Here's something to fire up your Fourth: Buffalo wing sauce cookies.
You heard me. Sugar cookies. Iced with Buffalo wing sauce frosting. Completely insane. But shockingly delicious.
When Hope - chief pastry goddess over at Hope, Faith & Gluttony - asked me if I wanted to try some, I though it was a gag. Then the cookies arrived.
Shaped like cartoon drumsticks, they're sweet like regular sugar cookies, then hit you with a hot after burn. Just enough to bring the sweet heat, but not enough to get you charging for the nearest fire hose.
Thinking I was losing my mind for liking them, I passed some out. And with the exception of a few of the more dainty ladies, the response was the same: surprise at how good they are. And how perfect they'd be at the end of a big Buffalo wing-fest.
So grab some for your Fourth barbecue bash, and end the party with some sweet fireworks.
[Word of advice: They are homemade to order, and take a full day for the icing to dry. So order them 2 days before you need them.]
You get a baker's dozen per pound, and that'll run you $28.
www.hopefaithandgluttony.com
By Bob Lesher
Have you been craving some cool portable gear to pair with that new iPod this summer? The audio engineers over at iFrogz.com have come up with one hell of a great way to get the most out of your digital music library. It’s small, it’s round, and it’s The Bomb.
This bomb won’t get you put on any terrorist watch lists, but it will get you noticed the next time you whip it out and pipe your tunes in public.
The unit stores as a perfect sphere with both speaker halves coming together neatly hiding the coiled cord inside. When you’re ready to rock, simply pull the two pieces apart and connect them to your digital music player via the 3.5 mm input jack. And you have two choices when it comes to the juice. You can power it by either a USB connection or 3 AAA batteries. It also has an extra USB slot so you can connect to another external device (personal fan anyone?).
These little beauties are sure to come in handy the next time you are at the beach, camping, or just hanging out by the pool. They come in six colors including bright green and pink (for your girl, of course), and they’ll run you a mere $39.99.
www.ifrogz.com
By Kent Sewell
Like you, I'm pretty good with my hands. But sometimes we run into a fix-it situation that just perplexes us. (Like when I recently bought a cabinet from IKEA and the 27 page manual made me want to set the box on fire.) And we've got to improvise.
But I'm gonna bet nothing you've jury rigged could possibly compare to the MacGyver-gone-insane jobs found on
ThereIFixedIt.com.
Featuring terrible handiwork from around the world, this site will make you feel better about any hack job you've recently completed - at least until your house shows up on the front page.
For example, the favorites pictured: Any guy knows a shopping cart wheel makes a perfect substitute... There's pure genius in a home engineered zip tie and duct tape spoon... And any mechanic will tell you, always keep some spare Pringles cans in your car in case you blow a hose.
For more guy-genuity, head to
www.thereifixedit.com
July 1st. Time once again for Your Guy Event Calendar.
Our friends at
Manvite put together 31 days worth of excuses to party.
So load up the cooler, marinade your meat, send out some Manvites to the usual suspects, and get celebrating.
Here are your excuses this month:
Besides celebrating the birth of our nation on the 4th, it's also the day Nathan's holds its hot dog eating contest. Part sport, part spectacle, and there's always the outside shot you'll see a guy choke to death on a massive frank and bun ball.
Two days later on the 6th, punch out the candles for Sly Stallone's birthday. And again on the 7th, for Stallone's Birthday: The Sequel.
And it's "Hasta la birthday, baby" for fellow over-the-hill action star, Ahhhnald Schwarzenegger, on the 30th.
Sportswise, UFC 100 hits the octagon on the 11th, and the MLB All Star Game is the 14th.
For a larger image of the calendar you can print out or use as wallpaper (or just to get a better look at the canvas upon which that BG Olive tat is painted...)
click here.
When the New York Mets moved from their decrepit old building to their fancy new digs this season, they became the latest pro team to trade in their quaint stadium name for a profit-making corporate one. And Shea Stadium became Citi Field. (At least until the inevitable, and Citi goes bankrupt.)
For some Mets fans, giving up 40-plus years of stadium history for a moneymaking moniker - especially one for a bank, was too much to bear. So they did what any true sports fan would do: they made a t-shirt.
From the folks behind websites
No Mas and
Uni Watch was born the “I’m Calling It Shea” shirt, a way for old-school Mets fans to show their love for the stadium they grew up in... in while flipping the bird to corporate naming rights.
And due to the popularity of the Shea shirt, they’ve announced a new batch of shirts (shipping in mid-July) for other fans who lost longtime stadiums to new, sterile corporate names.
Denver fans can tell Invesco “I Still Call It Mile High”, and Tribe fans get "I Still Call it The Jake." Fans in the Windy City can call U.S. Cellular and tell 'em “I Still Call It Comiskey.” And long suffering 'Phins fans who lived through the indignity of cheering in a stadium named after underwear and are now trying to wrap their heads around Landshark Stadium, can let them know "I Still Call it Joe Robbie."
The shirts sell for $25 each, and 10 percent of the proceeds go to a local food bank.
www.nomas-nyc.com.
By Bob Lesher
So what goes better with kick ass rock music than Jack Daniels and groupies? Well, that might be hard to answer, so let me offer this: How about a gear giveaway from one of Chi-town’s hottest new bands, Madina Lake?
Windy City rockers, Madina Lake, have teamed up with Band Weblogs to bring you one killer contest. I’m not talking some lame CD or band t-shirt. When you sign up to enter, you’ll be eligible to win a signed Music Man Sterling guitar, signed drumhead and a poster from their newest video “Never Take Us Alive.” That’s not a bad score just for pimping out your name and email addy. (Besides, we know that you’ll pretty much give that info out to anyone, anyway.)
Here’s what you need to do.
Click here and enter your info.
The contest runs from now until July 22nd. In the mean time, head on over to the band’s website at
www.madinalake.com to find out when they, and the Warped Tour, will be coming to a city near you.
ENTERTAINMENT
June 29, 2009
By Bob Lesher
What’s funnier that a random web posting from some asshat bitching about how his local dollar store ran out of the black licorice that he apparently became addicted to like some kind of smack-shooting junkie?
How about a professional actor, resplendent in a sleeveless plaid shirt and white-trash beard, recreating the entire thing for the world to see?
The creative freaks over at
ProjectRant.com take utterly random - and equally pointless - web rants and turn them into theatrical masterpieces. Think of it as art house theater for the communicatively challenged.
www.projectrant.com
ENTERTAINMENT
June 29, 2009
Tiger Tiger Woods, y'all!
His much awaited new PGA Tour Game for the Wii just dropped, and now you video links enthusiasts can take Tiger with you on your iPhone or iPod Touch.
EA Sports'
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR for iPhone & iPod Touch is a new game for your Apple handheld that lets you golf as Tiger, or, if you're feeling froggy, try your skills against him.
For a one time "greens fee" of about $7, you can golf your way through seven of the most famous courses in the world - including Pebble Beach and St. Andrews - all with 3D graphics, dynamic camera angles and realistic sounds. You can also take on other PGA pros like Annika, Vijay and Retief Goosen, and hear play-by-play commentary by Sam Torrance and Kelly Tilghman.
Not just a simple "click and swing" game, there are innovative touch controls, like a Touch-n-Drag Swing Meter for visual feedback, and a swipe activated Ball Spin, to let you hit that cut shot around the dog leg.
It's 18 holes of pure joy you can enjoy on your daily commute, or during that brain-deadening sales meeting.
So here's the deal...
To help promote the new game, I'm giving away a copy of
Tiger Woods PGA Tour for the Wii. All you have to do for a shot at winning it, is go check out the app by
clicking here.
Then
click here and enter your email addy. On Friday, July 3 I'll pick one of you to take home the prize. And tee it up against Tiger.
ENTERTAINMENT
June 28, 2009
Samantha is a fitness model, former Hooters Girl and has a pet snake named Zorro.
If that sounds like your kinda girl, you can "date" her at
SoCalGlamourGirls, a social network of bikini models from Southern California.
After a little 140 character Tweeting, here's what I know about Samantha:
She's recently single.
She's a 21 year old college student - finishing up her senior year at a Cal State, where she's studying Kinesiology. (She's been a personal trainer for a few years, so you might want to hit the gym before hitting on her.)
She's always been the sweet girl-next-door type: high school cheerleader, got good grades, and stayed away from hard partying. But she's been having fun lately as a single girl. (Think "goody two shoes" with a new naughty side.)
She just finished a gig as a UFC ring girl. And loves watching MMA.
She's looking for a guy that does more than just watch TV and act like a stud. Intelligence, sophistication, maturity and a sense of humor are all essential ingredients.
Follow her at: twitter.com/samantha_scgg
Click here to check out more pics and some [NSFW] videos.
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By Bob Lesher
The wait is over. Someone finally had the wherewithal to combine an iPod docking station/alarm clock with a giant vibrator. You knew it had to be done at some point. After all, how many times have you wanted to pair the two? I, myself, can’t even begin to count them.
Now you can have all the benefits of your favorite digital music player combined with the incredible sensation that only waking up to a high-frequency vibrating device can deliver.
The ingenious product wizards at iLuv, creators of a multitude of iPod accessories and Bluetooth devices, have just launched the iMM153 Desktop Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker for your iPod. Touted as a device that can wake even the heaviest of sleepers, the iMM153’s “bed shaker” is actually a small, round vibrating disk about the size of a CD. The little round wonder gets slipped under your pillow or under your bed where it begins to vibrate when the alarm goes off. Talk about your pleasant ways to wake up. Especially if you're not alone... It just might encourage you to set the alarm for your afternoon naps, too.
The iMM153 sports all of the typical features that
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American patriot Sam Adams may be famous for his love of beer, but rum has its own place in American history.
Below are 5 true stories of rum's place in the building of our country, collected by iconic American rum,
Tommy Bahama. And strangely left out of my 8th grade History class...
So while you're celebrating the Country's birth next weekend, mix up one of the red, white and blue Tommy cocktails you'll find at the end, and, like our forefathers did, raise a glass of the golden spirit.
Paul Revere's Ride
It is said, Paul Revere had a swallow of the stuff to stiffen his resolve partway through his famous midnight ride. He stopped at Captain Isaac Hall’s home and downed a dram or two of rum to fortify him on his mission to Lexington. Turns out his visit was an accident as he never intended to pass through Medford. He was one of two messengers that was dispatched from Boston to Lexington.
Ben Franklin's Ode
Benjamin Franklin, who periodicly fretted about the overly exuberant drinking habits of his countrymen, penned a short ode to the pleasant ritual of punch drinking:
Boy, bring a bowl of china here,
Fill it with water cool and clear:
Decanter with Jamaica right
And spoon of silever, clean and bright
Sugar twice-fin’d in piece cut
Knife, sieve and glass in order put
Bring forth the fragrant fruit and then
We’re happy till the clock strikes ten
(Yeah, I don't get it either, but you gotta figure he'd been half a bottle in when he wrote that...)
Ernest Hemingway's Books
Big Poppa may have been a man's man, but he was also a lover of the Daquiri. He worked it into his fiction, most notably his posthumously published Islands in the Stream.
“The Floridita was now open,” he wrote... and protagonist Thomas Hudson “entered and ordered a double frozen daiquiri with no sugar.”
FYI: El Floridita was a popular establishment in Cuba, just a few minutes from his hotel. It is said he spent a third of his life in Cuba -- most of it at that bar. In fact, the bar still exists today and has a sign that declares the bar to be “el cuna del daiquiri”: The Cradle of the Daiquiri.
JFK's Election Results
On election night in 1960, John F. Kennedy sipped it over dinner at his house in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts before watching the election returns. He sat sipping daiquiris
(oh, come on... him too?), in the dining room of his house. When dinner was over he rose and checked the results on a small TV with bad reception, to learn that he would be the next President of the United States.
George Washington's 4th of July
General George Washington loved rum. In 1778, he marked July 4th with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute. In fact, when celebrating his inauguration in 1789, he not only demanded that barrels of rum be present to celebrate, but that at least one of those barrels be from Barbados. He was in agreement with the common belief that Barbados rum was richer and more complex than all other rums. (Not surprisingly,
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We're usually either getting a beer during commercials, or draining the last one, so we tend to miss the truly funny ones.
So tonight at 9pm ET/PT TBS is hosting VeryFunnyAds, a 1 hour special filled a bunch of "too hot for TV" ads, hosted by former SNL funny man, Kevin Nealon.
Below are links to a couple of my favorites: A beer ad that proves guys should get into ballet, and a spot for Absolute Radio in the UK, featuring an over eager dancing midget. Who looks an awful lot like Matt Damon's long lost little person twin.
For more funny spots, check them all out on the site,
VeryFunnyAds.com
Isenbeck: Ballet:
Absolute Radio:
ENTERTAINMENT
June 25, 2009
By Kirk Ward
So you’ve watched the World Series of Poker long enough and you’re ready to get in on the action. If you don’t live near Atlantic City, Vegas or a River Boat, your best bet is to set up your own poker room.
Here are the bare essentials you'll need to put yours together, without breaking the bank, while keeping your buddies coming back for more no matter how much money you lift off them.
CARDS
First thing you’re going to need to start out your game is the cards. (I’m assuming you already have a drink in hand.) You have a couple different options, so go with the card that matches your price point and your preference. Two of our favorites are the Bee® Stinger and KEM cards.
Stingers (left), are printed on a high quality, Aristocrat grade playing card stock, and, because at one time were exclusively available to casinos, they'll give your room an authentic feel. They feel crisp and snap with your shuffle, yet are coated with a durable, smooth finish. Think about the feel of your favorite deck of Bicycle cards, except these last much longer. Stingers are available in a variety of cool designs, and at under $5 a pack, you can get a good supply. Available at
Theory11.com
KEM cards (right), are made 100% of plastic - meaning you can easily wash off your buddy’s errant cheeto marks. You do pay a premium for these cards, but it’s worth it. They're available in many varieties, including a “Super Index” option using larger than normal numbers and symbols for when you are trying to bilk grandpa out of his cash. They are used in poker rooms throughout the world, so you know you’re getting quality.
$29.95 - KEM.com.
CHIPS
And I’m not talking about the corn or potato variety. To have the best game on the block, you’re gonna need to have a serious chip set. The sleeve of plastic chips you picked up at the grocery store isn’t going to cut it anymore.
There are two things you’ve got to think about when getting your chips: the weight, and the amount of chips. The weight for chips is done in grams, and you’re going to want a chip that weighs at least 11.5g. There are chips that weigh more, usually 13.5g, although 11.5g remains the standard home-game chip.
Most poker chips now come in fancy cases that make you look like you’re delivering the orange crop forecasts to the Duke brothers. Your chip needs will vary depending on if you prefer playing cash games or tournaments, but you should plan on having at least 500 chips if you have more than six people playing. Another note, most sets will include a Dealer chip, but make sure you have one. Nothing is more frustrating than people going out of turn because they forgot who the dealer was.
You can find a wide selection of chips at
Pokernstuff.com.
Another option if you want to really class it up is to have custom poker chips.
Chipcustomizer.com provides you with the tools to put custom labels on your set so you know no one is trying to sneak chips in like a bad Western movie.
TABLE
You can go a lot of different ways with a poker table. There are poker tables that can be pulled out for the game only and then put away when you’re done playing, or there are poker tables that can become a permanent part of your household furniture.
If you don’t have a lot of cash to drop on a table or just want something that can fold away and leave no evidence of a poker game, check out the tables at
Flop2River.com. With ten spots marked by built-in drink holders
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BACHELOR PAD
June 25, 2009
Global warming pretty much ensures you'll be spending a lot of time in the pool this summer. And you'll want a frosty beverage there with you. Unless your float comes with drink holders, you'll need a way to keep that can nearby.
From
Instructables comes this innovative use for one of those annoying noodles that seem to be required equipment for every kid at the pool.
So grab your noodle (just not a pink one, like in this example), and a couple of quick cuts and a little assembly later, you've got yourself a homemade floating beverage barge that'll keep your can close and cold, even in the midday summer heat.
Click here to get the complete instructions.
By Kent Sewell
It's Vince and his awful Slap Chop infomercial made awesome.
Remixed, cut and edited by someone with real talent (and an affinity for the Breakin' series of movies from the 80's), if all infomercials were made like this, I might actually buy something...
ENTERTAINMENT
June 25, 2009
By Bob Lesher
We all know what it’s like to want a place to call our own. A retreat within our castle that is truly a place where a guy can be a guy and the rules of the outside world (or the significant other) seem like a distant memory.
This feeling was also echoed when the term “man cave” was added to the American male’s lexicon. Within the world of cigar smokers, there seems to be a large contingent that is relegated to enjoying their treasured tobacco treats in less than stellar locales. Picture being forced outside in January or shoved into the basement next to the hot water heater and utility tub. Not exactly a fitting place to pay homage to the master rollers of your favorite stogie.
Partagas®, manufacturers of one of the world’s finest lines of handcrafted Dominican cigars, wants you to know that your cries for help have not gone unheeded. They are teaming up with pro football legend and network TV analyst Tony Siragusa to search for the guy (or gal) that can prove their worthiness for a cigar lover’s paradise. They're giving away $10,000 to help you craft your very own luxury cigar suite right in
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By Chris Weiss
It’s nice to see a male supplement not aimed entirely at increasing the size of my dong... or making me feel inadequate in the sack in a multitude of other ways. EBOOST won’t do any of that (sorry ladies), but it will increase your energy.
On those mornings when you wake up on some dude’s couch and have to rush to work without a proper shave and shower, pop one of these into a glass of water, peel out of the oncoming hangover and get the refreshing jolt you need to make it through the day.
EBOOST comes in powder or tablet form and contains a mix of vitamins and ingredients including Vitamin C, Vitamin B 12, Zinc, Potassium and green tea extract (natural source of caffeine). It transforms into eight ounces of effervescent delight sure to power you through. Flavor choices include Pink Lemonade and Orange.
You can purchase EBOOST at a variety of retailers like Borders, Bed Bath and Beyond and Virgin American Airlines.
From $14.99
www.eboost.com
By Bob Lesher
I don’t necessarily need a reason to enjoy beer. To me, it’s one of the greatest human inventions and it rates right up there with the wheel and the discovery of fire. The former I’m pretty sure, being invented after a few too many.
For those of you that have fielded the oft-slung queries about the health benefits of beer, the great people at the American Brewers Association have compiled a useful list of reasons why beer does the body (and soul) good.
While I get my doctor to give me a prescription for a keg, check out some of the highlights:
Lower rates of heart disease.
Consuming alcohol in moderation (defined by the U.S. government as no more than two drinks per day for men or one drink per day for women) may lower coronary heart disease risk for some people by 30 to 60 percent, even those at high risk because of diabetes, hypertension or a previous heart attack.
Aids in bone formation.
Beer contains silicon, a mineral that helps build bone mass. Dietary silicon has been shown in one study to improve bone density in the hips of men and premenopausal women.
Prevents cell damage that can lead to cancer and heart disease.
Hops and malt used to make beer are rich sources of disease-fighting antioxidants. Beer also contains polyphenols, the same antioxidants found in wine, fruits, vegetables, and green and black tea. Ales and lagers generally contain more antioxidants than light and nonalcoholic beers.
Protect against ischemic stroke.
Responsible for 80 percent of all strokes, Alzheimer’s disease and
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By Bob Lesher
Are you tired of grooming products that claim they are made for men only to find yourself smelling like a cheap hooker when you get out of the shower?
We here at BG know that it’s hard enough to get laid without smelling like vanilla and lilacs. The suds slingers over at The Joy of Soap also know what it means for a guy to want to get clean and smell like a man – in a good way.
The Joy of Soap has come to the rescue with a unique bubbling bar handmade with only the finest in organic and natural ingredients and nothing else. Did I mention that it’s made just for us guys? Manly Man Soap is born of certified organic olive, coconut, and palm oils plus castor oil mixed with therapeutic grade essential oils.
This stuff is all natural and certified vegan and cruelty-free. (Manly men are kind to animals.) Manly Man Soap has a subtle orange fragrance that’s just enough to open those eyes in the morning without leaving you scented like a quart of Tropicana. There’s even a touch of pumice mixed in to help scrape off the daily grime.
The folks over at Joy of Soap use only sustainable manufacturing practices and plant-based ingredients in their products. Each hand-cut bar of soap is unpretentiously packaged in 100% recycled paper and hand-lettered in black marker. This is soap with a look that would make even Tyler Durden proud.
2oz. bars - $3.50/each
5oz. bars - $7.50/each
www.joyofsoap.com
By Kent Sewell
I’m a busy man. With stacking chips and sipping cocktails at underground bars, I have no time to watch TV. Luckily, we don’t have to catch our TV live since the invention of the DVR. Now we can come home and watch our shows when we want.
But what if I want more? What if I want to access Hulu, Netflix, and YouTube on my 58-inch flatscreen? Well, that's where the Moxi HD DVR steps in.
Unveiled at this year’s CES, the Moxi HD DVR brings the control and features we expect from a DVR and a whole lot more, such as:
- A 1.5 hour buffer for live TV (Ridiculously huge)
- Stores up to 75 hours of HD programming
- Photo sharing through Flickr
- Superticker lets you stay on top of sports scores, news, weather, stocks, and more, all while watching TV
- No monthly fees
- The ability to set recordings online
That last feature is huge for me, since my current DVR won’t let me do that. Plus, the ability to watch Hulu pretty much guarantees that something awesome will always be on.
$799 (20 payments of $39.95)
www.moxi.com
By Bob Lesher
Every now and then we like to expose you guys to a bit of culture.
Normally this means painful fail videos and chicks in lingerie, but today it means actual art. But this is not just any art. This is the kind of art that happens when hardcore metal design meets blazing inferno. Picture giant cauldrons of flame pumping out hefty BTUs at your next backyard barbecue, and you just about have it.
Artist John T Unger of Mancelona, Michigan is a true renaissance man, and his line of Artisanal Firebowls is nothing short of flame-fueled awesome. When I first laid eyes upon them, I pictured them lining the streets of ancient Pompeii casting their amber hue on the intricate frescoes outside the unassuming stone brothels. Yeah, they really are that good. And there is just something about seeing giant flames lapping at the sides of a primeval bowl of metal that really gets your inner cave man fired up.
Unger's works combine his mastery of metalworking and art with the functionality of sustainable materials to create works of art that are sculptural by day and dancing fire displays by night. Each firebowl is individually
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By Gabrielle Nicole Pharms, BG Style Editor
With graduations rolling around, you're probably looking for something special for the grad in your family. Or maybe you're just looking for something to wear to one of those dressier summer parties.
Christopher Fischer Cashmere has been creating great cashmere clothing and accessories for guys for over 25 years. Christopher even says he “lives, dreams, eats, and sleeps cashmere.” Now with a designer that immersed in his designs, you can definitely trust that he knows his stuff.
The styles below will take you from a picnic with the girlfriend to a night out with the guys. So if you need a clue as to what to wear, check the blurbs for some simple ideas.
Stewart Crew Neck in Sparkler
100% Cashmere
$215.00
Where to Wear – Wear it to work because it’s a great
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By Benjamin Mennell
When you think of the All-American Man a few things should come to mind: Whiskey. Mustaches. Karate. Muscle cars. But most of all... Bacon.
Show me a guy who doesn’t like bacon and I’ll personally send him back to 1955 and turn his ass over to the House Un-American Activities Committee.
Wright Brand Bacon is hand-selected from the best port bellies and slow cooked with natural hardwoods for eight hours. But the signature quality is the hearty, thick-cut strips that peel off so beautifully you might be tempted to eat it right then and there. M-A-N.
Best Eaten With: That scene in “Over the Top” where Sly Stallone gives his opponent a compound fracture during an arm wrestling match.
Selling Point: Comes in 4 Flavors: Smoked, Maple Flavored, Applewood, and Peppered. You can have bacon with your bacon.
Go to
www.wrightbrand.com for more info and where to buy.
By Bob Lesher
Who doesn’t love them some jerky? It’s the perfect food. It’s high in protein, has practically no fat, and makes you feel like Survivorman in your own house. It could also be the primal tearing and gnashing of teeth that always goes along with eating cured meat. Whatever it is, jerky’s good food, works in any environment or situation, and no alpha male should be without it.
The masters of cured meat mayhem over at Oh Boy, Oberto! Sausage Company have been jerking it since 1918. They've got everything from classic thin-sliced jerky to meat sticks and bites. All cured, smoked, and flavored just like mom used to make. OK, maybe not mom. But they are damn good.
Their premier line of Premium Steak Strip jerky comes in four carnivore craving flavors: original, teriyaki, hickory, and peppered. A recent new addition to the beefy brood is their limited edition Southern Style BBQ Pork jerky. It’s like having a barbecue you can carry in your pocket.
To celebrate the launch of their new Eat Like an Alpha™ campaign... and because we feel every guy should experience some really, really good jerky... Oh, Boy! Oberto and I are hosting the ultimate in steak strip sweepstakes.
To enter,
simply click here and enter your email addy.
And on Friday June 26th, we'll select one of you to win the grand prize: an Oh, Boy! Oberto prize pack complete with
three entire cases of jerky (assorted flavors), two "Eat Like an Alpha" t-shirts, an Alpha steak brander, and some other great jerky SWAG. Two second place winners will each get a case of Oh, Boy! Oberto jerky and a t-shirt. We’ll decide which flavors you get so all you have to do is cross your fingers and hope that the meat gods are smiling upon you.
So eat like an alpha. And head over to
www.eatlikeanalpha.com. Once you’re there you can educate yourself on what it means to be the alpha of the group, designate your own sidekick, and send them e-taunts. Kinda like virtual bitchslaps.
For even more time-wasting goodness surf over to
www.ultimatealphazone.com where you can register to win even more jerky junk. Free jerky, cool websites to while away the hours, and even more chances to win... you better get busy.
By Gabrielle Nicole Pharms, BG Style Editor
Do you ever wonder how some not-so-cool or not-so-attractive guys get the most beautiful ladies? It’s all about the humble amount of confidence.
Our Style Editor Gabby, took to the streets to talk to her friends about what a guy's gotta have to get the girl. Here are the 5 S's they said do it for them every time. regardless of looks or bankroll.
So put down the Wii-mote and pay attention... there's a lady giving you the 411...
The Five S’s That Get You the Girl:
1. Swagger
"Attitude is everything. Guys must have an air of confidence about them, but draw the line at cockiness. An average looking guy can become the hottest thing in the room if he carries himself right." -- Katie, 24
Nothing screams AMAZING more than a guy with an air of flair. Translation – Combine #1 that is listed above and your favorite pair of jeans and see the effects. Whether you’re the “average Joe” or have better style than Kanye, being confident in what you are sporting leaves us absolutely enamored.
2. Style
“Personal style says a LOT about someone. You don't have to match, but you've got to be able to rock everything that you put on. It’s all part of the non-verbal communication.” -- Sarah, 32
Some guys like to play the cool face for every picture or just in general. Seeing you smile shows us that you are human and that you are able to charm us. Also, if you can make a woman laugh this will surpass just about any flaw you may have.
3. Smile & Sense of Humor
“I'm a sucker for the flash of some pearly whites, or
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By Bob Lesher
Unless you have been hiding out in a cave somewhere in Pakistan working on your beard, you probably know that the new Transformers movie,
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, is due to slam into theaters on June 24th. The shape-shifting sentients are back and this time the budget is bigger and the action more intense. I heard that even the Constructicons make an appearance. As a child of the 80’s I, for one, am pretty damn pumped. Michael “Shove Some More C4 Up Its Ass” Bay has promised that this movie will more than live up to the hype.
As if another robot-inspired explosion-fest that includes glassy-eyed bombshell Megan Fox isn’t enough to get you excited, how about a chance to win a custom Fender® Squire guitar courtesy of Linkin Park? Yeah, transforming robots, explosions, Megan Fox, and a guitar. Do you need a minute? Linkin Park has worked very closely with the producers of the new Transformers movie and has lent their ear-hammering hardrock sensibility to the movie’s theme and score. To promote the release of their new single (and Transformers movie theme song) New Divide, Linkin Park has commissioned the design and release of a custom Fender Squire guitar decked out in artwork inspired by Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. This is one badass guitar, complete with the Linkin Park logo and a set of piercing red eyes. Even unplugged it screams.
This is your chance to own a one-of-a-kind piece of movie and music history. While it won’t transform you into some kind of panty-melting guitar god, it certainly won’t hurt your chances either. The contest runs until July 5th so you had better get moving before it’s gone.
Just click here, enter your info, and you’re good to go.
ENTERTAINMENT
June 21, 2009
Dad may have grown up, but like any other guy, he still a kid at heart, and still loves toys. So here are some big boy toys, gadgets, gear, and various other stuff to keep dad happy, occupied, and generally make his life a little easier. (And yeah, there are a couple of ties too.)
Vers 1.5R
Does your dad have trouble getting up in the morning? Does he have a thing for digital music and sustainable wood construction? If you answered yes to either of these questions, BG has found a great gift for your consideration this Dad’s Day.
Combining two really cool things, sustainable manufacturing practices and digital music, the product engineers at Sprout Creation have come up with the ultimate in bedside beauty: The Vers 1.5R radio/alarm clock iPod dock. It's so damn sleek and retro that it would look right at home next to the ashtray on Don Draper’s desk. Not only does this woodie look good, it’s also stuffed with high-end electronics including a digital AM/FM tuner, 15W full-range speaker, and rear bass ports for enhanced acoustics. Oh yeah, and it doubles as an iPod dock.
They are available in Cherry, Natural Walnut, Dark Walnut, Bamboo and White Gloss finishes and since each one is handmade they are all unique. If your dad is the tree-hugging type, get ready for this bonus: The Vers is made using 100% sustainable practices. From the wood used in the cabinet to the papers used in their packaging, you can keep Mother Earth in mind this Father’s Day.
-- Bob Lesher
$199.99
www.versaudio.com
Tateossian Cufflinks
Whether you’re hip and dad’s more contemporary, or vice versa, Tateossian has you “cufferd.” Based out of London and offering distinctive jewelry for men, the collections contain sterling silver, gold, and onyx (just to name a few). The cufflinks are stainless steel and range from $150 to $325.
A few of our favorites are pictured above: Football cufflinks with helmet heads for Sporty Dad, Deco for Downtown Dad and the globe for Globetrotting Dad. Hit the site to see other styles.
-- Gabrielle Nicole Pharm
www.tateossian.com
Clear Harmony Foldable Active Noise Canceling Headphones
Dad. Dad. Dad. Dad. Dad. Dad. Dad. Dad. Dad. Dad... I'm just reenacting every day of your father's life since the day you were born.
Give him the gift of peace and quiet with these active noise canceling headphones from Able Planet. The incredibly affordable Clear Harmony NC200 foldable "cans" provide a full rich sound while blocking out all the ambient - and not so ambient - noise around him.
In-line volume control lets dad adjust the sound without having
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Ah, Nicolas Cage. You are what we talk about when we talk about fucking awesome. With your facial ticks and violent body spasms. When life handed you lemons like droopy eyes and that greasy thing on your head that you call your hair, you went out and made a shit ton of cash.
How do you do it? Sure, you’ve turned in some great performances. But for every
Adaptation and
Matchstick Men there is a mountain of garbage like
Knowing and
Bangkok Dangerous... cinematic turds that surely would have ended the careers of your typical actors.
The secret is your other roles - the performances so balls-tremblingly over the top that all we can do is stare like slack-jawed hill folk.
And now you have the brass cojones to remake the immortal
Bad Lieutenant, a movie so wonderfully depraved that Harvey Keitel whacking away on his little detective is only the 2nd most disturbing thing about it. Most actors would have shit themselves when faced with a challenge of this magnitude. But not you. No, you strapped on a goofy accent, grabbed your lucky crack pipe and shouted “giddyup!”
Well sir, all we can say is kudos to you, because it looks like you win again. In honor of what will surely be your finest hour, we salute you with a list of your craziest achievements, five movies that cement your place in the hall of the gods.
WILD AT HEART
Nicolas Cage shows off his man-boner for Elvis (not literally) in this, David Lynch’s tribute to road movie’s and, um, The Wizard Of Oz. As with all of Lynch’s films, Wild At Heart is completely bat shit crazy. Cage isn’t even the craziest thing about it (that honor belongs to Willem Dafoe, but that’s a story for another time.), but his performance is still an all-timer as he sneers, sings, and teaches punks not to mess with his girl... or his jacket.
FACE/OFF
This highly plausible film exploits all of Cage’s strengths – corrupting virginal young choir girls, blowing shit up, and hypnotizing the audience with his patented crazy eyes.
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ENTERTAINMENT
June 18, 2009
By Kent Sewell
The Augmented Environments Lab at Georgia Tech has created an incredible example of augmented reality gaming. They've basically managed to create a scenario where real life and a video game blend seamlessly together to create an exciting, virtual reality experience, complete with zombies and candy. I haven't seen much of this technology before but you can imagine how this could be applied to everything from food menus to games to interactive subway and city maps.
ENTERTAINMENT
June 18, 2009
Our buddies at
Dave and Thomas found this ridiculous, gotta-have Hangover t-shirt featuring Baby Carlos snug in his carrier and rockin the shades.
Good practice until you're qualified to be taking care of a baby. (Tip: watch out for car doors.)
Click here for info on where to get it.
Calling balls and strikes is in his blood... unfortunately - "BALLS!" - his condition means he does it - "OOOOUT!" - at inappropriate times.
You spent your entire childhood driving dad to drink. Now you're old enough to buy him a bottle and enjoy a couple of drinks with him.
To toast the man from whose loins you sprung forth, here are a few spirits worthy of the honor.
And because man does not live by drink alone, there are a few edible gifts thrown in as well... stuff dad will love, but would never think of getting himself.
Bols Genever
Before there was Vodka, before there was Gin, there was Genever. Considered the "original white spirit" you can't get much more old school than this centuries-old veteran cocktail ingredient.
Made with juniper berries (gin owes its origins to Genever), blended with maltwine (made by triple-distilling a mash of rye, corn and wheat) and boasting an alcohol content of 42%, Genever has a powerful, complex flavor and unique smooth taste that makes it the ideal cocktail mixer.
Lucas Bols, the world’s oldest distilled spirits brand is re-launching its original 1820's recipe for Bols Genever, and reintroducing some forgotten classics like The Holland House and The Collins. Grab the recipes on their site, mix up a couple for you and dad, and toast to a time when men were as strong as the booze they drank.
www.bolsgenever.com
Corzo Tequila Anejo
Corzo Tequila Anejo is new to the Tequila market, and just like a step-dad, it can't replace the original, only try to honor the memory. Corzo Tequila is deceptively smooth and easy to drink, a mellow tasting Tequila that has been processed to the edge of perfection and ready to compete with some of the more well known brands. Corzo is too new to make you forget about other Tequilas, but it has what it takes to make a lasting impression. Plus, the Frank Lloyd Wright-esque bottle design will stand out on his liquor shelf.
Hint: Put an impressive spin on your gift order, add a personalized, engraved metal label. It won't cost you anything, and will add a touch of class to a gift that says "Thanks for restoring my Mom's faith in men." (If your step-dad is as cool as mine was he'll get a good laugh out of it. Then pour you a glass.)
-- Lincoln Chinnery
$56
www.corzo.com
Vintage Confections
If your dad is a sugar-fiend, make sure to check out the homemade offerings at Vintage Confections. With an assortment that would make Augustus Gloop's jaw drop, you can be sure to find something he'll like. Our personal favorites are the Sunflower and Pistachio Toffee with Milk Chocolate, Double Dipped Pretzel Crisps (in caramel and chocolate), and last but not least
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Our boys over at
NextRound locked themselves in a room for a week with nothing more than their girlfriends' iPods, a large urn of coffee, and energy bars.
And after several endless days of listening to chick tunes, they emerged with the definitive list of songs no dude is allowed to have on his iPod. Under any circumstances. Ever.
The exhaustive list includes:
- Anything by Michael Bolton
- “Daughters” by John Mayer
- Anything by Clay Aiken
- Anything by Abba
- “It’s Raining Men”
- Anything by Creed
- “Hello” by Lionel Ritchie
- Anything by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch not titled “Good Vibrations”
- Anything by Jessica Simpson (Ed Note: I don't think ANYONE should have these on their iPod)
And about 100 more you can read by
clicking here.
Read it. Learn it. Live it.
Sure this is cute now, but just wait 25 years...
We’ve reached that odd point of the year where the only major sport taking the field is baseball. Which hasn’t even reached it’s halfway point. Let’s just put it like this: the Kansas City Royals are still in contention, so you know it’s way too early to pay attention.
So what can sports fans do to fill the yawning gap until football season kicks off? It's slim pickings, but here are a few suggestions to mark on your calendar.
U.S Open (June 18): Sure it's the Open, and sure they're playing the Black. But you know you're hoping Tiger's ACL shreds again to make it somewhat exciting.
NBA Draft (June 25): Feel sorry for Blake Griffin as he puts on his new L.A. Clippers draft hat and his knee immediately explodes.
NHL Draft (June 26): Watch mulleted Canadian men select young mulleted players and begin mentoring them in the art of business in front, party in back.
UFC 100 (July 11): Question why you paid $50 to watch jacked up guys with shaved heads and tattoos smack each other around, when you could have gone to your local biker bar and seen that for free.
MLB All-Star Game (July 14): Someone in this game is on juice. Make wild speculation as to who it is.
WNBA All-Star Game (July 25): Just seeing if you’re paying attention.
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills (Aug. 9): Force yourself to care about this preseason game – it’s football, damnit!
Here's a collection of stuff Dad can use when he hits the trail, lake or campsite. Or anywhere else you, mom, the rest of the kids, the phone, the piles of bills, and his boss, are not.
Kelsyus Canopy Chair and Hammock
If dad’s idea of outdoor recreation doesn’t extend far past Miller High Life, a shaded spot in the backyard and a long, afternoon nap, you can’t go wrong with this gear from Kelsyus. No matter where dad wants to plop down and sip himself into deep slumber, he’ll be prepared.
The Original Canopy Chair™ is relaxation to the next level. Chances are dad already has a foldable camping chair or two, but do his chairs come with their own built-in shade? Probably not. The waterproof canopy doubles as a carrying bag, traveling anywhere dad wants to go, without any additional parts. Padded shoulder straps distribute the load comfortably. Comes in blue, red and green starting at $25.
Not comfy enough for Pop? Step up to the Portable Hammock™. Whether he’s on a nomadic voyage or kicked onto the lawn for telling mom how she really looks in that dress, he’ll thank you for this go-anywhere hammock. After you’ve planted it down, there’s no scouting out perfectly-spaced aspens or tying survival knots, simply unfold and lie down. The XL version includes an extra roomy surface, which will allow even the beefiest of dads (up to 300 pounds worth) to lounge in sheer comfort. An inflatable pillow completes the experience. Portable Hammock is available in red and blue for $99, and the XL version is available in green for $149.
-- Chris Weiss
K-Light
With the K-Light solar powered lantern/flashlight dad will never be in the dark. Just leave it in the sun to recharge in the morning, and it’s good to go by dusk. It features a 1:1 charging ratio - meaning for every hour of charge it’ll give you an hour of light. And it uses LEDs so buying extra bulbs or having to worry about them burning out on you are almost nonexistent. What’s more, the stand allows the K-Light to sit upright on a table, be carried as a lantern, or use it as a flashlight.
-- John Quan
$49.95
www.pisatsolar.com
A2B Electric Bike
This street legal bike is able to get your dad from couch to anywhere within a 20 mile radius on a single battery charge. Out of charge? Swap batteries out for another 20 miles. The front and rear suspension give
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by Ryan Coombs
Spanish soccer club Real Madrid's new President Florentino Perez did what any good newly crowned ruler would, he got drunk with power and started throwing money around like he's been printing it in his basement.
In the past two weeks Real Madrid set the transfer fee record by paying 56.1 million pounds for Brazilian star Kaka, a player whose name appeals to toilet humor aficionados the world over. Not happy with this show of force, Perez broke his own newly set record by paying 80 million pounds for soccer's pretty boy Cristiano Ronaldo.
For the biggest stars, contracts are treated with all the care afforded a college girlfriend: honored until a better offer comes along.
But what if American sports adopted this system? Drop salary caps, arbitration and rookie contracts, and the sports landscape becomes a wild west for negotiation. Here are 5 current NFL, NBA and MLB athletes who would benefit most in this theoretical brave new world:
5. Evan Longoria – The MLB would adapt quickest to this new situation and, rumor has it, is already the source of Scott Boras’ wet dreams. One can only imagine what it would be like if Steinbrenner was still at his maniacal peak. For a second year third baseman who can flash the leather and knock the cover off the ball? Blank check.
4. Dwayne Wade - Basketball owners freed from the shackles of the salary cap and allowed to spend with impunity would salivate at the chance to get Flash signed. With only 5 guys on the court at a time, this change would have the biggest impact in the NBA where owners could get the most bang for their buck. James Dolan has already thrown his inherited Cablevision fortune at a terrible Knicks teams for years, now nothing would stop him from doing the same for proven superstars like D Wade.
3. Zack Greinke - Big league aces are already breakin
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Dad may not move as fast as he used to, and it may take him a little longer to recover from the company softball game, but at least he's still getting out there.
To show dad you appreciate the fact that he can still swing with the best of them, here are a few gift ideas to help up his game.
Easton Sports Stealth Tri-Zone Bat & Premier Select Glove
Softball season is in full swing, and whether he’s goofing around in the office rec league or playing for keeps with some serious sluggers, you don’t want dad to be the guy that shows up and has to borrow a glove or take any old random bat to the plate. Enter Easton, with their latest line of products, giving him the tools to at least look like a legit baller.
The new Stealth Tri-Zone Slow-Pitch Bat offers heavy-duty power – a hitting area rating of 100 – in a lightweight, easy-to-rip package. Easton’s patented IMX technology offers aerospace grade fibers layered into the bat for maximum hitting and no vibration - they’re giving you a bigger sweet spot to handle all the junk you see at the plate.
For the field, Easton’s Premier Select Glove gives you hand-selected premium-grade double-tanned Kip Leather, a contoured index finger channel lined with sheepskin and reinforced stitch lining for additional strength and ideal pocket length. In other words, you better catch the damn ball with this glove.
-- Elliott Smith
www.eastonbaseball.com
RAYSKIN Surfboards and Snowboards
If dad likes to hang ten, and you’ve got the coin to make his wave riding time pure heaven, check out RAYSKIN’s sweet line of surfboards and skate decks. With plenty of research in hydrodynamics, surfboard history, and interviews with avid new and old school surfers, RAYSKIN has been able to create one-of-a-kind boards of art and maneuverability.
Consider their mission statement: “Every RAYSKIN board is created with action, performance and style in mind. The designers at RAYSKIN set out to build a beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, archival, performance surfboards, snowboards and cruiser skate decks with laser precision. They are bringing these action sports closer to their roots via a resonate, natural experience by using some of the most beautiful woods available.”
Surfboards (and snowboards) start at $1,500 and can run up to $17,000. They’ll even custom make one for dad.
-- Gabrielle Nicole Pharms
www.rayskin.com
Cy Fi Bike Speakers
Anyone who’s ridden a bike and attempted to listen to music has likely come to a definitive realization: headphones and bikes don’t mix. It’s quite the conundrum: enjoy your music and risk having those headphone wires cut off vital circulation, or skip the music and listen to the sweet, sweet melodies of blaring horns and skidding tires. Both suck.
This little dilemma is certainly not limited to you alone, so you just knew
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She's not only a sideline hottie with real sports knowledge, but Bonnie Bernstein apparently also dates rockers and has a wicked hip check.
ENTERTAINMENT
June 15, 2009
By Bob Lesher
There are a couple of things that you should probably never get your dad for Father’s Day: another tie and a gift certificate to the Hair Club for Men. Somehow I just don’t think either of those would convey the right message. I feel your pain, though, because I too lack a penchant for gift giving and it has bitten me in the ass on several occasions. That’s why I am here to give you a shot at winning some great stuff for that most famous of paternal party days. (And possibly a couple of good ideas of what to get him.)
Stanley® has been around forever and their trademark yellow and black tools can be found in garages and on jobsites all over the country. They didn’t want to be left out of the Father’s Day festivities so they have come to the party bearing a couple of guaranteed winners: the SquidBrite™ Worklight and the Stanley 300-Amp Instant Battery Jump Starter system.
The Stanley SquidBrite Worklight is sure to be a gadget that your dad will be using for years. How many times have you dropped your flashlight into the engine compartment or lost a screw because you couldn’t see what you were doing? You can make the typical trouble light a thing of the past with this goodie.
The SquidBrite solves this problem with its pivoting light and flexible rubber grip stand can wraps around just about anything or sits securely on uneven surfaces. Magnetic backing holds tight to metal surfaces, and the light detaches from the base to fit into tight spots. This thing is not only rugged it’s bright: it'd loaded with 20 ultra-bright LEDs. Perfect for camping and surprising deer. No need to purchase batteries, either. It’s rechargeable.
I’m sure that your dad has needed a jump on occasion. On the freeway, in the garage, sometimes the location can make it pretty difficult and being prepared is one lesson you can count on. The Stanley 300-Amp Instant Battery Jump Starter is one gift that will ensure that your dad has juice wherever he goes. And the first time he doesn’t have to wait an hour for AAA you’ll earn valuable points with the old man.
The Instant Battery Jump Starter not only has the Viagra effect on your dead battery, but its loaded with extras like an emergency light that pivots 270° and USB ports so you can charge your electronics. You also don’t have to
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By Bob Lesher
There is definitely something primal about giving a tool to your dad for Father’s Day. It doesn’t have to be a hammer or circular saw to get the job done either. The way I figure it, as long as it helps to get something done or makes his life just a little bit easier, you are good to go.
This year at BG we offer up ten tools that will make your old man remember why he’s actually thankful that the condom broke all those years ago.
Black & Decker® SmartSelect™ Cordless Drill
This one is a no-brainer, literally. The innovators at Black & Decker have truly added something different and useful to the power tools market with this bad boy. Sporting their new SmartSelect technology, this cordless drill will automatically adjust its speed and torque settings based on the application. All dad needs to do is turn the easy-to-read dial on the side (it even has pictures) to match his job and viola. Your dad will love the flexibility and power and you’ll love the fact that you can borrow it any time. Available in 12V, 14.4V, and 18V models.
www.blackanddecker.com
18V model: $79.99
Swiss Army® Swisscard
I don’t think any tools guide would be complete without throwing in a bit of Swiss Army. As part of their 125th anniversary collection, the Swiss Army Swisscard is more than a tool - it’s your chance to give your dad a piece of history. This little workhorse is packed with nine different tools: a letter opening blade, scissors, straight pin, nail file with screwdriver, tweezers, toothpick, ruler (English and metric) and a pressurized ballpoint pen. It's about the size of a credit card so it won’t give your dad sciatica when he crams it in his back pocket.
www.swissarmy.com
$65.00
Garden Groom Pro Rotary Hedge Trimmer
This little baby does for hedges what the Dyson did for carpet. Created in England, the Garden Groom is the world’s only rotary blade electric hedge trimmer. Spinning a 12” blade at 2700 RPMs, it cuts and shreds to make clipping disposal even easier. It's powered by a 500W electric motor that will let your dad rip through branches up to 3/4” in diameter and the clippings are collected in the attached receptacle. If he has bigger bush to manage (and who doesn’t?), it also comes with a detachable collection bag that holds 700 sq ft of shredded shrub. And don’t worry
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If your dad is anything like mine, he loves his computer and other high-tech gadgets. But doesn't understand a whole lot about them. and he's gotta call you to set them up, keep them running... and help clear off those viruses he keeps getting downloading "funny videos" sent from an email addy he doesn't recognize.
Here's a way you can help him, and take care of a Father's Day gift in the process: I'm giving away a copy of F-Secure Internet Security 2009. It's got real time virus and spyware protection, keeps his hardware safe against unknown threats, and has an advanced firewall and spam protection that can keep his inbox clear of suspect emails, and keep you off the phone with him for two hours, while you talk him through some tech support.
And I'm including a a 1GB memory card and a $200 Best Buy gift certificate in the prize pack so he can also satisfy his need for the newest gear and gadgets.
I'll pick the winner on Friday the 19th (maybe not exactly in time to give it to dad, but you can let him know it's coming), and all you need to do for a shot at winning, is
enter your email addy here.
And if you want to give F-Secure a shot yourself, you can
download a free trial version here.
www.f-secure.com
Guitar Hero 5 is going to drop in September, and in honor of the occasion, Activision is gonna give you a shot to see some real guitar heroes, live. (Minus the endless stream of colored dots.)
One lucky winner will win 5 tickets (basically two couples and that buddy of yours who can never get a date), to their choice of 5 different concerts, for a total of 25 concert tickets.
To get all the details and info, head over to the
Official Guitar Hero 5 site.
And while you're there, you can download a free .mp3 from Wolfmother, a featured group in Guitar Hero 5. And start practicing for the release. Green. Green. Yellow. Red...
gh5.guitarhero.com
ENTERTAINMENT
June 12, 2009
By Kent Sewell
Way back when, booze was actually outlawed in America. Crazy right? And still dumb things managed to happen, which totally kills the argument that alcohol causes stupidity. But that’s a discussion for another day.
Out of the quagmire that was Prohibition rose an underground drinking institution that still exists today (if you know where to look) - the speakeasy.
What is a Speakeasy? Then and Now
Between 1920 and 1932 (give or take), selling, making and distributing booze was illegal. However, that didn’t stop us from drinking. No way, no how. Instead, getting sloshed went underground.
You’ve probably seen speakeasies in the movies. You know the scene. A trench coat-clad detective knocks on a back alley door and an eye-level panel slides open. The detective is surveyed, asked for a password, and then the door opens. Inside, another world appears full of server girls and well-dressed men with cigars and glasses of scotch. Under the dreary darkness of night, booze flowed freely, the entertainment kept on coming, and the party roared on (quietly, hence the name "speak easy"), much to the chagrin of law enforcement officials.
Fast forward to today, and modern speakeasies have taken all that was cool about their old school counterparts and removed what sucked (like bathtub alcohol that could kill you).
The Modern Speakeasy
Today, relatively secret, non-descript bars exist all over the country. While the
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By Kent Sewell
I’ve never punched a friend in the face. What can I say? I’m a pacifist. But that doesn’t mean I’ve never felt like it.
Now, if any of my buddies piss me off, I can now beat the crap out of them on my iPhone with FaceFighter, a new app from Appy Entertainment.
FaceFighter can take any existing photo of a face - including ones taken with your iPhone - and turn it into an opponent determined to test your pugilism skills. Or, if you’re feeling particularly vicious, you can whack ‘em with a wrench.
FaceFighter’s director, Emmanuel Valdez, previously worked on the fighting mechanics in titles like Ready to Rumble Boxing 2 and The Bourne Conspiracy, so you can expect some quality beatdowns.
And anyone is up for grabs: Politicians, sports stars, celebrities, disgraced executives, obnoxious pets... if you can get a photo of it, you can beat the crap out of it.
So next time that asshat in the office pisses you off, ask to take a picture with them. They’ll never know what hit them.
FaceFighter is available now in the iPhone App Store.
www.appyfacefighter.com
ENTERTAINMENT
June 11, 2009
By Gina Iacobucci, Your Wingchick
[Note: Gina, your new wingchick, dispenses some words of wisdom to help you look right on a first date. And ensure they'll be a second.
Because sometimes you just need a girl's perspective...]
Ever hear of the expression a picture is worth a thousand words? Well a first date is a picture that gets left in our minds as soon as we leave you that night. And I’ve got ways to make sure those thousand words include: "sex", "tight ass", "nice chest", and "I hope you’ve got a spare toothbrush!" And it all starts with what you're wearing.
Show up looking like you just came from an IT meeting or a game of half court at the gym, and your chances slim down. Pick us up looking sharp and put together, and our thoughts turn towards how that shirt will look on us while making you coffee the next morning.
1 - The Shirt
Picking a first date shirt is tricky and depends on your individual style. Solids or a pinstripe always work. And are always sexy. The jury has yet to make a unanimous verdict on plaid, but I’m going to say leave it at home just to be safe.
2 - Size Matters
Whether you’ve got on a nice t-shirt or a fancy button down, always make sure it fits right. A lot of guys have a habit of wearing their shirts too long, which looks sloppy, or too short which can result in belly peek. Not ideal if you're not rocking a six pack.
3 - Good Jeans
Just like shirts, your jeans shouldn’t be too tight. Moose knuckle is not a good first date look. Actually it's not a good ANY date look. Wearing nice loose fitting jeans with the low cut waist, can
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STYLE | GUY GUIDES
June 11, 2009
After yesterday's post on the Top 5 Porn 'Staches in Pro Sports, we heard it from you loud and clear: We left off some worthy candidates.
So I give you the Pro Sports Porn 'Stache People's Choice Awards...
Sal Fasano
Owner of the greatest pornstache ever? You'd be hard-pressed to find a better one than this longtime backup catcher.
Jason Giambi
Strange side-effect of steroid use - deciding to grow a pornstache.
Keith Hernandez
An old-school request for a reader, plus bonus points for blatantly
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By Kent Sewell
Remember that level in Street Fighter where you had to smash up a car for bonus points? Well, this guy sure did. Dressed in full Ryu garb, he demolishes a sedan, then Yoga Flame's the wreckage for good measure.
By Jeff Boone
I guess when you've got multi-million dollar contracts and chicks waiting outside your hotel room door in every city, you assume it's ok to have 70's porn style facial hair...
5 - Jake Plummer
Yeah, he no longer plays professional football, but he did marry a Denver Broncos cheerleader, and now plays competitive handball. So that’s gotta keep him qualified. And with a mustache this ridiculous we just couldn't keep him off the list.
4 - Andy Reid
The head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, I'm gonna bet that 'stache has brushed over its fair share of cheese steaks.
3 - Bill Cowher
Current TV talking sports head and former Pittsburgh Steelers coach known
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SPORTS | HUMOR
June 10, 2009
By Bob Lesher
[Note: You may have noticed a lot of Sam Adams posts this week... that's what happens when you do a bunch of interviews and get "all access". And a lot of free beer. I'm just sayin']
I discovered beer with my first sip of Samuel Adams Boston Lager. I’m not saying it was my very first, but that it set me off in the right direction. It was different and it challenged me. Still the favorite of its creator and The Boston Beer Company President, Jim Koch, it made me realize that beer was not a simple beverage and that it could truly push the limits of expectations. True to form, Sam Adams is ruffling feathers again.
The Sam Adams Imperial Series of craft beers doesn’t mess around. These are big beers. They will kick your ass with flavor and intensity, and offer no apologies. They are perfect examples of what can happen when someone skilled in the art wants to take a beer style to the edge and threaten to throw it over. This trio of brews consists of Samuel Adams Imperial Stout, Samuel Adams Imperial White, and Samuel Adams Double Bock.
Sam Adams Imperial Stout
To put it simply, stouts are black ales that owe most of their character to the highly roasted barley malt used in their creation. They are often mildly hopped and balanced with flavors of chocolate and coffee. The imperial version of the stout is the highly hopped high-alcohol big brother to the base style. And pours into the glass like liquid midnight.
You can see and hear the thickness of this beer and the mocha-colored head gently floats atop awaiting your first taste. Putting your nose into the glass you inhale. Your wanton wafting draws in huge coffee and chocolate aromas with a hint of dried fruit.
This is not an intro-level beer. The first taste coats your mouth in a bitter wash of chocolate and anise that finishes with a barista inspired bite. As you swallow, you’ll feel the gentle warming of this 9.2% ABV beast, continuing its esophageal edging. After tasting this beer, you’ll see why it was at one time reserved for royalty.
Samuel Adams Imperial White
White style ales, or witbiers, hail from Belgium. This style is
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With Sam Mitchell and Kirk Ward
I got $20 says a Teamster couldn't watch all five of these and not tear up.
(No, I got something in my eye, I swear...)
5 - Armageddon
With the world on the brink of utter destruction, a group of oil drillers is charged with saving humanity. And no man can deny they didn’t swallow a few extra times when Bruce Willis took Ben Affleck’s spot on the meteor, and told him to take care of his daughter.
]
4 - Karate Kid
There are multiple times in this classic where even the strongest man might have to excuse himself. But watching Daniel San take out Johnny (come on, this guy is Zack Morris on speed), with one seemingly ineffective crane kick, on an injured leg, to win the All Valley Karate final, was enough to make even Miyagi teary eyed.
3- - Lion King
Don’t be ashamed. When Mufasa dies, a part of everyone dies. True story.
2 - Rudy
“You’re five foot nothing, and hundred and nothing.” Never has a spot been more deserved than the final scene of Rudy. Any guy who has seen this (and if you haven’t seen it, you have some serious explaining to do), will proudly tell you when the Fighting Irish lift Rudy on their shoulders and carry him off the field, he sobbed like a little girl. And if you didn’t, you don’t have a soul.
1 - Brian's Song
The ultimate is the story of teammates Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers - a movie that 300-lb linemen, who would cleat their own mother in the back of the head, can't even
talk about without needing a minute.
ENTERTAINMENT
June 10, 2009
By Chris Weiss
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Cufflinks? Really? This is the best you can do?
Indeed, there’s nothing new about purchasing a set of cufflinks for dad, or the recent grad. And at first glance, these sport cufflinks appear to be nothing more than a kitschy accessory designed to profess an undying love for a favorite sport. You can probably see these being tossed into the drawer next to the “Chicks Dig the Long Ball” t-shirt from last year.
But look closer and you’ll quickly realize that what separates these from others is that they’re crafted from actual pieces of the game.
The
Authentic Basketball Cufflinks are made from an actual pro-level basketball.
The
Authentic Baseball Stitches Cufflinks include pieces of game-used baseballs - scuffs, bruises and all — the type of ball that dad once took out three guys to catch for you.
And the
Authentic Baseball Stadium Seat Cufflinks are crafted using the seats of some of the most iconic ballparks around the nation. (Obviously they are limited editions, and come with a certificate of authenticity.)
So, unless you plan to poach your seat from Wrigley and throw a bow on it, this is the best sports memorabilia you’re going to give dad this season.
These cufflinks won’t simply force him to begrudgingly buy a French Cuff shirt, they’ll provide him a timeless slice of history - capturing a small, genuine piece of his favorite game. That’s a gift that he’ll truly appreciate.
www.spoonsisters.com for pricing and availability
Yeah, I'm a GM fan. I grew up driving Camaros and Corvettes. And I hate to think that the company that brought us the Caddy and the GTO, might be going the way of Pan Am and Pets.com...
But this is seriously funny.
Are you a guy? Do want your opinion to count for something? Then stand up and be heard in the Great Male Survey 2009.
The guys over at
AskMen.com are once again taking a global survey on all things dude, to find out what makes us tick. The first section "Dating and Sex" is live now, so head on over and let them know what you're in to. (Just refrain from telling me.)
You'll give your unique insight on questions like: "If there was no chance of your partner finding out, how likely would you be to cheat on her?", "Do men get screwed by the courts in divorce?" and "Would you dump a girlfriend if she became fat?"
(The answers are multiple choice, so don't expect a forum for your sexual manifesto.)
The next two sections of interest going live in the weeks to follow are "Lifestyle" and "Men in 2009". And since you're a man in 2009, you qualify.
The results will be published July 21st.
AskMen.com
By Gabrielle Nicole Pharms, BG Style Editor
[Note: This is the first piece, of many, written by our new Style Editor, Gabrielle Nicole Pharms. She'll be giving you up to date info on the latest looks and must-have styles for the office, nights out, and play. Because we outgrew Garanamals years ago...]
An NBA Playoff-like buzz described the vibe of the audience at La Venue in West Chelsea. But they were here for fashion, not dunks.
The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award winners, Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos, definitely brought their A-game for their classically fashion-forward spring/summer 2009 collection for guys.
S & H are known for their classy uptown pieces. They create menswear with a tailored mentality but also create casual clothing with a relaxed, yet very put-together aesthetic. The summer assortment was chock full of the staples S & H are celebrated for, yet, a dash of edge was thrown in for that extra needed touch.
Guys: Think Buddy Holly meets Jay Gatsby’s brother from California. The motif of the show can be wrapped up in three looks... looks you can adopt for yourself for work or weekend:
Well Suited for Work
Nothing looks better than seeing a man in a well tailored suit. For the summer, opt for suits that are made with light weight fabric such as linen or seersucker.
A skinny tie gives your suit a more modern and stylish appeal. Also notable is the more tapered fit in the leg of the pant – but beware, this fit is not made for the physique of every guy and it certainly can turn into a pinched leg disaster. Not feeling the skinny leg? Stick to the classics.
Black Out
Summer is party time! Summer hours for work and must see concerts at night. Black is a BOLD statement. Go head to toe with a black tee and black denim or tuxedo pants. Make it work-ready with a skinny belt and square toed shoes. Make it ready for a date with the night with a chunky belt buckle and Nike SB kicks.
The California Prep
White button downs + Khaki shorts + Trench to avoid being drenched by rain (a buzz kill when you have to work in the city) = classic summer staples. Even if preppy is not for you, punk up these classics with Converse and gnarly Wayfarers’.
[BG note: Those shorts are looking awfully short. Remind me to ask Gabrielle if we're going to be subjected to more Guy Thigh from now on...]
Style does not need to be forced. If something doesn't suit your personality and yet you wear it anyway, it will show up on your attitude whether you believe it or not. Translation: Love your girlfriend, but don’t let her dress you up in something you are not.
Gabrielle Nicole Pharms is the femme fatale that gives you guys the skinny on everything fashion and all things extreme.
By Joey Rassow-Kantor
Do you have Swagger? If so, Old Spice is looking for you.
See, the folks who brought you Bruce Campbell singing Hungry Like The Wolf want to help you where you’re hurting the most. All summer long, Old Spice plans to “Swaggerize Your Wallet” by rewarding those who demonstrate their Swagger in a competition that challenges mind and body.
Lucky winners stand to earn big bucks, enabling them to buy awesome stuff, allowing them to Swagger even harder. And thus, the circle of Swagger is replenished.
The first round of challenges begins June 15th, and includes, but is not limited to:
Make a Cake in the Shape of the Swagger Logo:
Submit a video of a Swagger logo–shaped cake (the bigger, the better) being eaten by one or more people. No longer than five minutes. Judges will reward their favorite entry with $500.
Throw Swagger Product Like a Fastball:
Submit a video of someone throwing one of the Old Spice Swagger family of products at least 65 mph as clocked by a radar gun. The faster, the better. No longer than three minutes. Judges will reward their favorite entry with $1,500.
Hold a Swagger Sign at a Televised Game:
Submit a personal photo of a sports fan who incorporates the words “Old Spice Swagger” into a homemade sign held at a televised sporting event. Event must be specified. Judges will reward their favorite entry with $2,500.
Tony Stewart Look-alike Contest:
Since Old Spice is the official deodorant of NASCAR and sponsor of Stewart’s No. 14 car, why not reward someone for looking like him? Submit a personal photo of a Tony Stewart look-alike, male or female, holding one of the Old Spice Swagger family of products. Judges will reward their favorite entry with $500.
New challenges will be posted all summer long. Head on over to
www.oldspice.com for more details.
Now, go forth and Swagger.
You like tigers, babies, losing teeth, hot women, tasers, and best of all, friendship?
Well Harrah's in Las Vegas wants to give you all these things and more with their Sin City Giveaway, a promotion hyping the hysterical new comedy, "The Hangover".
Here's a chance for you and three friends to win a 3-night/4-day "Hangover" vacation package including round trip airfare to Vegas, transportation to and from the airport, a $150 food and beverage credit redeemable at any restaurant throughout Caesars Palace and two Roman Ritual passes to Qua Bath Spas. All you need to do to enter is become a Facebook fan or follow Caesars Palace on Twitter. To win, post or write about Caesars Palace or the movie, "The Hangover" on your own personal pages.
If you don't win, you can still book one of Caesar's "Hangover Packages" (yeah, they're milking this one big time), through Aug 1, 2009. Surf over to
www.caesarspalace.com for details.
Now, if you end up winning the trip, let me give you a few pieces of sage advice: the slots at the Sahara are prudish bitches, it most assuredly is not her first night working at the strip club, and never, ever trust a taxi driver named Julio who speaks with a Russian accent.
by Ryan Coombs
Earlier this season Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva created a stir by posting on Twitter during halftime. It can be debated whether or not this is the best use of time for a player at halftime, but it gives great insight for NBA fans.
Picture the Lakers' locker room at halftime of Finals game 2... Lamar Odom has a feed bag full of candy attached to his face, Phil Jackson is meditating in the corner, Sasha Vujacic is brushing his doll hair and Spike Lee is filming Kobe Bryant eating Taco Bell for his next documentary "Kobe Using Spork"
Over in the visiting locker room Dwight Howard has changed into a child's size medium tank top and JJ Redick is styling his faux hawk. But what if everyone was tweeting instead?
KobeB24: People wondering why I seem so determined & focused now that we are in the finals. Pretty simple: so Shaq will finally stop asking me how his ass tastes.
LOdom7: Everyone keeps talking about how much candy I eat. I'm just happy no one has made the connection between that and all the weed I got in trouble over in college.
PauGas16: I'm a finesse European big man and I have to battle Dwight Howard in the paint all game? FML.
AMorrison: Stuck in street clothes for the whole playoffs. I wonder if there is any connection between that and girls no longer claiming to like my wispy 'stache?
JJRedick: Mikael Peitrus needs to quit fouling so much, nobody wants me to be stuck playing crunch time minutes.
DHoward12: 6 quarters of the Finals have gone by and I still haven't dunked the ball. Maybe not having any post moves is my kryptonite???
CourtneyLee: Still getting adjusted to playing with this mask. Don't think it will be an issue though, I mean its not like it's going to make me blow a wide open lay-up for the win.
So Apple finally announced the new version of the iPhone, and from what I'm reading, the reaction was less than stellar.
I'm not going to get into all the techno babble and regurgitate all the specs for the thing, or all the developer stuff that was announced... head over to
Gizmodo for that. They were there, they took notes, they know all the minute details... they even took the pic below of the new iPhone.
So, you want details, go to them. You want the highlights, read on...
As expected, some of the rumors were true, some were not.
Not true:
The new iPhone does not have a matte black shell. It is still shiny black, and is still also available in shiny white.
You'll also have to wait for your lime green iPhone at least another year... It is not, as was thought, going to be available in colors.
And the Apple logo does not glow on the back like the notebooks do. (Which was a rumor few believed anyway.)
It also, unfortunately, did not get the front facing camera people have been screaming for since it came out.
But, here's what it did get:
Besides a whole new slew of apps, including a slick one from TomTom that turns it into a complete GPS unit, and a medical diagnostic app that turns today's doctors into Doctors of the Future...
It also got faster. The (S) in the 3G(S) stands for "speed", and it'll
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By Bob Lesher
When it comes to customization, we humans have been doing it since dirt. I think it’s a combination of the “I was here” syndrome and the idea of having something to call our own that just might be a one-of-a-kind. Cave paintings, graffiti, iPod engraving, you get the picture. Sometimes it works and sometimes you’re left holding a Crystal Pepsi. I’ve got one for you that works, or should I say, workz.
The iFrogz innovators, makers of those cool iPod and iPhone covers, have decided to enter the market of outer ear entertainment with their line of custom Earpollution headphones.
When I first heard about this I was pretty skeptical. I mean, how “custom” can you make a set of headphones? They’ve got it covered. You can choose from two over-the-ear models, the NervePipe and Fallout, as well as one in-ear bud-type version called the Flow.
I had to give this a go. See what the hype was all about. I went to
iFrogz.com and set off to create the greatest headphones ever seen by man. Audible art.
The website’s UI is seamless. You get a real-time representation of your creation as you click on copious colors for everything from the headband to the sidepieces. Go metallic. You can even add custom graphics to the speakers.
If that's not enough self expression for you, you have the option of adding a furry feel to your set with five faux fur ear cushions. (Which you'll most likely leave to your girl.)
With five pieces to customize and over 300,000 possible design combinations (remember factorials from math class?) it’s a safe bet that yours just might be one of a kind.
They'll ship your order in 48-hours or less. Mine? I chose the Fallout model. Not only did they look great, but the sound had my tympanic membranes teary eyed. These are high-quality audio electronics just as impressive as the design.
The NervePipe and Fallout models will run you $34.99. The Flow buds are $19.99 and offer just enough customization options to get your big toe wet. I, however, recommend jumping in with your clothes on.
www.ifrogz.com
There have been a lot of parodies of the NBA’s “Where Amazing Happens” ad campaign, but rapper Kno of the CunninLynguists has taken it a step further by adapting Kanye West’s “Amazing” – the official song of the NBA playoffs – into “Caucasian,” an ode to all the white ballers out there.
(Now, before you get bent out of shape, Kno’s white as well, and he exempts Larry Bird based on being an “Indian(a)” native.)
The lyrics are pretty funny, but the real laughs come from the pics of white ballers in action.
HUMOR | SPORTS
June 07, 2009
By Bob Lesher
Last week we posted on the Every Man Jack line of grooming products for guys. (
Read it here.) We said they were a damn good line of products that are easy to use, and that won’t Madoff our money.
Some of you cried Shenanigans... that there was no way a $5 grooming product sold at Target could stand up to the $40 and $50 ones made by Tibetan monks out of glacier water and yak penis. (Dried and ground yak penis, of course.)
So here's what we're doing: We're giving away a couple of Every Man Jack Shaving kits, and a couple of their Body + Hair kits. The shaving kits come with face wash, shaving cream and face lotion all in their signature mint, plus a toiletry bag to carry it all in when you travel; the hair + body kits have their 2-in-1 shampoo plus conditioner, a body bar with wheat bran, and body wash all in citrus scent, plus a toiletry bag as well.
So now you can try for yourself and see if these $10 kits (yeah, that's right, only $10 for the whole kit), stand up to the test.
Ritch Viola, founder and creator of the Every Man Jack line of men’s grooming products told us he "wanted to take a realistic approach to men's grooming, providing straightforward and masculine products that men wouldn’t be embarrassed to buy, use or talk about.” Now I don’t think he is saying that we are all going to be standing around the cubicles at work chatting about how great our exfoliating body bar is or how soft your skin has been since you started using it, but I think you get the picture.
All you need to do to get a shot at winning one of the kits, is
enter your email addy here, and on Friday, June 12th we’ll select four of you at random to receive either the Shave kit or Body + Hair kit (our choice). If you’re the generous type, they might even make great gifts for your dad or grad.
www.everymanjack.com
Today at 1pm ET is Apple's WWDC 2009... the big conference where a turtle-neck-and-jeans-wearing Steve Jobs stands in front of a huge screen and unveils the next big Apple thing. Or things.
Today's conference is getting more buzz than usual for two reasons: 1 - There is talk that the ailing Jobs, who hasn't been seen in a while, will make the announcements himself... and 2 - The iPhone might be be getting some upgrades.
Now there's no consensus on what the new iPhone will have - or even if there is a new iPhone - but the Interwebs are all atwitter, and when there's Apple rumor smoke, there's usually fire.
Here are the most likely rumors to actually be unveiled as fact:
According to a lot of "leaked" images (including the one here from French site
NoWhereElse.fr) the new iPhone will have a matte black shell, including an Apple logo that appears to be able to glow, like the one on their notebooks.
The new iPhone will have a better, front facing, camera, possibly with its own dedicated shutter.
There's also talk of a built-in video camera, which will enable video conferencing, or just more screwing around on Facebook.
What I am also hearing is that there will now be 4 phones in the line: with a 4GB and a 32GB joining the 8GB and 16GB.
One rumor has it that the 4G will start at $99 to try to recapture some market share that AT&T and Apple are losing to competitors undercutting the much more expensive iPhone, with their own handhelds with similar features. (Apparently AT&T has been on Aplle for a while to do this.)
After the conference is over, we'll see which of these rumors is true, and if we have a new iPhone to drool over.
Stay tuned.
Last week we did a little grilling with tequila. This week it's beer that's on tap.
During our talks with the folks over at Sam Adams last week, we learned that they were working with Chef David Burke to create recipes for guys who were thirsty for flavorful American beer and hungry for a classic cook-out. And wanted to combine the two, but keep it simple.
Sam Adams founder, Jim Koch told us, “Like many guys, I shy away from recipes that have a lot of steps. I’ve found that substituting beer for other ingredients can introduce you to a whole new world of flavors."
Damn straight Jim. Marinade it in some good brew and throw it on the fire. That's how we like it.
So below you'll find Chef Burke's recipe for Samuel Adams Boston Lager Marinated Sirloin. The marinade is made with easy to find ingredients you probably already have around the kitchen. And once it's whipped together and has had a chance to soak your meat for a few hours, it's on the grill for about 10 minutes, until the beer has a chance to caramelize and create some charcoal goodness. (Below that you'll find his recipe for his Grains of Paradise rub, and mix of spices like juniper and ancho-chili powder that'll turn your backyard barbecue into a gourmet event.) Brewliscious.
For more recipes involving America's favorite craft brew,
click here.
Samuel Adams Boston Lager Marinated Sirloin
Ingredients:
14 oz steaks
Marinade:
1 cup Samuel Adams Boston Lager
2 cups canola oil
3 cloves roasted garlic
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
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Remember back in the day, when TV shows had intros that got your adrenaline flowing and set you up for the action to follow?
Montage of car chases and explosions. Thumping theme song. At least one shot of a main character punching some guy out. Or shooting him off a roof.
Those were the days. Now we get shit like Horatio Cane putting on his sunglasses, making some ridiculous quip, and then... that scream.
Our boys over at
UnrealityMag.com have compiled the essential Badass 80's TV Show Intros collection.
There all here: The A-Team, Magnum PI, MacGyver, the classic Dukes of Hazard... and my personal favorite, Miami Vice (below). And more you'll have to surf over to see.
Click here to go back in time for a while. A better time, when men were men, and they knocked bad guys out to a high energy soundtrack.
ENTERTAINMENT
June 04, 2009
Remember that Hot Rocker Mom contest? (Read the post
here.) Well they crowned a winner.
She's Debra Diamont and goes by the name "Elkraiden". This LA mother of a 3 year-old son, has had 2 record deals, plays guitar, has "gone out with some rock stars" and once had Steven Adler, former drummer for Guns 'N Roses and current rehab regular, walk in on her while her boyfriend was "whistling through the wheat field." And looks like she'd have no problem cracking your skull in with a bass guitar if you looked at her wrong.
The odds of her appearing as a contestant on Rock of Love? Even money.
For more pics of the winner and four runners up,
head here. At your own risk.
By Kent Sewell
The rest of 2009 is looking to be a good year for gamers. Here are the top 5 reveals from Nintendo's, Microsoft's, and Sony's press conferences over the past couple days.
5. PSP Go
A more compact, improved, PSP with a slider screen? Sign me up, although the $249 price tag does sting for a system that’s several years old with an iffy library of games.
4. Natal
Taking the interactivity of Nintendo’s Wii and subtracting the need for any controllers to wave around, Microsoft’s Natal is set on revolutionizing the gaming experience. We’ll see how the developers and consumers support this device in the future.
3. Metal Gear Comes To Xbox 360
Another huge coup for Microsoft (after last year’s announcement of Final Fantasy XIII), Hideo Kojima revealed that the next Metal Gear game, Metal Gear: Rising, will be
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ELECTRONICS
June 04, 2009
“Boy, I hope bench seat No. 4 is available – that gives me the best view of the Laker Girls
and Dyan Cannon!”
“When the players come off the floor, should I go with the fist bump or the traditional high five? Shit, here they come...”
“Hopefully J.J. Redick and I can sync up our Nintendo DS systems and play
NBA Live ’09 during the game.”
“Please don't let Sasha Vujacic to sit next to me – he smells like stale broccoli.”
“Kobe Bryant called me ‘Alan’ the other day – He’s getting closer. I must be making an impact!”
“Since I don’t have to worry about Coach Jackson looking my way, I should be able to get some solid Twittering in tonight.”
“I’ve seen Orlando play quite a bit during my bench days in Charlotte – the Magic are pretty good. You know what else was good? That Charlotte bench. Nice and cozy.”
“Those warm-ups get pretty itchy when you never take them off. Next time I'll just wear my street clothes for maximum comfort.”
“Well, at least I don’t have to worry about
bawling my eyes out this time. Everyone says we're going to win in six.”
By Bob Lesher
Slap on that Speedo and smear on that sunscreen. OK, scratch the Speedo. You can’t pull it off anyway. What I’m trying to say is that summer is almost here and we're running out of time to prepare. And when it comes to beer, there is definitely a right way and a wrong way to sip your suds.
After all, why spend all that money on good beer if you aren’t going to make sure that it’s in peak physical condition when it hits your lips?
Jim Koch, founder and head hops honcho at the Boston Beer Company – makers of all things Sam Adams – has a few tips that are sure to get you headed in the right direction:
1 - If you’re going to hit the beach, go for a beer packaged in brown bottles. (As opposed to green or clear.) Too much light (especially direct sunlight) can skunk beer. Brown bottles keep out sunlight better than green or clear, protecting your beer from those harmful rays. Which is why Koch will only use brown for Samuel Adams.
2 - Store beer upright in your cooler or on the door of refrigerator, never on its side. Storing beer on its side can expose more of the beer to oxygen and sunlight, causing it to go bad more quickly.
3 - Don’t be afraid to re-chill your beer. The cold-to-warm-to-cold again temperature thing is a myth. The colder you keep your beer (35 to 40 degrees F is good), the longer it will
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By Chad Glosier
At E3 yesterday, Hideo Kojima showed up to announce a new Metal Gear Solid game, this time for the PSP.
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker follows Big Boss about ten years after the events of
Metal Gear 3: Snake Eater, during the mercenary operation that gives rise to Outer Heaven in Costa Rica.
It appears to have a play style more in line with previous titles in the series than Metal Gear - requiring more sneaky, neck-breaking action than
Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, in which you could choose to shoot everybody in the face if you weren’t into the whole stealth thing.
The game, written and produced by Kojima, also appears to feature multiple Snakes, four of them together on the same team, which is a little confusing. I mean, yeah, it’s hot – just imagine the four of them, doing naughty things to a bunch of terrorists... I just mean that since they look the same, it might be confusing as to which one is talking, since they’ll all probably have the same gravelly voice; or which one is the player’s character; and how did there get to be four of them?
Anyway, the game is set for 2010, giving you plenty of time to brush up on the deep, confusing, but satisfying, Metal Gear back-story, and work out your complicated feelings for Snake.
Check out the trailer here.
ENTERTAINMENT
June 03, 2009
As a teenager, I dreamt of infiltrating three things:
1 - A closed Hastings record store in the Mesilla Valley Mall, and I'd head straight for the early 90's Keith Sweat bootlegs...
2 - Val Verde, alongside Arnold Schwartzenegger, so we could together rescue Alyssa Milano from the wicked El Presidente, and she would finally understand how much she needs me...
3 - A cheerleading camp, the place where pubescent boy dreams go to thrive and flourish forever...
The movie "Fired Up", is that very castle in the sky. Two guys infiltrate a cheerleading camp, find themselves, find love, find life. And boobs. Lots and lots of boobs.
It'll be available, unrated, on DVD or Blu-ray, June 9th. Which is totally fantastic because it's
definitely a movie best enjoyed in the privacy of your home - as opposed to a packed theater-plex, where numerous people are prone to point and laugh at the trouser teepee you're sporting as you leave. Uh Ungowa indeed.
www.sonypictures.com
ENTERTAINMENT
June 03, 2009
Remember the Afro Ninja? The guy who knocked himself stupid doing a backflip while auditioning for a commercial? Then gamely tried to continue on, dizzily swinging his chucks, only to end up looking like Napoleon Dynamite after too much Boone's Farm?
Sure you do. We all do. 6.9 million of us saw the clip. Most of us multiple times.
So what's the Afro Ninja up to now? Comedian Daniel Tosh went to find out for his new show Tosh.0, premiering on Comedy Central tomorrow night at 10pm.
Turns out ol' A-N is an award winning stuntman - who actually got the gig after that brain-cell-damaging audition. (Jeez, what'd the other guys do, shit their pants and burn the studio down?)
Tosh gives Afro Ninja a shot at redemption... by attempting the backflip once again. Does he finally land it? Check the clip below.
ENTERTAINMENT
June 03, 2009
By Kent Sewell
For those of us that have been in the job market and researched a company prior to an interview, we all know that most company websites suck.
But not BooneOakley's. This award-winning ad agency put their entire "website" online in the form of a YouTube video. (Even typing in
BooneOakley.com will just redirect you right to the "main page" video on YouTube.)
Not many companies will let you watch a failed, egg-shaped marketing director get murdered by his wife. Life lesson right there. Get married, stop bringing home the bacon, and you'll get whacked by a hitman.
ENTERTAINMENT
June 03, 2009
Artist extraordinaire, and rabid hockey fan, Robert Ullman has been spicing up the NHL postseason this year by utilizing his talents to predict the playoff winners.
Of course it helps that his talent is creating ridiculously hot women beating each other up while wearing nothing but hockey sweaters.
Ullman, who does illustrations for a variety of publications, as well as for his own blog (
/rkullman.blogspot.com/), is a die-hard Pittsburgh Penguins fan, so it’s no surprise as to whom he thinks will win the Stanley Cup. (Although things don’t look so good right now.)
A collection of some of his best work is coming out in July: Atom Bomb Bikini: The Lurid Art of Robert Ullman. It's 64 full-color pages of his best stuff, and it'll will be available for pre-orders on his site soon.
In addition, Robert does commission work (check out the gallery below for some samples of his favorites), so if you ever wanted to see your significant other (or simply a hot cartoon girl) sporting the very small uniform of your favorite team, you’ve just found your man.
You can check out more samples of his work (
here).
By Joey Rassow-Kantor
Someone at the Discovery Channel deserves a raise.
Because tonight, on a very special
Man Vs. Wild, Will Ferrell guest stars.
Watch Will forage for shelter, rappel down a frozen waterfall, scream like a 9-year-old girl, and maybe even eat a little yellow snow. (Anything to promote an upcoming movie.)
Watch as Bear Grylls schools the curly-haired comedic genius in the finer points of survival, like foraging for food, building shelter, and if we're lucky, drinking a little urine. Once it hits your lips, it's so good!
Guaranteed to be funnier than
Semi Pro. 10pm ET/PT on Discovery.
ENTERTAINMENT
June 02, 2009
This one's got it all: A drunk, aging, bitter former supermodel with a surgically reconstructed face twisted into a permanent look of disgust, horrified aspiring Finish models politely trying to deal with her alcohol-fueled nonsensical rants, hot blonds shocked at being called "dumb bitches" and "ugly" (which apparently, according to Dickinson, is an American joke), F-bombs, talk of needing to "eat, drink and shit being a model", a drunken fall down the stairs, and the declaration that "my leg doesn't work."
Or as I like to call it: Friday night at my place.
[Via our friends at
BuzzCuts]
ENTERTAINMENT
June 02, 2009
It’s a sad day for us all.
Simona Halep, the 17-year-old tennis sensation from Romania, lost in her first-ever French Open appearance earlier this week. But that’s not why the entire blogosphere is disappointed.
No, it was her announcement that she will be undergoing breast-reduction surgery in order to increase her chances of being a competitive pro, that sent shockwaves throughout the ogling community, a mere four months before we could legally enjoy her wicked … forehand.
Good luck to Miss Halep, although I think her tennis notoriety – remarkably strong for a player ranked No. 496 in the world – will be greatly reduced once she gets reduced.
(Pics after the jump)
...There's more
By Kirk Ward
There's something classic about a product that doesn’t stray too far from its beginnings. No matter what the "current style." Think Porsche 911. Think Rolex. Think Donald Trump's hair.
Onitsuka Tiger is the classic running shoe from Asics. Started in 1949 and worn by the 1968 Olympians in Mexico, it's tiger-striped look (developed by founder Kihachiro Onitsuka... hence the name), hasn't changed much over the years. And we're ok with that.
The newest line - featuring Zodiac, Spring-Summer, and tokidoki - offers a ridiculous selection of colors and styles that'll satisfy any shoe junkie. Zodiac features a design for each of the 12 animals in the Japanese Zodiac, while tokidoki is a collaboration with Italian designer Simone Legno.
Loaded with low-tops, high-tops, and slip-ons, the Tigers can match up with anything you're wearing. For a timeless look. Not so much with those Air Force Ones.
www.asics.com