Archive for the 'Reviews' Category

Does Freeze It Relieve Muscle & Joint Pain?

Not often do I get an opportunity to try a product listed in PayPerPost. I mean, it’s one thing to sample the services provided by a web-based service (i.e. student loan consolidation information, web hosting); but when I receive a product in the mail asking me to give it a try, I couldn’t resist.

On Monday, I received two samples of Freeze It, which is an all-natural topical pain relief gel. All-natural? What’s in this stuff?

• Aloe
• Vitamin E
• ILEX, an herbal extract from a South American holly shrub. ILEX is used around
  the world in various health & wellness formulations. Helps to enhance the effects of the pain relief ingredients.
• 3.5% menthol - Pain Reliever
• .2% camphor - Pain Reliever

The enclosed pamphlet also claims that Freeze It is “greaseless, stainless, and no lingering odor”. Anything with menthol has a lingering odor…or at least that’s what I thought.

Regardless, I thought I’d give this stuff a try. Considering I’ve had a number of products rubbed on my back and knees throughout high school and college — and post collegiate “ol’ fuhtbawl injury” rehab for a degenerative disk in my lower back — this might relieve my lower back pain. I volunteered a friend to act as masseuse. She can attest to the three claims above, and my eyes didn’t burn as if I just swallowed a large glob of wasabi.

The herniated disk in my back is not too severe. But it does cause pain to shoot into my hip right where my waistline and buttock meet. The pain relief lasted about an hour before the effects wore off. However, I say that loosely. The pain didn’t come back full force. And I was able to fall asleep before I could start experiencing any discomfort. I’d say this was a viable alternative to a few Aleve and a glass of water…and many other pain relievers on the market. And it’s relatively inexpensive. This stuff gets a thumbs up from me; I’ll be using it again soon.

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Popularity: 3% [?]

Goodbye, Samsung SCH-U740! Hello, BlackBerry Pearl!

I couldn’t help it! The frustration grew and grew. While the Samsung SCH-U740 arouses curiousities…a “crowd pleaser” if you will…I had a hard time warming up to the phone.

My main concern initially was whether or not I would be able to effectively use the “cramped” QWERTY keyboard. I have large hands; but the only character I had issues with was the “P”, which is located near a raised lump in the phone. The keyboard definitely caters to obsessed IMers. I hated the fact that I couldn’t find the parenthesis buttons. I like using smileys.

Using the Internet browser proved frustrating as well. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 8% [?]

A Good Review Can Go A Long Way

Reviews on Derrich.com are primarily paid reviews. There’s no secret there. But sometimes, I feel the need to publish a review for an exciting new product or service that I’ve used. Before I make purchases, particularly of electronics, I always search for reviews by an end user. While it’s nice to read a review by an editor, or a manufacturer’s explanation of their product, reviews by consumers are first on my list. Recently, I wrote two reviews that have earned some noteworthy attention.

Infiniti G37 Coupe Review
I had the opportunity to test drive an Infiniti G37 Coupe about 2 weeks ago. I wrote all about the experience and included some pictures. Since then, my review has been linked on numerous G37 and Nissan forums. I have received a little over 1,000 hits (1,005 as of late last night) from Google searches on some variation of “Infiniti G37 Coupe”. Last I checked, my post was in the Top 10 search results for many of those variations…and #1 under “G37 test drive”.

Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Detailer
I have virtually zero bad things to say, if any, about Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Detailer since I wrote my review over a week ago. I snapped a couple of photos of its “Hydrophobic” effects on my car, which simulate the beading qualities of a fresh wax.

Shortly after I posted the review, I decided to forward the link to Meguiar’s. Within a day, I had received the following email:

Dear Derrich,
Let me be the first to thank you for taking the time to send in this link. That is a great write up, and if you do not mind I will be passing this on to other departments within Meguiar’s. If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me anytime. Have a wonderful day!

Thank you very much,
Ash Erickson

Shortly after I replied with an email just short of “Heck, yes!”, I received an email from its public relations company, that also represents other auto-related manufacturers. To my surprise, I was congratulated with a good amount of sample products from Meguiar’s and a variety of other manufacturers. My camera is kaput and I’m in the middle of changing phones (more on that later), so I can’t offer you pictures of these items. But the moment an opportunity arises, I’ll get that up.

There are only a handful of bloggers that write thorough AND interesting reviews worth reading. I’d like to include myself in that category, but that’s for readers to decide. Whether or not the review is sponsored, a good review (in my opinion) includes photos for depth and focus on the main characteristics on the product or service…and how those features benefit the user. And don’t hesitate to point out any fallacies. Those are the things that help consumers decide whether a product is right for their needs.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Find & Share Coupon Codes at Deal Locker

Finding reliable coupon codes for online shopping discounts can be a challenge. Deal Locker is a new place to find and share reliable coupons and coupon codes. There are tens of thousands of coupons for thousands of stores, and Deal Locker actually includes those that work. Deal Locker features a user rating system to authenticate coupons and coupon codes. Visitors only see working coupons by default…those that have not expired. Amazon coupons are also available for a wide variety of products.

There is also a blog filled with money saving tips, printable coupons, and hot deals. So not only can you find great coupons and coupon codes, but suggestions on the best way to take advantage of these savings. Check it out today!

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Test Drive: 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe

“Sample” cars will be used to lure buyers.

A couple of words best describe the 2008 G37 Coupe: seductive, thrilling…and “WOW” comes to mind as well. Gunn Infiniti in San Antonio received it’s first car a few days ago, so I decided to stop by and have a look. The photo is the actual window sticker with the word “SAMPLE” printed across it, and there are no prices listed.

I was immediately greeted by salesman, Adam Castillo. Adam’s knowledge of this car juxtaposed the credentials of the owner’s manual, and his sales pitch was about as thorough as any magazine review of the car with one exception in his favor: this would be a hands-on tutorial. He was quick to point out how the name was different from its “G35″ predecessor. If you’re not car saavy, the “G37″ moniker represents the larger engine (i.e. 3.5-liter vs 3.7-liter). And even if you already knew that like I did, you may not know what else the name signifies. In addition to added displacement comes Infiniti’s Variable Valve Event and Lift (VVEL) technology. This innovation allows the car to take advantage of the car’s power at every point of the powerband while maintaining optimal fuel economy and reduced emissions. Add to that a redesigned exhaust and intake…the result is 330 horsepower and 270 lb/ft of torque, which is about 20 more horses and 2 more lb/ft of yank. With that said, current G35 Coupe drivers may not notice a huge difference.

Although the car looks similar to the G35, Infiniti claims all new body panels.

What they will notice are all of the techno-geek features such as the touch screen nav system. The system includes XM® NavTraffic, which displays real-time traffic information to enhance your GPS. While San Antonio does not yet feature real-time traffic flow data, that capability is available for those communities that do, which equals 24 of 79 XM® markets in the U.S. and Canada. The “SAMPLE” also featured RearView Monitor and an available 11-speaker Infiniti “Studio on Wheels”â„¢ by Bose® audio system, three-way door speaker arrays with 10-inch door-mounted woofers. The 20GB system splits storage equally devoting 9.3 gigs of the hard drive to the car’s music storage. It even has a compact flash drive slot.

Put the Auto in “DS” mode for some F1 fun.

“I’ve seen enough. Get me some keys, Adam!”

It’s a miracle I even paid any attention to Adam’s presentation. As I slid into the seats, I couldn’t help but imagine driving this car down a track. I rudely began tugging on the magnesium paddle shifters and making engine noises. No doubt Adam was distracted by my giddiness; he immediately suggest I press the brake and push the Auto Start button. Suddenly the G37 was alive, and the sound it emitted was hypnotic. Responding to my delighted gaze, Adam exclaimed, “Wait until you open it up”. How can I pass up that offer?

My Maxima SE features a sport shift that allows me to up and downshift as I please. However, as it pegs the redline, it automatically shifts into the next gear. The G37 does not. So, on my first attempt at “opening it up”, I repeatedly nailed the 2nd gear rev limiter. After apologizing profusely to Adam, I didn’t hesitate to try again. As the five-speed automatic transmission neared its 7500 rpm redline, I tugged on the right paddle…a couple of times. And he was right…the car sounds tons better than the previous model. Very nice.

After gettting that out of my system, I decided to test out the automatic cruise control feature. When engaged, you can preset your desired speed…no acceleration necessary…and let the car do its thing. In the photo above, you’ll notice what looks like an infrared sensor in the front air dam. The G37 Coupe will slow down as you approach cars in front of you, and can apply up to 30% braking if necessary. There are three distance levels you can choose.

Steering response is great partially due to the 4-wheel active steering system. The car feels sure-footed in the bends. And the Akebono brakes worked great with virtually no fade in the pedal. That estimation is good from about 75 mph. With 4-piston calipers and 14.0-inch rotors in front, and 2-piston calipers on 13.8-in rotors in the rear, I think it’s safe to say this thing has ample stopping power beyond that.

The 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe is available in three trim levels: G37 Coupe, G37 Coupe Journey and G37 Coupe Sport 6MT. The car I drove was the Journey model with the Sport package. If you’re in the San Antonio area, go see Adam Castillo at Gunn Infiniti or schedule an appointment with him at (210) 824-1272. A $500 deposit will ensure you get one this month…provided the one you want matches a model already ordered by the dealership.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Trade Like A Mutual Fund Manager With TheBuyList.com

TheBuyList.com contains unique data extraction and cleansing processes that gather incremental stock transaction data by top mutual funds. What this means is that someone researching stocks can query its database and to see which funds and fund families recently bought or sold a particular stock. Looks like Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: SUNW) has been a hot buy as of late. Good thing. I included it the Derrich.com Stock Portfolio on August 1. Check it out for yourself.

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Popularity: 4% [?]

Real Estate Listings In South Carolina With Century 21 Properties

Charleston South Carolina remains one of the best real estate markets in South Carolina and it provides a great coastal lifestyle and historic charm. CENTURY 21 Properties Plus, Inc. is one of the fastest growing real estate companies in the Charleston, SC area. Since the company was founded in 1997 in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, it has been committed to providing Charleston-area to both home buyers and sellers. With a booming South Carolina real estate market, it is important to use a company that will provide you with a wide-variety of services to make your purchase less difficult.

There are currently 1000’s of active Charleston SC real estate listings available to choose from. By utilizing the Century 21 Properties property search, you can view area MLS listings without registering or giving up any contact information. In addition to finding your ideal property, Century 21 Properties provides relocation and property management services.

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