When the Gentleman Racer said he studied Scottish Martial Arts, he wasn't kidding. Donald MacBane image from The Expert Swordsman's Companion.

This is probably the most obscure ESM icon ever.

Donald MacBane, however, deserves infinitely more fame and legend than he managed to build in his long and bloody life. He is every bit the duelist and author that the legendary Miyamoto Musashi was, but MacBane is supplemented with two of the earliest chain businesses and some rather successful gambling.

In fact, he has often been referred to as “the Scottish Musashi.”

I usually describe him as such. Of the various masters whose texts I’ve read in my own study of Scottish martial arts, MacBane has always been my favorite for his clarity, practicality, and sheer badassery.

His first moment of badassery was after being defeated at the battle of Killiecrankie, when his unit turned and fled because they were being chased by Jacobite highlanders.

MacBane managed to make the 18 foot leap over the gorge now known as “Soldier’s Leap.”

He first became acquainted with the sword when he confronted a veteran soldier who had been stealing MacBane’s money.

He took a lesson in the use of the smallsword, borrowed one, and issued a challenge to his opponent, who disarmed him, beat him with the flat of his basket-hilted broadsword, and stole his sword. Most men would decide that having one’s money stolen and owing a friend a sword would be bad enough, but MacBane simply took another lesson, borrowed another sword, and defeated his rival.

Balls: he had them.

"Look mister spear guy, check out my shiny object.." Donald MacBane image from The Expert Swordsman's Companion.

During his service in the British army, he worked hard to gain control of the gambling and prostitution businesses in the various cities he was garrisoned in.

By “worked hard”, we mean that he had to fight daily duels against rival pimps and irate/drunk customers.

Through his hard – and violent - work, he managed to open chains of both brothels and schools of swordsmanship throughout Europe. His reputation with a sword both protected the brothels and advertised for the schools of defence.

Not a shabby business model.

Despite being a savante with the blade, he also appears to have been invincible. MacBane’s memoirs are full of dozens and dozens of incidents that would have meant death for just about anyone else. For instance, on what seemed to be an average day for MacBane, he was stabbed by bayonets five times, shot four times, and clubbed over the head by his allies as they stole his clothes before leaving “expecting Death every minute, not only by reason of Wounds, but by reason of the old and the great Thirst that I had, I drank several handfuls of the Dead Mens Blood I lay beside, the more I Drank the worse I was.”

This was one of his earlier, and less dire incidents. By the surprisingly peaceful end of his life he had been shot around 60 times, stabbed countless times, twice hit by grapeshot from cannon fire, twice had most of his skin burned off, and once been knocked unconscious by the airborne severed head of a man under his command.

Rasputin is notorious for being difficult to kill, but he still died – Rasputin looks like a willowy little tulip by comparison.

He fought his last duel, as a stage gladiator, at the age of 62 against a young man who he broke the arm of and cut seven times. After that fight, he retired and wrote his manual: The Expert Swordsman’s Companion: Or The Art of Self-Defence, With an Account of the Author’s Life, and His Transactions during the Wars with France.

Donald MacBane always wins at duels. Sucka. Donald MacBane image from The Expert Swordsman's Companion.

Donald MacBane is an ESM icon because of his incredible skill, unbelievable resistance to massive wounds, and gentlemanly attitude towards combat; “This is what is called a Poke, which many find fault with. I would never make use of this Thrust but when engaged with a Ruffin or some person that I had a mind to kill.”

Black Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS convertible with 20" CS7 DPE Wheels. Image from http://www.dpe-wheels.com.

I think my dream garage is a little bit different from most people.

It would consist of vintage Ferraris, all of the Astons from any James Bond movie, a Z8, some customized American Muscle and the Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS.

But with the advent of the Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS Roadster, the gullwing version of the SLS has some serious competition for a spot in my (imaginary) garage.

Additionally, after seeing pictures of this black Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS Roadster with 20-inch CS7 DPE wheels, I am finding it even more difficult to make a decision.

This picture of a convertible Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS with CS7 DPE Wheels almost makes you want to jump in from the back a la Duke of Hazzard. Right? Image from http://www.dpe-wheels.com.

 According to LeftLaneNews.com:

Motivating the SLS AMG is the division’s 6.3-liter V8, which puts out 563 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 479 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. This thrust propels the SLS AMG to 60 mph in a mere 3.7 seconds and the car is electronically limited to an impressive 197 mph. As a result, both roadster and gullwing boast similar performance figures.

Dammit.

Well, since this is an imaginary garage and I am using imaginary money anyway, I should just conjure up another $200k (plus money for the CS7′s) so I can have both cars in my garage.

Boom.

For more information on DPE Wheels and their CS7 wheels, you can check out their official site at http://www.dpe-wheels.com/.

The Condo Quickie is a packaged set of interior design services from Toronto-based Lux Design.

So I got an email the other day asking me, “Do you know the Condo Quickie?”

Of course a slew of thoughts went through my head and I ultimately came up with one decision – probably best to say “no”.

As I read on, I realized that we weren’t talking about the same thing. Toronto based interior design company Lux Interior has come up with an interesting concept for people who want to freshen up their condo space (not freshen up in their condo, if you know what I mean) and don’t want to break the bank with an interior designer.

According to their official press release:

Toronto-based interior design, LUX Design (www.luxdesign.ca), is excited to announce the launch of their new, all-in-one design service geared towards Toronto condo owners, The Condo Quickie™ (www.thecondoquickie.com). The Condo Quickie™ offers condo dwellers an innovative one-price package with no hidden fees or guess work.

Perfect for new condo buyers, The Condo Quickie™ is a complete design service that manages each condo suite’s transformation from design through installation. The package includes, but is not limited to, an initial on-site meeting, paint colour and feature wall selection, floor plan creation, furniture sourcing, purchasing and delivery coordination, window treatment design and selection, lighting, art and accessory selection, and an in-studio design presentation with 3d drawings. The flat rate design package fee is $1299 + tax, and applicants must qualify for this service.

“The idea for an all-in-one condo design service came about after a realtor contacted LUX Design for a consultation with one of his clients. Like many new condo buyers, the client was unsure of the potential in the blank condo space he was considering. We realized there was a great opportunity to help new buyers make an informed decision by showing them what is possible in these box-like spaces; something that is hard for many to visualize on their own,“ says LUX Design and The Condo Quickie™ founder Isabelle Glinka. “Our all-in-one condo package has been such a success over the last year that we knew we had to take it a step further with The Condo Quickie.”

What does the service include?  According to their official website, The Condo Quickie™ comes with:

• On-site meeting with a top LUX designer to determine your style and project objectives
• Paint colour and feature wall selection (accent walls, wallpapers, etc)
• Floor plan creation illustrating furniture placements
• Innovative and creative use of small spaces
• Window treatments, design and selection
• Complete furniture sourcing, purchasing and delivery coordination, to reflect design vision
• In-studio Interior Design Presentation, illustrating the design vision with imagery and samples
• Accessories, art and finishes sourcing

The only downside?  These services are only offered for folks living in the greater Toronto, Canada area.

So if you live in Toronto, have a condo and are ready to do The Condo Quickie™, give the folks from Lux Interior Design a shout at (647) 351-5935.

You can also visit them online at www.thecondoquickie.com.

ESM's quintessential guide to glassware according to The Gentleman Racer. Image from iStockphoto/Thinkstock.

Distillers, brewers, and other people who feel strongly about drink all feel strongly about glassware as well. You should too, because the shape of the glassware can dramatically affect the way you’re experiencing whatever it is you’re drinking.

There are two reasons that beer you drank from plastic cups in college tasted like crap: the cup did absolutely nothing for the beverage, and it was crap to begin with.

The shape of your glassware changes how the aromatic compounds in your beverage interact with your nose, and how the liquid flows out of the glass and on to the palate. This affects flavor and texture more than one might think.

That said, it’s not necessary to be totally anal retentive about it and go out and buy eight of every kind of glass. These ten should be able to cover just about any circumstance.

Highball

Highball glass image from iStockphoto/Thinkstock.

Use it for: Lighter cocktails like screwballs, gin & tonics, and mojitos, as well as soda, water, and iced tea.

When somebody says “glass” this is probably what you think of. It’s a tall glass with straight sides. Anything that you would drink a larger portion of that could be described as “refreshing” is right at home in the highball. It can, in a pinch, stand in for a stange and host delicate German brews like lambics and bocks.

Old Fashioned

So Old Fashioned. Image from Hemera/Thinkstock.

Use it for: Whiskies, heavy cocktails, and heavier drinks like Drambuie, as well as small servings of juice and such.

It’s a very versatile little glass and should be used for anything potent that won’t be served in some sort of specialty glass. Anything from pomegranate juice to bourbon is right at home here.

Tulip Pint

Bet you didn't know this bad boy was called a "Tulip Pint". Image from iStockphoto/Thinkstock.

Use it for: Most beers.

If you don’t know or have whatever type of glass is recommended for the day’s brew of choice, a tulip pint is a safe bet. The tulip shape helps collect the aroma of the beer near the top.

Snifter

The Snifter. Image from iStockphoto/Thinkstock.

Use it for: Brandy, cognac, wee heavies, and Russian imperial stouts.

Highly alcoholic beverages that express a lot of their character through aromatic compounds are best served in a snifter. Scotch, in the absence of a Glencairn glass, does well in a snifter as well.

See ESM’s totally unique use for a snifter here.

Flute

The Flute. Image from iStockphoto/Thinkstock.

Use it for: Champagne, German pilsener, wiezenbock (before you ask, yes, “pilsener” is spelled properly).

The Flute preserves the carbonation of a bevarage, and in the case of beers, the pillowy head of many German and Belgian brews as well. Don’t save these for that bottle of Dom alone.

Cocktail

The Cocktail Glass. Awesome for martinis. Tough as shit to walk through a crowded room without spilling your drink. Image from iStockphoto/Thinkstock.

Use it for: Martinis, any of a host of classic cocktails like Manhattan and giblets.

The cocktail glass isn’t for any really aromatic drinks, what it does do, however, is keep a drink cold and distribute it evenly across the tongue; perfect for a Vesper.

Coupette

Use it for: Margaritas, and other drinks that require a salt or sugar rim.

Think of the coupette as a cocktail glass that holds on to salt and sugar particularly well and has a higher capacity.

Cordial

Use it for: Vodka, rum, liqueurs.

Those shot glasses that were chipped beyond belief and emblazoned with sports team logos from college: not cool anymore.

Go with a cordial, get your self a nice vodka from Poland or Russia with some actual character, unlike the tasteless drivel we see so often, and pretend your last name is Romanov. Bonus points if the set is Bohemian crystal from Prague.

White Wine

Use it for: White wine… duh.

While wines do best in a smaller environment where the aroma is more concentrated. Rosés tend to do well in smaller glasses as well.

Red Wine

Use it for: Take a wild guess.

Red wine needs more space to breathe than white, and thus requires a larger glass. Oversized red wine glasses are also fantastic for most Belgian ales, believe it or not.

There you have it, the 10 glasses that every gentleman needs to have in his home.

While they might not be perfect for all situations, you are guaranteed to have something decent for any situation; nobody expects you to be a bartender you know.

From here, you can add to or make modifications to the list. For instance, Scotch aficionados should pick up a nice set of Glencairn glasses while those who wax poetic about fine Andalusian amontillados should invest in some sherry specific stemware.

Rennen Forged Monolicht M9 Concave wheels image from http://www.execstudio.com/products/rennen/Monolicht-Series%20M9/index.html.

I wonder if there are other people out there that look at car and wheel sites as much as I do.

Every waking moment I am looking at suits, cars, motorcycles, rims, motorcycle jackets… then back again. 

I guess it’s just a vicious cycle.

Although it’s bad for getting enough sleep on a regular basis, it’s awesome for all the readers of ESM.

Moment of silence please. Thank you. Lamborghini Gallardo with Rennen Forged Monolicht M9 Concave wheels image from http://www.execstudio.com/products/rennen/Monolicht-Series%20M9/index.html.

Case in point – these bad boys from Rennen Forged’s “Monolicht” series, the M9 Concaved.

As you can probably already tell, I am a sucker for multi-spoke monoblock wheels.  There’s just something about them that always make me stop what I am doing and helps ease my A.D.D. for a couple of minutes.

Audi R8 with Rennen Forged M9 wheels. Image from http://www.execstudio.com/products/rennen/Monolicht-Series%20M9/index.html.

And these particular wheels from Rennen Forged slowed me down for at least…. two minutes.

I mean seriously, just look at these photos.  Swoon.

Godzilla with Loubitons. Practically. Nissan GT-R with Rennen Forged Monolicht M9 wheels image from http://www.execstudio.com/products/rennen/Monolicht-Series%20M9/index.html.

For more information about Rennen Forged wheels and the M9 Concaved wheel, you can check out Rennen Forged’s official website at http://www.rennenforged.com/.

Interested in buying some?  Check out one of our favorite sites for car porn at http://www.execstudio.com/products/rennen/Monolicht-Series%20M9/index.html.

Boom. We're loaded and ready for action. Grant Harris helps our readers ooze with style on a small budget. Image from Ting Hoo/Digital Vision/Thinkstock.

Until you graduated college, there wasn’t much need for a week’s worth of suits, dress shirts, and ties.

Pulling together a professional wardrobe when you’re offered a job doesn’t need to be expensive or difficult. 

We’ll show you how.

Congratulations, you’ve graduated from college! Now it’s on to the first interview or your first day on the new job.

So what do you wear?

Certainly not your favorite game day t-shirt from your college days.

Since you have corner office aspirations but you’re working on a corner cubicle budget, these wardrobe essentials are worth the initial investment to start your career off on the right foot.

One thing that diploma doesn't do? Teach you how to look good. ESM's Style Maverick shows you how. Image from Burke/Triolo Productions/Brand X Pictures/Thinkstock.

Suits for College Grads

Starting out you only need two suits in a year-round, 100% worsted  wool.

• Buy suits with two or three buttons, notch lapels, with one or two vents
• They should be solid or pinstripe in gray or navy blue
• Keep the pinstripes thin and faint (they should not be the focal point of the suit)

These two suits are the foundation of any professional man’s closet. They can be worn with every color and more importantly will never go out of style.

The good news? You can find both of these for $500 or less.

Save the double-breasted and peak lapelled suits for when you get your first six-figure check (you’ll need it just to buy one).

Shirts and Ties

You’ll need at least seven dress shirts.

Five for the workweek, one for the weekend, and a professional man always keeps one crisp shirt at the office in case of emergencies like spilling coffee on himself.

• Buy solid or vertically striped shirts in a combination of white and blue
• The majority should be white (white shirts coordinate with every color and they can be bought for $40 or less at Nordstrom Rack)
• Stick to the straight point collar, but feel free to throw in a spread collar for variety (whatever collar you choose be sure to wear collar stays for the best image)
• Keep ties simple and conservative and buy only 100% silk as they will last longer and look better
• Save other fabrics like wool, cotton, and linen for the more advanced dresser
• Good options are solids in primary colors, pin dots, regimental stripes, or paisley for some variety
• Keep tie knots simple and use the four-in-hand which is suitable for any shirt collar

Today many young professional men may opt for a slimmer tie to accent their slender frame. This is a bit of fashion mixed with style and can be played well.

Stick with simple colors and minimal embellishments.

One additional note – quality slim ties can be had for $15.

Trousers and Belts

Buy three pairs of trousers in solid gray, navy blue and black.

• Again, look for 100% worsted wool
• You may choose pleats or no pleats depending on your body type and personal taste, but be sure they are meticulously tailored and fit you well
• These pants should be versatile enough to be worn at the office or at happy hour

You only need two belts in solid black and brown.

• Make them both high quality leather with sleek buckles that do not draw attention to the waist
• To be sure the leather is quality look for the 100% leather stamp or bend the belt back and forth
• There should be no creases in the leather and it should reform to its original shape

Dress Shoes

Men who care about their wardrobe will invest their money in quality shoes.

• You only need two pairs; one in black and one in a brown
• Be sure both are high quality 100% leather, thin soled, and simple
• Choose an oxford, cap toe, or wingtip and keep them shined
• Stay away from fancy embellishments as they will only add to the cost of the shoe and make you look like you are trying too hard
• Avoid square toe, rubber soled shoes (they wear out quickly and only make you look like a new grad instead of a seasoned professional)
• Get free shipping both ways on quality shoes at Zappos.com.

Underwear and Socks

Actually, more like undershirts. Again, you need at least seven. One for every dress shirt you own.

• Keep them white; short sleeved and 100% cotton
• Buy a few v-necks to keep you cooler during the summer and they look better than a crew neck under an open collared dress shirt
• Wal-Mart is a great option

Keep socks dark and plain.

• Only buy over-the-calf hosiery as the bare leg should never be seen when a man crosses his legs
• Socks should be the same color as your suit or close to it (this will elongate your leg and create a seamless transition from foot to trouser)
• Buy 100% cotton or a natural fiber blend so your feet don’t sweat like the Sahara
• Find some at Marshalls

Accessories

Accessories should be kept to a minimum, but every well-dressed man needs a watch. It will set you apart from the iPhone carrying crowd that only reads a digital clock on a touch screen.

• Show some old-world class and strap on a watch
• Keep it thin in a leather or stainless steel band and avoid digital faces at all costs
• Citizen is a quality brand with style that will last until you can buy that Rolex with your big promotion

BALLIN'! (On a budget) Image from Eyecandy Images/Thinkstock.

Professional Intangibles

No matter how well a man is dressed it doesn’t account for the intangibles.

Smile a lot, shake hands firmly, respect your co-workers and superiors, show up on time, and put 100% into everything you do.

If the college grad follows these simple principles his wardrobe won’t be the only thing the boss remembers when bonus time comes around.

Happy Wednesday. India Lea from Elpromotions telling our readers how to do dates right. Image from www.ccm-studio.co.uk.

For this week’s installment of Your Weekly Fix: Style advice from a beautiful woman, we have Elpromotions model India Lea. 

Indi Lea is 21 years old and works as a full time promotional, commercial and underwear model. 

She’s 5’10″, has dark, exotic looks and describes herself as ”very reliable, hardworking and outgoing.”

India Lea from Elpromotions. Image from www.ccm-studio.co.uk.

What should a man do on a date?

Always be polite and courteous, holding doors and pulling out chairs makes a girl feel special. Also making a girl laugh will break the ice and is a very attractive trait.

Lots of compliments go down well too!

Make sure to be a gentleman, give compliments and be awesome. India Lea image from www.ccm-studio.co.uk.

For more information about India Lea, you can catch up with her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/indilea13.

To book India Lea for an event or photo shoot in the UK or Ibiza, you can contact her booking agents over at Elpromotions.

Elpromotions is a boutique staffing & modelling and fashion marketing agency, who supply staff to various events around the UK, including shows and exhibitions.

Elpromotions offers custom marketing packages, PR, brand marketing, promotion campaigns and boutique event staffing for your business.

The Gentleman Racer talks about Hot Wheels and how it affected his personal automotive sense of style. Image from GM Heritage Center

Like just about every petrol-head, as a child some of my favorite toys were my collection of Hot Wheels cars, along with the matching tracks and fairly open staircase that made it possible to stage some seriously epic races.

I liked racing cars. I joined the boy scouts just to to compete in the Pine-Wood Derby. I think I may have remained as a member of that organization for a whole four days after that event.

Having about eight feet of drop made my house the go-to for racing little toy cars. Yes, I was the shit when I was nine.

Allowance was promptly spent at the toy store every single week on more die cast wonders. I had quite the collection. There were tons of little cars vying for my attention. Each had its own design and each performed slightly differently on my track.

Aesthetically, my favorite was a metallic blue C3 Corvette.

The seed upon which the automotive love started. Image from http://www.entertainmentearth.com/images/AUTOIMAGES/MT54574LG.jpg.

Aside from the fact that those curvy, masculine, and sleek lines hit all of the right buttons in my developing brain was the fact that my Stingray almost always was the champion of my diminutive races. This was the clear favorite.

If Toy Story had revolved entirely around cars and been inexplicably based upon my life, this ‘Vette would have taken the place of Buzz Lightyear. Woody would have been the old favorite, which was a cartoonish muscle car festooned with missiles and machine guns. The Mercedes 300SLR, Lamborghini Countach, and Mercedes 540k Spezial Roadster would have all been major supporting characters as well.

When perusing at car porn sometime earlier in my career as an automotive journalist, I came to the sudden realization that my blue Stingray had, in many ways, defined what was cool in a vehicle to me. I love exaggerated fenders, classic GT proportions, roof-lines unimpeded by horizontal slabs of trunk, overbites, and a bit of exoticism derived from venting.

My favorite modern cars all bear some or all of these features, and some of my very favorites even seem to echo some of the Stingray’s proportions.

Jason Castriota’s brilliant Maserati GranTurismo, for instance, has the same GT proportions, exaggerated fenders, overbite, and swooping roof-line. It does have some venting as well, but it’s a bit too Buick-ish for my taste.

I think most would agree, this Maserati Granturismo is a pretty car. Image from Maserati Motor Company.

While the Maser was the car that caused me to realize the link, I’ve noticed that the parts of my other favorite cars echo my childhood choice as well. I love the roof-line of the Aston Martin DB5, the fenders of the Ferrari 458 Italia, and the lines of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale or the Dino 246GT.

While these design elements do predate the C3 Corvette, in my personal chronology they don’t. I owe my sense of style to Larry Shinoda, Bill Mitchell, and Zora Arkus-Duntov.

Boom. The Subaru PUMA Rallycross team in full effect. Screenshot from http://youtu.be/YxrXOUCd2Zc.

Love the X-Games and all the athletes from back in the day?

Us too.

What we love now is the fact that a lot of them are moving from skateboarding, FMX and BMX ramps into a totally different – but still kickass - sport, Rallycross.

According to the latest news from PUMA, they are introducing their new Rallycross team and it consists of Dave Mirra, Bucky Lasek and Sverre Isachsen.

Check out the video below:

From their YouTube description:

Sportlifestyle brand PUMA enters the Global Rallycross Championship as official sponsor and with Subaru will unleash the Subaru PUMA Rallycross Team.

The team consists of returning driver and BMX legend icon, Dave Mirra, award winning professional skateboarder and new to the Rally circuit (but not new to driving!), Bucky Lasek, and defending European RallyCross champion, Sverre Isachsen, known affectionately by his fans as “The Viking Warrior.”

PUMA will bring Global Rallycross color, design, fun and an unexpected point of view to the adrenaline filled sport. The team will drive the most fierce 2012 Subaru WRX STI rally cars on the planet.

The even bigger plus for those who love the PUMA brand and Rallycross?  They’re creating some matching gear for their new Rallycross team that will be available for purchase.  Unfortunately, when we went to their site today, we couldn’t find the gear just yet.

For more information and updates about the new Puma Rallycross team, you can check out Puma’s official site at http://www.puma.com/.

Let's talk about how to revitalize the world economy through boxing. Image from iStockphoto/Thinkstock.

The Mayweather/Cotto fight last night was a good one.

Cotto fought like a true warrior.  Mayweather bled and was brilliant defensively.  Justin Bieber could barely carry Mayweather’s belt.  Mayweather’s girlfriend was…. um… there.

This morning there are probably a flood of articles writing about the Mayweather vs. Cotto fight and subsequently hundreds of articles clamouring for the Mayweather/Pacquaio fight.

Mayweather vs. Cotto. A great fight that could lead to saving the world economy. Image from http://www.floydmayweather.com.

Although the Mayweather/Cotto fight was a unanimous decision, Pacquaio fans saw what could possibly be a weakness in Mayweathers’ defense – jabs and putting him on the ropes.  Alternatively, Manny didn’t do so well against a counterpuncher in his last fight.

But beyond all the articles and reasons the Mayweather/Pacquaio fight should happen, let me add one more reason – world economics.

So maybe you’re thinking to yourself: “What you talkin’ about, Willis?”

Let’s do some math and hear me out.

The fight itself, with ticket sales and Pay-Per-View services can easily eclipse $100 million dollars.  In addition, the gambling (legal and non-legal) can be equal to that amount, if not more.

Nike (Manny’s sponsor) is going to have to create apparel and merchandise to commemorate the event.  For fans like me, I will buy that shit by the truckloads.

Add another 10 million to the equation.

Justin Bieber and his significant other, Selena Gomez are now boxing fans.  This makes their legions of fans, boxing fans.  This has potential to add some extra loot to the world economic purse.

50 Cent.  $1,000,000.  Easily.

People consuming alcohol during and after this event.  This could triple the revenue of all bars, liquor distributors, manufacturers and retail sales.

Manny’s entourage.  They’re going to have their own trickle-down effect.

Mayweather’s lawyers. Their retainer has to go up.

The Philippines.  With zero crime rate during the fight, shop owners can manage their businesses and make more money.

The United States. All of Mayweather’s entourage is going to be spending money.  This can potentially be at clothing stores, restaurants, gentleman’s clubs…

All-in-all, the amount of money that can exchange hands before, during and after the Mayweather vs. Pacquaio fight can easily total $1 billion dollars.

In one evening, one event could possibly revitalize multiple countries who are in dire need of money to circulate among their people.

ESM’s plea to both of these fighters and their promotors – please, please, please don’t do it for yourselves. 

Do it for the world economy.

The Hennessey Performance McLaren MP4-12C. Image from http://www.hennesseyperformance.com/hpe800-12c.html.

I’m still reeling from the McLaren MP4-12C I saw driving around in Beverly Hills the other day.

It was red.  It was sexy.  It made me want to drive beside it for as long as humanly possible.  It even made me want to kick the STaSIS Audi R8 from the top of my “first car to buy” list when I won the lottery.

But THIS car.  THIS car makes me almost forget about all the other cars on my “I just won the lottery, time to get a boatload of cars” list.

It’s Hennessey Performance’s upgraded version of the McLaren MP4-12C.

What we love about it the most, aside from the fact that it is 800 freaking horsepower is the fact the folks from Hennesssey weren’t scared to rock out with this already unbelievably awesome automobile.

At 800 horses, this is probably the view of the Hennessey McLaren MP4-12C you should get used to. Image from http://www.hennesseyperformance.com/hpe800-12c.html.

According to their official website:

Today the company is introducing their HPE800 Twin Turbo concept for the 12C.  The HPE800 Twin Turbo will include upgrades to the powertrain designed to reliably increase power to over 800 bhp.  HPE will also add a more aggressive aero package to the vehicle in order to increase downforce.  The Hennessey CarbonAero bodywork will incorporate a new, center-positioned frontal air inlet with hood extractor.  This new design will allow room for larger heat exchangers for improved engine intercooling as well as transmission cooling.

“We’ve been taking fast cars and have been making them faster for over twenty years,” said company founder and president John Hennessey.  “I spent a lot of time around the new 12C at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed and was very impressed.  We’re excited to have the opportunity to take a great car and give it our own special performance touch while giving 12C owners a uniquely aggressive appearance”.

I love how John Hennessey’s description seems to downplay the fact that not only will you have a $250K car, you will have a significant amount of upgrades that will make you wear a helmet every time you drive it.

HPE800 Twin Turbo Upgrade Includes:

• Upgraded intercooler system
• Upgraded air intake system
• Upgraded ball-bearing turbochargers
• Hennessey titanium exhaust system
• External wastegates
• External blow-off valves
• Upgraded fuel and engine management system
• Upgraded transmission cooler
• Upgraded transmission clutch system
• Custom dyno-tuned engine calibration
• Hennessey Warranty

Other Upgrades Include:

• Hennessey CarbonAero body upgrade
• Hennessey Monoblock wheels
• Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires
• Hennessey custom interior upgrades including carbon fiber, Alcantara and leathers

For more information on the Hennessey Performance McLaren MP4-12C, you can check out Hennessey Performance’s official website at http://www.hennesseyperformance.com/hpe800-12c.html.

Please don't say we need to talk, please don't say we need to talk.... Image from iStockphoto/Thinkstock.

We need to talk.

Really, we do. This is serious; sit down (you probably are, actually… okay well stay down… good boy).

I’ve been noticing something creeping its way back into our once peaceful lives; a menace that is insisting itself upon every man – young and old.

It’s a horror that is changing grown men back into helpless teenagers and ridding them of any chance of ever reproducing.

I’m talking about the graphic t-shirt.

From the “Bazzinga” print to the dreaded “Female Body Inspector” (yes, it still exists; it prompted this article), the menace of the boyish charm ideal has been stretched into the land of the lost boys.

Even though I can understand the appeal of staying young and friendly to your hobbies and interests, there is a line to be drawn here, gentlemen.

For instance, just because I have an unhealthy obsession for Marmite doesn’t mean that I’m going to rush out and print a “Love me or hate me” t-shirt.

Ergo, if you always wanted to be a fireman but you’re too… um… “mature” for it, don’t wear a FDNY t-shirt (you’re not fooling anyone, I promise you that).

This is not so say that t-shirts with prints on them are the cause for all potential damnation. I actually love a great print on a t-shirt; otherwise we’d all look like something out of a George Orwell novel.

Maybe there is a magical place that we can all go where we look good, and don’t look like we nicked a shirt from a high school lost and found.

Maybe it’s called… the place of the happy balance! (of which I have yet to find with these chocolate covered cranberries next to me… baby steps).

Such a place exists in the genius of Bang On – a custom print t-shirt company that started here, in my fickle town of Vancouver back in 1999, just down the road from where I’m sitting now.

http://bang-on.com/

Their concept is quoted as:

A retro style custom t-shirt shop with plenty of cool transfers and t-shirts. They achieved this with flying colours and now offer their service to the rest of the world- rejoice!

You can check out Bang On’s official website at www.bang-on.com.

The system is simple:  You get to flip through hundreds upon hundreds of designs (or simply provide your own) and they’ll screen print it onto a t-shirt of your choice (although to confess, I’ve been buying their shirts plain and using them as my ‘plain white T’ for the past few years).

Friendly staff and a great product all add together to make a growing empire that is popularizing the world of customized marketing.

Ethnic pattern from bang-on.com.

Be warned when you head to their website!  There are such prints that play on Lucky Charms logos and even Captain Kirk with the “Beam me up, Scotty” slogan – but please, try to remember that you’re past puberty and scroll through to the “Ethnic Patterns” section.

Check out the colours used in these prints.  They’ll open up your wardrobe without looking like you really tried all that hard.

Or say, you’ve been bitten by the travel bug and have a hard time keeping it in? Let it out with heading to the Travel page and explore the vintage pictures of buildings as opposed to the ”I heart Japan” prints.

But maybe you’re like me.  And you’re fussy.  And whatever anyone has dreamt up before you is just too damn unimaginative? How do you narrow down the socially appropriate?

Keep it simple!

I’m considering treating myself to a new t-shirt.  Exams are almost done and I’m the type that needs an incentive (just a few dollars shy of my Berlinetta, you see).

One of the things I love to wear the most is a good, old fashioned, rock and roll t-shirt.

But all the ones out there are horridly over-produced and at the end of the day, I’ll look like one of those girls who wears a Freddie Meme t-shirt but couldn’t sing Bohemian Rhapsody for her life.

*insert table flip here*

I love Queen. And, as I’ve previously discussed in other articles, I’m in the process of starting the International Church of Brian May.

However, while that is still getting its legs I want to wear the best Queen shirt out there! (Too bad that they are all mediocre.)

That’s when the magical land of Bang On told me how if I took my own picture into a store, they will gladly print it on for me! *angles singing* here I come, Brian!

But to those of you who don’t live near a Bang-On store, you’ve got Zazzle.

Zazzle is a website dedicated to serving your every customized need from mugs to calendars and even the precious T shirt and can be found at www.zazzle.com.

http://www.zazzle.com/

Shipping worldwide and providing excellent help in every step, Zazzle is perfect for the ‘noob’ of the customized T shirt world.

Simply upload your picture and watch it transform into a garment of which you can view in multiple ways (even on a ‘model!). Perhaps my favourite feature is how it will actually tell you if the resolution is out of whack; no one likes a blurry Brian.

Whatever your feel, you’ll get your fix of personal expression without metaphorically welding yourself a chastity belt; trust me, nothing says “please don’t use the phone number I just gave you” like a scantily clad anime character holding a Pokémon ball (yes…it happened).

Don’t make me have to deal with that again, please.