As you put the finishing touches on your costume ready, finish the horror movie music playlist for your iPod, and spread the last of the fake spider webs around your pad, here are some killer Halloween cocktails to include on your party drink menu from Van Gogh vodka.

The Eye Love a Martini (pictured), is a rerun from last year because it was a favorite, but the others are new, including some insect- and worm-laden jello shots and the Frog in a Blender that has floating chunks of fruit that give the drink that disgusting just-scraped-off-the-road look.

For other Van Gogh vodka recipes, click here.

Frog in a Blender
2 oz Van Gogh Vodka
4 oz cranberry juice
2 lime wheels
6 grapes
3 blood orange slices
2 slices of apple
1 cup ice

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend for 3-5 seconds. Ingredients will not be blended completely. Pour into a hurricane glass.


Dracula's Kiss
2 ounces Van Gogh Black Cherry Vodka
2 ounces Cola
1/4 ounce Grenadine

Fill highball glass with ice. Pour in vodka, fill with cola, sink grenadine and serve.


Grim Reaper
1 ounce Van Gogh Double Espresso® Vodka
1 ounce ...There's more

Size matter? Confident enough to show yours off? Condometric condoms are the first love gloves with a ruler on the side to let her know just how deep you'll be drilling.

They come (yeah, I said come), in both inches and centimeters, in case you hook up with someone from Europe or Canada, or basically anywhere but the US.

And unless you tie a knot in the end, there's no overestimating with these.

via PlunderGuide

Staying in shape over the winter can be tough. You're trapped inside. Eating comfort food. Stuffing yourself at holiday parties like you're going to the electric chair. Sweatshirts and coats hide your growing gut, so you just let it go for a few months. Which means you have to fight to get it off before beach season.

To keep the Winter Flab off you this season, I spoke with Anthony Slater, Head Performance Specialist at the Core Performance Center. (Those are the guys I'm giving away the fitness prize pack with this week.) He has some great tips for keeping you strong and trim during the colder months.

All are designed to be done indoors, and with minimal or no equipment. And if you're a fitness rookie, you can click the links to get video instruction showing you exactly what to do, so you're prepared to hit the beach or links the minute things warm up.

Here's what Slater recommends:



Put a Russian Twist in Your Training:
Don't worry guys, the Russian Twist isn't a move that Warren Sapp is doing on Dancing with the Stars or a new kind of martini—it's simply a movement you can do on a stability ball that will help with everything from preventing injury to improving your golf swing.





It's Your Turn to Be Mr. October:
If watching playoff baseball has made you wish you were in the World Series, head to your backyard to do Lateral Bound Stabilization, a fancy word for improving your explosiveness and working your hips and legs. You'll be ...There's more

Classic Halloween video from years ago. [BannedInHollywood]

Where to find the biggest on-campus Halloween parties. [BooshMagazine]

The new W. urinal for pissed off Dems. [TastyBooze]

Rachel Ray talks dirty. [Uncoached]

Five questions with ESPN's Kristen Aldridge. [BustedCoverage]

Heidi Klum's got milk... [On205th]

Chicks with body-painted Halloween costumes. (Might be NSFW) [CoEd Magazine]

Sonic lounger or torture device? [PlunderGuide]

Peanut stealing cat (Video) [DoubleViking]

Starting today, I’ve got a new contributor, Ian Coburn, who'll be writing a weekly column called “Lunch is Not a Date”.

Ian’s a standup comedian and the author of the bestselling book, God is a Woman: Dating Disasters, and he’s got some interesting, and unique, views on the dating scene, so listen up. His first post is on the new way of dating...

I read an article in a Chicago paper today about how “dating is dead.” “The idea of dating makes me tired but there may be hope for us all,” wrote the author at the start. It went on to complain about all the aspects of meeting people and dating. In the end, like every other article ever written about dating, it came to one incredible groundbreaking conclusion... Can you guess it? I know you know it; all dating advice ends with it… yup—“just be yourself.” Yeah, because being yourself is working so well; that’s why you’re reading an article about dating. You read a whole article on dating which bitches about all the things you hate, too; that are happening because you are being yourself, and in the end, the article that promises you an epiphany, ends by plopping you right back where you started with “just be yourself.”

Yet, most of us feel better reading such an article, which is why “be yourself” is regurgitated in an endless chain of dating “advice” articles. (Can “be yourself” really be considered advice? How is that different from, say, pointing at a book and advising, “Be a book.” Ooh, that’s good advice. Way to make that book be a book! You’ve helped it tremendously.) That’s because most of us believe dating can’t be changed; the uncomfortable aspects of it go with the territory. So, like most self-help, we’re just looking for affirmation that everyone experiences what we experience and we are doing just fine. If it was cost-effective, they’d tape a lollipop next to dating articles for you to suck on after reading.

Hate to tell you but that’s BS. I love dating. Meeting women and going out is an absolute blast. How is that possible? Simple: I eliminate all those uncomfortable aspects of dating we believe have to go with the territory. They simply are no longer part of the equation. Here’s how I do it: (Over the next several columns, I’ll examine each of these items in detail, using examples from my own life to illustrate.)

1 - No fear.
Don’t whine about how someone is out of your league or hesitate. If I did that, my penis would have become a dried up raisin years ago.

2 - Don’t get digits, get a date.
Don’t ask if you can call or for her number. Ask her out to something related to the conversation.

3 - Set the tone on the date.
Your job is to give her something to work with—know where you’re going to go, have ...There's more

It's only a day or two away from costumes and cocktails, so here are a few more Halloween-themed drinks to get your ghoul in the mood.

They're from thebar.com, and you can head there for even more cocktail ideas.

Gin Spirit
1 1/4 oz Tanqueray London Dry Gin
1 1/2 oz pomegranate juice
1 splash orange juice
1 tsp sugar

Add Tanqueray London Dry Gin, pomegranate juice, orange juice, and sugar to a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into martini glass.


Bloody Limey
1 1/2 oz Stirrings Bloody Mary Cocktail Mixer
1 1/2 oz Smirnoff Lime Vodka
4 grated or sliced English cucumbers

In a cocktail shaker, combine Stirrings Bloody Mary Mixer and Smirnoff Lime Vodka with plenty of ice. Cover and shake vigorously. Strain into a highball glass and garnish with grated or sliced English cucumber and a celery stalk.


Dirty Suzie
1/2 oz Stirrings Dirty Martini
1 1/2 Ciroc Vodka ...There's more

Here's what happens when a guy thinks the walls in his basement dude den look too plain, and he doesn't have the coin to spend on materials and contractors to give it an upgrade. He buys $10 worth of Magic Markers and Sharpies, and starts scribbling.

Charlie Kratzner, a lawyer and amateur artist from Lexington, KY, took those markers and added architectural accents, a fireplace, portraits of Sherlock Holmes and Winston Churchill among others, and even Rocky and Bullwinkle. [Click here for a panoramic view of the walls]

All the walls are covered floor to ceiling, even the ceiling gets some "moulding". The drawings go around his pinball machine and flat screen, as well as over the tub and toilet in the bathroom. Seriously impressive stuff. So why use a sharpie as a remodeling tool? "You can do a lot with it." Apparently a lot more than hiding it your sock and signing footballs with it.

via ModernUrbanLiving.com

Drinker/Golfer John Daly arrested at Hooters. [BannedInHollywood]

Top 10 horniest cult leaders of all time. [The Shark Guys]

5 funny condom ads. [TastyBooze]

Phillies win the Series, and have the hottest fans. [Uncoached]

Phillies also have fans that are idiots. Like this guy, who climbed a light pole, and took a bottle to the head. (Video) [BustedCoverage]

Meet Chelsea Staub. [On205th]

Buy Saddam Hussein's yacht. [StyleCrave]

Danielle Bux in UK Maxim. [DJMick]

First they threw guyliner at us. Then came man skirts. Not kilts. Skirts. For men. Now, as if marketers are fighting to strip us of the last vestiges of our masculinity, they hit us with Mantyhose.

Yeah, mantyhose. Panty hose for men. Did we ask for this? Was there an outcry from guys who had cold calves? Yes, I remember Joe Namath wearing them back in the 70's, but that was sports related. And he was Broadway Joe. He also wore fur coats, but he won a damn Super Bowl. This is just flat out wrong. (Although I will admit, that for a second, I thought the tribal ones in the middle pic looked kind of cool. But only for a second.) I believe the only time it's acceptable for a guy to ever wear pantyhose is over his head, while robbing a bank.

There's even a website, e-MANcipate, dedicated to "the acceptance of male pantyhose as a regular clothing item". I think the man skirts had a better chance.

[via AfroJacks]

With our economy, bank accounts and home values tanking faster than a Nicholas Cage movie, a lot of us are choosing "do-it-yourself" over "call-the-guy" when things need fixing around the house. And before you can take on these projects you gotta have the right tools. But knowing which ones are most important to have on hand, and spend your money on, is the key.

I spoke to Anthony Gilardi, Master Carpenter from HGTV's Myles of Style - and a guy who never leaves home without his tool belt - to get his list of every guy's must haves for tool belt, tool box, and tool shed. The ones that are essential to keep your butt covered for most home-related jobs.

Here are his lists and advice:

Gentlemen, let’s face it, we need to prepare for anything that comes our way... anything. Remember, a job is a job, whether you’re getting paid or just taking on a project around the house. Take it seriously, and safety first.

On a personal note: Reward yourself after every job. What I do is buy myself a new tool - preferably one I don’t already have - after every job well done. That’s the best, and most satisfying, way to accumulate your tools.

Oh, and no matter where you are, ALWAYS have these four things with you:
1. Gallon of clean, drinkable water.
2. Hand soap.
3. Deodorant.
4. At least one extra clean shirt.
(Remember, you need to be prepared for anything...)

Here we go:
Top 10 Things Every Guy Should Have in His Tool Belt at All Times
1. Retractable Tape Measure (at least 25 feet long, I prefer 32 feet)
2. Hammer (16 to 20 oz should be perfect, I prefer straight claw)
3. Utility Knife (with extras blade compartment)
4. Safety Glasses (preferably wrap around or side protectors)
5. Pliers with wire cutter combo
6. Crescent Wrench (6 to 8 inch)
7. Screw Driver (should a combo set with at least two choices, Flathead and Philips)
8. Six-Inch Framing Square
9. Small Sanding Block
10. Nail Sets (at least 3 different sizes)


Top 10 Things Every Guy Should Have in His Tool Box
Before we go any further, in case you're confused, I'm talking a portable tool box that you’ll be carrying into EVERY job.

Now, some guys go old school with an open wooden box, some guys like a more durable metal closed box. Now-a-days we can buy a cool round bag system that fits perfectly inside a 5 gallon bucket. I have a few different kinds to use depending on my mood, but keep in mind, I'm a professional. Listen, pick your poison, doesn't matter to me, as long as you have these essentials inside:

1. Full-size Framing Square. (Most professional closed metal boxes will have a punch-out slot on the top so you can fit your square inside. Make sure yours has one.)
2. Finish Hand Saw. (I like a wooden handle with 1/8" teeth. Find one you get a feel for and run with it.)
3. Small Block of Wax. (Tip: you'll need this handy item to lube your hand saw and your courser screws. Just run it down the teeth a couple of times. It stops any binding when using harder woods.)
4. Coping Saw. (These blades break very easily, make sure you have spares.) ...There's more

Tired of beating up on the chuckleheads in your local fantasy league for the glory of winning bar tabs and plastic trophies? Looking for more challenging competition, with bigger pay outs? Take your talents to the big leagues, and big pay days.

PaytheFan.com lets you compete against the best in the world for a weekly prize of $10,000. Not enough? Come in the best all season and they'll cut you a check for $250k. Twofitty large, for a few weeks work. Hard to pass up. (Note: the season-long league for this year is closed, but you can still play the weekly games. You can compete for the $250k next year.)

You can get all the info and rules here, then register your team and get playing.

Even if fantasy football isn't your thing, you can still win. Enter your email here, and I'll pick a winner next Wednesday, Nov 5, for a Pay the Fan hat, mug and a $100 gift card to NFLshop.com. You can pick up a jersey to wear when you pick up your check.

www.PaytheFan.com

The chick you don't want showing up at your door this Halloween. [AfroJacks]

Looks like Tarzan has been spending too much time in the jungle. [BannedInHollywood]

Coolest secret bars. [Asylum]

How not to park a $250k Ferrari. [TastyBooze]

The one party we're sorry we missed. [Uncoached]

Patriot cheerleaders dress up for Halloween. [BustedCoverage]

Nadine Velazquez from My Name is Earl loves posing in her undies. [On205th]

Retro-geek digital watch. [PlunderGuide]

Origins of the Cougar. [CoEd Magazine]

We all have those situations where we need to tell someone something, but don't actually want to have to talk to them, lest we get into a heated discussion over it - I won't be making it to your niece's 4th birthday party, I blew the rent picking Ohio State over Penn State, I hooked up with your best friend and you and I are done - and we pray for the call to go to voicemail.

Now you don't have to leave it up to chance, or dialing at odd hours, to ensure you get a recording over a human. Slydial is a service that lets you skip the ring, and go straight to "leave a message at the beep." There's no sign up and no fees, all you do is dial 267-SLYDIAL from any phone, enter the US mobile phone number of the person whose voicemail you want to connect to, and you'll be directly connected to their voicemail. No arguments, no interrogations, no sitting through weeping and begging, just leave a message and hang up.

And since there are a bunch of situations where Slydial would come in handy, they want to know how sly you really are. They are running a nationwide YouTube contest where you can submit as many videos as you like, showing creative ways to use the service. The overall winner gets $3,000 cash money, and five $500 prizes are being given for Most Viewed, Most Creative/Unique, Best Use: Short on Time, Best Use: Avoid an Awkward Convo, and Best Use: When a Text Message Just Won't Cut It.

If you've got a video camera and think you're slyer than the next guy, you can enter the contest, and see the competition, by going here. The winners will be announced on January 9, 2009. Probably by leaving you a voicemail.

www.slydial.com

Here's an excuse to grow a sweet Mo (Australian slang for mustache), party, and raise some money for a great charity.

Canadian Club whisky is teaming up with the Movember Foundation to raise awareness and money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation by having guys grow a Mo throughout the month of November. To be a Mo Bro, just start clean shaven on the 1st, then let your upper lip hair go wild as you collect donations throughout the month. Your girl can get involved too, not by foregoing her regular waxing, but by being a Mo Sista and helping to recruit Bros to grow Mos.

CC will be holding "Damn Right" events around the country, featuring the official drink of Movember, the Burgundy (recipe below), culminating with huge parties in NY, LA, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago and Aspen for Mo Bros who raise more than $100 for prostate cancer.

Since Movember’s inception in 2003, almost 200,000 guys around the world have sported a Mo, and more than $29 million has been raised globally for prostate cancer research - including $740,568 raised in the United States last year. In 2008, Movember is looking for Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to raise $2.6 million. Which is a boatload of Mos.

To get your Mo on and raise some money for prostate cancer research, register at www.movember.com. You can go it alone, or start a Mo team, then create a profile to showcase how your Mo-growing is going. Me? I'm going old-school handle bar.

THE BURGUNDY
1 1/2 parts Canadian Club® Whisky
4 parts Ginger Ale
Splash of Cranberry Juice
Serve in a rocks glass over ice.

Your face reveals your fighting ability. [Asylum]

10 sexiest (sort of) food costumes. [EndlessSimmer]

HotChicksWithDouchebags getting sued by hot chicks who like to be with douchebags. [Brahsome]

Kid's at Tourette's camp. Seriously. [AfroJacks]

The ball pit bar. [TastyBooze]

Five late night/hangover meals. [Uncoached]

Pics from Lingerie Football team party. [BustedCoverage]

Traci Bingham takes out the garbage. Braless. [On205th]

Cowon 02 portable media player and mobile web device. [GearCrave]

Pro athletes around the world keep in peak shape by training at elite centers like Mark Verstegen's Athletes’ Performance Institutes. Now, those same systems and specialists that train the top performers from the NFL, NBA, MLB, and major champions in golf and tennis, are available to regular guys like you and me, who are interested in performing at a higher level.

You can find it all at the first-ever Core Performance Center in Santa Monica, CA, where Verstegen integrates personalized training, nutrition and physical therapy programs with world-class systems and services, giving average Joes the ability to train like franchise pros.

And if you don't happen to live in southern California, you can get articles, expert tips, and training videos on their site, coreperformancecenter.com, to help bring your training to a new level. The site lets you access info on the four fundamentals the Core Performance system is built on: Mindset, Nutrition, Movement and Recovery, and also gives tips from trainers and pro athletes for specific sports or fitness goals. (Later this week I'll be posting some key tips from Core Performance trainers.)

Because winter is coming, and that's the time when a lot of us tend to settle in and spend the season on the couch getting flabby and out of shape, I'm giving you a chance to win a Core Performance fitness pack.

The pack includes:
-- One copy each of the popular Core Performance fitness books, signed by author Mark Vertstegen: Core Performance, Core Performance Essentials, Core Performance Endurance and Core Performance Golf
-- A Core Performance short-sleeved t-shirt
-- A Core Performance long-sleeved t-shirt
-- A Core Performance hat
-- A pair of Adidas workout shorts
-- A Gatorade water bottle
-- A Gatorade towel
-- An EAS shaker bottle with EAS Myoplex Lite shake mix
-- A GoFit rope for stretching
-- A coupon for half off the rack rate at participating Starwood properties nationwide
-- A wireless heart monitor

All of that comes packed in an Adidas Core Performance gym bag. And if that doesn't make you get up off your ass and get in shape, nothing will.

To enter for a chance to win, enter your email addy here. And on Friday, the 31st, I'll pick two of you at random and you'll get the packs. And hopefully a set of six-packs.

To check out the training articles, tips and videos from Core Performance, click here.

You gotta have your daily java fix, but paying $4 bucks at Starbucks is adding more strain to your already buckling bank account, and the coffee at the office tastes like watered down 10W-40. You can satisfy your espresso jones no matter where you are, by packing the Handpresso Wild.

A portable espresso machine, it doesn't use any electricity or batteries - it's powered by a few pumps to build up the pressure needed. Add hot water and a pre-measured pod, hold it over a cup and hit the button. In a couple of seconds you're drinking the perfect cup of espresso.

The best part of the Handpresso is its portability. Bring it to the office to get your morning going, take it to the gym for a pre-workout buzz, or take it on your next hike, for a caffeine-fueled push. Or stand outside Starbucks and charge half price.

$129.99
www.importika.com to buy
www.handpresso.com for info

Women have body part-specific cleansers to keep their lady bits clean sonce the dawn of hygiene, so the guys over at ManJunk decided it was high time we had something specially made to keep Junior and the twins clean.

Their ManJunk Body Wash fights sweat, odor and bacteria with organic ingredients like Totarol, an anti-bacterial tree extract, Malaleuca tree extract for antiseptic and antifungal action, Jojoba oil for waterproofing (I had no idea my junk wasn't already waterproof) and healing, and Aloe Vera which, according to their website, "helps fight inflammation and keeps everything soft to the touch." (They may want to reconsider that one.)

Watch for their upcoming products, Express, Smooth, Dust and Intimate. I had no idea junk needed that much attention.

$25
www.manjunk.com
via TastyBooze

You should see these when they deploy. [AfroJacks]

How not to enter a parking garage. [TastyBooze]

Sperm count myths debunked. [Asylum]

Meet Christine Mendoza. The next big webcam girl. (May be NSFW) [CollegePartyHouse]

Over three minutes of fathers fighting at high school sports events. [Uncoached]

Penn state beats Ohio State, riots in the streets. [BustedCoverage]

For the serious Guitar Hero enthusiast. [PlunderGuide]

15 great sportscaster bloopers. [On205th]

More proof there are no lawyers in Japan. [MickLanders]

Tired of the same old jack-o-lantern with that stupid grin? Carve yourself a Phot-o-lantern instead. Sure it's a little difficult, but like anything else that requires some skill and patience, it's worth the time and effort. I'm thinking a Walkin-o-lantern is order this Halloween.

Get the full instructions on Instructables, here.

This collection of 12 episodes from seasons five and six of Family Guy dropped on Tuesday, and I have a set to give away.

It includes the show's 100th episode, guest appearances from the likes of Drew Barrymore, Neil Patrick Harris, Adam Carolla, William Dafoe, Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul. And there's a ton of bonus features including over 50 deleted scenes, featurettes, commentary from Seth McFarlane, and optional censored audio tracks on every episode. Which alone is worth the price of admission.

To win the collection, enter your email here, and I'll pick one of you on Wednesday, the 29th.

Yoga just became a spectator sport. [AfroJacks]

Word of advice: When a cop pulls you over, don't wave a toy gun at him. [TastyBooze]

Weirdest sexy calendars ever. [Asylum]

Awesome magic beer pong table video. [CollegePartyHouse]

13 unintentionally gay soccer positions. [Uncoached]

Meet Veronika Zemanova. [BustedCoverage]

The new Motorola Aura. [PlunderGuide]

Lori Loughlin is a hot MILF. [On205th]

$19k fountain pen. [StyleCrave]

Last week, I gave you some Halloween party drinks that were mixed to taste like popular candy. This week, I've got some drinks for you that use candy as an ingredient. They were created by Voodoo Tiki tequila, and they're perfect to keep the ladies at your bash happy and entertained. and maybe offering you a treat in return.

Gummi Bear Margarita
1 1/2 oz Voodoo Tiki Blue Dragon
Blue Raspberry and Kiwi Infused Tequila
1 oz Watermelon Pucker
1/2 oz Triple Sec
1 oz Sour Mix
1 oz Cranberry Juice
Dash of Grenadine
Gummi bears

Combine all ingredients and Shake. Serve on the rocks or up. Garnish with sugar coated lime wheel and gummi bears.
Rim: Sugar or cinnamon


Junior Mint Mar-Tiki
1 oz Voodoo Tiki Platinum Tequila
1 oz Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
1 oz Peppermint Schnapps
1 oz Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup
2 1/2 oz Half and half

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into martini glass or for on the rocks, strain over freshly iced rocks glass. For frozen, combine all ingredients in a blender with iced and blend smooth. Rim: Sugar or chocolate frosting.


Almond Joy Margarita
1 oz Voodoo Tiki Reposado Tequila
1 oz Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
1 oz Amaretto
1 oz Coconut Liqueur
1 oz Half & Half
1 oz Club Soda
1/2 oz Chocolate Syrup
1 bar spoon Coconut Flakes

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into martini glass or for on the rocks, strain over freshly iced rocks glass. Top with coconut flakes. For frozen, combine all ingredients in a blender with iced and blend smooth. Rim: Sugar or chocolate.


Sour Patch Margarita
2 oz Voodoo Tiki Tequila Green Dragon Lime Infused Tequila
1/2 oz Midori Melon Liquor
1/2 oz Triple Sec
1 oz Sour Mix ...There's more

How to live like James Bond. [Asylum]

Where to store your Lambos. [AfroJacks]

Let the guy behind you in traffic know how you feel. [TastyBooze]

Why you should be tailgating in Oklahoma. [Uncoached]

Rachel Erikson. Hot sports reporter. [BustedCoverage]

Guy gets his chute caught on the plane's tail. [DoubleViking]

10 costumes that guarantee you won't get laid. [BannedInHollywood]

Olivia Munn is a sexy librarian for Halloween. [On205th]

Old school turntable. [GearCrave]

I got to spend some time behind the wheel of the new Passat CC last week, and got a few surprises. The regular Passat may have a loyal following, but it's never been one of my favorites. Bland exterior styling and a Spartan interior bring it in a distant fourth behind the Accord, Camry and Mazda 6, in my mind. So I wasn't really motivated to test out the latest addition to the line.

But the CC is more it's own car than just a trim line option. It has a bolder exterior, a sleeker profile and more toys than it's older brother. (See the pics after the jump.) And it brings far more excitement than the standard Passat.

Here's what it offers:

Eyeball: Plenty.
The most striking thing about the CC is it's resemblance to a certain other German luxury sedan. One that would set you back two to three times as much. So if you're looking for that Euro-lux look, without paying Euro-lux bank to get it, look at the CC. The roofline is lowered and sweeps towards the rear, and it has dramatic lines flowing on the side panels.

Inside, the first thing you'll notice is the twin sport front seats. Which are even more noticeable if you opt for the two-tone leather. They're seated low, with great lateral support when you attack the curves. (And the car is comfortable enough that a couple of hours behind the wheel on a long trip are a breeze.) The two-tone dash also has a generous amount of brushed aluminum trim, and the steering wheel and shifter get skinned in leather.

Ballsy-ness: More than you'd expect. Even in the base model.
The CC comes standard with a 2.0L, inline turbocharged four, that pushes out a very respectable 200 horsepower. Move up to the 3.6L VR6 Sport model and you get treated to 80 additional horses at 5100 RPM. All mated to a six-speed manual, or six-speed auto with Tiptronic and paddle shifters, and a sport-tuned suspension.

Features and Gadgetry: Enough to keep you on the right path.
Besides the optional power 12-way heated front seats, oversized moonroof, pull-up sunshades on three windows, bi-xenon headlamps, and premium sound system, is VW's new touch-screen navigation system. It's got 32GB of hard drive space to store tunes and has a rear cam (hidden behind the rear "VW" badge, that flips up when needed), with a parking assistance system to make sure you don't back into the garage door. The CC also comes with ...There's more

The latest trend: snake massage. [AfroJacks]

Shameful moments in sports fandom. [Asylum]

Hide your booze at work. [TastyBooze]

This fantasy league has the right idea. [Uncoached]

Miss Teen Louisiana does a dine and dash. [BustedCoverage]

Thank god it's sweater weather again... [CoEd Magazine]

Remember Sarah Michelle Gellar? [On205th]

Swimming pool coffee table. [StyleCrave]

With the economy in the tank and the stock market hitting new lows, you're almost better off taking your retirement to Vegas and letting it ride. Or at least drinking heavily.

And while I'm not advocating a Leaving-Las-Vegas-style, end-it-all, bender, a few nights of lubricated entertainment to take your mind off your sinking finances couldn't hurt.

So to help you find a place that's got the right mix of drinks, ambiance and a great crowd with hot women, I asked my buddies over at BestOfVegas.com for a few suggestions.

Voted the Best Bar in America by Playboy Magazine, Red Square is loaded with red velvet and Soviet art, features a huge 10-degrees-below-zero vodka vault, boasts the largest collection of vodkas in North America, and has a 25 foot bar with an ice top to keep your drink cold. Try a flight of several vodkas, or one of their signature drinks, like a Cuban Missile Crisis, or the Chernobyl, Red Square’s version of an Irish Car Bomb: beer with a shot of top shelf vodka dropped in.

Peppermill Las Vegas isn't just a cool-down spot to nurse a hangover in the morning... it's actually where many people get their hangovers to begin with. Featured in movies like Casino and Showgirls, it's Las Vegas’ original ultra lounge, and as one of “America’s 10 Best Make-Out Bars,” is home to some of the darkest booth corners in town. Waitresses wear long, black, slinky dresses while serving up some incredible cocktails. Try the Scorpion, but ...There's more

At this year's Halloween party, add something extra to your drinks by throwing in some skull and crossbone cubes.

These reusable silicone trays make four sets of cubes, and they work great for making jello shots. Pour, freeze, and party till you're out of your skull.

$9.95 each
www.zgallerie.com

Whoever gets the quarterback gets a Bud Light. [YouTube]

Car surfing goes wrong. [Asylum]

Charlie don't surf. But Grandma does. [AfroJacks]

10 chick keg stands. (Videos) [Uncoached]

Melanie Collins is your next hot sports reporter. [BustedCoverage]

How to tell if they're real or fake. [CoEd Magazine]

Yes, they named this bike the Hypermotard. [PlunderGuide]

Your International Babe of the Day. [Double Viking]

10 weapon-inspired products. [StyleCrave]

I say this every year: Chicks. Love. Halloween. It gives them the opportunity to be someone else for the night, dress sexier than they normally would, and escape the everyday. (Read my past post about it here.)

A lot of us guys hate Halloween. Leaving the house dressed like an idiot. Hoping your buddies don't see. Praying your girl forgot her camera, so pics of you dressed as a sheep to her Bo Peep don't end up posted on sites like mine.

I feel you. So again this year, I am teaming up with Shirley of Hollywood to offer you a shot at winning a costume set for you and your girl, that'll make her feel sexy, and that you can actually in public. Without shame. Another one of you will win a single costume, and you can either get your girl something hot to wear, or pick something for yourself.

Here are a few suggestions for costumes that are popular couples choices. There's the Fisherman and Mermaid. She can make it as sexy as she wants, you get to wear real pants. The mobster couple lets you release your inner Tony Soprano, or go for the Napoleon outfit and attempt to take over her world.

You can see other choices on HowCool.com. They carry the complete line of Shirley costumes for you and your girl. You'll definitely find something that'll satisfy her need to be sexy and your need to retain your dignity.

To enter for a shot at winning a free one, just click here and enter your email addy. Since the parties start later this week, I'm going to pick the winner this Wednesday afternoon at 5pm, so they can get the costume shipped in time.

Just because you're too old to go trick or treating, doesn't mean there's no candy for you this Halloween. A couple of tricks at the bar can turn average drinks into adult treats, that taste just like the candy you used to get as a kid. Only with a bigger kick.

A few of these drinks from Three Olives vodka, and you might forget that it's inappropriate for a grown man to go around the neighborhood, dressed as Batman, begging for candy.

Jolly Rancher
1 oz Three Olives Green Apple Vodka
1 oz peach schnapps
4 oz cranberry juice

Pour vodka and schnapps into a cocktail glass filled with ice and top with cranberry juice. Garnish with an orange wedge.


Gummy Worm Martini
1 1/2 oz Three Olives Mango Vodka
1 1/2 oz Three Olives Raspberry Vodka
1/2 oz Blue Curacao1 oz lemon-lime soda

Shake over ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a cherry.


Tootsie Roll
2/3 oz Three Olives Chocolate Vodka
1/3 oz Amaretto
Chocolate Syrup

Shake ingredients over ice and strain into a shot glass.

Not the shirt to wear when caught in a drug raid. [TastyBooze]

Strangest sports endorsements. [On205th]

Wife changes her Facebook status to single. Husband kills her. [AfroJacks]

Yankees pitcher nailed for DUI. [BustedCoverage]

Seven moments in mixed messages. [BannedInHollywood]

Christina Aguilera does the Turkish version of Deal or No Deal. [DJMick]

Own every Billboard Top 100 single on vinyl for $275k. [PlunderGuide]

$25 million watch. [Asylum]

I've been in Chicago all week test driving the just-launching VW Passat CC. I'm flying home in a few minutes, so a full review is coming tonite, but I'll tell you that the four-seat CC looks and drives like a Euro-lux sedan costing two to three times as much.

It's got sleek exterior styling, a loaded interior with 12-way power sport seats and premium sound system, and a 2.0 turbocharged four that pulls 200 horses and will still get you 31-mpg on the highway. Not bad for $26,790. Actually, ridiculous for $26,790.

Stay tuned for the full review and pics.

Looking for a flash drive that's more "guy" than "geek"? Try this beer-filled drive from CNK Promotions. It's filled with actual amber brew, and can hold up to 8GB of data. And it doesn't have to be Bud. They fill it with other brands too. Like Stella. (For you guys who think the domestic stuff is beneath you.) And in case of complete system failure, you can always get drunk.

Via Tasty Booze

Feds shut down the Whizzinator. [TastyBooze]

Meet Rachelle Leah, UFC ring girl. [BannedInHollywood]

Behind the Scenes of "Who's Nailin' Paylin". [AfroJacks]

Philly fans let loose in the streets. [BustedCoverage]

Mugshot hotties. We love bad girls. [Asylum]

Your International Babe of the Day. [DoubleViking]

Monica Cruz, Penelope's little sister, is all grows up. [On205th]

Ultra-luxury yacht for the super rich. [StyleCrave]

Guys love pool tables. Even if we're terrible. But pool tables are a big financial investment, and an even bigger space investment. Which is unfortunate if you have the coin, but your pad has a living room the size of Smart Car trunk.

Here's what one guy did: Create a pool table that rises from the floor when you're ready to get your game on. A simple area rug to over up the trap door will leave guests and potential sleepover companions none the wiser.

via Gizmodo

For the guy not confident enough to work the stove burner, I give you Toastabags, the handy cooking bag that allows the culinarily challenged to prepare semi-edible meals like a fourth grader.

Just throw some food in the thermological (fancy science term for "fireproof") bag, pop it in a stand-up toaster, and in minutes you'll be eating, uh, something. Works great for fish, chops, beans, grill cheese, beans or any other food you want to prepare according to the only recipe you know - the one for a Pop Tart.

It's easy to use and easy to clean up. Should it get stuck during cooking just jam a knife down the toaster slot and poke around a bit.

$9.95
www.Firebox.com

Bad sports costume ideas. [PhillyBlurbs]

Holly Madison bowls for boobies. [BannedInHollywood]

Kelly Hu is hot. [DJMick]

If you're gonna make a video of yourself stripping, make sure mom and dad aren't home... [AfroJacks]

College athletes behaving badly. [BustedCoverage]

Sexy ambulance calendar. (The chicks working in them, not the actual trucks.) [Asylum]

Party with indoor/outdoor rechargeable wireless speakers. [PlunderGuide]

Mila Kunis keeps getting sexier. [On205th]

Philips Icon remote - 90% off. [GearCrave]

The economy is down and money is tight, so as an alternative to the expensive Halloween costumes your girl is shopping for, why not suggest she go with some body paint instead, and save some coin?

If you need ideas, here are some pics from one of our lingerie model contestants (and the chick in the Verve ads on the site), Michele. She's been going to Fantasy Fest in Key West since '98, and has won the body painting contest several times. When you see them, you'll know why.

These are purely for informational purposes, to help you save money this Halloween, and show some examples of highly creative dermatologically-based art, and not a thinly veiled attempt to have pics of a hot naked chick on the site. Really.

For more pics of Michele, check out her site www.msmichele.com

The world economies are crumbling, people are losing their jobs and homes faster than the Spears sisters can spit out kids, we are in the midst of the most important election in decades, and the news story coming out of some of the biggest media outlets? Some kid had his Obama sign stolen from outside his house. Twice.

Yup. Stolen Obama posters made not only CNN (the video is embedded below), but the Wall Street Journal. Now I'm no economics expert, but I gotta figure the WSJ's got some more pressing issues to be covering.

Here's the really shocking part: The kid handmade a new sign, set up a video cam to catch the sign thief, then streamed the feed out over Ustream.tv. And it has gotten more than 40,000 views and is in the Top 10 most-watched videos. For a video feed of a kid's front yard. With garden gnomes and carved bears. And an occasional passing car. (If you like watching grass grow, you can watch the feed here.)

People have even gone as far as setting up groups to take turns monitoring the feed to help catch the sign stealer. And chat with each other 24/7 on the site's message board. I guess when you are unemployed... Truly a sign of our times.

Burton is the performance snowboard leader favored by top boarders and competitors, but their newest line will make them your favorite. Whether you snowboard or not.

For their Love Snowboards series, they've taken Playboy centerfolds from the 80s and used them as design inspiration. And by "design inspiration" I mean the entire board is covered with a nude Bunny. Tastefully done, of course. All the potentially offending bits are cropped out. But at least you'll be able to brag you rode a hot snow bunny all weekend.

$430
via StyleCrave

Jean Claude Van Damme in a new movie as Jean Claude Van Damme, out of work, broke, and robbing a bank. Seriously. [AfroJacks]

Highlights from the Texas-OU weekend parties. [Uncoached]

Cube warfare: greatest office pranks. [Asylum]

Only if you really have to go. [TastyBooze]

Hef and his 19-year-old twin girlfriends. Not creepy at all. [BustedCoverage]

Natascha Berg is a German stunner. [DJMick]

Hottest NFL cheerleader competition. [on205th]

Robber Baron table. [StyleCrave]

Who's Hotter: Microphone blowing edition. [DoubleViking]

HD stations are broadcasting crystal-clear signals between the standard stations on radio dials. The biggest question is how can you listen to these free, high-clarity broadcasts without spending a lot of coin, or getting an entirely new sound system. COBY has a couple of good solutions.

Their HDR-700 Portable HD Radio System is a cordless HD Radio receiver, that pulls in the HD signal and let's you take the tunes wherever you want. The splash-proof housing and rechargeable battery means it works for parties inside or out.

If you've got a killer entertainment system at home and want to add inexpensive HD capability, go for the HDR-650. It's an HD receiver that'll play the signal through your existing equipment. It also has a built-in alarm and sleep timer, so you can turn your home theater into the world's largest alarm clock.

HDR-700 - $149
HDR-650 - $99
www.cobyusa.com

How do you effectively market milk to the masses? Right, with an 80's inspired glam rock group called White Gold, complete with a pair of back-up singers known as the Calcium Twins, singing over-produced tunes about the virtues of cow juice.

The newest installment in this viral campaign is "Do You Love My Hair", where the glamster warbles a ballad about his white locks. It would be completely ridiculous, except I could totally see Vince Neil and Motley Crüe performing a sincere version of the song. Sad. But true.

Video after the jump ...There's more

Got something to say and just don't have the balls to say it to their face? A new site, HadToSay.com, let's you tell 'em from behind the safety of a computer screen.

Here's how it works:
You post a message on the site.
Print out the notification card.
Deliver the card to the recipient discretely.
They use the message ID and PIN on the card to get the message.
If they want, they can leave a response.

It's the virtual equivalent of stuffing a note in some chick's locker in school. And if she doesn't go for it, you don't have to suffer the indignity of standing there while she laughs in your face.

www.hadtosay.com

Love him or hate him, Kyle Busch is one of the most talented drivers in NASCAR today. And one of the most vocal, giving the usually vanilla sport some much needed flavor, and a much needed bad guy. (Hey, it works for pro wrestling.)

Driving the #18 M&M Toyota for legendary NFL coach Joe Gibbs' racing team, Busch has won an incredible eight races this season, giving non-fans even more to whine about. And this week, I'm giving you a chance to win a Kyle Busch/Ultimate NASCAR Fan gift pack, a one-of-a-kind collection you don't have to be a race fan to appreciate.

It's got a signed pic of KB, an autographed M&Ms Racing polo shirt, hat and bag, a SPEED TV hat and shirt, some SPEED TV keychains, and a couple of M&M packs thrown in. Wear the gear around some Jr. or Jeff Gordon fans, and watch them lose their minds.

To win, enter your email here. On Friday I'll pick one of you at random to score the pack. And if you win, you're required to watch the next race wearing the gear, beer and beef jerky in hand, popping the M&Ms. Start. Your. Engines.

5 great moments in TV screenshots. [BannedInHollywood]

How to talk dirty. [TheGuyReport]

Nerd tattoos. [AfroJacks]

Andrea Felldin - Monday morning pick me up. [TastyBooze]

Top 10 hottest top 10 lists. [Uncoached]

Stacy Keibler looking hot in Maxim spread. [DJMick]

15 Madden glitches caught on video. [on205th]

Red Sox fan tasered in Tampa. [BustedCoverage]

iPhone powered notebook. [GearCrave]

ESPN analyst, host of "Mike & Mike in the Morning", and former NFL great, Mike Golic, worked with Kingsford Charcoal to create some tailgatable recipes for their "On the Grill" promotion.

The dishes are easy to make, and designed to feed a half dozen hungry gridiron fans. Three of the recipes are below, and you can get more here.

And while you're surfing the interwebnets, head over to ESPN.com, keyword: Kingsford, to enter the "On the Grill" sweepstakes. It runs from now until Nov 2, and they are giving away weekly prizes like charcoal grills, Kingsford grilling accessories, an ESPN grill station, ESPN MVP chair, and more. The first prize winner gets a VIP trip for two to the Homestead-Miami Speedway Busch Series-NASCAR Race in Miami, Fla. Nov. 14-15, 2008, including travel accommodations, airfare and pit passes. And the Grand Prize is an all-expense-paid Bowl Game Tailgate trip for 8 to Orlando, Fla. between Dec. 31, 2008 and Jan. 2, 2009, which includes travel accommodations, airfare, admission to the game, and a hosted tailgate party. Where you can show off your grill skills.


Sack'em Shrimp
Expert's note: When grilling shrimp skewers, a double skewer is your best bet for an even, easy cook. By inserting two skewers into each shrimp - one on each side, width-wise - each piece will stay in place rather than rotating. For smaller shrimp, use a grill basket to cook. Remove shrimp from skewers or basket before placing in paper sack.

Difficulty Level: Easy
Prep time: 75 minutes*

Cook time: 4-5 minutes
Makes: 4-6 servings

Ingredients:

1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails on (26-30 shrimp)
1/2 cup KC Masterpiece® Original Barbecue Sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
2 teaspoons lemon pepper
2 teaspoons paprika ...There's more

It's premium vodka that's been quadruple distilled then filtered through half a million Euros worth of Herkimer diamonds. The bottle was designed by John Alexander and is the most intricate glass bottle ever created by the manufacturer. And Dan Aykroyd, calling it "liquid joy", is its most vocal promoter.

But none of that matters. You'll get it because the crystal skull-shaped bottle will be the most bad ass thing on your bar.

$49.99, buy it here.
via Buttery Blend

Sure it's completely useless, but it's damn cool.

It's the new iPhone app from Zippo that turns your phone into a virtual lighter. Pick your lighter style, then flip open the cover, and flick the wheel to "light" it, just like on an actual Zippo. Turn the iPhone and the flame follows. A flick of your wrist snaps the cover shut.

Again, not useful for anything, except maybe satisfying pyros' urges without buildings burning to the ground. Here's their video that shows what the app can do.