http://housecalls.doctoroz.com 

The “The Dr. Oz Show” is out with a site called “House Calls.” The site lets users send personalized videos to friends and family from the TV physician himself. You can pick from a list of more than 1,000 common health and wellness topics – or you can have the good doctor send messages of encouragement or well wishes. The videos are sent to the recipient’s email or Facebook inbox.

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https://burnnote.com 

Fictional spies aren’t the only ones who can send and receive self-destructing messages. A new web service called Burn Note can do just that, and you don’t even have to deal with exploding electronics once the countdown is over. Burn Note lets you send password-locked messages that automatically get deleted after a few seconds. Its creator, Jacob Robbins, says the service doesn’t even keep backup copies of your messages. Since it’s not exactly an email service, you still need an email address to use it. After you’ve registered for an account you start sending notes.

Groundhog Day Info

(Source: www.groundhog.org)

The 126th trek to Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, for Punxsutawney Phil’s official prognostication begins early this morning with live entertainment, fireworks and other activities. Phil’s official prediction will be at daybreak. The men who call themselves the “Inner Circle” say Phil speaks to them in “groundhogese,” and they translate the rodent’s words. Here are some fun facts from the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s official website:

History of Groundhog Day:
Punxsutawney Phil’s first official trek to Gobbler’s Knob was in 1887. In early observances, the groundhog’s predictions were conducted in private wooded areas that neighbor the town. Presently, Phil makes his prediction in front of tens of thousands of visitors and a global audience. Members of the Inner Circle coax Phil from his hole and announce Phil’s prediction. If Phil sees his shadow, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of winter and returns to his hole; if not, spring is just around the corner.

European Roots:

• Early Christians celebrated Candlemas Day, when the clergy blessed and distributed candles. Roman legions, during the conquest of the northern country, brought the tradition to the Germans, who picked it up and concluded that if the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day an animal (the hedgehog) would cast a shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of bad weather.

• Pennsylvania’s earliest settlers were Germans who found groundhogs in many parts of the state. They determined that the groundhog, which resembled the hedgehog, was an intelligent animal and decided that if the sun appeared on February 2nd, the groundhog would see its shadow and hurry back into its underground home for another six weeks of winter.

Phamous Punxsutawney Phil Phacts:

• During Prohibition, Phil threatened to impose 60 weeks of winter if he wasn’t permitted a cocktail.

• Phil announced that it was a “United States Chucknik,” rather than a Soviet Sputnik or Muttnik, that became the first man-made satellite to orbit Earth in 1958.

• Phil wore a yellow ribbon in honor of the American hostages in Iran in 1981.

• Phil traveled to Washington, D.C. in 1986 to meet with President Reagan.

• In 1993, Columbia Pictures released the movie “Groundhog Day,” starring Bill Murray. Since then, record crowds numbering as high as 30,000 have visited Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney!

• Phil made his debut performance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 1995.

• In 2001, Phil’s prediction was shown live on the JumboTron at Times Square in New York City.

• Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell attended Groundhog Day ceremonies in 2003, making him the first sitting governor ever to do so.

• Phil is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan; he sported a Terrible Towel in 2009 to celebrate the team’s Sixth Super Bowl victory.

http://canaryhop.com 

Planning to take a vacation this year and want something more than the traditional tourist fare? There’s a new website designed to help travelers find just that. CanaryHop.com is a website that connects travelers looking for a memorable vacation experience with locals who can act as hosts or guides in their destination city. The site offers everyday experiences from museum tours to cross-country bike riding to cooking lessons. But there’s more. The site also offers options for those who are a little more adventurous. Travelers, or Hoppers as the site calls them, can pay the requested fee for a Hopper experience before they leave on their trip. Only after the traveler confirms does the guide, or Canary, show up and provide the service described. The site also has travel safety suggestions for both Canaries and Hoppers.

www.neverlikeditanyway.com 

Just in time for Valentine’s Day a new website, NeverLikedItAnyway, has been created for those who want to dispose of unwanted gifts from ex-partners. The site, set up by Annabel Action who found herself single just days before Christmas, discovered the opportunity to make money from selling unwanted gifts from deceitful ex-lovers. Of the hundreds of items on this eBay-style website, scores of platinum diamond rings and wedding bands are available at bargain prices. Each item comes with a story that explains why their post-relationship item is up for grabs.

Spare Tires May Soon Be A Thing Of The Past

Buying a car can be a stressful experience. One thing buyers could depend upon was that the new vehicle included a spare tire. That may not always be the case, according to Triple A. To meet new government fuel efficiency standards, some vehicle manufacturers are omitting heavy spare tires and equipping new vehicles with an emergency sealant and inflator kit, or tires that if damaged can run reasonable distances without air. In 2010, the Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency established new average fuel economy standards for vehicle model years 2012 to 2016. The new standards are set at a combined 29.7 mpg for the 2012 model year, increasing to 34.1 mpg by 2016. Achieving the standards will require many changes to the vehicles we drive. One way is to reduce the weight of vehicles without compromising safety. A spare tire, related tools and a jack can weigh more than 40 pounds. That may seem like a small amount, but every little bit helps, and unlike other weight saving changes it doesn’t add cost to the vehicle. “Unfortunately many vehicle owners may be unaware that their vehicle has no spare tire until they experience a flat,” says John Nielsen, AAA National Director of Auto Buying and Consumer Information. “Consumers should review their owner’s manual and emergency maintenance supplies they have in the vehicle and be informed about alternatives to a spare to prevent panic or a delay when encountering a flat tire.”

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The Buzziest Brands

The sandwich chain Subway generated the most buzz of any brand last year, a recent survey says. Other companies with the most positive buzz last year include retail brands such as Target, automakers such as Ford and tech giants such as Apple. YouGov BrandIndex rated the companies by asking survey respondents whether they had heard anything about the brands recently through advertising, news or word of mouth. The most “in-the-now” businesses:

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Valentine’s Day Dinner

Valentine’s Day doesn’t just suck for singles who don’t want to be reminded of their singlehood. It’s also a pain for couples scrambling to find a dinner reservation, sometimes at a restaurant with ridiculously marked-up menu “specials.” According to a new survey by Zagat, 44% of couples intend on dining out this Valentine’s Day, while 35% are preparing a gourmet feast at home. Even worse, the average expected dinner tab comes out to $147 per couple, compared to the regular check for two of around $43. And that’s not counting the $88 that they’re also spending on gifts for their sweetie. And with only a couple weeks to go before Valentine’s Day, fewer than half of couples tell Zagat they have made a reservation. One surprising find is that mood-setting decor isn’t so important anymore: 48% are picking the perfect place to eat based on the quality of the food, though another 29% are scouting a fancier, candle-lit atmosphere. One in five diners are returning to an old-favorite spot. Don’t expect to see too many proposals wherever you go: 69% percent of respondents say getting down on bended knee in a restaurant is cheesy. Only 11% of diners are splitting the check that night; 46% of the mostly female respondents say their date is picking up the bill.

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www.rentagrandma.com 

RentAGrandma.com is hiring, helping to bring loving Grandmas to families everywhere. RentAGrandma.com is a revolutionary concept for quality domestic staffing needs. Every Grandma is “a mature woman who is only the most professional, experienced staff and meets the standards customers will demand for their own Grandmas.” Families can search the site’s extensive online database of experienced Grandmas. Todd Pliss, a former teacher, says he got the idea when he was teaching children in Hollywood. Pliss says, “I would hear these horror stories all the time, like the sitter that almost burned down the house when she forgot there was dinner on the stove, or the nanny that fell asleep and locked the kids outside the house.” Rent a Grandma provides care for children, the elderly and pets. Prices for the services range from $14 an hour to more than $20 an hour. Pliss says parents as far away as Europe have contacted him.

(To schedule Todd Pliss for an interview, call 855-7-Granny or email rentagrandma@yahoo.com)

www.youtube.com/yourfilmfestival 

YouTube’s Your Film Festival channel will take in submissions of short films, up to 15 minutes long, from February 2nd through March 31st. Scott Free Productions, run by filmmakers Ridley and Tony Scott, will then choose 50 semifinalists to move on. From there, the public can watch the films and vote for which ones they like best. The 10 finalists chosen will then attend the Veniec Film Festival, where their shorts will be screened and Ridley Scott will be among the jury members who will choose the winner. The grand prize is a $500,000 grant from YouTube to produce a piece of work with Scott Free Prods. Participants must be at least 18 years old and the film could not be distributed before January 1, 2010.

www.disneybaby.com 

Walt Disney Co. has launched DisneyBaby.com, a new website for expectant and new parents, filled with inspirational ideas, tips from real moms and collection of Disney Baby brand products. The site’s Baby Magical Moments is an easy-to-use tool for parents to upload their favorite baby moments adding to a dynamic collection of already shared experiences that flows through the site.

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www.honest.com 

Jessica Alba and internet entrepreneur Brian Lee have teamed up to launch an online shopping experience for babies and their families. The Honest Company makes eco-friendly, natural and chemical free products for babies and kids. “When I was pregnant three-and-a-half years ago with my daughter, Honor, I started researching how to have a safe home. I was shocked to learn how many dangerous chemicals were in the products I used, including many I had assumed were safe,” says Alba. Alba partnered with Brian Lee, founder of ShoeDazzle, Christopher Gavigan, an environment health expert, and Sean Kane, an executive for PriceGrabber.com to launch The Honest Company. A portion of the proceeds will go to support Baby2Baby, a non-profit organization that gives baby supplies to families in need.

www.december212012.com

The Doomsday Clock that counts down to the “end” of the Mayan calendar, on December 21, 2012, is ticking. The doomsday scenario comes about because the Mayan calendar “ends” on December 21, 2012. Since the Mayan calendar rolls over to zero on that date, the date has been characterized as the End of the World 2012, and has even been turned into a big-budget thriller. Among the proponents of the December 21, 2012 doomsday is the site December212012.com. It says, “This site is dedicated to bring our visitors everything associated with December 21 2012 and the world events leading up to it. We will provide you with website links, articles, open discussion forums, and anything else we can uncover relating to this moment in time.” The site also has a Facebook page that says: “The world as we know it is in for some dramatic and devastating changes. Explore the possibilities, see what other believe.”

www.shoeholicsclub.com

Shoeholics Club is a free membership website that caters to the passionate love affair that so many of people conduct with their footwear. It's also home to the upcoming book "The Shoeholic" penned by the founder, Tinu whose love affair with shoes began as a pre-teen. The book details the chronic world of real life shoe addicts; the closeted shoe fetish, the nun who refuses to part with her shoes in a nunnery, the cougar who allows her young dates to pick the "bedroom shoes" and so much more. The book offers a unique cross between a traditional novel and a coffee table art book with photos of some of the most incredible shoes in the author's closet and the story of her long-standing love affair with her shoe collection. Shoeholics Club is also home to the new Shoeholics magazine, an international fashion publication for shoe lovers where the most drool worthy of shoes from leading and unknown designers is featured. It caters to female and male shoe enthusiasts, with editorials and articles pertaining to all things shoes.