

Mirth

Mystery Blimp (on US-90, 15 miles outside Marfa)

Palace Theater

Private Marfa History Tours

Rule Gallery

Best Restaurants in Marfa TX

Buns N’ Roses (Breakfast, $)

Cochineal (New American, $$)

Do Your Thing (Coffee, $)

Frama (Coffee, $)

Food Shark (Mediterranean, $)

Lost Horse Saloon (Bar, $)

Marfa Burrito (Mexican, $)

Pizza Foundation (Pizza, 2$)

Planet Marfa (Bar, $)

Stellina (Italian, 2$)

Bar St George (Bar, $), Boyz 2 Men (Breakfast, $), Capri (New American, $, 3.5), Mando’s (Tex Mex, $), Jett’s Grill (American, $), LaVenture (Seafood, $$)

What to Pack for Marfa TX

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Where to Stay in Marfa Texas

Hotel Paisano – We stayed at Hotel Paisano during our visit to Marfa. It’s centrally located the hotel is full of history. You’ll find GIANT memorabilia throughout the lobby and hallways too.

Hotel Saint George

Thunderbird Hotel

El Cosmico for Glamping

What's Nearby

Fort Davis National Historic Site (25 min, 22.5 miles)

Davis Mountains State Park (27 min, 24.1 miles)

McDonald Observatory (50 min, 38 miles)

Big Bend National Park (1 hr 35 min, 98.2 miles)

More Resources

Lonely Planet Texas Travel Guide

West Texas Travel Guide

Texas State Map / Waterproof Texas State Map

Texas Road & Recreation Atlas

2019 Rand Mcnally Large Scale Road Atlas

Have you been before? Any other things to do in Marfa TX we’re missing?

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“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust

Esther + Jacob

Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, which is one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found both near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.

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