Bubblews.com Website Shuts Down - Domain Name Purchased by New Owner Awhile Back

Latest update: January 16, 2023. Page URL indicates original publication date; meanwhile, times change and the updates continue.

January 2023 Update

Yep, the site has been re-registered for another year. Interestingly the registrar is listed as: GoDaddy Online Services Cayman Islands Ltd.

Cayman Islands? What's that about? Meanwhile, I still can't find any search engines that will list the Bubblews.com website in their search results.

August 2022 Update

Even though the site is still registered, the search engines continue to not list it directly; best guess is that there is no longer an actual site. I am curious, but I still will not enter the domain name into the browser address bar. The current registration expires 2022/10/11. Will Bubblews.com be re-registered for another year? The drama continues...

April 2021 Update

Bubblews still deader than a door nail. Google still showing thousands of obsolete search results. This page appears to be the only one out there with current and accurate information. Meanwhile, the domain name still keeps being re-registered one year at a time: whois.

July 2020 Update

Am surprised at the amount of inaccurate data still on the search engines. Bubblews has been dead and gone for years, yet there are websites out there that still think Bubblews is an existing and functional site.

March 2020 Update

Nothing really new to report. As for this review page you are now reading, it has pretty much turned into a historical document about the demise of Bubblews. If interested, this page probably has everything one would ever want to know on the subject; plus, several links are included that may provide additional information. The comments have proven interesting as well.

October 2019 Update

According to whois, looks like the domain name has been renewed yet again. New expiration date is 2020-10-11. Privacy option not being used this time. Can't help but wonder:
  • What she knows?
  • Does she have any ties to the original owner?
  • What, if anything, is going on there?
Google still apparently refuses to index the actual site. My current speculation is the site is just a page with ads on it. What with there apparently still being curiosity seekers, the page is probably actually getting some traffic. Kind of smart really; buying well-known, defunct domain names and putting ads on it for the curious and others; again, just my speculation. If Google ever decides to re-index the site; I might be willing to drop by.

July 2019 Update

Google still apparently refuses to index the actual domain name, so I'm still not going anywhere near there because of what kind of junk ad cookies they might put on my computer. If Bubblews is again operational, Google is also apparently refusing to index any of their articles. I checked whois again:
Who knows? Maybe my speculations, induced by my previous experiences with them, is simply nothing more than paranoia on my part. For all I know, going there might bring up nothing more than a parked domain name that someone is trying to sell. Good luck with that.

January 2019 Update

According to Google, gone but not forgotten. If you are researching Bubblews for some reason, there are relevant links further down the page along with the information. I did a whois search and see that the new owner is still keeping the domain name registration current. I am still not going to attempt to visit the Bubblews domain. In my opinion, it's too risky; especially since Google won't index it. For that matter, there's a chance there isn't even a website there and the domain name is being registered just for placeholder reasons. Or maybe someone registered it just to put up a domain name "For Sale" sign, thinking the site's former infamy might be worth something.

February 2018 Update

I'm seeing posts in Google Search that seem to indicate that Bubblews has reopened. Frankly, I'm not going to attempt to go there to find out; am too concerned about what kind of junk advertiser cookies they might put on my machine. What is really interesting, if they are indeed open, is that Google appears to be unwilling to index and include that specific website directly in their search results.

October-November 2017 Update(s)

A possibly new owner has purchased the bubblews.com domain name. It can't be a coincidence; the new owner had to have known about the domain name's previous reputation.

Owner identity unknown, https://www.whois.com/whois/bubblews.com (opens in new tab).

Registrar and server farm may have questionable reputations? Do search for: 2635 Walnut Street Denver Colorado

It all seems just a little odd and a little off. For security reasons, am not going near that domain just yet. No doubt others will be landing there; we will hear soon enough as to site safety, owner intentions, etc.

Original Article About Previous Bubblews Owner


The Shutdown of Bubblews.com

November 2015

Here's what they had to say for themselves...

[Start] "Greetings, After being up and running for almost 3 years now we regrettably need to inform you that we will be shutting Bubblews.com down. The climate for display advertising has drastically changed and made it impossible for us to sustain the business model and operations. We want to thank everyone that was a part of this journey. We wish you all the very best. –Bubblews" [End]

Contrary to what the Bubblews farewell post says, the shutdown appears to have been immediate and without warning. It is being reported writers attempting to retrieve their articles are greeted with a 404 message instead. In other words, it looks like the writers' articles are gone forever and cannot be retrieved.

I can't help but wonder how many lawsuits have already been and soon will be filed. I consider it highly probable Bubblews will be filing for bankruptcy. For that matter, they may have done so at the same time the website shutdown; unknown at this point. On a personal note, I am one of the many thousands of writers who also never received payment from Bubblews for what I was owed; and that is from over a year ago.

Update #1:

Most forum and blog posts across the internet about the Bubblews shutdown are celebratory in nature.

Twitter (#bubblews) is also busily engaged. Interestingly, along with the posts about the shutdown, there continues to be postings of links to Bubblews articles. However, clicking the link results in the expected 404-Not-Found message. Looks like those who set their tweets to automatic haven't gotten the word yet...

Update #2:

#bubblews continues to be active at Twitter with the automated tweets still trying to send visitors to defunct Bubblews articles. As opposed to yesterday's 404's, all article links are now being redirected to the main domain and the displayed Bubblews-is-shutting-down message. Are all those auto-Tweeters really that clueless, or is it a deliberate attempt to bury/hide the posts about the actual shutdown?

Bubblews and the Better Business Bureau ( BBB ). Even though there are media reports of thousands of people not being paid, there are only 107 complaints listed by the BBB. The BBB actually seemed pretty clueless about Bubblews at first, but eventually the BBB apparently woke up; though as of this post, the BBB is apparently still unaware Bubblews is now defunct. I guess the BBB can't really be blamed, they only know what people take the time to tell them. I'll drop them a note. [Update: I tried, but too many obstructions. Oh, well.]

As for my earlier lawsuits speculations, forget it. If only 107 out of 1000's of victims bothered to complain to the BBB, then probably zero would work up the energy to sue. Besides, what with Bubblews being an LLC and the bankruptcy backdoor, what would be the point?

Bubblews and Linkedin. As of this post, no acknowledgement yet as to Bubblews' now defunct status. At the moment, the venture capitalists who invested in Bubblews are still listed there.

Arvind Dixit (Bubblews CEO) and Linkedin. No updates yet there either. Arvind might want to delete the part of his profile that says, "CEO & Co-Founder Arvind “Avi” Dixit is responsible for the strategic direction and ex-ecution (sic) of the Bubblews.com company vision."

Arvind might be interesting to check on now and again in the future.

Bubblews and Facebook. Looks like Bubblews pretty much abandoned their Facebook account in July.

Their Twitter account appears to have been abandoned in August.

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Canned Sardines - A Super Food and Mood Food - Quasi Recipes and Nutrition Facts

Latest update: April 12, 2023. Page URL indicates original publication date; meanwhile, times change and the updates continue.

Includes how to eat sardines and benefits.

Sardines as food; canned sardines are another super food aka wonder food.


All about sardines as food and more.

Sardine Health and Nutrition Benefits

  • They’ve got all the B-complex vitamins we all need.
  • They’re loaded with vitamin D.
  • They’ve got a decent amount of vitamin E and some vitamin K.
  • As for minerals, it’s a veritable bonanza. Lots of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium.
  • Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids.
As a side note...  Whenever I feel anxious or depressed, the nutrients in a can of sardines almost always makes me feel better. The vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 do indeed have a well-known, positive effect on mood and emotions.

Sardines are also surprisingly inexpensive for their value. A big, red, flat can of them costs less than $3 (your prices may vary). Usually, they will already be in a tomato sauce. Just pour into a proper bowl, microwave for two minutes and eat. As a side note, be sure to cover with a paper plate or whatever before microwaving; otherwise, you may have a very messy microwave oven cleaning project to look forward to.

How to Eat Sardines - Quasi Recipe Ideas

What with all the skin and bones included, straight sardines are really not that much fun to eat. One can improve the experience by doing or adding the following:
  • Use as a topping on pizza.
  • Make sardine tacos.
  • Rinse off tomato sauce; slice and dice; mix-in some mayo; break out two slices of bread and make into a sandwich (this is the option I usually choose).
  • Eat with crackers.
  • Mix with pasta.
  • Experiment with condiments.
  • Make your cat's day.

And the usual seafood mercury poisoning fears are not a concern here. The larger and more long-lived the fish, the higher the mercury concentration levels. Sardines are short-lived and small. Mercury contamination is almost nonexistent.

This USDA page will tell you everything you could possibly ever want to know about sardine nutrition: USDA FoodData Central re: Sardines.

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Base 5 Quinary Numbering System to Base 10 Decimal - Lesson

Latest update: August 8, 2022
Page URL indicates original publication date; meanwhile, times change and the updates continue.

How to learn and do quinary conversion; the base 5 numbering system; 0 1 2 3 4; complete lesson and lots of examples. Includes short table of most-searched-for quinary, base 5 to decimal base 10 questions and answers.

There is also access to other base numbering system lessons. If ever might be needed, well worth noting for future reference.

Base 5 - Quinary

If you understand the decimal (base 10) number system we use in our everyday lives, then you already understand the quinary (base 5) number system. You just don’t know that you know yet.

We use the decimal (base 10) number system in our day-to-day living. Base 10 has ten numbers (0-9) and orders of magnitude are times 10. The lowest-order number represents itself times one. The next-order number represents itself times 10. The next order number represents itself times 10x10 or itself times 100. The next order number represents itself times 10x10x10 or itself times 1000. And so on.

A decimal base 10 example would be the number 2417. This number means there are:
  • seven 1’s,
  • one 10,
  • four 100’s,
  • and two 1000’s.
Which represents 7 + 10 + 400 + 2000; for a total of 2417.

The Quinary, Base 5 Numbering System Uses the Same Structure...

...the only difference being the order of magnitude. Base 5 has five numbers (0 1 2 3 4) and orders of magnitude are times five. The lowest-order number represents itself times one. The next-order number represents itself times 5. The next order number represents itself times 5x5 or itself times 25. The next order of magnitude would be 5x5x5 or 125. And so on.

A base 5 to decimal base 10 example would be the number 3142. This number means there are...
  • two 1’s,
  • four 5’s,
  • one 25,
  • and three 125's.
Which represents 2 + 20 + 25 + 375 for a total of 422 in base 10.

Another base 5 to decimal base 10 example would be the number 2011. This number means there are...
  • One 1,
  • one 5,
  • no 25's,
  • and two 125's.
Which represents 1 + 5 + 0 + 250; for a total of 256 in base 10.

Some of the Most Searched for Base 5 Questions and Answers

  • What is 5 (base 10) in base 5? Answer is 10 in base 5.
  • What is 10 (base 10) in base 5? Answer is 20 in base 5.
  • What is 23 (base 10) in base 5? Answer is 43 in base 5.
  • What is 25 (base 10) in base 5? Answer is 100 in base 5.
  • What is 27 (base 10) in base 5? Answer is 102 in base 5.


Quinary / Base 5 Orders of Magnitude

1 - 5 - 25 - 125 - 625 - 3125 - 15625 - 78125 - 390625 - 1953125

Positional

1953125 - 390625 - 78125 - 15625 - 3125 - 625 - 125 - 25 - 5 - 1

List of Base 5 to Decimal Base 10 Numbering System Conversion Examples

  • 1 = 1
  • 2 = 2
  • 3 = 3
  • 4 = 4
  • 10 = 5
  • 11 = 6
  • 12 = 7
  • 13 = 8
  • 14 = 9
  • 20 = 10
  • 21 = 11
  • 22 = 12
  • 23 = 13
  • 24 = 14
  • 30 = 15
  • 31 = 16
  • 32 = 17
  • 33 = 18
  • 34 = 19
  • 40 = 20
  • 41 = 21
  • 42 = 22
  • 43 = 23
  • 44 = 24
  • 100 = 25
  • 101 = 26
  • 102 = 27
  • 103 = 28
  • 104 = 29
  • 110 = 30
  • 111 = 31

Quinary / Base 5 Orders of Magnitude (convenience relist)

1 - 5 - 25 - 125 - 625 - 3125 - 15625 - 78125 - 390625 - 1953125

Positional

1953125 - 390625 - 78125 - 15625 - 3125 - 625 - 125 - 25 - 5 - 1

List of More Base 5 to Decimal Base 10 Examples
  • 200 = 50
  • 220 = 60
  • 222 = 62
  • 300 = 75
  • 303 = 78
  • 333 = 93
  • 404 = 104
  • 420 = 110
  • 1000 = 125
  • 1001 = 126
  • 1010 = 130
  • 1100 = 150
  • 1234 = 194
  • 2020 = 260
  • 2030 = 265
  • 3020 = 385
  • 3411 = 481
  • 4000 = 500
  • 4040 = 520
  • 4242 = 572
  • 4321 = 586
  • 4333 = 593
  • 4444 = 624

Quinary / Base 5 Orders of Magnitude (convenience relist)

1 - 5 - 25 - 125 - 625 - 3125 - 15625 - 78125 - 390625 - 1953125

Positional

1953125 - 390625 - 78125 - 15625 - 3125 - 625 - 125 - 25 - 5 - 1

If interested, here is access to the tutorials for Base 2, 4, 8, 16 (Binary, Quaternary, Octal, Hexadecimal); all on one page. If not needed now, maybe useful for future use.

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Kelp Supplements Nutrition Benefits - Iodine for Thyroid

Latest update: August 8, 2022. Page URL indicates original publication date; meanwhile, times change and the updates continue.

Safe Health Benefits of Kelp Seaweed Supplements - Iodine and Trace Minerals - And Some Iodine Warnings

Kelp Ocean Forest

This page is premised on that you are healthy, practicing good nutrition, physically active, and are already doing everything else to naturally feel good. If still suffering from lack of energy, then kelp supplements may be the answer.

Why so? Kelp is loaded with the mineral iodine. The iodine will go directly to your thyroid and kick-start it. A fully active thyroid makes one become more energetic.

Kelp and certain other seaweed also have minute traces of every other mineral known to man. So if you happen to be lacking in any of those, kelp tablets will help take care of that, too.

Suggested use is one kelp supplement per day; frankly, I think that is excessive. Too much of anything is not a good idea. Personally, I only take one once in awhile when I seem to have no energy.

So next time you have no energy for no discernible reason, chew a kelp supplement tablet with food. Do take it early in the morning. If taken later in the day, you might not be able to fall asleep come bedtime.

Kelp Tablets with Iodine

Kelp and other seaweed supplements may or may not be available at your local or national chain drugstore; some have it, some don't. Worst case scenario, you will have to work up the energy to go to your local health food store; they will definitely have it. Be forewarned. The supplements industry is completely unregulated. Buy only reputable brands from reputable stores.

A warning note. Some people are allergic to shellfish (high iodine), the same way some people are allergic to peanuts for example. So maybe just nibble a very small piece of one tablet the first time around? Only you can decide.

Safe Usage of Kelp Seaweed Supplements

Excessive use of kelp supplements and their high iodine content is not good for you and can even cause health problems. Here is a federal website that will tell you absolutely everything you would ever want to know about the mineral iodine as to health, nutrition, and warnings. The site also notes that excessive iodine can negatively interact with certain medications.
Though iodine is an essential nutrient for the human body, over usage can cause serious problems. The NIH also talks about foods high in iodine, so maybe you can just skip the supplements altogether.

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How Much Platinum / Palladium / Rhodium in Catalytic Converters – And Approximate Worth

Latest update: September 22, 2023. Page URL indicates original publication date; meanwhile times change and the updates continue.

Platinum, rhodium and palladium are some of the elements known as platinum-group metals, otherwise known as PGMs.

The PGMs reside in the honeycomb region of the catalytic converter. The much-older catalytic converters originally used pellets, before the more efficient and less expensive honeycomb design came into use.

The amounts and proportions of PGMs depends on the age and type of vehicle.
  • Cars, light-duty trucks, and motorcycles average total is 2-6 grams.
  • Larger-engine SUV's and trucks average total can range anywhere from 6-30 grams.
28.35 grams equals an avoirdupois ounce. 31.1 grams equals a troy ounce.

Gasoline-powered-vehicle catalytic converters use all three of the aforementioned metals (update: at current prices, I highly doubt rhodium is still being used). Diesel-powered-vehicle catalytic converters use only platinum and rhodium (update: rhodium usage for new vehicles is questionable). As a side note, PGMs are also in heavy demand in the electronics industries.

How Much Is a Catalytic Converter Worth?


The Shorter Answer...

Depending on the age and type of vehicle, the PGMs in a catalytic converter can be worth anywhere from $100 to a rare $1,000 or more. The newer and/or smaller cars being closer to $100. The larger, older vehicles could have catalytic converters worth $600 and up. As for the $1,000 and the rampant inflation, older vehicles with the original converter are becoming more and more valuable; something to consider when buying or selling an older vehicle. As a side note, oxygen sensors also use PGMs and have a recycle value.

Regarding the catalytic converter, keep in mind that what the PGMs are worth is not what you will be paid. There is the labor, cost of metal extraction, overhead, and the buyer's expected profit margin; not to mention the greed factor. It would also be wise to be able to prove ownership. Otherwise, a phone call might be being made inside while you are talking with the potential buyer outside. Driving in with the actual vehicle or at least the vehicle's paperwork will give you more legitimacy and probably even a higher price. Do extensively ask around and shop around. Whether a buyer or a seller, do be careful as to whom you associate with: Justice Department Announces Takedown of Nationwide Catalytic Converter Theft Ring.

The Longer Answer...

As a general rule: the older the vehicle, the more PGMs present in the catalytic converter. Because of the high cost of PGMs, industry continually strives to reduce the amount necessary by the use of other metals and materials and/or design changes
  • Platinum prices are around $950 USD a troy ounce as of 9/22/2023. This works out to an average of $30.55 a gram.
  • Palladium prices are around $1290 USD a troy ounce as of 9/22/2023. This works out to an average of $41.48 a gram.
  • Rhodium charts continue to indicate some sort of fixed-price setting. Instead of prices fluctuating in the usual commodity-type fashion, prices periodically move to and maintain certain levels for various lengths of time. It's as if there is a single controlling influence as opposed to the usual supply/demand and investor-speculation randomness. It's as if someone or something is now periodically setting the price. Darned odd. If anyone has any knowledge or theories as to why rhodium prices are no longer exhibiting the random patterns that all other commodities do, please share in the Comments Section. Meanwhile the current price has dropped dead since this last update and is now around $3,450 USD a troy ounce or $110.93 a gram, leastwise until the next price change. As a side note, it's a pretty good bet that catalytic converter manufacturers are still avoiding rhodium usage as much as possible. It sure would be nice to know when rhodium usage for catalytic converters was at its peak; those older-model cars could really worth something. The question is when did rhodium start being used in catalytic converters; when/If did rhodium stop being used in catalytic converters? If new catalytic converter prices are any indication, rhodium is no longer being used.


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Needless to say, catalytic converter prices can fluctuate greatly; not only the value, but also the quantity and usage ratio of the three metals aren't exactly carved in stone either. Depending on the price and efficiency of each metal and/or its alloys, the composition and design the catalytic converter manufacturers use may change frequently. Then again, each change buries the manufacturer in the government bureaucracies of retesting, recertification, and no doubt many other laws and regulations; both federal and for each state. This could very well obstruct the manufactures from being able to quickly respond to PGM price changes. This would be especially applicable to after-market manufacturers.

Current prices for platinum and palladium can be found here, note the historical charts as well. Rhodium prices can be found here. Price information resources come and go. If the links stop working, a search will quickly find a new one.

It turns out the information to write this page was not easy to find. Fortunately, I stumbled across much of it buried in a government-archived article about catalytic converter cerium recovery written by the USGS. The article has more information scattered around about catalytic converters, what recyclers might be willing to pay for them, about platinum and the other PGMs, and other recycling information, etc. The prices stated in the government article are woefully obsolete, but the rest of the information is still valid.

Platinum Nugget. Source: USGS

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A personal note: I have a classic 1982 Camaro Berlinetta for sale. It has the original catalytic converter. A picture of it can be found at this article. If you want to buy the whole car, drop me a note.
 

[There are lots of buy/sell leads and advice in the following comments section. Be advised that the leads and advice have not been vetted, usual business caution applies.]