You can take your diamonds and shove 'em up your ass, too! Just write the check already!

Feministing has a great post about the diamond industry's attempts to get women to buy their own diamonds, with this new "independence" ring crap. If their sales are declining, it's probably not that less people are getting married. My guess is that in bad economic times, dropping a bunch of money on a rock is not looking so attractive.
Well, Lauren gives 'em hell for it. I'd just like to add that the whole thing is insulting to single women. It's almost like they're saying, "Oh well no one has given you a diamond yet, but hey, here's a consolation prize that you have to pay for yourself!"
I have a piece of advice to throw on, too. If you've got a few grand laying around and you haven't decided what to do with it, married, single, engaged, or whatever, forget the diamonds. You know what's forever? Real estate. You only need 3% down to qualify for an FHA loan, and sometimes less.
FYI for today.