Rina's Gossip Blog

Thursday, March 5, 2026

Eddie Bauer files for bankruptcy, begins winding down all stores

Eddie Bauer is closing all of its nearly 175-200 brick-and-mortar stores across the U.S. and Canada following a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by its operator, Catalyst Brands.

Deadline: Customers must use gift cards and rewards by March 12, 2026.
Sales: All remaining stores are holding liquidation sales with final, non-returnable purchases.
Impact: The closures affect physical retail locations; Eddie Bauer's e-commerce, manufacturing, and international operations are not affected

What You Need to Know:

Reason for Closures: The operator cited declining sales, high inflation, and supply chain issues, with plans to close all locations by April 30, 2026, unless a buyer is found.
Previous Closures: Many locations had already begun closing in early 2026.
Status: The brand, owned by Authentic Brands Group, is navigating its third bankruptcy, which is specifically for the store operator Catalyst Brands.

Friday, February 27, 2026

Kroger closing 60 stores across the nation... popular grocery chain quietly closing many stores. Find out why

Kroger is in the process of closing approximately 60 "underperforming" stores nationwide over an 18-month period, a plan initiated in June 2025 to boost profitability and streamline operations. While no master list was released, closures have impacted locations across several states, including Texas, Georgia, Virginia, and Illinois.

Total lunar eclipse visible across United States on March 3

A total lunar eclipse, or "blood moon," occurs when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting a red hue on the lunar surface due to Rayleigh scattering of sunlight through Earth's atmosphere. A major, visible total lunar eclipse will occur on March 3, 2026, with nearly 58 minutes of full totality visible across the Americas, East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Key Details for the March 3, 2026 Total Lunar Eclipse:

Visibility: Best viewed from North America (early morning), East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand (evening).
Totality Time: The "blood moon" phase, or total eclipse, begins at 6:04 a.m. EST (11:04 GMT), with the maximum eclipse occurring at 6:33 a.m. EST (11:33 GMT).
Duration: The total phase will last approximately 58 minutes.
Appearance: The moon will turn a deep red, copper, or crimson color.
Safety: Unlike solar eclipses, this is safe to view with the plain eye; no special equipment is needed, though binoculars can enhance the view

yakitori chicken fried rice recall issued at costco

Ajinomoto Foods North America has voluntarily recalled over 3.3 million pounds of frozen Ajinomoto Yakitori Chicken with Japanese-style Fried Rice and Trader Joe's Chicken Fried Rice due to potential contamination with glass, according to reports from Feb. 2026. The products, sold at Costco and Trader Joe's, have best-by dates from Sept. 2026 to Jan. 2027. Consumers should return the items for a refund.

Key Recall Details (Feb. 2026):

Product: Ajinomoto Yakitori Chicken with Japanese-style Fried Rice (Sold at Costco, item #819988).
Other Affected Product: Trader Joe's Chicken Fried Rice (20-oz. plastic bags).
Reason: Potential foreign material contamination (specifically glass).
Best By Dates: Ranging from Nov. 8, 2025, to Jan. 12, 2027 (for Costco), and Sept. 8, 2026, to Nov. 17, 2026 (for Trader Joe's).
Action: Consumers should not eat the product and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Injuries: No injuries have been confirmed

The recall affects products sold in the U.S. and Canada. The affected, large, 1.53-kg cardboard packages at Costco contain 6 individual bags.

Sources: Google, Allrecipes

What Is The "Alarming" Alpine Divorce?

https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/books-media/alpine-divorce-meaning/

The term "alpine divorce" is on the rise. Mountain athletes debate whether or not it's ever OK to abandon a partner in the alpine, It Comes For A Term Of A Divorce Where Partners Leave People On Mountains...

"Smiling Friends" creators announce show is ending, cite burnout as reason for ending show 'Not a joke.'

https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/pop-culture/2026/02/25/why-smiling-friends-is-ending/88872627007/

Smiling Friends, A Show On Adult Swim, Is Ending In Shocking News... The Creators Are Burnt Out After Working, Says Creators, Citing The Reason To Be Canceled... The Series Was Previously Renewed For Season 4-5, But Plans Were Turned Down During The Cancelation...

Smiling Friends seasons 4 and 5 are unlikely to be released, as creators Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack announced in February 2026 that the show will end after Season 3 due to creative burnout, effectively canceling the previously announced renewals for seasons 4 and 5. The final two episodes of the series are set to air in April 2026.