Remember those itchy wool sweaters Grandma used to give you for Christmas every year? The ones that made your skin start to crawl just by looking at them? (And not because of the two-deer-dancing design either.)

She'd say wool keeps you warm. And she was right. But these days, athletic-wear companies have made synthetic fiber clothing the hot gear to wear when training, and real wool has become as outdated as Grandma's beehive. A company called I/O Biocompatibles wants to change that.

Their all-season, 100% Merino wool, athletic baselayers are designed to keep you warm while snowboarding, skiing, hiking, even kayaking and surfing. Yup, surfers are wearing it under their wet suits. And claim there's no itch. (From wet wool?)

You don't have to submerge wool to experience its moisture wicking advantages. It can absorb 30% of its own weight in water, making it ideal for pulling sweat away from your skin. It's also naturally anti-bacterial and anti-microbial, so that smell that results from your strenuous work out won't linger in your clothes.

The look of I/O Biocompatibles is more modern than the thick, bulky look and feel of the wool clothing you remember, too. ...There's more

The Wall Street Journal (Motto: Whoever Has the Money Makes the Rules), is reporting the return of the skinny tie. What signaled the change? Those fashion mavens Ryan Seacrest and David "Bend it Like" Beckham among others, are "sporting narrower ties in public lately, helping to push the biggest return to skinny ties in three decades."

How skinny? They are dropping from the current 3 3/4 inches at their widest point, to 3 1/2 inches. If that doesn't sound like a huge drop, the Journal says the difference is "more visible than you might expect." Adding, "the change could force men to update not only their ties, but their suits, sport coats and shirts."

And while some celebs like Justin Timberlake are wearing their ties as narrow as 1- or 2-inches, image consultant Glenn Laiken, suggest going no thinner than 3 inches at the widest point for office settings.

What prompted the slim down? According to the WSJ, "[t]he downsizing of the tie follows the slimming down of the suit, which comes as men have grown more comfortable showing off their bodies ...There's more

Not to be confused with the Nut Bra, this is one of those products where my explanation couldn't possibly be any funnier than the one from the manufacturer. So I'm just going to let them describe it. (With my added comments, of course.) Enjoy...

"Male stimulation does not get better than this! The Ballbra is futuristic and very high tech underwear that can be worn by a man while making love (for those of you in too much of a rush to get completely undressed) or to intensify masturbation (for those of you so addicted you need special underwear to make jerking off more exciting).

"The Ballbra... leaves the penis area free for movement. Each Ballbra user can make the decision to leave the penis free, or to tuck it away within the Ballbra pouch, depending on how you lift or lower your Ballbra technically advanced waistband. (Also known as The Hole Cut in the Front.)

"The Ballbra section will enhance erection by letting the penis have freedom of movement while harnessing the balls which will produce explosive orgasms. (Three questions: 1- Do you want an enhanced erection when fully dressed? "Nice enhanced erection Jim. Now can we get back to the third quarter earnings report?" 2 - If you want a full "erection and freedom of movement" - i.e. during sex - isn't that usually your cue to remove all your clothes? And C - Can I please see the hard scientific proof that harnessing my balls will provide explosive orgasms, and why wasn't I asked to be part of that study?)"

The line comes in Silk, for "the modern influential man", Cushion to "enhance the appearance of your assets and give a stimulation fit", and Seaman (I guarantee they were not trying to be ironic here), with stripes to "trigger your style sense". All are available in Classic (looks like a jockstrap) or Boxer Brief.

But if those Ballbra styles aren't enough to get your newly freed soldier to stand at attention, 2008 will herald the introduction of their new G.I. Ballbra. I'll let them explain: "For the adventures(?) and army fatigue enthusiasts. If you need a feeling of adventure and comfort, the G.I. underwear will make certain you are feeling the urge to explore new areas. (Unless you're an Army of One.) The G.I. Ballbra will change your life." (Especially if you get arrested wandering around a military base in your underwear, with your newly freed penis "Saluting the General", as they say.)

$19.95 for the Classic, $29.95 for the Boxer Briefs
www.ballbra.com

[VIA - PleasureHappens.com]

Grow your beard out for the next two weeks, throw on this bowling shirt, add a pair of aviators, and you're The Dude.

Identical to the shirt worn in the 90's cult classic The Big Lebowski, this shirt has the name Art embroidered on the front, sponsor "Medina Sod" printed on the back, and sports the 1964-1965 League Champion patch from the American Bowling Congress. (And you know how chicks dig bowling champions.)

The Dude is in.

$32
www.80stees.com