MANTRA for the Modern Man

Shit Girls Say - Episode 2... It's about time!

2011-12-20T12:19:00.000-05:00

A short while back a couple of buddies started tweeting back and forth, making fun of things that come of of the mouths of babes. Not babies... Girls. These tweets took on a life of their own and soon gave birth to a Twitter sensation, @shitgirlssay (do yourself a favor and follow). Now with their very own website, ShitGirlsSay.com and a production budget big enough to land Juliette Lewis to star in their first video, who knows how far it might go. Let's face it... there's an endless supply of material.

It's been only 8 days since their first video hit the web via Youtube, and already Shit Girls Say - Episode 1 has been viewed over 5 million times. And now we're pleased to give you the sequal, Shit Girls Say - Episode 2. Enjoy!

New Nicholle Lottman Playmate-style Shoot

2011-12-14T09:12:00.000-05:00

Here's a little sample of our latest shoot with MANTRA Girl, Nicholle Lottman. We wanted to do a Playboy Playmate style photo shoot, and i think we achieved it. There are many more photos to come when the new site is up (hopefully by early next week). In the mean time, i hope you enjoy these...

Tuuli Shipster Nude Pictorial in New Rankin Book - via Egotastic.com

2011-12-14T08:58:00.000-05:00

Tuuli Shipster, the beautiful Finnish-born super model, poses in all kinds of undress and nude for the amazing Rankin and his new photo book, dedicated to Tuuli's beauty. And why not? Tuuli and Rankin are married. I can certainly understand the mega-famous portrait photographer wanting to share his roommate's special beauty with the world. And we're all happier for it.

We thank our friends at Egotastic! for the post. Link to the full gallery is below the pic:

Here's the full gallery on Egotastic!: Tuuli Shipster pictorial for new Rankin book (warning: NSFW)

Shit Girls Say, Episode 1

2011-12-13T10:51:00.000-05:00

MANTRA is very thankful for your patience as we transition to a fully-functioning online magazine format. Like most construction projects, it has run over deadline and over budget, but we remain very convinced that the finished product will be worth the wait.

Over the next few days we will post some new features. This is a feeble way of saying thanks for your patience and also a shameless attempt to wet your whistle for what's coming in the near future. But in a much more beautiful, feature-rich user experience.

Here's a great take on the Shit Girls Say, from a man's perspective. The fact that "Episode 1" is in the title gives us great hope for more to come...

MANTRA TO LAUNCH AS FULL-FEATURE eMAGAZINE

2011-11-23T09:35:00.001-05:00

Newest MANTRA Girl, Tawny...
We'll see a lot more of her on the new site

MANTRA has outgrown the blog platform and will soon launch as a full-featured online magazine. The mission and focus will remain the same. But the content will be richer, easier to access and navigate, and a significantly improved user-experience delivered. Of all the great improvements you will enjoy on the new site, probably the most important will be the improved photo galleries. MANTRA Girls will be given their own galleries which will be much more extensive, easier to browse and view, and the images will be larger and higher resolution.

This is very exciting news for me, and for all of you that have supported MANTRA by following the site. I can't tell you how grateful i am for your support and interest.

The new home for MANTRA will be www.MANTRA4men.com and hopefully will be live by Monday, 11/28/2011. An announcement will be made here to alert everyone that the site is live.

I appreciate the patience you've shown during the past few weeks as i've spent more time and energy on the design and development of the new site and less time on new posts. But look for that to change as soon as the new site is live. You can expect to see new articles almost every day and new galleries posted at least twice weekly. And for that, we can all be full of gratitude.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Klarc

A Serving of Gratitude Brings Healthy Dividends - NYTimes.com

2011-11-23T09:24:00.000-05:00

So here we are, Thanksgiving upon us again. This is the time of year when, in spite of all the commercial and secular distractions, even the most jaded among us feels a little bit introspective. We are encouraged to be thankful for all the good things in our life. And for most of us, we shouldn't need to look to hard to find those things that invoke a sense of gratitude. But how about extending that gratitude beyond the day... even beyond the season? What about making gratitude a focal point in your life, a daily practice?

Here's a great article on the psychological and even physiological benefits of practicing gratitude.

A Serving of Gratitude Brings Healthy Dividends - NYTimes.com:

From MANTRA to you, Happy Thanksgiving.

'via Blog this'

15 New Superfoods: Eating Well MANTRA Style

2011-11-18T09:38:00.000-05:00

15 New Superfoods: Fill Your Fridge With These Foods

Here's a great Men's Health article on the best foods to incorporate into your lifestyle for weight management, improved energy and sexual performance, increased energy levels, and long-term health.

Grass-fed beef contains 85% less fat than commodity beef and is
so much more nutritious it almost needs to be classified as a different food

Some items on the list might surprise you (ice cream and dark chocolate, for example) while some are obvious (eggs, whole grains, leafy vegetables). Overall, a very good summary of these foods and explanation of the benefits they deliver. There's a few holes in the list. MANTRA wants to know what you think...

Brooklyn Decker Titillating in La Senza Sexy Lingerie Shoot

2011-11-16T13:43:00.001-05:00

BROOKLYN DECKER in Super Sexy Lingerie

(Holiday gift ideas, of course)

MANTRA loves Brooklyn Decker. Big time. Not only is she smokin' hot, adorably cute, and seemingly a really cool girl, she's pretty damn funny. You should "like" her Facebook (Brooklyn's Facebook Page) page to get a daily dose of her Twitter feeds and photos posted. Yeah, i know, she has a publicist do all that for her. Well, maybe she does, but I'm thinking that she still has to come up with a lot of this stuff herself. It may be massaged and spell-checked prior to posting, but check it out and you'll see what i mean.

But back to the hotness... thanks again to our friends at Egotastic.com for posting this great new photo shoot for La Senza lingerie. And guys, if you're looking for great gift ideas for your lady, what better source than MANTRA and our bevy of beautiful women in sexy lingerie? Shopping does not get better than this (shopping and full gallery links after the photo)

For the full pictorial, click here:
Brooklyn Decker for La Senza lingerie

Jimmy Fallon Doesn't Suck as Jim Morrison...

2011-11-16T12:45:00.000-05:00

Even if you hate Jimmy Fallon, this is really good...

You have to love the Doors. As a band who's time was cut way short by the tragedy that was Jim Morrison's death, their influence on rock music is still being felt today. This little cover/tribute to the legendary band by Jimmy Fallon and the Roots is quite good. But once again the Doors time was cut way short by the tragedy that is Late Night with Jimmy Fallon...

MANTRA Girl Sierra Rene - Stunningly Brunette - Red Lingerie

2011-11-16T09:29:00.003-05:00

MANTRA Girl Sierra Rene - Catch a Shooting Star

Sierra Rene is the newest MANTRA Girl. She's on the verge of blowing up. And here you'll see why. We did a great shoot last night and plan to work together again soon. A full feature with interview will be posted soon, but here's a little appetizer to whet your whistle until then...

For more Sierra, check back here often. For even more, "like" her on Facebook:

Sierra Rene Fan Page on Facebook

11/11/11 - MANTRA Girl Nicholle Lottman - Sheer White Bikini

2011-11-11T13:49:00.001-05:00

MANTRA Girl Nicholle Lottman - Sheer White Bikini

I love this little set from Jamaica. The sun was setting, the colors are gorgeous, and the bikini is barely there. And it doesn't appear to be intended to get wet. Well, actually, i think it was.

11/11/11 - MANTRA Girl Kala H - Vol 2...

2011-11-11T12:27:00.002-05:00

KALA H - New Shots of a MANTRA Favorite

MANTRA loves Kala. And we're shooting together again soon, which means new hot images to come. But until then, here are some fresh images from our first shoot, yet to be published. This should tide you over a little. Enjoy!

Brooklyn Decker Bikini Picture Leads List of Lycra-Clad Hotties in SI Swimsuit 2012 Calendar | Egotastic!

2011-11-11T10:37:00.000-05:00

Brooklyn Decker Bikini Picture Leads List of Lycra-Clad Hotties in SI Swimsuit 2012 Calendar | Egotastic!:

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NEW RESEARCH - Old School Leather Football Helmets Hold Up vs High Tech Modern Versions

2011-11-11T08:33:00.000-05:00

OLD ERA LEATHER HELMET PROTECTS AS WELL AS MODERN VERSIONS

(and makes players look less pussy-like)

Let's face it, football was tougher back in the old days. The guys were tough and the stories they tell are even tougher. One thing that might help get rid of the country club, prima donna image the NFL suffers from today is to bring back the old-school leather helmet. Now that research has validated the safety of this ruggedly handsome accessory, there's no reason for a football player to look like a gay Darth Vader dancing through Fantasy Fest.

Even the most handsome man in the universe looks tough in a leather dome

To pay tribute to the toughness of the old pro football player, i dug up some vintage footage of Art Donovan, the legendary defensive tackle for the original Baltimore Colts. Art was famous for his toughness as a player in an era when a broken bone did not necessarily come with a day off. In his later years, Art became more famous for his great story-telling about his playing days and the Not-So-Glorious-Days of the early NFL. Here's a great little clip of Art guesting on the Tonight Show with Johhny Carson. Priceless.

Mike Tyson as Herman Cain - 'Nuff Said

2011-11-10T18:39:00.001-05:00

Herman Cainâs Campaign Promises with Mike Tyson from Mike Tyson

Arthur recreates … THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (Happy Halloween!) — Arthur Recreates Scenes from Classic Movies

2011-11-10T11:33:00.000-05:00

MANTRA Goes Momentarily Soft

(But we're OK with that because we're secure in our modern manhood)

It's a baby, i know. And babies as subject matter are usually under exclusive contracts with women's interest publications. But this is somehow different. Because it's funny. Too funny not to post. And besides, the baby, Arthur, is depicting some really tough, masculine characters in some of his work. So get over it and enjoy...

Arthur recreates … THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (Happy Halloween!) — Arthur Recreates Scenes from Classic Movies:

'via Blog this'

Joe Paterno Fired: Penn State Football Coach Removed By Board Of Trustees After Scandal (VIDEO)

2011-11-10T10:37:00.000-05:00

Joe Paterno Fired: Penn State Football Coach Removed By Board Of Trustees After Scandal (VIDEO):

It's a sad day in sports. Hell, it's a sad day in life. It's a shame to see one of the true good guys go down like this. It's just a shame. There were mistakes made in this situation, no doubt. I am not condoning any of them. Should Coach Paterno have been fired? Probably. Given the facts that have come to light and the pressure being put on the university to take action, yes, i suppose there wasn't much choice. But it's still a shame.

It seems that corruption and cheating has become the modus operandi in major college athletics. And it gets nauseating. So it has become increasing necessary to have some exemplary exceptions that one can cling to as the shining hope. The shiny coin in the pile of poop that allows you to say to all the cheaters, "See, you asshole, you don't HAVE to be dirty to win... you can do it RIGHT and still be successful."

Joe Paterno and Penn State has been one of those examples. This one's gonna leave a mark.

'via Blog this'

MANTRA Girl - BRITTANY DIETZ... Pushing the Legal Limit of Cuteness

2011-11-08T21:40:00.000-05:00

MANTRA Girl Interview: Brittany Dietz

Lovely Brittany was looking to spice up her modeling portfolio a bit, and i was lucky enough to get the assignment. As you can see, Brittany is adorable. In every way. She's as sweet as she is beautiful. And she's as smart as she is sweet. At only 20 years old, Brittany is on pace to graduate from Kent State University next August with a degree in Public Communications. From there, she plans to attend law school.

I got to chat with Brittany before and after our photo shoot. She was wonderful enough to give MANTRA a little insight into what's she's all about.

Here's the interview. Followed, of course, by the photos.

M - How long have you been modeling?

B - I modeled from ages 14-16, took a break and recently in the past year got back into it.

M - What would you like to accomplish as a model?

B - I would like to take it as far as I can go along side my legal career.

M - As a beautiful young woman with a great head on your shoulders, what are the five most important qualities that impress you most in a man?

B - 1. Hardworking 2. Motivated 3. Confident 4. Good sense of humor 5. Honesty

M - From a woman's perspective, if you could give one piece of style advice to the men of the world, what would it be?

B - Wear clothes that FIT appropriately!

M - What musical artist gets you "in the mood" more than any other?

B - Hmmm... maybe Enrique Iglesias..he is beautiful.

M - Describe the perfect first date?

B - Something outside, walls restrict you.

M - What's the fastest way for a guy to get thrown into the FRIEND ZONE?

B - Don’t be needy

M - Why did you want to be a MANTRA Girl?

B - I like what MANTRA is about... and I like to make beautiful pictures, and share them with the world!

GEICO CAVEMAN AD CAMPAIGN NEEDS TO TAKE A DIRT NAP

2011-11-08T17:13:00.000-05:00

Know When to Say When - Geico Caveman Ads Are Dying a Long, Slow, Miserable Death

Every now and then, a television ad campaign comes along that is special. It stands out from the deluge of cheese and stupidity and truly entertains us. The GEICO Caveman series was one of those. Until recently.

Hey, they had a great run, those hairy gents, but the run is over and it's time to put them to rest. PLEASE. As a reminder of how good they were, i am posting one of the early installments (perhaps vol.2). And as an example of how terrible they have become, i follow it with one of the latest installments, currently pissing us off on a daily basis.

Here's the oldie...

And here's the new crap...

Dear GEICO,

Please spare us the pain and save what dignity is left of our friend, the Caveman. It's been a good run.

Joe Frazier Dead: Former Heavyweight Champion Dies At 67

2011-11-08T10:32:00.001-05:00

For a more detailed tribute to Smokin' Joe in the Huffington Post:

Joe Frazier Dead: Former Heavyweight Champion Dies At 67:

'via Blog this'

Smokin' Joe Frazier - When Boxing Was Real, No One Was "Realer"

2011-11-08T02:16:00.000-05:00

Joe Frazier, former Heavyweight Champion of the World, dead at 67

Frazier breaks the jaw of Ali in the
15th round of their legendary first bout

Smokin' Joe in his finest moment...
yet pummeled beyond recognition

When i was a kid, i had a small handful of sports heroes. Joe Frazier was one of them. A relentless, bobbing and weaving aggressor with a legendary left hook, he was the epitome of the working man's champion. Out of the ring he was vastly overshadowed by his greatest contemporary, Muhammad Ali. Frazier, quiet and unassuming, was awkwardly uncomfortable in Ali's incessant hype circus. But in the ring, the contrasting styles and undeniable will of these two great fighters gave us three of boxing's most epic bouts and one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports.

Smokin' Joe became the first man ever to put Ali on the canvass, in the 15th round of their first fight, when he landed that famous left hook and broke Ali's jaw. The testament of Ali's will is that, even with a broken jaw, he somehow picked himself up off the mat and finished the fight.

The testament of Frazier's will is the brutal beating he somehow withstood during the bout. After winning the fight by unanimous decision and retaining his title, he spent several days in the hospital recovering from the enormous damage inflicted on his face by Ali and his relentless, laser sharp jabs. But Joe just kept coming. Because that's what he did.

Boxing was real back then. And the Heavyweight division was rich with talent. In addition to Frazier and Ali, there was Ken Norton and of course, the young, angry George Foreman. It's been said that any of these men would have dominated the division had they come along at almost any other era. But, unfortunately for them, they had each other. And fortunately for boxing fans - and back then, it seems, everyone was a boxing fan - we had all of them. At the same time. Wow.

So here's to Smokin' Joe Frazier. A real champion. A real man. Thank you for the memories, Mr. Frazier. I will never forget.

For some wonderfully entertaining documentary detailing the rich history of the Frazier-Ali era of boxing, here are a few MANTRA recommended DVD's that will not disappoint. Love him or hate him, you cannot deny the supreme greatness of Ali. And that supreme greatness serves as affirmation of the greatness of his rivals, the greatest of which was Joe Frazier.

FOR CLEVELAND BROWNS FANS EVERYWHERE... Browns Fan Reaction to Pathetic Loss v. Houston 11/6/2011

2011-11-07T07:59:00.000-05:00

I've seen a lot of sports fans rant on You Tube. Most of them think they're really funny. And some of them actually are. But this guy is the best... it's too bad the Cleveland Browns can't produce a product even half this good.

Drunk History Vol. 5 w/ Will Ferrell, Don Cheadle & Zooey Deschanel

2011-11-04T15:57:00.001-04:00

Is it happy hour yet??? How about another installment of DRUNK HISTORY to get it going?

Tatiana Gil Topless Pictures Make for the Perfect Travel Planning Guide (VIDEO) | Egotastic!

2011-11-04T15:47:00.000-04:00

Tatiana Gil Topless Pictures Make for the Perfect Travel Planning Guide (VIDEO) | Egotastic!:

Tatiana Gil is a fresh face in the world of glamour. Her recent nude pictorial (and accompanying video) for SoHo magazine make it very clear that Tatiana is going to be making us very happy for a long time. And if you have 4 minutes to spend frying your brain, watch the video. No matter how you plan on spending your weekend, this will help jolt you out of the office with a new purpose.

A little Friday love from our friends at Egotastic!... Happy Weekend!

For the full pictorial and video, click here...

'via Blog this'

Get Stronger Without Lifting: Men's Health.com

2011-11-02T09:14:00.003-04:00

Body Weight Workout - Take Your Gym With You

I've been implementing more body weight exercises into my workout plan. Why? Mainly because of the numerous benefits delivered by building and toning muscle through exercises that rely on your own weight, gravity, and proper form. Better balance, flexibility, and range of motion are three really important benefits of body weight exercises versus traditional weight training.

As i've aged - and i mean like a fine wine, not a rusty old Buick - it started becoming obvious to me that my weight-lifting workout was no longer meeting my needs. My body looked good - toned and muscular - but i was becoming significantly less flexible, i was experiencing a lot of inflammation in my joints - which often curtailed my workouts, and my range of motion - especially in my shoulders and torso (lower back, glutes, hamstrings) - was diminishing to point of concern.

Enter the body weight exercise (like the one described in the Men's Health article, linked below). I am already noticing improvements in the concerned areas mentioned above. I may have lost a little bulk, but i'm told that will return as i become better at the motions and my endurance improves. And believe me, these exercises will challenge you. But stay with it and you'll notice big improvements. The payoff may be greater than in any other program i have personally tried, including Body For Life and P90X. Give it a go and let me know what you think...

Full Body Weight Workout Plan - Men's Health

Get Stronger Without Lifting: Men's Health.com