Solar Electricity Will Soon Become Cheap Enough to Take Over US Energy

The Ivanpah Solar Thermal Facility.. just a short drive from Las Vegas!

After years of struggling as the "too-expensive-to-be-practical" renewable energy source, solar power is finally becoming cheap enough to actually matter in the United States. A new report from Deutsche Bank predicts that solar-generated electricity will soon become a true alternative to natural gas, oil, coal, and other conventional fossil fuel sources in many places throughout the US.

And it will happen incredibly soon... 2016 according to the DB analysts!

Even if the government reduces tax credits (subsidies used to motivate people to install solar panels), solar energy will still be price competitive in more than half the country. This is due to vast improvements in solar technology, more affordable and easy-to-get financing, and the "mainstreaming" of the once exotic energy source.

We say: We live in Las Vegas, one of the world's sunniest cities. The sooner we can get "free" electricity to run the air conditioner and charge our Tesla, the better!!

Learn some mo': While You Were Getting Worked Up Over Oil Prices, This Just Happened to Solar

Photo source: flickr

Smartwatches: Google Is Officially in the Game... Big Time!

After years of speculation and waiting, Google is finally very, very much in the smartwatch business. They beat Apple to the punch by announcing their new Android Wear operating system for wearable devices last week.

Already, there are 2 watches running the software available for purchase: the LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live. Another offering, the Moto 360 from Motorola, is rumored to the real category killer. Tech bloggers are literally going nuts over the thing.

A centerpiece of Android Wear is Google Now technology, which kind of helps you 'think' better. It remembers appointments, gives you directions before you realize you need them, loads important things like boarding passes as your walking into an airport, guides you through workouts, and other cool stuff.

Best of all, you talk to the Google smartwatches instead of trying to type on tiny little keyboards!

We're pretty excited and you should be too. Now watch this video...



And now prepare to be amazed:



Cool stuff.

Learn some mo': Android Wear Review: The Watch That Wants to Save You From Your Phone

Your Next Smartphone Could Have an Unbreakable Screen (FINALLY)

Coming to a store near you: cell phone screens that don't break, no matter how many times you drop them or run them over with your car (or bus). We've been promised unbreakable smartphone screens for years but, finally, a team of geniuses from the University of Akron appear to have actually created them.

Unlike the normal, fragile screen coating ITO ( indium tin oxide) used in nearly all phones, the new conductive polymer created by the Akron researchers is super-tough and flexible. It's basically a mesh of metal electrodes (nanowires) implanted in a special plastic and, according to some experts, it could revolutionize the electronics industry.

The new polymer film is also cheaper to produce and doesn't rely on hard-to-find minerals like ITO films do. It could be used on everything from LCD displays to high-definition TV screens to airplane windows because of its durability and ability to bend without cracking.

According to lead researcher Dr. Yu Zhu:

"We expect this film to emerge on the market as a true ITO competitor... The annoying problem of cracked smartphone screens may be solved once and for all with this flexible touchscreen”. 

Learn some mo': Shatterproof screens that save smartphones

By the way, we're helping the guys over at Very Bursty get going. So go check out their blog asap! :)

New Google Video Takes a Shot at Slow Internet Service Providers

ISPs in the US are acting pretty "bad" lately, slowing down Americans' internet connections for no good reason. Now some of the big boys of the web world are taking shots at Comcast, Cox, Time Warner Cable Internet, Verizon, and all the other big ISPs.

First Netflix listed the best and worst ISPs a few months ago, now Google has thrown their hat into the ring.

The new Google Video Quality report will let you see which ISPs can handle high-definition YouTube videos and which ones can't. Check out the video below for more:



Learn some mo': http://www.google.com/get/videoqualityreport/

Fracking Lawsuits: The Next Big Thing?

Have a fracking operation next door? Getting headaches, nosebleeds, and/or cancer? Is your tap water lighting on fire? You might be getting paid... a lot... in the near future. So find a good attorney.

This week a jury decided that a Wise County, Texas couple -- Bob and Lisa Parr -- deserve to be awarded nearly $3 million from Aruba Petroleum for pumping toxic chemicals into their property and its air/water supply. The court battle is over 3 years old and is the first time a US jury has decided against an oil and gas company.

But it definitely might not be the last.

While most fracking contamination cases are settled out of court (i.e. the billion-dollar energy companies simply pay victims off to keep them from making a fuss), some experts think the trend is going to change. Some victims want a public battle to teach bad actors a lesson. Many just want a lot more than the few hundred thousand dollars often offered in a settlement.

No matter what, it looks like fracking lawsuits are going to become much more common as the energy-gathering operations spread throughout North America!

Learn some mo': Texas family wins $3 million in fracking contamination lawsuit

Video: How to Get to Sleep Fast Tips

Sleeping is not as easy as it should be!

Keeping track of the non-stop 24-hour "buzz cycle" keeps us from getting to sleep as easily as we would like. If you have the same problem, BuzzFeed recently created a "How to Fall Asleep Fast" tips video you might want to watch.

Check it out...




Learn some mo': How Can I Fall Asleep Faster?

What do you think? Leave your comments below!

:)

United States Postal Service Deliveryman Caught Throwing Packages from Car

Not long ago they were caught driving on our front lawns. Now they've been caught hurling packages against our garage doors from 10 feet away... because they apparently don't want to take a single step outside of their cars.

Do USPS works have an extreme laziness problem? Check out the video below and decide for yourself...



What do you think about this destructive and lazy postman? Leave your comments below!

Glucosamine Might Not Work After All

A new report claims that glucosamine supplements don't really help to heal cartilage problems or reduce joint pain after all.  Researchers from the University of Arizona gave a glucosamine hydrochloride supplement to over 200 people for 6 months and found "no evidence" that it helped to heal knee cartilage, reduce bone bruises, or lessen knee pain.

We say: These studies usually end up being pretty lousy in terms of real world results. So many people have experienced benefits from taking glucosamine and chondroitin supplements that it's extremely difficult to accept that they don't work at all!

Learn some mo': Glucosamine no cure for knee pain or deterioration, study says

Even mo':

)

What do you think?

Samsung Gear Smartwatch: Worst to First With New Fitness Model

After launching the first big-brand smartwatch last year Samsung has followed up with a much better "fitness" version called the Gear Fit. The new watch is so good that it was selected as the "Best Mobile Device" by the GSM Association at last week's Mobile World Congress trade show.

The new Gear Fit features some major improvements over its big brother. It has more useful functionality, a much better and longer-lasting battery, a heart rate monitor, and very good exercise/fitness tracking capabilities. Oh, and it also has an incredible-looking curved Super AMOLED touchscreen display... the first ever on a wearable device.

Pretty cool.

Watch the video below to learn more...



Learn some mo': Samsung Gear Fit Awarded “The Best Mobile Device”

A Very Bad Person Road Rages in Las Vegas, Runs Over Elderly Man

This is incredible. Some idiot from California ran over an elderly man in a Las Vegas gas station, in an apparent case of extreme "road rage."

If you recognize this Honda Accord please call your local police department or the Las Vegas Metro PD...

Is Under Armour Causing the US Speed Skating Team to FAIL Miserably??

Under Armour's newly-designed speed skating suits may be the main reason why the United States team is having its worst Winter Olympics in 3 decades!

Absolutely unbelievable.

This is the problem with allowing corporate marketing hype to influence real-world competition. Hopefully the US skaters can switch back to their old suits and get a few medals before the games are over!!

Watch the video below for more...



What do you think??

Ford Shows Off a New Solar-Powered Electric Car

If there's one thing that could solve A LOT of the world's problems, it's a car that doesn't need any any type of fossil fuel to run. Thanks to new research from Ford and Georgia Tech, we are much closer to making a completely solar-powered automobile a reality.

Check out this video:

Check Out Our Bursty Friends

Some friends of ours just launched a new blog a couple of weeks ago. It's called Very Bursty and it's filled with cool and delightful stuff. And photos of hot chicks.

They're from Vegas like us so you just know their blog will be awesome.

You should go check it out right now and tell them we sent you:

http://verybursty.blogspot.com

Photo of sexy Las Vegas bikini models by imatty35

Being Cold CAN Make You Sick (Possibly)

It turns out that cold winter temperatures do make it more likely you'll get sick from a cold or flu virus... kind of...

Watch this video:



We say: Time to get a heavy duty humidifier and bump up the thermostat a few degrees.

Learn some mo': Myth Busters: Does Cold Weather Make You Sick?

What do you think?