Google Launches Local Deals Product "Offers"

People love getting great local deals in their city or town, which is why Google made an aggressive push to buy Groupon just a couple of months ago. Well that didnt' work out (apparently $6 billion doesn't get you much these days) so now Google has launched its own alternative to Groupon and LivingSocial: Google Offers.

Actually the new service is in "pre-launch", with Google calling it a test of a new pre-paid offers/deal vouchers program. They haven't said much more but some search engine whizzes out there found out that by putting the following search string into Google's main search you can see thousands of backdoor "Offers" results:

coupons site:maps.google.com intitle:Google Offers

You can narrow the search down by putting your city in the search string as well, like this:

los angeles coupons site:maps.google.com intitle:Google Offers

Just a few minutes of surfing the results of that string showed us lots of great LA-based local deals. Even a search for Las Vegas deals (our home city) showed a couple hundred interesting results. What's really cool, and the thing that may end up giving Google and edge over competitors, is that you can add a Google Offers gadget to your home page to find up-to-the-minute deals for your home town.

So what do you think? Will this new local deals service take off and beat out Groupon and LivingSocial? Or do you think it'll be another Google flop? Leave your opinions and feedback below!

Learn some mo': Google Offers: Google's Groupon challenger is being tested

Velvet Antler: The Best Natural "Steroid?"

A natural supplement that has been used for hundreds of years is getting some fresh attention lately. That's because "velvet antler" -- a soft, nutrient-rich coating that covers new deer and elk antlers -- appears to be one of the best natural "steroids" on the planet. In fact it's so good that elite professional athletes, including many NFL players, are using it to boost athletic performance and recovery without failing their routine blood tests!

Asian peoples have use velvet antler for hundreds, maybe thousands of years. In fact it's one of the most popular natural remedies in traditional Chinese medicine. Experts say it is a very effective anti-inflammatory, immune system stimulant, and natural muscle-growth and repair booster. There is scientific evidence that it can in fact enhance athletic performance, probably by boosting human growth hormone levels in the body.

Velvet antler can be harvested from deer and elk antlers safely and without hurting the animals. It is then freeze-dried and ground in a powder, usually ending up in capsules or liquid extracts. Oral velvet antler sprays have become popular sports and bodybuilding supplements in recent years.

With a primary active ingredient of IGF-1, velvet antler supplements are basically natural steroids. With a very long track record of safety it's easy to see why many consider them to be the best alternative to synthetic testosterone and other risky performance enhancing drugs!

Do you have a review or question related to velvet antler supplements? Please leave your feedback below!

Learn some mo': Deer antlers: the hot new PED

Best Hangover Cure: Coffee & Aspirin?

For thousands of years man has looked for the best cure for a painful hangover. Scientists now confirm what lots of us have long suspected: the best hangover cure is coffee and aspirin. Researchers from Harvard University say that the effects of the caffeine from the coffee and the pain-killing, inflammation-reducing properties of aspirin combine to relieve headaches and other painful symptoms associated with drinking too much alcohol.

When we drink alcohol (aka ethanol) our bodies produce a chemical acetate that can cause severe "brain pain". Researchers found that caffeine and anti-inflammatory drugs can block the acetate production and help relieve hangover-related headaches. Many experts also recommend drinking large amounts of water and/or fruit juice to help re-hydrate the body.

Some other popular "best" hangover cures include a vitamin C/vitamin B powder such as Emergen-C as well as natural coconut water, which has tons of electrolytes and other vital nutrients.

Living in Las Vegas we have a lot of experience dealing with nasty hangovers. The best treatment/prevention we've found is this: stop drinking at least an hour and a half before going to sleep. Drink lots of water during that time. If you've been drinking a lot consider taking a small aspirin and/or a large dose of milk thistle extract, which is a great natural liver protector and detoxer!

Have your own tips for curing a painful hangover? Leave them below.. thanks!

Learn some mo': Coffee and an aspirin 'best hangover cure'

Eating Veggies Makes You More Beautiful

Eating more vegetables may make you more beautiful, according to new research from Britain. In fact, eating especially carotene-rich foods like tomatoes and carrots actually makes your skin look healthier and "sexier" than tanning, at least according to the geeks who did the study.

According to Dr. Ian Stephen:

"Eating five more portions [of fruit and veg] ups your carotenoid levels giving your skin golden tones."

The antioxidants and carotenoids found in vegetables also help to fight toxins that can damage the skin and make it look less healthy. That skin health boost plus the changes in skin pigmentation and overall skin tone can make a significant improvement in your appearance.

According to Dr Stephen: "In humans, the more red and yellow tones found in the skin, the more attractive the people were found to be."

So there you have it: yet another reason to cut down on your junk food intake and eat your fruits and veggies!

Learn some mo': Eating greens 'best way to look good', research shows

Swine Flu Virus "Superpowers" May End Flu Infections Forever!

People who are infected with swine flu and survive appear to remain with a "superpowered" immune system capable of fighting off just about any other strain of influenza virus. Scientists believe that studying this incredible phenomenon may help lead to a "universal" flue vaccine that protects a person from the flu for life!

Researchers say that the H1N1 swine flu virus appears to cause the human immune system to produce a huge variety of antibodies beyond just the ones that specifically target the H1N1 strain. Every swine flu infection causes a giant burst of immunological activity. This appears to trigger a "blanket" response where the body tries to produce antibodies for every possible type of influenza in nature.

This immune response is very unique and is far beyond what happens during a normal flu infection or after a typical seasonal flu vaccine is given. According to researchers, just 5 of the antibodies created during a swine flu infection are enough to provide protection from ALL seasonal flu types, the dangerous bird flu variation H5N1, and even the ultra-deadly Spanish flu strain that killed over 50 million people in 1918!

Scientists say that don't yet know if the H1N1 flu vaccine provides the same level of protection. But there is a good chance it provides at least some of the benefits. According to virus expert Dr. Sarah Gilbert from Oxford University:

"Many scientists are working to develop a vaccine that would protect against the many strains of flu virus. This work gives us more confidence that it will be possible to generate a universal flu vaccine. It will take at least five years before anything like this could be widely available."

No more flu ever again? Sounds good to us! :D

Learn some mo': Swine flu gives its survivors supercharged immunity

Best New Tablet PC's at CES 2011

Wondering which tablet computers are gonna be popular in 2011? Well you might want to check out this year's finalists for Best of CES 2011, the official list of the trade show's hottest products.

Here are the best tablet PCs according to CNET:

The Motorola Xoom Tablet

This will be the first to run on the Android 3.0 operating system. It will run Adobe Flash and feature two webcams, including a HD video camera. The Xoom will launch with 3G connectivity in February.

The BlackBerry Playbook

This is the new 7-inch tablet computer that's getting so much attention lately. It features dual HD cams and stereo-quality sound. It'll run Flash and can use your Blackberry as a Bluetooth modem to connect to a 3G network. Price hasn't yet been announced.

Samsung Sliding PC7

This "sliding" tablet PC is one of the first true tablet/laptop (or tablet/netbook) combos on the market. It slides open like a large cell phone but the screen easily flips into thin "tablet form". It features a 10-inch multi-touch screen as well as a normal keyboard... a very interesting feature indeed!

Toshiba’s Tablet PC

Toshiba is getting into the tablet game with a new device that run on Android 3.0 and is rumored to be the true "cheap" iPod-killer!


Do you know something about this buzz? Have a review for any of these new tablet computers? Leave your feedback below!

Learn some mo': Finalists named for year’s hottest products at CES

The 17 Day Diet Plan is Hot!

OK, so as usual during this time of year, there are several new diets and diet books being hurled at us. Maybe the "hottest" right now is called the 17 Day Diet. It promises to help you lose weight really fast and in a safe, healthy way and it's been featured on The Doctors, the Dr. Phil Show, and Oprah. How does it do that you ask? According to the author Dr. Mike Moreno it "adjusts your body metabolically" so that it burns fat quickly all day long.

Here's the catch. It's not really a 17-day diet. Or at least you're not going to be losing all your belly fat in just 17 days. The name comes from the fact that this diet plan is based around four 17 day "cycles" -- Accelerate, Activate, Achieve and Arrive. Sounds like some BS to us but who knows, maybe it works. But the bottom line is that this book/program should really be called the 68 Day Diet!

Like many new weight loss plans this one is based on confusing the body in a way that, theoretically at least, forces it to use fat stores for energy while (hopefully) holding onto lean muscle tissue. The author claims that the typical person can lose 10 to 12 pounds on the diet within the first 17-day cycle. Not bad, but how much of that is water weight and how much is real fat loss?

So what we need now is some real user reviews, testimonials, opinions, etc. If you've tried this diet or know someone who has please leave your own 17 Day Diet reviews in the space below. Thanks!

Learn some mo': Diet books may help you lose weight, feel great, even eat chocolate

Zappos CEO: Create Tech Business Incubator in Downtown Las Vegas!

Downtown Las Vegas isn't exactly known for being a technology hub, or even really a new business hub. Its economy has been relatively stagnant for many years now (some would say since the 60's!). But the CEO of Zappos.com is pushing to develop a high-tech business incubator there. Tony Hsieh says he is in talks with several Silicon Valley tech firms to possibly move their operations to a business incubator. An incubator that Zappos would build on land they've recently leased near the old Las Vegas City Hall, Zappos's new headquarters building.

According to Hsieh:

"It’s all about creating an environment that appeals to the creative class and creating more serendipitous interactions among employees and the community.... It’s important that the bars are non-gaming. we’re not looking to draw more tourists, we’re looking to build up more of a community among locals."

The tech wiz believes that if Downtown Vegas can create a fun, lively, cool, and comfortable atmosphere for locals it can attract tech companies from the San Francisco area. That would seriously help the economies of Las Vegas and Southern Nevada as a whole, not to mention seriously liven up "Old Las Vegas"!

We don't know about the whole "non-gaming" thing -- this is Las Vegas after all and locals (like us) actually love our video poker bars. But the rest of the idea sounds great. There's really no reason why the Fremont area Downtown can't turn itself into a mini technology hub within the next few years!

Learn some mo': Zappos CEO floats idea of downtown high-tech business incubator

Superfood Quinoa Boosting Poor South American Countries' Economies

Quinoa is probably the world's healthiest grain and definitely one of the healthiest foods... and it's exploding in popularity. During one of the worst global recessions in history, demand for quinoa has helped to increase exports in two very poor countries: Peru and Bolivia. Since the wholesale price of the Andean grain has jumped sevenfold since 2000, these two down-trodden South American nations have definitely benefited economically.

The indigenous Bolivian indians who grow quinoa are among the poorest peoples in the Western Hemisphere. But the discovery or, really, re-discovery of quinoa's amazing nutritional properties has made it a popular health food item in the United States, Japan, and several European countries. As exports increase native Bolivians are seeing an improvement in their economic conditions.

Two of us have spent time in Peru, the other major "Quinoa connection" in the world. When we were there it was still considered "comida de pobres"... or poor people food. Although it was beginning to catch on among the upper classes as a health and weight loss food. It really is a very delicious, high-protein grain that's also rich in fiber and "good" carbohydrates.

Although there are already signs of over-farming, many experts believe that Quinoa production could be one of the keys for lifting very poor Latin Americans out of poverty. It could be, if handled properly and carefully grown organically, the next major crop for these countries.

Learn some mo': Quinoa's popularity boon to Bolivians

DoCoMo Tablet PC: New iPad Alternative

Japanese cell phone company NTT DoCoMo is set to unveil there own brand-new tablet computer, which experts say is designed to provide yet another great alternative to the Apple iPad. The device will apparently be made by South Korean company LG Electronics and will run on the Google Android mobile operating system. NTT DoCoMo plan to release the new tablet PC around the end of March 2011.

The DoCoMo cellular network will obviously be the only one users of their device will be able to use. So it'll be interesting to see if a similar LG tablet computer is also released later on in the Unite States and/or Europe. LG tends to make really good, inexpensive gadgets that are able to compete with the most popular high-end electronic products.

As soon as reviews and opinions of the DoCoMo tablet begin to come out early this year we'll post the best ones. Please leave your own comments, questions, and feedback about the newest "iPad-killer" below. Thanks!

Learn some mo': NTT DoCoMo to launch tablet computer: Nikkei