Every once in a while, we here at Buzzillions like to put our skills to the test. So when the defending champion of the company Food Eating Challenge put out the call for a new challenge, we couldn’t turn him down!

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What: Kamikaze Wing Challenge – NOTE: The Kamikaze wing is denoted with 5 flames. What is the 4 flame wing called you ask? OH MY FRIENDS…The Original Buffalo Wings on Lombard skipped the 4 flamer, jumped straight to the 5 flames and settled on the cu-de-gras…the flame de la flame…the KAMIKAZE!

When: Friday, November 20th – This gives everyone everyone a week to start training, lining your stomachs and figuring out which beverage will aide you in this challenge

Who: Anyone who thinks they can NOT only eat a large quantity of wings, but can also withstand the HEAT!

What I need now is to know who is throwing their hat in the ring? Go big or go home.

As it stands now, the rules are as follows:

• 20-minute time limit
• Both Kamikaze and X Spicy wings will be ordered. Consumption of Kamikaze wings will be awarded a greater value (10% extra)
• A good-will effort must be made at eating the meat off the bones.
• A blue cheese dipping sauce will be provided.
• You are free to bring the beverage of your choice.

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The Buzzillions team entered two contestants  Jim M and Jean K.  Early odds from Vegas did not look good.

• Mark B (4:1)
• Martin C (10:1)
• Jean K (29:1)
• Danny H (12:1)
• Gautam P (15:1)
• Andy C (30:1)
• Pehr L (18:1)
• Jim M (8:1)
• Chuck K (3:1)

Would anyone turn out to be the next Joey Chestnut?

Joey Chestnut, perhaps THE greatest competitive eater of our time, currently holds two chicken wing eating challenges (according to the International Federation of Competitive Eating http://www.ifoce.com/records.php) :

Chicken Wings, 12 minutes
7.5 lbs Buffalo Chicken Wings
12 minutes/ May 21, 2007
Joey Chestnut

Chicken Wings, Long form
182 chicken wings
30 minutes
Joey Chestnut

If you take his record set in the 30 minute challenge and break it out into 10 minute increments, you will note that this Michael Jordan of wingy eating knocked back on average 60.6 chicken wings in 10 minutes. Given our 20 minute allotted time, one would need to down 121.3 wings to be at the same pace. Keep in mind that we have added an “X factor”…HEAT!  Would it be done?

Stay tuned……

Watch enough TV and you’re sure to come across an infomercial or two. Pitch men promise to make our lives easier, better, and just plain happier for a bargain price. So which infomercial products got great reviews from users, and which As Seen on TV goods merit a healthy dose of skepticism?

As Seen on TV Products for the Kitchen

The Slap Chop

The claim: Chop, dice, and mince in seconds without switching blades.

The reviews: Nearly all of the customer reviews mention that the vegetables get stuck on the blade rather than actually getting chopped. With a 1.4 average rating, this product appears to be a dud. One Slap Chop review says, “my dull false teeth could do better“. Ouch.

Bottom line: You’re better off using a knife or putting your $20 towards a food processor.

Always Fresh Containers

The claim: They keep food fresh up to 50 days longer than other containers.

The reviews: The Always Fresh Containers get mixed reviews. While eleven people give it a five star rating, nearly as many give them only one star. Fans say they save money by keeping food fresh much longer. One reviewer says, “broccoli and celery rotted in record time in these containers. i had much better luck using a zip lock freezer bag.”

Bottom line: Try at your own risk.

The Magic Bullet

The claim: This all purpose tool can do most kitchen jobs in 10 seconds or less.

The reviews: Most of the Magic Bullet reviews were positive. One reviewer makes everything from smoothies to scrambled eggs and says, “It takes the place of several larger appliances and really saves lots of space on the kitchen counter. ” However, many reviewers note problems with the durability.

Bottom line: Versatile tool, but don’t get too attached.

As Seen on TV Fitness Equipment

The Perfect Pushup

The claim: Supercharge your workout…maximizing strength and definition while minimizing the risks of joint strain and injury.

The reviews: The Perfect Pushup gets almost perfect marks in the product reviews for quality & results. Users also love that they can work their upper bodies without wrist pain, and some started to see results in as little as three weeks.

The bottom line: A quality home gym product for improving upper body strength without wrist pain.

The Ab Rocket

The claim: Ab Rocket gives you the abs you’ve always wanted in 5 minutes a day.

The reviews: With an average star rating of 3.7, the Emson Ab Rocket works for some, but not all. The main complaint is that the machine doesn’t provide enough resistance to produce results.  Ab Rocket enthusiasts give it good reviews as a great alternative to sit-ups.

The bottom line: If you hate sit-ups, this might be a good alternative, but don’t expect washboard abs.

The Iron Gym Pull Up Bar

The claim: Get strong. Get ripped. Quick! Attaches & removes from door frame in seconds!

The reviews: Most reviewers are very impressed with the easy installation process for Iron Gym. They find it “sturdy” and high quality. Some who try to use the bar for sit-ups find it less than stellar, but otherwise satisfactory.

Bottom line: If you’re looking for an easy to install pull-up bar, this one will do the job.

As Seen on TV Electronics

The Clapper

The claim: Turn your lights on and off automatically with a clap of your hands!

The reviews: Users says it’s good for lights that are hard to get to, and a fun novelty item. Most note that is also finicky & takes a bit of practice to get right.

Bottom line: Not quite perfect, but it has its uses.

The MagicJack

The claim: make and receive calls to anywhere in the United States and Canada for free using your high-speed Internet connection.

The reviews: Many find hassles with the product from poor sound quality to inadequate customer service and documentation. Though the device requires your computer to be running to work, lots of people are excited about the cost savings.

Bottom line: A good backup to your home phone, but stick with a real VoIP provider if you want quality.

Sonic Earz

The claim: Amplifies sound from 60 feet away.

The reviews: The average rating for this product is just 2.2. While some users write that it improved their hearing range, others complain about the poor sound quality, interference, and short battery life.

Bottom line: Set the volume high & your expectations low.

The days are getting shorter and the air is getting downright chilly.  With all the rumors of this being an “El Niño” winter, now’s the time to prep your bike for the cold weather commute.  Here at the Buzzillions office in San Francisco, we don’t have to deal with any sleet or snow, but it’s starting to get dark by the time we leave the office and we’re already experiencing some epic rains.

So if you haven’t winterized your bike commute yet, Buzzillions is here to help find the right cycling clothing & gear. We have product reviews on over 3000 cycling accessories from big retailers like Bike Nashbar and Performance bike as well as from your local cycle shop. If you’re not sure what to get, here are some user reviews of their favorite products for winter cycling…..

BIKE LIGHT REVIEWS

These are a must for riding in non-ideal conditions.  They aren’t always legally required and I’ll admit I’ve occasionally cycled home at night without any.  A lot of commuters use just small blinky lights, which may be fine on a clear night but in bad conditions you need real lights.  Our users (including me) love the duo of the Planet Bike Super Flash Taillight & the Planet Bike Blaze 1w Bicycle Light.  They’re small yet very bright.  The miracles they’ve wrought with LED lights these days!

Planet Bike Super Flash Taillight

The best tailight.  Period. Use It!

I was recommended this taillight by a friend and when I saw it on sale for [$] I was sold. All I can say is WOW. I would never trust my safety to any other light. This thing is bar-none the best and brightest tail flasher I have ever seen. I put all three of my red flashers on as a test and this one was by far the brightest …” Mr. Wizard of San Diego, CA

Read Full Review »

Planet Bike Blaze 1W LED Bicycle Light

Fantastic light!!

this light was recommended to me by 2 rei sales people, and i’m not disappointed at all. in fact i’m absolutely geeked that i got such a great light without spending hundreds of dollars. this light has three settings and the highest is really bright, and i have not had to change the battery yet. ……” John Rambo of Earth

Read Full Product Review »

FENDER REVIEWS

You’ve already got enough to deal with with all the rain and snow, why make it worse by splashing up all that muck from the road? I know a lot of people don’t believe in fenders. But I have seen cycling clothes after a couple of months of no fender protection, and believe me, that black stain up the middle of the back from all the road grime is never going to wash out. So protect yourself and your clothes by getting some real fenders. Planet Bike makes some of the most popular fenders (and highest rated), and for good reason.

Planet Bike Freddy Fenders (Hybrid/Touring)

pretty sexy.

i just had these installed on my new marin fairfax, and they look awesome. based on reviews of these fenders, i knew they would be great, but i looked at a few others just to make sure i wasn’t missing out. i’m glad i settled on the freddies because these shiny black fenders look so much more …” nannylu of Atlanta

Read Full Product Review »

GLOVE REVIEWS

Unless you live where it’s sunny and warm all year round, you’ll want to get a pair of cold weather gloves. If you live in a mild climate like we do here in San Francisco you can probably get away with some full length cycling gloves. If you live somewhere colder you’ll probably want something with more insulation. A member of the Buzzillions team from Eugene, OR recommends getting a pair of cross country ski gloves – they’re light, sporty and warm. Of course, if it gets really cold you should probably look for a pair of ski/snowboard gloves. Here’s what one reviewer had to say:

Outdoor Research Gripper Gloves

Nice Product

Purchased for winter cycling road and mountain down to 32 degrees. Nice glove, nice windblockking material. Although sizing is generous, will shrink very slightly first time in dryer so purchase size up if between sizes. Recommend glove down to freezing temps. Happy with purchase. …” Rugbydog of Pennsylvania

Read Full Product Review »

CYCLING JACKET REVIEWS

Ditto with the jackets. You don’t have to wear a cycling jacket. However, most cycling jackets are windproof and that goes a long way towards keeping you warm. They’re also breathable so you don’t show up all sweaty. Of course, if it gets really cold you might want to just wear a ski/snowboard jacket as long as you don’t get too warm while cycling.

Gore Men

Worth EVERY penny, Incredible, versatile

I *love* this jacket. Body temp doesn’t change going into the wind or with the wind. Windproof AND breathes. Tonight (starting temp was 65 and ended at 55) I wore silkweight capilene base and this jacket and was very nice and warm, but NOT overheated. Thank you for gr8 vents. In the Minnesota winter …” SunMan of Wells, MN

Read Full Product Review »

and the Most For Your Money winners are…

It’s been a tough year economically and everyone is watching their spending.  With the holidays right around the corner, it’s going to be even harder than ever.  That’s why Buzzillions has found the best deals in each category to help you with your holiday shopping.  These aren’t just the cheapest products, because what’s the point of getting a cheap product if it doesn’t do what you want?  These are products where you feel like you are getting far more value than what you paid.  These are products that are highly ranked yet won’t break the bank.  These are the Buzzillions Most For Your Money winners.

The Most For Your Money winners are determined based on user reviews.  To ensure the winners are relevant and not discontinued or out of stock, we only use reviews from January to September 2009.  Products in each category are then ranked with a special algorithm that incorporates star ratings, number of reviews and the reliability of the reviewers (reviews by “Verified Buyers” are given more weight).  A price comparison is performed on the highest ranked products to determine the Most For Your Money winners for each category.

***Note that these awards are NOT influenced by any sponsorship or payments. They are based solely on the product reviews of real consumers and price reported to us by retailers.

You can see all Most For Your Money Award winners here.

When browsing for products, look for the distinctive blue Buzzillions Most For Your Money badge, and you’ll know you’ve found a standout within a category.
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Some Award Highlights

Toys, Baby and Kids:

• Most For Your Money Standard Baby Stroller: Graco Glider Stroller
• Most For Your Money Car Seat: Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat & Base
• Most For Your Money Ride-On Toy: Little Tikes Rockin’ Puppy

Sports & Outdoor:

• Most For Your Money Ski/Snowboard Helmet: Giro Bad Lieutenant Helmet
• Most For Your Money Backpack: North Face Terra 60 Backpack – 3700-3850cu in
• Most For Your Money Elliptical: Stamina Products InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer

Electronics:

• Most For Your Money MP3 Player: Apple iPod shuffle 1GB
• Most For Your Money Digital Point & Shoot Camera: Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS Digital Camera
• Most For Your Money LCD TV: Samsung LN40A450 40 Inch High Definition LCD TV

Home & Garden

• Most For Your Money Dishwasher: Frigidaire 24″ Tall Tub Built-In Dishwasher – White
• Most For Your Money Washer: Haier 6.6 lbs. Portable Pulsator Washer
• Most For Your Money Coffee Maker: Faberware Stainless Steel 8 Cup Yosemite Percolator

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Congratulations to all the winners. You can see all Most For Your Money winners here.

It was a quiet Monday afternoon at the Buzzillions headquarters in San Francisco. Everyone was focused on their daily tasks and no one could have predicted what was about to happen. Yes, we knew it was supposed to rain that day but this downpour was quite dramatic. We quickly realized this was a big one when the excessive water woke The Sink Monster that lives in our bathroom. And he wasn’t happy about the disturbance…



To get an idea of just how much it rained in a couple of hours, check out this video of what happened to one of the San Francisco subway stations….