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 ...There's more

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 ...There's more

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 ...There's more

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 ...There's more

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 ...There's more

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

We've said it a million times, a million ways: The traveling process sucks. I can’t think of one redeeming quality when it comes to air travel and it always culminates in the general kick-in-the-nuts known as the security-screening checkpoint. Here’s the picture; roller bag at your side, shoes untied but still on, your belt and liquids bag in one hand and your laptop under your arm. Will I get offered a choice of oral or anal exam because of the iPod in my briefcase? Is grandma going to cause an international incident with her metal hip? Serenity now. Serenity now.

Aerovation®, a leader in the manufacture of checkpoint-friendly laptop bags, has taken our problems to heart. Their team of designers and mobile device enclosure engineers (do they have a school for that?), has come up with a pair of products that are sure to have road warriors weeping with joy: the Aerovation CPF® Laptop Bag and CPF® Trolley Bag.

The Aerovation CPF® Laptop Bag is a padded laptop carrier that provides two separate compartments – one for a laptop, and the other to house the laptop accessories. The two compartments are secured together by Velcro strips and fold open to lie flat on the X-ray conveyer belt without taking the laptop out of the bag.

Once the bag has wandered its way through x-ray land, you are free to pick it up at the other end and get the hell outta Dodge. And since the bag is TSA approved, the screeners have been trained to recognize it. (Which in itself is a miracle.) This means fewer, “Is this your bag?” moments. I don’t know ...There's more

I know women love anything that sparkles, but I'm not sure I'm willing to go as far as jamming jewelry in my junk...

Via those frisky ladies at The Frisky, comes the new - and highly unnecessary - penile accessory: The Penis Plug.

Topped with Swarovski crystals and your choice of other assorted embellishments, they're for the guy who needs a little something extra to to entice the ladies down to his happy zone. ("No, really, it's diamond studded, and titanium tipped...")

And yeah, you guessed right: It gets inserted into your pee hole. (Hence the "plug" in the name.) And since no two willies are alike, you have to have your plug custom fitted by a professional. Professional what, I have no idea, but apparently someone went to school for this sort of thing.

So if your johnson is in need of some adornment, it'll set you back about $150. Steep? Maybe. But a helleva lot cheaper than buying a Porsche.

Have you ever gone camping, and on a day hike you come across a bearded, grizzly man who hasn't seen civilization in over a decade?

It's happened to me. Twice.

First thing I wanted to do is pull out my trusty, portable mp3/video player/phone to show Dan Boone some of society's glorious creations he's missed, starting with the "Chocolate Rain" video.

Oh, but there's one problem, your techno-vision-viewing device is low on power. What do you do?

Enter the Voltaic Systems solar powered backpack. The V-Pack (as I lovingly refer to it), is made entirely of recycled materials, and generates up to 4 watts of solar power which is more than enough to juice up cell and sat phones, iPods, PDA's, GPS's, cameras, and most other handheld devices.

It won't however charge up a laptop. You'll need their Generator for that. So you'll have to wait to show the survivor man your Hudson Hawk prequel script, but the Voltaic backpack can fulfill most of your other charging needs.

The V-pack, like a portly goth kid, doesn't necessarily need the sun, because the lithium-ion battery pack can be charged up using the AC travel charger, or the car charger. This will keep a surplus of power in your bag, which would quite useful if you find yourself lost in a sunless, post-apacolyptic hell scape.

It comes equipped with 11 standard adaptors that will fit most devices, maybe even that old Intellivision console you've been waiting to break out. Just think, if the hot hippie chick, who works at that vegan restaurant, sees your Voltaic solar bag, maybe she'll finally let you AC her DC.

$249
www.voltaicsystems.com

I don’t know about you, but I don’t plan on climbing Mt. Everest any time soon. Come to think of it, I don’t really have the desire to leave behind my frozen corpse on any mountain. The cool thing is, you don’t have to risk your life to sport the same gear that some of the most insane adventurers in the world are wearing.

The Timex® Expedition® WS4™ is like having a meteorologist sitting on your wrist without all of the chafing and annoying small talk. To call this thing a watch would be like calling the Taj Mahal a tool shed.The WS4 (short for Wide Screen 4-Function) includes a thermometer, barometer, compass, and altimeter. Did I forget to mention it also tells time and has four alarms? Seems like the only thing it won’t do is stop your brain from turning to Cream-of-Wheat on your way up K2.

I know that most of us consider our time at the campground with the cooler and fire pit the true measure of our outdoor skills, but that is no excuse to skimp. To prove that this watch could handle the licking and keep on ticking, Timex tracked down world-renowned Alpinist, Conrad Anker, and had him give it a field run. He strapped on the WS4 and proceeded to head up Meru, a 6330-meter (that’s almost 21,000 feet for the metrically-challenged) peak in the Garwhal Himalaya. That’s a trek that takes a watch with balls.

The Timex Expedition WS4 is available now and it’ll cost you $199. And because looking good never takes a day off, it comes in five Sherpa-riffic colors: yellow, white, orange, black, and blue. Hop on over to www.timexexpedition.com for more info and while you’re there, check out what Conrad Anker thought of the WS4.