MBerry or Miracle Berry: My Experience & Review of Miracle Berry Tablets

This post is going to be my experience trying out MBerry tablets, also known as Miracle Berries or Miracle fruit. I'll embed a video right below of a short two minute news piece done on these berries or tablets and the taste tripping or flavor tripping parties people have to enjoy the experience together.

You may have heard the term taste tripping or flavor tripping. This refers to either eating an actual fruit or in this case a berry or in other cases some people will buy the MBerry tablets which can be found on Amazon for about $13 for a box of 12 or so.

I personally tried the tablets as opposed to the actual berry as I've heard the Berries had a very short shelf life and I was ordering them to use for a party about a week away. I ordered them on Amazon and had them delivered two days later with my prime shipping.

Myself and my girlfriend were super excited to try them. We were actually planning on using them for her birthday party as kind of a fun and different thing to do than just getting dinner or going out tot he bars. We decided before we had this big flavor tripping themed party and hyped up the experience for our friends and family; we had decided we would try them first and see if they were all they were cracked up to be.

MBerry Tablets With Assorted Fruits

After watching some more Youtube videos posted from individuals showing themselves live, actually experiencing the miracle fruit and how it transforms your tastebuds we were super psyched. You watch videos and the looks on peoples faces are priceless. People look utterly amazed, and you'll actually watch people tasting common things like a banana saying it's the best thing they've ever tasted. You'll then see people start drinking vinegar like it's soda pop saying it tastes great, sucking on lemons saying it tastes like the best lemonade they've ever tasted in their life. The miracle fruit affects your sour, bitter, and sweet sensations so things which normally would be sour are either sweet or just taste great.

After watching some Youtube videos I was convinced this was going to be an amazing experience. Upon actually trying it for myself however both myself, and my girlfriend were extremely disapointed. Our minds were definately not blown, lol, as many people on Youtube were claiming.

Things like bananas tasted pretty much like a banana. Vinegar was still disgusting. Granted maybe it had a hint of sweetness but it still tasted like vinegar and still had a bite to it. We didn't have as full a spread of foods to try as others I'd seen, however we had a pretty good selection of items to try, and nothing in my experience was that different or great.

Fruits To Try While Taste Tripping

The only thing we both really felt like changed taste dramatically was lemons and limes. Limes were incredibly sweet and tasted almost like a lime candy, but to the point of being too sweet it wasn't that good.

In the end we decided not to do a flavor or taste tripping party for her birthday as we felt it wasn't even worth the experience trying it. Also, could have nothing to do with the MBerry tablets but after we took them we both felt kind of strange and got a headache, havn't really heard of reported side effects but the whole experience was enough to say I'm not interested in trying it again.

I have about six tablets left, I'll probably wind up giving them away for free to any friends who want to try them out. Would I recommend trying them? I guess it's worth it to try it, what do you have to lose, but honestly I wasn't wowed by the experience and won't be doing it again.

Oggi Moscow Mule Copper Mug & The Moscow Mule Recipe & History

I'm a big fan of the cocktail called a Moscow Mule, a combination of Vodka, Ginger Beer and Lime. I was introduced to this tasty drink by my folks who live in Charleston, SC where the drink is understandably popular seeing as how they have humid weather and this is a crisp refreshing drink.

After falling in love with this drink I asked for a set of Copper Moscow Mule Mugs for Christmas. I got the Oggi brand from Amazon as a gift from my parents so just wanted to do a quick review as well as share the recipe and history of the Moscow Mule

My Review of Oggi Moscow Mule Copper Mugs

Mix up a classic Moscow Mule in this Oggi Moscow Mule Mug. Handcrafted from stainless steel with a copper plated exterior and a brass handle, it's the authentic way to serve up this classic vodka cocktail. Hand wash only. Not for use in the microwave. Capacity 20 oz. Create your own Moscow Mule at home: Fill your Moscow Mule Mug with ice. Add 2 ounces of vodka, half an ounce of lime juice and top with ginger beer and a sprig of mint. This mug is also ideal for enjoying cool, refreshing drinks year round. The perfect drinking companion for hot summer afternoons, the traditional copper mug becomes chilly to the touch when filled with the iced beverage of your choice.

My Parents surprised me with this mug as a Christmas gift. I had always mentioned when we'd be out for drinks how I wanted one of these, but we could never seem to find them in stores. The mug is solid, heavy duty, and sharp looking. Makes for the perfect vessel for a Moscow Mule or Dark and Stormy.

Moscow Mule Recipe
Moscow Mule
Ingredients:
– 1 1/4 oz Smirnoff vodka
– 3 oz. ginger beer
– 1 tsp. sugar syrup
– 1/4 oz. lime juice
– 1 sprig mint
– 1 slice lime
In a copper mug, pour vodka over ice. Add sugar syrup and lime juice. Top with ginger beer and stir. Garnish with mint sprig and lime slice.

* Personally I leave out the sugar syrup or simple syrup as I don't like overly sweet drinks and find the Ginger Beer itself adds plenty of sweetness. I also opt specifically for Crabbies Brand Ginger Beer as it's the only one I feel like adds the right taste.

The History Of The Moscow Mule

History of Moscow Mule:

The story of the Moscow Mule begins in 1939 when a nearly brokeRussian ex-pat, Rudolph Kunett, sold the Smirnoff brand to John Martin, head of G.F. Heublein & Bros.  Eventually John Martin used the Moscow Mule to help promote vodka to bars across the US and this helped fuel the mainstream acceptance of vodka as the preferred white spirit, replacing gin.

John Martin long claimed that he invented the Moscow Mule along with his friend, Jack Morgan, owner of the olde-English style pub named the Cock’n’Bull, located on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip.  The Cock’n’Bull had a house brand of ginger beer bottled in stoneware crocks.  Martin and Moran claimed that a fit of “inventive genius” led them to combine their respective products.  More likely, is the story told by Morgan’s head bartender, Wes Price, who maintained that the drink was fashioned sometime in 1941 in an effort to offload otherwise unsellable goods.

They ordered specially engraved copper mugs and Martin set off to market it in the bars around the country. He bought one of the first Polaroid cameras and asked barmen to pose with a Moscow Mule copper mug and a bottle of Smirnoff vodka. Then he would leave one copy of the photo at the bar and take a second copy to the bar next door to show them that their competitors were selling their concoction. Between 1947 and 1950, thanks to their invention, Smirnoff vodka case columns more than tripled and nearly doubled in 1951.

In particular, the drink caught on with the Hollywood crowd until 1950 when not unlike a few Hollywood screenwriters, Smirnoff and its flagship drink, the Moscow Mule, took heat for the Russian association.  Assuming that Smirnoff was a Russian import, unionized bartenders in New York announced a Moscow Mule boycott, refusing to “shove slave labor liquor across the wood in any American saloon.”

Smirnoff rushed to testify that its vodka was not, and never had been a member of the Communist Party.  In support, Walter Winchell wrote in 1951, “The Moscow Mule is US made, so don’t be political when you’re thirsty.  Three are enough, however, to make you wanna fight pro-Communists.”

Sadly, popularity of the beverage faded in the 1960s with the era of the groovy new disco scene and the intitaitive by the Smirnoff marketing department to re-name the drink the “Smirnoff Mule.”  However, the Moscow Mule has recently enjoyed a resurgence, mostly at upscale establishments that have taken the trouble to acquire the copper mugs for proper presentation.

Cards Against Humanity FINALLY Back In Stock On Amazon - Great Christmas Gift

If you haven't been fortunate enough to play Cards Against Humanity you have at the very least probably heard about this popular party game. A bit clever and a bit vulgar this game is hilarious and awesome.

Some time ago I was introduced to this game at a party. I've been wanting to order it forever but for the longest time both Amazon and the manufacturer have been out of stock. Games on the secondary market have been selling for $75 to $100 even though this is really only a $25 game. Well I was pleasantly surprised to see it back on Amazon today for the original price of $25 YAY!!!

If you have a white elephant gift you have to get or something for a Holiday party this game makes a affordable present typically under most gift caps at $25.

Below is just kind of a quick review and my thoughts on this game...

This game, I love it, seriously, I LOVE IT!!! I played the origional with some friends and family at a party and was in tears through most of the game with the combination of hilarious and politically incorrect awful things people were saying. Many people were either rolling their eyes or crying through every single round.


I've heard some people say that once the initial shock value wears off this just becomes adult apples to apples, however I personally don't feel the game ever gets old. Poop and sexual humor, how could that get old?

But there is where the high octane hilarity ended.

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy the game but after the shock value has worn off it just becomes an adult Apples to Apples.

If you haven't checked this game out yet I highly recommend picking up a deck, will make for some great conversation at a New Years Eve Party!!!

Ever Go To Work Hungover? Your And 50% Of Workers

Are you sitting at your cubicle right now? If take a glance around at your peers and co-workers. Anyone sipping on a gatorade, anyone have their head on their hands? If so they just may be hunger.

Hungover...Ouch

We've all been there before. Maybe a special event with friends during the workweek, or even some happy hour cocktails that turns into a night out. Those late nights can turn into tiring, painful, blurry eyed workdays. That doesn't necessarily keep all workers from partying and hitting the town however.

Blowfish, a company who makes a hangover treatment pill recently did a survey. 50% of people admitted to going to work with a hangover. This data came from a 2013 survey in which over 5,000 Americans ove the age of 21 were surveyed.

It's not a gender issue, actually came out quite close with women having admitted to showing up to work hunger 52% and men 50%. Though close, this is still somewhat surprising since the CDP reports men are more likely to drink to excess.

This was also broken down by the type of job. Turns out waiters are the most likely employees to show up for work hungover. Having worked in restaurants I can definately attest to that. The other top 5 were made up of realtors, salespeople, police officers and chefs.

Get A Great Deal On Maxim Magazine $1.26 Per Issue & Earn Bonus Credit Card Miles When You Do It!!!

Get Maxim Magazine for only $1.26 per issue.

Here at RulesForRebels.Com we kind of modeled ourselves after Maxim Magazine...well maybe not as many girls in bikinis..however when we started this site we kindof had in mind a mix of a Maxim type mens magazine mixed with a technology magazine, mixed with a business magazine geared towards Business, Technology, Mens Issues, and Young Professionals.

Trying To Market Your Product Or Brand On Pinterest? 3 Things You Must Understand

Pinterest, you've probably heard of it and maybe you've checked out the site or played with the App. It still seems however, that though gaining popularity quickly it's not something everyone has used, and it's not something those of us who have used it fully understand so today were going to be talking about Pinterest, and 3 things you need to know before promoting your product, service, or business on Pinterest. Pinterest can be an incredible tool for marketing your business.

Corona Chicken In 10 Easy Steps - A Great Summer Grilling Recipe - Wrapped In Bacon? Must Be Delicious

Corona Chicken Recipe

Corona Chicken is a delicious recipe I hi-jacked and put my own twist on. I first saw this recipe featured on Anthony Bourdain's television show "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel. I made a few small changes to suit my taste and this is what you have, delicious Corona Chicken.

This dish is delicious served with a side of Spanish Rice. This dish is also versatile in that it can be cooked on outside on the grill or in the oven depending on the season and weather. Outdoors on the grill adds a smokiness and complexity to the flavor of the dish although indoors in the oven seems to get the bacon a bit crisper. 

Book Review: Snow Blind; By: Robert Sabbag - Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant!!!

Book Review: Snow Blind; By: Robert Sabbag - Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant!!!

As the title says; Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant!!! I love non-fiction, true crime, and adventure books. Having read an assortment of books on this topic I’d say “Snow Blind” is one of the best!

If you like books like “Smugglers Blues”, “Contrabando”, and “Blow”; you’ll LOVE this book!

High quality writing filled with inventive smuggling, humor, cunning, and crime. This book though relatively long, for this genre, is a joy to read and you’ll breeze through it.

CheckPoints Another Twist On Checking In - Which Do You Like...CheckPoints, FourSquare, TopGuest, ShopKick?

Okay so maybe you've checked out some of the others Shopkick, Foursquare, etc, etc, etc

Introducing You To CheckPoints



A company called CheckPoints has just come out with yet another "check in" location based application. With this new smart phone application you are rewarded for scanning the barcodes of your favorite products while shopping. You just use your phones camera to scan the barcodes of products while shopping. You can also earn points just by "checking in" at stores or restaurants you are visiting.

These product scans earn you points which can then be redeemed for prizes. Some of the other location based programs give you "tokens" or other meaningless online trinkets you can trade with others but really who cares about worthless tokens and trinkets. The beauty of CheckPoints is that you earn cold hard cash. Well not cash persay but gift cards to your favorite stores or points to buy some of your favorite products.

These are good prizes too!!! Amazon Gift Cards, Apple Gift Cards, Frequent Flyer Miles, Tablet PC's, Ipods, and even Video Games like the Nintendo Wii.

How Does CheckPoints Differ From ShopKick & Others...

CheckPoints wasn't the first on the scene so maybe you started out with Foursquare, ShopKick or one of the other location based apps.

Similar to Shopkick and others users use their smartphone's camera to scan product barcodes at retailers and in turn those scans turn into points which are later turned into prizes.

That's about all these different apps have in common. With Shopkick for example, consumers get points for checking in as well as scanning items as with CheckPoints. However to verify that someone has actually checked in and isn't just sitting in the comfort of their living room "fake" checking in at places; with ShopKick; retailers must install special equipment in their store to determine if a user of the app is physically present in the store and not just fake checking in to earn points.

Though I suppose Shopkick keeps users honest, the downside is that it limits the number and scope of businesses who will partner with ShopKick. Not all stores may want an outside company installing equipment in their stores and smaller retailers may not be interesting enough to ShopKick to make the investment of putting their equipment in that location.

So Why Should I Check In?

Does this sort of interaction appeal to you? It probably depends on what kind of "check-in" app user you are. I tried out Foursquare as personally I didn't like how it was a more personal based check in system. With CheckPoints though obviously someone is monitoring your behavior as a consumer, it's not being made known to other individuals using the program where you are at every moment of the day.

With FourSquare however, you can see others checking in which I personally don't like. I had deleted my Foursqaure app a while back but was recently sitting at a bar / restaurant with a buddy of mine and he opened up his Foursquare app and noticed "The Mayor" was at the bar.

The Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel you ask? No not the mayor of the city, "The Mayor" of the bar.

If your not familiar with Foursquare the people and/or person who attends a certain place the most becomes "The Mayor" of that location.

This is the type of thing which turns me off to Foursquare. I don't necessarily want my friends or family knowing where I am all the time let alone a stranger at a bar sitting in the booth behind me.

Some app users do enjoy the more social or personal aspect of apps like Foursquare, Brightkite, and Gowalla which award you with titles, stamples and pointless virtual rewards that mean nothing. Personally it doesn't do much for me.

The one thing I will say about Foursquare that I do enjoy is they seem to have more restaurants and retailers pushing special virtual coupons and promotions. I was at Houlihans the other day and I believe you got a free appetizer for Checking in on Foursquare. CheckPoints on the other hand doesn't have as many if any instant free offers however the points you earn that go towards prizes tend to be better than the other apps.

Many people like myself however "don't get" Foursquare. Maybe in the same way your still wondering "What the hell is the point of Twitter?"

Personally I find more value in things like CheckPoints and Topguest which give automatic rewards to frequent travelers in the form of free miles and discount hotel deals. The appeal of real rewards for disclosing my location holds much more appeal than meaningless titles, badges, stamps and whatever other crap some of these other apps are offering.

It basically boils down to "What's in it for me?" Personally I don't feel there is enough of a return to warrant the privacy invasion of the app as well as my friends knowing where I am at every moment of the day. I prefer getting points that can be used more broadly with online and offline brands as well as making charity donations.

What Do You Think?

Do you use one of these location based check in apps? Which ones do you use and which is your favorite? It will be interesting to see if "Checking In" will be the next big thing in mobile rewards or whether it will remain a niche thing as so many other location baed services are. What are your thoughts?

As an intersting side note, I already see "CheckPoint Cheat" websites comming out where people post pictures of the barcodes and you can scan them from the comfort of your couch off your computer earning points while watching tv rather than actually being in the store walking the isles hunting down these products. 

10 Minute Dinner For The Young Professional - Quick, Tasty, Easy, & Few Ingredients

Here's a delicious dinner that's quick, easy, and requires just a few ingredients you probably have lying around the house.

You get home from work and the last thing you wanna do is put a lot of effort into fixing up a dinner, however you're also sick of fast food and want something tasty. This recipe is something you can easily throw together in 10-15 minutes while watching tv or checking email after walking in the door from work.

Funny Review On Walmart's Website

Funny Review Directly From Walmarts Website

Top Ten Rules for the Workplace...

Ten: Improve your vocabulary

Read a few articles on social networking for businesses, new software, or computer programming. Pick out all the confusing jargon and lingo. Use phrases using these terms freely when in conversations with your boss and co-workers. You don’t have to know what you’re saying but you’ll sure sound pretty impressive.

Nine: Never walk empty handed

Always have a document or some type of paperwork. People with nothing in their hands look like they are on their way to a smoke break, the cafeteria, or the coffee machine. People with a newspaper in their hand look like they are on their way to the bathroom. People with documents and paperwork in their hands look like they are hardworking, busy, and probably headed to some kind of important meeting. So next time you sneak out for a smoke break make sure you have a TPS report in your hands. 

Eight: Use your computer to look busy

Anytime you are sitting in front of your computer staring at the screen it looks like “work.” You can pay your bills online, respond to personal e-mails, chat, read the newspaper, or even update your facebook status. Not doing anything productive or work related, but you sure look like you’re working hard. When you get caught by HR or your boss...which you will...just claim your learning to use a new software, a new program, or new technology, saving your employer valuable time and money on training. By the way, CBSSportsline.com has really helped out us guys in this area. During the NCAA tournaments, baseball playoffs, or other big sporting event, they allow you to watch live and also have a boss button. If your boss or a nosy co-worker glances over click the boss button and your instantly re-routed to a page that looks like an excel spreadsheet, leaving others thinking your hard at work, little do they know your checking out scores for your NCAA bracket. Thank you CBS.

Seven: Use your Voice mail

You should never, ever, ever, ever, ever answer your phone if you have voice mail. People don’t call you at work just to say hi, they call you because they want YOU to do work for THEM. That’s no way to spend your day...actually working...insanity. Screen all your calls using your voice mail. If someone leaves you a message and it sounds like they have work for you to do get back to them over the lunch hour when you know they are not going to be there. This makes it look like you are thoughtful and hardworking...even though your just a dirty little hamster avoiding work.

 Six: Don’t have a clean desk

Only corporate and management can get away with having a clean and organized desk. For the rest of us, it looks like you are not working hard enough. Stack huge piles of paper on your desk. It doesn’t have to be real paperwork, just go to the office recycling box, take out a big stack of paper others have discarded and throw it on your desk. To the casual observer it looks like work and a large volume of it. If you know your boss or a co-worker will be coming by your cubicle for a document, place that document in the middle of the stack of papers. This way, when you look for it, you’ll have to dig through stacks and stacks of paperwork to find it, leaving them thinking you’re a hardworking employee buried in work. 

Five: Send important e-mails at odd hours

Especially on weekends and even holidays.You don’t necessarily have to be working, set your alarm clock for 2 A.M. send out that TPS report and go back to bed. You don’t actually have to be working, but people will think you are, which is what is most important. This will make you look like a hardworking and dedicated employee. Your boss may even become concerned your working too hard and insist you take some time off to relax and unwind.

Four: Look impatient and annoyed

If you’re a fan of the hit television show Seinfeld, you know George Costanza says one should always try to look impatient and annoyed to give the impression that your overworked and always busy. If you need a lesson on how to do this just flip on an old re-run of Seinfeld to take your cues from George. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding one either, Seinfeld re-runs are on about a dozen times a day on various channels. Hey...you could even watch an episode at work...refer to number eight above, or number three below.

Three: Always leave late

You should always leave the office late. You want to try to do this while the boss is still around. It doesn’t matter what you do; play with a yoyo, watch episodes of the Seinfeld or The Office on your computer, read a book. The key is to always leave late and make sure you walk past your boss’s office on the way out. 

Two: Sigh for effect

Sigh and sigh loudly when there are many people around. This will give others the impression that you are worked too hard and under extreme pressure. 

One: This is the most important rule of them all. 

I hope you’re paying attention. DON’T E-MAIL THIS TO YOUR BOSS!!!!