NewMenMagazine

Men’s Style Icon: Eddie Redmayne

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Introduction

Eddie Redmayne is a name that many would not have recognised mere months ago. Educated at Eton and Cambridge, he had bubbled under the radar for a number of years with a string of minor supporting roles as both an actor and model.

That was until his starring role in the critically acclaimed ‘My Week with Marilyn’ as Colin Clark, a man who was allegedly romantically involved with the pin-up herself.

One to Watch

This one role has catapulted Redmayne into the public eye and, with that, a number of appearances that have highlighted his ability to wear clothes and not let them wear him – the true art of any icon.

Redmayne has also landed the coveted position as the face of Burberry, alongside Cara Delevingne (another British up and comer). This year is his second campaign with the British juggernaut, the first being in 2008.

Eddie Redmayne Lookbook

Style Breakdown: Formal

Red carpet appearances have so far been Redmayne’s bread and butter. The lookbook above underlines his penchant for slim fitted clothing, something that has been ever-present in his more formal attire.

Clean lined, well fitted and often unassuming tailoring has been the main weapon in Redmayne’s red carpet arsenal, something he has utilised to create a sterling silhouette time and time again.

Redmayne should also be credited for his solid choice of footwear. Often avoiding the traditional and plain, he often opts for those with a tactile element, detailed or distressed (but never sloppy) aesthetic, which puts a subtle individual stamp on his outfits.

It certainly would not be out of the question to liken some of Mr Redmayne’s red carpet looks to those of current man of the hour (or year) Ryan Gosling. The slim fit tailoring, minimalistic accessories and the confidence to mix it up and wear patterns are all akin to Gosling’s winning formal formula.

Eddie Redmayne Style Essentials

Asos Slim Fit Check Suit In Navy
Darcy 1 Button Peak Dinner Suit Black
Alexander Mcqueen Check Wool Suit Jacket
Asos Geo Print Pocket Square
Austin Reed 110th Anniversary Silk Handkerchief
J.crew Downtown Wool Tie
Forzieri Small Paisley Print Wool And Silk Reversible Mens Scarf
Pretty Green By Liam Gallagher Shawl Collar Cardigan
Denim Merino Blend V-neck Jumper
Topman Walter Hi Shine Postman Shoe
Asos Washed Leather Derby Shoes With Leather Sole
Grenson Roger Suede Derby Shoes

Style Breakdown: Casual

Redmayne’s casual attire is far less documented but, much like his formalwear, it retains the slim fitted, minimalistic characteristics. He keeps accessories to a minimum – although makes good use of scarves in varying shades of blue (in both formal and informal) to compliment his hair and skin tone.

A reoccurring standout of Mr Redmayne’s wardrobe is the double-breasted coat. The pea and trench coat are regular favourites, the latter a pre-requisite for any Burberry model. Along with anything breasted twice over, the trench coat is also a firm favourite here at FashionBeans with a collective of articles being written on this timeless piece.

Along with the trench, the pea coat is another piece that has resisted the grasps of time. Originally worn in the navy, the pea coat is characterised by wide lapels and it’s double-breasted nature. The coat has become a staple for many men and its popularity has only been heightened by the continuing military influences.

Often styling his with a set of grey jeans and a check shirt, Redmayne uses staple clothing to great effect. A black pea coat works exceptionally well for Redmayne as the colour compliments his (if you’ll forgive me) red mane, freckled features and skin tone. This also applies to his use of blue tones [see top row centre in lookbook] – the red and ginger tints of his complexion and hair again work perfectly and compliment the blue hues.

Eddie Redmayne Style Essentials

Reiss Winchester Db Belt Trench Dark Grey
Burberry London Trench 37 Cotton Gabardine Coat
Lyle & Scott Heritage Double Breasted Pea Coat
Levis Navy Buffalo Check Shirt
Marc By Marc Jacobs Steel Blue Contrast Button Shirt
Allsaints Lexington Blazer
Topman Black Shawl Collar Jumper
J Lindeberg Lymann Merino Grey Knit
J.crew Cotton Chambray Shirt
Allsaints Tumble Cigarette Jeans
Topman Black Stretch Skinny Jeans
Asos Slim Cord Chino
Topman Hudson Rafferty 2 Brogue
Paul Smith Shoes & Accessories Distressed Classic Leather Brogues
Paul Smith Shoes Taupe Burnished Suede Cesar Boots

AW12 Fashion Trend Preview: Men’s Puffa Jackets

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:21:00 +0000

Introduction

As any wannabe sartorialist or religious fashion follower knows, the fashion seasons work in advance – so when we have blue skies and sun aplenty outside, fashion designers have already set their sights on what wares they can create and peddle come the winter months. Recently, I have decided to imitate the fashion greats and launch a series of articles detailing the upcoming trends and themes for autumn/winter 2012.

However, fear not, these articles are designed to showcase upcoming trends with a spring/summer 2012 twist – so you can start getting involved ahead of the trend and become the forward-thinking fashion visionaries you really are. One of the most important (and necessary) items of clothing for any autumn/winter period is a good coat – and it seems one of the most popular outerwear trends for AW12 is the puffa coat/jacket.

The Puffa Jacket/Coat On The Catwalk

I must admit that in the past I haven’t been a big fan of puffa jackets, as the shape tended to be too large, swamping the body in a very unflattering way. However, high fashion designers have put forward a bid to resurrect the puffa-style, with collections by Rick Owens, Lanvin, Balmain and DKNY all featuring puffa jackets at AW12 Fashion Weeks.

Moncler Gamme Bleu

One of the biggest AW12 advocates of puffa styling was Moncler Gamme Bleu, a brand which is stereotypically known for its puffa coats and jackets. Historically, Moncler was founded in 1952 as a company that manufactured high end puffa jackets and sportswear. Throughout the 50s and 60s, Moncler supplied clothing and equipment for several highly-publicised mountain-climbing expeditions, which were anchored by vital warmth-retaining puffa coats.

Based on these roots, Moncler is the obvious choice when considering a brand that could propel the puffa style back to the fashion forefront – and their A/W 2012 collection did not disappoint. Moncler Gamme Bleu took Formula 1 as the inspiration for the collection and every single outfit paraded down the catwalk contained an element of puffa-styling in some capacity.

This collection took puffa to the extreme, with the first outfits consisting of full-on puffa jumpsuits that would not look out of the ordinary in the Formula 1 pit. The collection also featured puffa-style shorts, trousers and even whole suits. In terms of outerwear, there were floor length puffa coats and puffa-style double-breasted trenches in primary reds and yellows, along with sleeveless puffa gilets:

Viktor & Rolf / Band of Outsiders

At the more wearable end of the designer spectrum were fur-collared puffa parka jackets by Viktor and Rolf and puffa shearling collared jackets by Band of Outsiders. Band of Outsiders also included hooded puffa jackets in corduroy, and puffa scarves – which added an interesting dynamic to a standard accessory:

In The Fashion Press

In the fashion press, the puffa resurgence has not gone unnoticed. In their most recent issue, Esquire Magazine featured an impressive Moncler puffa coat in their style section and their current advertising campaign features a model wearing a white hooded puffa jacket cuddled up to 2 polar bears on an iceberg – clearly demonstrating the key selling point of a good puffa jacket: warmth.

Esquire online are also featuring the limited edition ‘Ocean Racer’ jacket by Henri Lloyd, describing it as ‘a practical yet stylish puffa jacket.’ On a more affordable level, Shortlist Magazine recently ran a feature on Marc Newson’s new G-Star collection, which includes a stylish puffa jacket with removable and reversible sleeves to maintain a sense of variety within a single garment.

At the more affordable end of the puffa jacket market, several high street brands have also released a range of puffa jackets, coats and gilets for the coming months:

Men’s Puffa Jackets

Asos Quilted Jacket With Leather Look Trim
Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren Coat Down Lined With Faux Fur Trim
Topman Green Diamond Quilted Jacket
55dsl Jacket Down Packable
Chevignon Togs Beige Jacket
Allsaints Hanning Blazer
Denim & Supply Rl Navy Down Highland Parka
Barbour Skipsea Down Jacket
American Apparel Reversible Hooded Poly-fill Jacket
Uniqlo Men Padded Shirt Jacket
Polo Ralph Lauren Jacket With Down Fill
Moncler Bresle Flannel Coat 134739
Burton Navy Padded Gilet With Check Hood Lining
Hilfiger Denim Gilet
Dolce & Gabbana Hooded Gilet
Folk Purple Padded Boom Gilet
Read more :http://www.fashionbeans.com/2012/aw12-fashion-trend-preview-mens-puffa-jackets/
Burberry Brit Knitted-trim Quilted Jacket

THE $20,000 CAR RIDE ACROSS AMERICA

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:29:00 +0000

I dropped the pedal and listened to the roar of the Challenger’s naturally aspirated V8 swell, and we lurched forward, overtaking car after car."

The madness started somewhere in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The 2012 Bullrun Live Rally had just left a lunch pit stop at Pioneer Meadows Golf Course, nestled high in the evergreens of Pioneer, CA, when Highway 88 was hit with an explosion of high-performance combustion that hadn’t been seen in the area since entrepreneur/adventurer Steve Fossett crashed his Bellanca Super Decathlon airplane into these mountains in 2007.

Upon leaving the Meadows, the clip of high-end exotic cars and modified street racers soared into the two-lane mountain pass and immediately floored their collective throttles, beginning a lunatic time warp across the asphalt roller coaster of dips and climbs that carve across this most beautiful region of America. And there I was, clutching the thick steering wheel of a 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 -- yes, the “Big Boy,” as Wiz Khalifa calls it in his “Black and Yellow” video. Only this SRT8 wasn’t black and yellow but rather the signature HEMI orange made famous by these certain Dukes over in Hazzard County.

My photographer Tom and I had spent the last leg of the Bullrun driving utterly alone from San Francisco to Pioneer, somehow losing the entire pack of Bullrun cars, condemning us to six hours of solo cruising through rural townships. Sure the drive was gorgeous and the scenery unforgettable, but neither Tom nor I had signed up for scenic drives. We wanted action, and now we had more than we could handle.

The most salient element to driving the SRT8 is, quite simply, its namesake 392 cubic-inch engine. The transcendent 6.4L V8’s 470 lb-ft of torque is enough to send your neurons into an explosive fit. And its sound… Well, when you hear its full herd of horses (also 470, coincidentally) galloping through the Alcantara-wrapped interior of your Challenger, there’s not another place on Earth you’d rather be. The sound is deep, low and throaty. And although its melodious tones are smile-inducing, the pull of its full power when the throttle is depressed and you’re quick-shifting through its six-speed manual gearbox will have you seeing stars.

So there we were, a Ford Mustang GT500, Porsche PanameraS, BMW X6, Aston Martin DB9, Subaru WRX STI and a drift/rally-tuned Scion FR-S cutting through the switchbacks of Highway 88, all engaged in a sort of vehicular back-country hoedown where dance partners switch positions every time a passing lane opens up. And if a legal passing lane doesn’t? Well, then it comes down to a battle of testicular fortitude as double-solid lane dividers suddenly turn into dotted lines, and basically a honky-tonk jailbreak ensues with a rabid reshuffling of the car(d)s.

With Tom firing away furiously on his Canon, at times perilously leaning out the window, I dropped the pedal and listened to the roar of the Challenger’s naturally aspirated V8 swell, and we lurched forward, overtaking car after car. As we approached the front of the line, there was only a plaid -- yes, plaid -- Ferrari 430 left to overtake. We were set on capturing first place, and the SRT8 was up for the challenge. Gripping the wheel, Tom and I looked at each other and shared one of those silent nods, the type you see in buddy cop flicks, and we mashed the throttle to the floor; Tom squeezed the door handle with white knuckle fervor.

That’s when Godzilla attacked. Team Hudson’s heavily modified GT-R Skyline blitzkrieged past us on the left hand side, crossing double yellows in an emasculating backhand that made it seem as if we were cruising in neutral. He overtook us and the Ferrari with one blistering fell swoop and disappeared into the horizon. As hard as we were whipping the 470 horses in the Challenger, we would never match the brute force of Godzilla (the GT-R would go on to accumulate over $14,000 worth of speeding tickets throughout the course of the rally; it was easy to see why). No matter how fast you’re willing to go, there is always someone willing to go faster. If there is a place for subtext in the Bullrun, this would be it.

And that is the way of the Bullrun, America’s most notorious homegrown rally. While the eight days are spent locked in high-velocity mechanical jousts like the one above, the nights are spent in similar bouts of high-velocity jousting. Except, instead of gallons of high-octane petroleum, gallons of high-octane Don Julio and Belvedere are consumed. Hotels are evacuated. Road blocks erected, netting millions of dollars in exotics. Tabletops are danced upon and hangovers studied like Higgs boson subatomic particles. Mistakes are made. For the $20,000 entry fee, you surely get your money’s worth of bar-stool tales.

“Mate, I was up until 4:30 a.m. last night,” a grinning Brit named Tim told me during one day’s lunch stop overlooking Pismo Beach. Nursing what appeared to be the ne plus ultra of migraines, he continued an anecdote that included a visiting Russian model and a herd of her stiletto-ed friends, an illegal excursion onto the Hyatt Sunset rooftop and enough illicit consumables to settle Colombia’s trade debt.

And that was opening night, before the rally had even started.

“Well, he paid for it,” laughs Matt, his partner, another jovial Brit with an affability akin to Fozzie the Bear. “This is the first time he’s talking all morning. He was proper green in the car -- I almost considered stopping by the ER!”

In the world of automotive pairings, few duos fold together so neatly as the reinvigorated Challenger SRT8 392 and the Bullrun. Both are loud, belching beasts that roll through your town frightening the pedestrians, sending shudders of fear into the hearts of inhabitants and tingles of curiosity through the loins of innocent coeds. They’re both brash symbols of American Muscle declaring their existence while bullying those in their way into submission. There’s a lot to be said for subtlety in the modern world, a place where the entire message is in the subtext of the metaphor. Neither in the Bullrun nor the 392 is there place for subtext or metaphor. Here, you either go fast or get out of the way.

Read more : http://www.askmen.com/cars/car_tips/bullrun-2012-2.html

REDLINING A JAGUAR ON A WET RACETRACK

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:28:00 +0000

The XKR and XFR are the automaker’s attempt at offering a practical luxury sports car with some real road gravitas at a decent price."

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” In the abstract, that Friedrich Nietzsche saying almost sounds romantic. But in the context of real life experience, it’s more than just a cliche. Racing Jaguars on an unexpected wet track definitely falls into this second category.

To try the stunt I traveled with R Performance Academy, Jaguar’s driving school, to Monticello Motor Park, 90 minutes northwest of New York. I’d never driven on that track, a challenging road course full of elevation changes and twisting turns, nor had I driven the cars: Jaguar’s two-door XKR and four-door XFR.

Formally introduced in 2009, the machines come from a long line of X-types dating back to the mid-20th century. Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the classic XKE (also known as the “e” type), considered by auto purists as the most beautiful of all Jags. The XKR and XFR are the automaker’s attempt at offering a practical luxury sports car with some real road gravitas at a decent price (the cars start at $97,500 and $82,000, respectively).

Both are powered by a 5.0-liter, 510 hp supercharged V8 engine. In manual mode, paddle shifters on the steering wheel (like an F1 car -- upshift on right/downshift on left) bring you through six gears without a clutch. Four-wheel 15-inch disc brakes stop you faster than you can accelerate, which is pretty quick; the XKR goes from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds, the XFR in 4.7 seconds. As with most advanced sports cars today, a traction control system (computer software that corrects driver errors) is included.

With production XFR and XKR models, top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph via a governor, but the cars are capable of more. In a special prototype test in 2008, Jaguar took an XFR to the Bonneville Salt Flats and, sans governor with weight reductions, ran the thing at 225 mph. You and I are not able to do this, but it does show how powerful the engine is. Heck, that's quicker than the much pricier Lamborghini Aventador.

The day of my scheduled Monticello event dawned overcast, and the weather just got worse. A dense fog turned to heavy rain by the time I arrived at the track. It was so bad that, at one point, I thought they would cancel, even though you can race on a wet road course up to a point.

R Academy's team of instructors is an impressive group. Ours included Roberto Guerrero, a Formula 1 veteran with five top-five finishes at the Indianapolis 500; sprint car racer Adam Andretti, a nephew of Mario; and Davy Jones, who placed second in the 1996 Indy 500.

First, we congregated in a dry classroom, as is the usual start for events like this. Racing is all about physics, we quickly learn, whether on a dry track or in the rain. Only brake in a straight line otherwise you upset the balance of the car. Slow enough before a corner, then accelerate out -- much faster than barreling in too quickly, then having to scrub speed in the turn. Use the entire track to maximize turning radius and hold momentum. And look far out to where you want to go, not where you don’t.

This sounds like common sense until you encounter a problem at high speed and have to do it all at once, as may be the case on a track -- or the highway. And rain, well, it only exacerbates the challenges.

After class, we paired into groups and headed to the parking lot. Instructors wanted us to feel the power of 510 hp in close quarters. A series of autocross, figure-eight and small ovals defined by orange cones became our miniature tracks. While we all made mistakes and knocked over cones, the cars handled surprisingly well on the drenched pavement using the traction control systems.

Lest we become too confident, the instructors occasionally turned off the TCS, and quickly we realized we were so not Lewis Hamilton. When Andretti secretly switched mine off on the figure-eight, I spun wildly. Better to do this in a parking lot, though, than on-track where soft cones are replaced by a heavy steel guardrail. We quickly learned that in the rain, everything must be smooth and done at three-quarters speed.

Following lunch it was decided that, despite the continuing downpour, we would head to the main track. But because of puddles, some four inches deep, we only would use the 1.6-mile south course (the entire track is 4.1 miles). With 12 separate corners, some more than 90 degrees, the smaller venue would be challenging enough.

Most of the early afternoon was spent in a lead-follow situation, with a pro out in front of four students. The arrangement ensures maximum safety because, first, speed is regulated by the leader, and second, a student following theoretically runs the same line as the instructor, the quickest (and safest) way around the track.

As we circled, we gained confidence and the instructors picked up the pace. We got to know where the really wet spots were and generally avoided them. And, of course, as we became more comfortable we began to think about what we were doing. Sure enough, you really can go faster by "apexing" (hitting the inside sweet spot of a corner) and exiting with a wide arc. Yes, if you are patient, braking correctly before a corner and accelerating out makes it easier to keep up with the speeding instructor in front of you.

Despite ACS and safety procedures, it is possible to push the cars beyond the limit, especially in the rain. My "big" moment was with Andretti coaching me from the passenger seat. Coming over a hill at fairly high speed, the car suddenly began hydroplaning. I started to panic but Andretti, in a calm voice, coaxed me to relax, told me to look where I wanted to go (I, of course, was fixated on the scary guardrail!) and handle the wheel gently. I'm not exactly sure what I did, but after three interminable seconds I was able to save the car and continue on-track. Andretti was right: Once I looked ahead, where I wanted to go, my hands magically corrected the line.

Unfortunately, two other students were not so lucky. Both had separate encounters with the guardrail hard enough to deploy air bags. Thankfully, just sheet metal was mangled, and the two students were soon back with our group after being cleared by track doctors.

At the end of the day, we all got to ride on a hot lap with the pros. Here, we could see what the cars were really capable of. Guerrero, in a red XFR, waited for me, smiling. He said this was his "revenge" lap after having had to endure the mistakes of students all day. Suffice it to say, after that run I could see why he held the qualifying record at Indianapolis -- 232.6 mph -- for four straight years (1992-1996). I also was able to more fully appreciate the potential of these magnificent machines.

Afterward, I felt I had really learned something. While I have driven the real supercars -- Bugattis, Ferraris, Lamborghinis -- at over 200 mph on long straights (check out my article on what it's really like to drive this fast here) or big ovals in good weather, I had never pushed a sports car so hard in the rain. Surprisingly, I found the machines (and, gulp, myself) up to the task.

(The one-day basic R Academy program is offered at no cost to purchasers of new XKRs and XFRs. Regular folks can take it, too, for $1,850. The program is a good way for owners to experience a track environment, but also for those who never have driven a Jag to give one a spin -- pun intended!)

Common Sense Wet-Weather Driving Tips
- Slow down and concentrate -- on everything.
- Use headlights, even in day hours.
- If you have a traction control system (TCS), use it.
- Do everything smoothly and gently -- accelerating, cornering, braking. With the brake and accelerator, pretend an egg is between your foot and the pedals.
- Leave more space between the car in front, both for hampered visibility and braking reasons.
- The less tread on your tires, the more these rules apply. Deeper tread channels more water, adding to stability.
- If you start to lose control, don’t panic. Always look to where youwant to go, not to where you do not.

Read more : http://www.askmen.com/cars/car_tips/jaguar-xjr-xkr-test-drive-2.html

Oil: Money, Politics, And Power In The 21st Century: What You Should Be Reading This Week

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:21:00 +0000

It's impossible to know everything, but we're willing to give it the old college try. Each week we'll be looking at books that help make sense of the world around us. We're not trying to be the smartest here -- just smarter than everyone we know.

More than two months after Deepwater Horizon exploded off the coast of Louisiana, BP announced this week that its gaffe-prone chief executive, Tony Hayward, would be replaced by -- of all people -- Robert Dudley, the current head of BP's operations in the region. The irony of the appointment may be coincidental, but it suggests the broader cavalier behavior in the bones of the oil biz. Oil: Money, Politics, and Power in the 21st Century offers a narrative of the oil industry over the past two decades, following the major executives, traders and politicians as they wrestle for big profits and access to the world's most important natural resource.

“Elephants” And “Orphans”

Tom Bower's account of the oil industry takes us through the fine print of negotiations between Big Oil and government for access to reserves, consolidation among the major companies and a (basically) unregulated market for trading the commodity. It’s equal parts politics and business, with valuable lessons for guys who deal with shifty international partners.

The text is dense but enlightening, and several patterns emerge. One that’s central to the book and gives context to the Deepwater mess is the boom/bust cycle. Explorers find an "elephant,” or major reserve, and there’s serious dick swinging; drilling into an ”orphan,” or dry well, means losses in the millions (or billions) and shame in the industry. (It definitely sounds shameful.) The same is true with successful/collapsed negotiations, and with good publicity or bad press resulting from accidents or spills. In all cases, the business reacts loudly and then runs for cover. “In oil, mistakes get buried in the mists of time,” waxed Philip Watts, former chairman of Shell.

More For Less

It turns out that BP’s chief executive from 1995-2007 spent most of his tenure doing bong rips off the mists of time. Although each of the majors has done its share of grim bidding -- Exxon in Alaska (major spill), Shell and Chevron in Nigeria (major death) -- John Browne’s motto was “more for less,” and he had a reputation for relying more on management consultants than on engineers. Safety lapsed, with a series of fatal explosions in Texas and Alaska, oil leaking from corroded pipes in Alaska's Prudhoe Bay, and -- in the Gulf of Mexico -- the Thunder Horse platform tilting a dangerous 20 degrees because of poor engineering, which BP had farmed out to freelance contractors.

“How can you prove BP is 'Beyond Petroleum'?” Browne was asked. “We’re only a petroleum company. It's a simplistic and provocative slogan. The press will be cynical. They'll murder it. And so will Exxon.”

While he was cutting costs to boost profits, Browne -- who, not that it’s important, apparently met his lover on a site called Suited and Booted -- claimed, insanely, that BP was the first “green” oil major. Together with the ad guys at Ogilvy, he replaced BP's old tag, “British Petroleum,” with the shinier “Beyond Petroleum.” He was reinventing the company with a new, environmentally friendly image.

Which, uh, didn't work out.

The reality is that oil is a risky business, environmentally and politically. Corruption is practically required to get at oil reserves in the Third World. Scandal and mishap are the cost of doing business. And even developed governments can only do so much to regulate. Energy security and expectations of endless fuel demand their cooperation, at least until entire coastlines are threatened. The question now is whether Deepwater Horizon will lead to any fundamental change in the oil game. Bower's book, already on the press at the time of the spill, gives us context to believe that it won't.

The Truth Hurts

"Back in the 1910s and 1920s, everyone went to Latin America and talked about risks. Indonesia was meant to be terribly politically risky. We went to Saudi Arabia and we went to Iran and got nationalized twice. We got thrown out of Libya. My point is that's the nature of the business."

- Lee Raymond, former CEO and Chairman of ExxonMobil, quoted in Oil: Money, Politics, And Power In The 21st Century

Read more: http://www.askmen.com/entertainment/austin_500/517_oil-money-politics-and-power-in-the-21st-century-what-you-should-be-reading-this-week.html

Manliness In Politics

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:19:00 +0000

At the very least, a manly person will exhibit confidence and a willingness to shoulder responsibilities and burdens with courage and without complaint."

President Teddy Roosevelt and General George S. Patton, appraising the current state of the American male, would not findLarry David and Paul Rudd “hilarious." Not even in that super neurotic way. Nor would they think highly of Tom Brady’s decision to make his hair look exactly like Justin Bieber’s. They would shake their heads and kick the dirt, wondering what happened to their kind: robust, manly American men, resolving to ride to Washington to lecture our leaders. But there, a glimmer of hope would emerge. They would discover that while “manliness” is far less important in people’s private lives than in previous eras, manliness in politics is still a desirable if not required quality.

The Core Of Manliness

To understand why manliness in politics is still necessary, we need to uncover what manliness means. While our concept of the term has changed with the generations -- from the solitary frontiersman to the company man with kids -- certain themes endure. At the very least, a manly person will exhibit confidence and a willingness to shoulder responsibilities and burdens with courage and without complaint. This person will also have an ability to form a clear plan of action and lead others in pursuit of its goal. The sign on President Truman’s Oval Office desk -- “The Buck Stops Here” -- is nothing if not manly virtue. It’s important to note that these qualities are not exclusive to the Y-chromosome; history is replete with examples of manly people who happen to be female.

The Benefits Of Manliness In Politics

Why is manliness valuable for national leaders? The answer lies in the analogy between manly virtues and martial virtues, the qualities that make for a good soldier or a good military commander. It’s no surprise that the latter has been a lasting archetype of manliness.

The more an environment has the structural features of war -- high stakes, ruthless competitors, limited information -- the more it makes sense to have manly leaders, whether they are in big business or politics. But what makes international and domestic politics like war?

The international realm presents a clear parallel, since the actors compete feverishly to advance their interests, often uncertain about others’ intentions and capabilities. There are exceptions to this, places where nations work together in conditions of trust and shared aims, but international politics generally aren’t like a bowling league, and having manly qualities is useful in navigating the terrain.

A manly leader will have the confidence to compete, to project an aura of personal and national power and to make fast decisions in times of international crisis. During the Cuban Missile Crisis,President Kennedy called upon these traits to rapidly assess the risk of nuclear war tied to various policy proposals, to select one option (for example, naval quarantine as opposed to air assault of Cuba) and to stare down Soviet Premier Khrushchev.

Domestic politics, with its rabid party competition and a constitutional structure that pits individuals and branches of government against one another, are also similar to war. Strong and courageous leadership is necessary these days to get even the smallest bill passed.

The Possible Costs Of Manly Politicians

Beyond its core of positive attributes, the definition of manliness, and its usefulness to leaders, is less clear.

Manliness may entail a “puffiness,” as it were, whereby one jealously guards his pride, possibly exuding an air of macho pretentiousness. A manly person might be unwilling to change a course of action, ask for help or own up to his mistakes. He does not pull over for directions. George W. Bush seemed to make a point of having these qualities, with often catastrophic consequences. One inspired exception, to be fair, was his decision to “surge” in Iraq. Often misinterpreted as a change of direction, it was nothing more than a strong-headed doubling down on his war plan, perhaps the product of a manly refusal to admit he was wrong.

Two further questions about the definition of manliness are crucial as the term relates to politics. First, it’s unclear whether a manly person merely takes challenges as they come or actively seeks them out. This tension dovetails the difference between real cowboys, who are a rather quiet and meticulous bunch who keep to themselves, and movie cowboys, who often hunt for peril, hungry to put their honor on the line. To the extent that manly politicians seek out conflict, danger and war for their own sake or without sufficient caution, manliness is detrimental, often coming with the high cost of bloodshed.

Second, once presented with a challenge, desired or not, there may be a limit to how long a manly person will deliberate before forming a plan. Philosopher Harvey Mansfield describes manliness as knowing how to be confident in situations of insufficient knowledge. We can still wonder when we can responsibly declare that we should stop gathering information, but after a certain point, a manly person will not dither. He assesses, he decides and he does not look back. Such leadership is strong and comforting. At the edges, though, manliness might involve a dangerous degree of rashness. When candidates like John Kerry are declared flip-floppers, that most grievous of political barbs, it is their manliness (aside from their integrity) that is being called into question.

Are Republicans More Manly Than Democrats?

Manliness is agnostic as to its goals -- it can be employed for big or small government, for great good or great evil -- and no party has a monopoly over the term. In recent years, however, republicans have claimed the mantle of manliness for themselves, with much political success. Indeed, their worst policy moments, from their seeming impetuousness for war to their suppression of dissent, stem from having too much, rather than too little manliness. Sarah Palin epitomizes this dark side of the concept, the manly vices.

For their part, Democrats have lost something of the clarity of vision and purpose that marked their manly forbears, like FDR, Truman and JFK. While President Obama has undeniable manly confidence and robust leadership abilities, the simplicity and boldness that characterizes how a manly leader handles problems sometimes escapes him, especially when he appeals to the murky notion of “pragmatism.” He needs to clarify his vision of justice and security to shake off the notion that he is someone who handles problems piecemeal, rather than one who leads a nation in his chosen direction. He needs to reassert, in short, that he exhibits manly virtues. This applies, only more dramatically, to the Democratic Party as a whole.

Manliness And The Vote

When people go to the voting booths this November and in 2012, whom they choose will depend not only on which policies they support, but on which candidates have the requisite manliness to lead the country. And that makes sense. While the costs of manliness are real, the benefits of the manly attitude propel the world forward.

Read more: http://www.askmen.com/entertainment/special_feature_500/567b_manliness-in-politics.html

NEVER BE TAKEN FOR A SUCKER IN A FOREIGN LAND AGAIN

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:01:00 +0000

You'll be amazed how much easier it is to haggle for a ridiculously lower price with just a bit of small talk."

Shopping in Asia can be overwhelming and intimidating for first-time travelers there. In places like night markets and street markets, bargaining is considered par for the course. As satisfying as it is to haggle for a good deal on a strand of black pearls for your girlfriend, bargaining can be exhausting and even awkward if you've never done it before. Handled with a bit of panache, bargaining with street merchants could end up being a highlight of your trip, and it's a way to gain access and insight into the local people wherever you happen to find yourself.

Over the years, our traveling experiences have enabled us to identify some useful tips to help you to get the best bang for your buck.

Learn To Speak A Bit Of The Local Language

Whether it’s “nihao” or “sawadikap,” speaking just a little bit of the local language will endear you to even the sternest shopkeeper, which is your first easy step to getting a great bargain. A traveler without a phrasebook is a traveler who isn't making enough of an effort.

You can also teach them a bit of your country’s culture and native language. After all, if you are shopping at a tourist spot, chances are, the shopkeepers will also meet other tourists from your country too. Most merchants would definitely love to find out more about your background and culture.

Make Small Talk

You’ll be amazed how much easier it is to haggle for a ridiculously lower price with just a bit of small talk. This works especially well if you shop during nonpeak hours (such as weekday nights), since the shopkeeper won’t be dealing with tons of customers at once. Ask questions about them -- which part of the country do they come from or how has their business been going, that kind of thing. Everyone loves a chance to talk about themselves, no matter the country or the native language.

You can also tell them a bit about yourself, and where you have traveled inside their country. If possible, try to take the conversation a step further by suggesting how they can improve their sales. Compliment their goods, ask about where things come from and who made them; again, the more someone gets to talk about their enterprise, the more they’re likely to give you a deal.

Make Smart Guesses

This skill will become better with experience. If you’re out shopping in cities like Bangkok or Shanghai, the products there are generally cheaper than in the rest of the world since shopkeepers directly import them from nearby factories. In China, the cost of a handbag made out of common leather can cost as little as $15, while the cost price of a cotton T-shirt in Thailand would be around $8.

If you are totally clueless, then start chatting up the locals shopping around the area and find out how much they are paying. Alternatively, ask the hotel concierges or take your time to shop around similar stores in the area. After all, most shopping areas in the developing world have stores that carry the same product grouped together, so play this to your advantage by finding out the average price first.

In addition, while it is important to keep in mind that most shopkeepers tend to mark up their price a lot, you should also maintain a balance when negotiating for a reasonable price.

Point Out Flaws

Most shopkeepers tend to oversell their products by harping on the excellence of the merchandise. Ignore that -- no product is completely perfect. Whether it’s a loose thread sticking out or mediocre stitching, there are bound to be blemishes on the product if you’re shopping at a place where bargaining is acceptable.

Walk Away

Sometimes, shopkeepers can be overly stubborn on their asking price. If they are unwilling to go any lower, your last resort is to simply walk away. More often than not, they‘ll call you back, especially if you have used the tips above. After all, stores in night and street markets are very competitive for sales.

Be A Smart Shopper

Now that you’re equipped with the tips, make sure you leave the store as a satisfied customer. Always remember to check on your merchandise before you leave the store; sore shopkeepers may swap your item for another one of lower quality.

Read more:http://www.askmen.com/fine_living/travel_archive_200/228b_bargaining-tips-for-travelers.html

Why Schwarzenegger's Time Was The Golden Age Of Bodybuilding

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 08:58:00 +0000

It’s no longer enough to know that things work; it’s become far more important to know why they work. "

One of the interesting things about the fitness industry is that, like fashion, trends come and go only to resurface years later. And, much like fashion, people look back with bemused nostalgia and wonder how they ever thought it was a good idea in the first place. In this way, bodybuilding and bell-bottoms are fairly similar, at least in the way that they are sometimes loved and sometimes hated by the industries they represent. And, unfortunately, bodybuilding has been hated on for far too long. (The same can be said of bell-bottoms, I suppose, but I’ve taken this analogy too far already.)

The unfortunate thing about bodybuilding hatred is that, in my opinion, it occurs for all the wrong reasons. In this two-part article, you’ll see the reasons the training methods of bodybuilders have been discarded and ridiculed by the general fitness industry -- and the reasons for the imminent and necessary return of those methods.

Once Upon A Time, Results Were All That Mattered

In the golden age of bodybuilding, Arnold was, without question, both the paragon of its success and the foremost representative of its methodologies. What Arnold said, others believed. What Arnold did, others did.

When it came to training methods, his word on what to do was generally accepted, and with the exceptions of when he intentionally misled people with bad advice, what he recommended produced results. If Schwarzenegger or any other bodybuilders of the age were using and teaching a method, there was a very simple reason for it: it worked.

In the golden age, bodybuilders were interested in results -- and only results. That, I think, is the biggest thing we can say for the guiding philosophy behind the training methods of those days. Arnold and his contemporaries did things that worked simply because they worked.

As a result, figuring out what worked -- and what didn’t -- was a driving force that pushed our entire knowledge of training forward. Over the course of months or years, methods, systems and programs emerged. If Arnold was interested in new or unusual approaches, he tried them out. If it could possibly yield results, it was worth testing; after a while, the ideas were either incorporated into the overarching umbrella philosophy of what was effective or discarded altogether. All that mattered was that it worked.

For better or worse, that was not to last.

Raw Deal: Research Takes Center Stage, Bodybuilders Fall To The Wayside

In many ways, bodybuilders of that era did not differ very much from many coaches and trainers of today: We develop theories based on existing evidence, test these hypotheses on our clients and observe the results. If something seems to be more effective than what we were doing previously, we try to find a place for it. However, the biggest difference between the fitness industry's golden age and the present is the current focus on and impact of scientific research.

This is important for a number of reasons, the first of which is that it demonstrates a very clear shift in the collective mindset of strength culture: It’s no longer enough to know that things work; it’s become far more important to know why they work. And this, unfortunately, has proven to be a double-edged sword.

Now, before I go any further, let me just say that I think the shift to wanting to know the how and why -- not just the what -- is a good one: It fosters questioning and should foster critical thinking. Of course I see great value in research, and all of my more advanced programs are based on concepts that I was either made aware of or was able to validate through literature. The ability to test the gym-generated theories in a controlled environment helps us see what works.

All of that's great, and should help the industry at large -- but, as it turns out, for all the good the focus on studies and lab testing has done, there has also been a fair bit of harm. You see, over the course of the past two decades, research has gained an almost deific status in the fitness industry. Studies are considered by many to be the final word on any issue, and this has led to unforeseen consequences: being blind to everything else.
This is an obvious problem -- you have personal trainers and coaches who get so wrapped up in the value of studies that they fail to see value in anything else, and, by extension, immediately devalue anything that hasn’t been tested in a research lab or published in a peer-reviewed journal. If it hasn’t been thoroughly researched, it can be overlooked or thought worthless, at least in the eyes of a certain subset of coaches in the industry.

To give you some context, let’s go back to the golden age bodybuilders for a moment. Without question, it’s obvious that when it comes to training, they got a number of things wrong. But they also got a lot right. Unfortunately, much of what they got right (or nearly right) has been attacked and rejected, simply because there was no hard data to back it up -- only anecdotal (and obvious) reports of results.

As research was given higher and higher esteem, it became acceptable to lambast methods that were supported solely by observation. In a very real sense, it became almost en vogue to publicly tear down and mock methods or theories that couldn’t be (or, at least, hadn’t been) proved effective in a controlled academic environment.

Those who were too dependent on research and the idea of research would laugh at the idea that you should do different exercises to target different areas of the chest, or change hand position to hit the biceps differently.

Now, there wasn't a lot of research to back those ideas up at that point, and while that might seem like fairly straightforward reasoning, science zealots were, for a time, so intent on tearing town "conventional bodybuilding wisdom" that they lost sight of something truly important: that it worked.

Just because there aren't seven studies backing something up doesn't mean it doesn't work. In many, many cases, the gym is a bit ahead of the lab. Again, studies are important -- the issue isn’t wanting to base things on research or wanting to prove things with research; the issue is that when only one stream of information is willingly incorporated into the viewpoint, the potential for growth and change will be severely limited, both personally and within the industry. Let’s take a look at where this has led.

Collateral Damage: The Rise (And Fall) Of Broscience

Eventually, the growing dependence on research as the sole marker of both credibility and efficacy reached its tipping point. Put bluntly, it became “cool” to make fun of a number of ideas that Arnold and company touted as fact.

More damagingly, it was no longer just coaches and scientists. The condescension aggressively applied to theories based only on observation skyrocketed and bled its way into message boards, discussion forums and the general culture of fitness as a whole -- and so it was then that the term “broscience” came into being.

I must assume that there are some people who may not know this term, so a brief explanation is in order: Essentially, broscience is a term applied to claims or reasoning based on (potentially flawed) logic instead of evidence that has been proven in an academic setting. While this is not a new term -- the first online usage that I have found is dated November 2001 -- broscience has only really become part of the common fitness vernacular over the past four or five years.

The important thing to realize is that because of a push toward research and against everything else, the pendulum has swung to the extent that "broscience" has become an insult and is hurled at anyone who makes claims or assertions that they can’t immediately back up with citations. As you might imagine, the use of this term as an insult has further widened the rift in the community between those who are interested only in what works and those who are primarily interested in what they can prove.

As you'll see in part two of this article, which will be published next Monday, scientists owe bodybuilders an apology.

Read more:http://www.askmen.com/sports/bodybuilding/why-everything-old-is-new-again-2.html

Discover The Ultimate Valentine's Day Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 08:54:00 +0000

THE BASICS

Rates: Starting at approximately $900
Official Site: Shangri-La.com
Telephone & Address: 33 1 53 67 19 98; 10 avenue d'Iene
Location: Paris

88 THE TAKE

We’ve spent the last few years watching luxury consumption move east, and we’ll spend the next few watching luxury production shift in the same direction. The Asians are bored with our Bentleysand Bordeaux; now they’re making their own stuff. They’re not having any problems exporting it, either. Even the snooty Parisians recently welcomed Hong Kong-based luxury chains into their snootiest neighborhoods. A Mandarin Oriental opened on the Rue Saint-Honore this past summer, shortly after the arrival of a Shangri-La -- the first in Europe -- in early 2011. The latter hosted us for a tour of a hotel that you simply can’t find in America… yet.

84 THE SCENE

Throughout the tour, our hosts at the Shangri-La Paris emphasized all that was distinctly Asian about the place: welcome tea in the rooms, a staff rigorously trained in friendliness, ultra-authentic Cantonese cuisine in the Shang Palace restaurant. These elements contribute plenty in the way of uniqueness and charm, but the Shangri-La really draws its power from (and justifies its rates on the basis of) an offering that is quintessentially French: the Eiffel Tower.

It is less than a mile away, and the hotel’s architect and designer (Richard Martinet and Pierre-Yves Rochon) planned its spaces so as to maximize exposure to it. How good are the views? So good that the Shangri-La’s next-door neighbor is the former home of Gustave Eiffel, constructed there so he could admire his creation. So good that in many rooms you can literally see the Eiffel Tower from your toilet seat.

Of course, the tower is hardly an isolated attraction. The view from your room also includes the Seine, Les Invalides and Montmartre. So while your experience of the Shangri-La may be an Asian one, your memories of it will be definitively Parisian.

91 THE BATHROOM SCALE

Whether Asian, French or American, all men can appreciate heated floors and televisions embedded in mirrors, and bathrooms in the Shangri-La Paris offer both. The extra touches continue into the sleeping quarters, where we were pleased to find a valet, aNespresso machine and a desk full of easily forgotten work supplies like adapters and paper clips. However trivial this last detail may seem, it is the one that sets this hotel apart from its Parisian competitors. In a city full of waiters who blow by you and concierges who look through you, the Shangri-La has mastered service as anticipation.

The Trouble With Doha

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 08:46:00 +0000

For a country set to host the world’s biggest sporting event (and the world's most epic party) in 10 years’ time, my first impression was that it had better get a move on."

Doha, the capital of Qatar, is set to host the World Cup in 2022. The money sloshing around it has garnered international headlines -- the country has recently bought up the British retailer Harrods, not to mention one of the world’s most expensive paintings, Cezanne’s The Card Players. It’s the richest country in the world per capita, according to Forbes. But money can’t always buy a good time, because in addition to all the cash-money and hoopla, Doha is so boring it almost comes full circle and becomes fascinating.

I found myself in Doha recently. For a country set to host the world’s biggest sporting event (and the world’s most epic party) in 10 years’ time, my first impression was that it had better get a move on. Ignoring the fact that there aren’t enough stadiums or hotels, even something as simple as getting around town is an almighty task. Case in point: I am staying at a very nice five-star hotel, with a private beach, swimming pool and spa, plus a range of impressive restaurants. But if I want to visit a shopping mall, which the concierge presented to me as one of three options when I asked for “must-do” activities, I’m faced with an issue. I ask him to call me a taxi. “I will call, sir, but maybe they will not come,” he says. It seems taxis are a rarity in Doha, and during my entire stay, I saw very few.

The other option is to pay for a hotel limo -- as there is no public transport either, which should prove interesting when there are suddenly tens of thousands of pedestrians milling around -- but the prices are very steep. Suggest that you might walk, and be met with a look of horror as people try to stop you from venturing into the 40-degree Celsius heat. Perhaps that is why my concierge’s other must-do activities seemed to be inside air-conditioned buildings. “You can go to the museum,” he said. I explained I was here for several days and would need more to occupy my time, which prompted his third, very inspired idea: “You could visit another hotel, sir.”

Seeing as I didn’t have many options, I decided to stick with the first choice: the shopping mall.

On my journey there, I could see that Doha is much smaller than its neighbor, Dubai. Similar elements are in place -- big five-star hotels, the malls, of course, and a developing skyline as bigger office towers are created to accommodate growing business -- but they are in much smaller supply, with bigger distances between each of them. The struggle between past and future is very much evident in Doha; there are mosques and historic souks that highlight religion and tradition, and a reluctance to welcome in more of what its foreign workforce might enjoy, like alcohol.

Going for a drink in Doha is quite an experience, as I discovered later on my first evening. Upon attempting to enter my hotel bar, I was stopped at the door. “Passport?” said the tall gentleman wearing a suit. At first I joked with him. “Why, where am I going?” I asked. I wasn’t joking two minutes later when I was back in my room looking for it. Apparently the authorities like to keep track of exactly who is drinking, so passport scans are commonplace. Like Dubai, alcohol in Doha is only available in hotels, although the attitude here is much stricter.

It’s as if the message is not to drink, which makes you wonder what the World Cup fans might think in 2022. Even the Pearl Qatar, a man-made island on Doha’s shoreline, similar to Dubai’s Palm, was recently dealt a blow regarding its alcohol laws. Previously, offshore independent restaurants could open here and serve alcohol. It prompted the development of an area very different from the rest of Doha, with a vibrant outdoor nightlife. However, this has now changed, with the Pearl suddenly falling under the same ruling as everywhere else. Many restaurants have even had to close due to the drop in business. The Pearl could be a decent tourist attraction for the city, but now there is little to see when you get there.

With strict drinking laws and a current lack of things to see, Doha has a ways to go before it could be considered anything more than a destination for shopping. This made me wonder what it might actually be like when 2022 finally arrives. There is a lot of work to be done, and not just in terms of physical construction. The World Cup is a global event, and this needs to be a city that can welcome and entertain visitors from all over. Becoming that will be more of a challenge than winning the rights to host the event itself. Let’s hope Doha has realized what it has signed itself up for.

The Drink Everyone Judges You By

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 08:44:00 +0000

This is a drink that allows the drinker to appreciate the complexity of a good tequila while satisfying the need to quench that summer thirst. "

A Little History With Your Buzz...

There are as many margarita recipes as there are bartenders, and there are plenty of people who will tell you their ironclad rules for making the perfect marg. (Jimmy Buffett, for one, believes that Rose's Lime Juice is a crucial ingredient, but considering his Margaritaville restaurants serve what we consider the most chemical-tasting frozen marg ever created, we take Mr. Buffett's recipe suggestions with a heavy dose from that lost shaker of salt.)

We're always on the hunt for a perfectly refreshing margarita, and we are happy to report that they're serving one up at Los Feliz, a taqueria and tequilaria on Ludlow Street in New York City's Lower East Side. Los Feliz has around 150 labels of tequila ready to pour, with sipping glasses ranging from $7 to $135. Its margarita menu has some exotic highlights, but we love the pared-down brilliance of the Freshest Margarita. Made with nothing more than lime juice, agave (a sweetener available at most major grocery stores) and good-quality tequila, this is nothing like those pitchers of slurry sweating in the sun over at Margaritaville. This is a drink that allows the drinker to appreciate the complexity of a good tequila while satisfying the need to quench that summer thirst.

Hair-On-Your-Chest Factor: 90/100

We've heard men say that a margarita is not a man's drink. We respectfully disagree on principle, but when you're faced with the clean, bracing simplicity of the Freshest Margarita, we'd like to think that the debate is settled.

Recipe:2 oz Milagro Silver Tequila
6 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 or 1 oz of raw organic agave (depending on desired sweetness)

Instructions:
Shake. Strain over ice. Should be sharp, crisp and tart.

Recipe courtesy of Los Feliz, 109 Ludlow St., New York City.

Read more: http://www.askmen.com/fine_living/drinks_400/416_drink-of-the-week-the-freshest-margarita.html

The Most Controversial Cocktail: Who Will Win?

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 08:39:00 +0000

" Opinions will vary on how far afield you can go before a cocktail ceases to be a Manhattan, but other variations call for a wide variety of bases, like brandy or light or dark rums. The spirit substitution of the moment, however, is the unlikely seeming tequila."

Every so often here at AskMen, two of our resident barkeeps, Josh Krist and Luke O'Neil, will go toe-to-toe with competing versions of the same drink. There's always controversy in the cocktails world about the merits of tradition versus innovation, and Josh and Luke are no different. That's particularly true when it comes to the only drink that might be more old-fashioned than the Old-Fashioned -- the Manhattan.

Josh Krist, The Old-School Bartender, Upholds Tradition

When it comes to Manhattans, there ain’t nothing like the real thing, baby: rye, sweet vermouth and bitters. Why anyone would to strive to improve upon perfection is a plain mystery.

Some will say the Manhattan was created during the party of a political bigwig (Winston Churchill’s mother, of all people -- we don’t doubt they could put it away in that family, but historical evidence points against this supposed party) at the Manhattan Club in, you guessed it, New York City. Others place the birth of the cocktail in the early 1800s, as a favorite of Manhattan’s upper-drinking class.

It ain't broke.

No matter where it started, the rye’s the clue that the roots of the Manhattan stretch into the dark precocktail history of our fair nation. See, before the Elvis and Don Ho made all things tropical (read rum and tiki-style drinks in general), and before vodka supplanted gin as American’s clear spirit of choice, George Washington was making his own hooch on his Mount Vernon estate. Thanks to the grain farmers’ swaying fields of rye, rye whiskey was America’s original party drink.

But, we digress. On the Manhattan itself, add two parts rye whiskey, one part sweet vermouth, and a dash or two of Angostura bitters. Stir over ice, pour into a lowball glass (some prefer a prechilled martini glass, but we find this a bit precious and not in keeping with the manly nature of the drink) and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

A favorite of mobsters, cocktail connoisseurs and Mad Men-style ad men since their respective professions began, the first sip of a Manhattan is a study of spicy and sweet.

Traditional Manhattan

2 oz rye
1 oz sweet vermouth
1 dash Angostura bitters
Garnish with a Maraschino cherry and a twist of orange peel

Luke O'Neil, The Nonconformist Bartender, Breaks The Rules

Considering its status as one of the most iconic -- if not the most -- cocktails ever stirred, you might think that unseating the perfect balance of a Manhattan would be akin to drawing a moustache on the Mona Lisa. Quite the contrary. It's precisely because of its reputation that so many bartenders throughout cocktail history have found it the ideal jumping-off point for boozy excursions. It's no longer a finished product, in other words, but rather a series of guidelines to deviate from.

Each of the three aspects of the recipe of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters is ripe for variation. Although the Manhattan has traditionally taken rye as its base, bourbon has elbowed rye aside due to its sweeter profile. Using a Scotch whisky, the cocktail becomes known as a Rob Roy, although the smoke and peaty aspects of many Scotches don't lend themselves well to vermouth, in my opinion.

But who says you have to use vermouth? Considering its digestif qualities, it's a short jump to other spirits within that category. Subbing in other fortified wines, like a tawny port (in what's called a Ruby Manhattan), will show a striking difference in their mature, nutty character as compared to many overly cloying sweet vermouths. Bottom line: If it's a fortified red wine-based aperitif (and I'm partial to the spiced Dubonnet Rouge or the lightly bitter, drier Dolin), it will boost your Manhattan to the next level. You might also try a liqueur like a Cherry Heering to add a deeper, black cherry aspect to the mix, or even an anise-flavored liqueur or absinthe as a rinse for the glass, Sazerac-style.

Taking It All The Way To The Edge Of Tradition

That's only touching the surface. In the bitter component, the options are similarly broad. While Manhattans typically take Angostura bitters, feel free to experiment with orange bitters or, for a more floral note, Peychaud's. You might jump up to the amaro spirit category as well, trying the sharply bitter Fernet Branca or the bittersweet vegetal Cynar to add additional layers of complexity to your whiskey.

That is, if you're even still using whiskey by this point. Opinions will vary on how far afield you can go before a cocktail ceases to be a Manhattan, but other variations call for a wide variety of bases, like brandy or light or dark rums. The spirit substitution of the moment, however, is the unlikely seeming tequila. In making a tequila Manhattan, you'll want to use an añejo, one with enough of an aged, woody character to stand out, like Peligroso añejo, which I used, along with Dubonnet Rouge and a touch of lime juice. Doesn't sound like it should work, but it does.

Tequila Manhattan

2 oz añejo tequila
1 oz sweet vermouth
1/2 oz lime juice

Read more:http://www.askmen.com/fine_living/drinks_400/493_manhattan-recipe.html

Why Leaving Your Comfort Zone Will Make You A Better Man

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 08:37:00 +0000

If you haven’t been somewhere, the way that you imagine it to be, however you imagine it to be, is wrong."

In June 2012, ex-AskMen editor Michael McKenna decided to pull up stakes and move to Pristina, Kosovo, a formerly war-torn quasi-capital that, until very recently, he could not have located on a map. Though his friends warned of organ theft, mysterious white vans and an inordinate surfeit of goats, and his dad assumed he had lost a bet, it’s all going pretty well so far. You can read his thoughts on Balkan life at inpristina.com, but for his reasoning as to why this was not the most insane thing he could have possibly done, check out this first installment of AskMen’s Expat’s Diary.

A man should always keep one eye on the road, and should, at certain key periods in his life, strike out in new and distant directions. Just check the archetypes: John Wayne strides off into the sunset while Norman Bates stares balefully at it through a window. Even back in Book of Job times, it was that most worldly of Old Testament personages who confessed to spending his time “walking the earth,” and, as far as we can tell from our surroundings, it’s still working out great for him.

Our point is, whether it’s a new job across the country, a backpacking trip around the world or a year as a freelance journalist in Europe’s kidney-stealing-est region, it does a man good to shake things up and explore new horizons -- even when he’s not sure what’s going to come of it. It’s a difficult economy out there, and the odds of receiving that killer LinkedIn message (“We have been admiring your torrent-downloading skills from afar and would like to offer you a position as head software developer…”) are smaller than ever. In this sort of climate, it’s the risk-takers who are going to uncover the scarce rewards, while swelling crowds of too-timid guys gather at O’Failehey’s on Tuesday nights, talking about high school track.

It’s always hard to leave your comfort zone, and it can be challenging to picture yourself in drastically altered surroundings, but it’s worth the struggle. After all…

You Will Learn About The World You Live In

I have not seen a single goat since arriving in Pristina -- seriously. Not even one.

This is only noteworthy because, in the weeks leading up to my departure, my friends and family were having a ball describing the probable Flintstones-esque shortcomings of my new, powered-primarily-by-goats city.

It’s a lazy, post-Borat bit of comedy, of course, but it also raises an important point: If you haven’t been somewhere, the way that you imagine it to be -- however you imagine it to be -- is wrong. I obviously knew that Pristina was not the Goatropolis of my buddies’ labored asides, but I didn’t know, for instance, that it is home to a café culture that has increased my caffeine intake by about 1,000% (seriously, those macchiatos). I didn’t know that it is a dense, hilly, minaret-studded city that looks like a bowl of pearls at night. I didn’t know that it is one of the frontlines in the war for European journalism, where veteran correspondents are starting shakily funded, bipartisan news outlets in a desperate attempt to free the country from the bitter divisions of its history.

To find all that out, I had to come here. And having discovered this, I am that much more aware that there are vast parts of the world that, in my mind, remain hasty collages of outdated stereotypes and regional livestock. The more of the world you see through experience, the less you see through the hack-ish eyes of “It’s A Small World After All” ride designers. And that’s a good reason to get out there. Also…

You Will Conquer Your Fears

Where knowledge ends, imagination begins -- and imagination is not always the positive thing that your kindergarten teacher made it out to be. As noted above, our minds tend to sketch over those parts of life not yet covered by experience, and sometimes goat-powered taxis and unfathomable, rude-to-refuse local delicacies (“is from internal of pig; best for men!”) are the least problematic things it comes up with.

What if you don’t make any friends? What if the new job turns on you? What if it rains all the time, or your new coworkers love karaoke, or Franz Ferdinand Part Two (the gritty reboot!) is shot in Mitrovica, causing World War III to break out in the Balkans?

Once you introduce the idea of changing your surroundings, your mind tends to make drastic changes to everything else as well -- especially your sources of comfort. When you imagine yourself in a strange and distant place, you tend to forget the human constants: people getting up and driving to work, kids teasing their younger brothers on the basketball court, the smell of barbecue on a lazy Sunday. All of these things, though, animate my daily life in Kosovo to a far greater degree than do wars and ultimatums.

Besides, there’s no reason that terrible things can’t happen right where you are. What if a plane falls on your house? What if a dog bites you? What if you stumble blearily into the shower tomorrow morning but spiders come out instead of water? Food for thought!

It Will Make You A Better Man

Ultimately, the thing about moving has less to do with the destination, and more to do with the internal and external obstacles you must overcome in order to take that first step. Once you have proved to yourself that you are able to think clearly and rationally in the face of the aforementioned fears, and that you trust yourself to adapt intelligently to new and challenging situations, you keep that capacity for good. You take it home with you, and it’s probably the most valuable thing you’ll bring back. You should make sure it is, actually -- those dogs can smell anything.

Read more : http://www.askmen.com/fine_living/travel/expat-diary.html

The Movie Everyone Expects

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 14:33:00 +0000

The Basics

Official Site: TheExpendables2Film.com
Release Date: August 17, 2012
Director: Simon West
Main Actors: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Arnold Schwarzenegger

77 - Take

The Avengers isn’t the only all-star team-up at the movies this summer. Picking up where the first film left off, The Expendables 2 ups the ante and its roster of aging action heroes for a second round of testosterone-heavy summer entertainment, with a cast straight out of an action fan’s dream. In it, the title team of mercenaries is once again recruited by their old friend Church (Bruce Willis) to take on a seemingly simple job (aren’t they all?). But when things unexpectedly go south, that easy paycheck gets a lot harder, and they’ll need all hands on deck to stop a new adversary (Jean-Claude Van Damme, in vintage form) from getting his hands on five tons of weapons-grade plutonium.

And while guys are sure to enjoy The Expendables 2 more than critics, it certainly doesn’t lack in firepower, as the ageless summer franchise moves one step closer to its goal of assembling the ultimate action movie Dream Team.

63 Critical Appeal

Stallone stays in front of the camera this go-around, handing off directing duties to another action movie vet, Con Air’s Simon West. And though The Expendables 2 isn’t much more polished than its all-brawn-and-few-brains predecessor, West does an admirable job of keeping the action blockbuster from collapsing under the weight of its various big names, ensuring there’s enough screen time to go around. The script, once again cowritten by Sly, predictably suffers from the usual cheesy dialogue and is about as subtle as a rocket launcher -- an early movie twist couldn’t be more obviously telegraphed than if they sent it up with a signal flare.

But this is a movie that knows exactly what it is -- an old-school, action-packed guilty pleasure -- and doesn’t attempt to be anything more. Shamelessly self-aware, its big guns take turns spouting one another's catchphrases and winking at the camera. As to be expected, The Expendables 2 is saved by its roster of '80s action heroes, and Van Damme makes a serious upgrade as the movie’s main villain, the “creatively”-named Jean Vilain. Ultimately, the idea behind The Expendables 2 is simple: Pack in as many big names as you can and don’t let up on the action until the credits roll. Everything else, from plot to character development, is expendable.

91 Guy Appeal

If there was ever a movie that exemplified the sometimes wide divide between critics and fans, it’s The Expendables 2. Because for all its imperfections, the action hero reunion tour is tailor-made for guys, delivering exactly what fans of the first movie want: Another hard-hitting action throwback that they just don’t seem to make anymore, and one that takes the promise of the first Expendables and kicks everything up to 11. And while the movie runs the risk of becoming a sideshow thanks to its Dream Team approach to casting, it’s hard to deny the appeal of watching Arnold Schwarzenegger’s triumphant return to action, Stallone and Van Damme squaring off, or one-time box office competitors like Chuck Norris and Bruce Willis fighting side by side.

Ditching the first movie’s one-on-one throwdowns in favor of more teamwork, the action starts off strong with an opening set piece that most other action movies would save for the final battle. But when it comes to The Expendables 2, there are always more planes to crash, buildings to blow up, henchmen to mow down and big-name action heroes to join the fight. And while Stallone and his fellow legends may not move as quickly as they used to, this is one franchise that looks like it still has a lot more left in the tank. Sometimes you just can’t beat a classic.

Social Networking For College Students

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 14:31:00 +0000

At the end of my first two weeks as a freshman in college, I had exactly 38 friends. At least half of those were hot girls, because that’s how I rolled. I saw them almost every night, staying up into the late hours and reacting to their jokes with energetic laughter and flirtatious nudges. I had never been more popular in my life, and I gave myself little fist pumps, like, four times a day. Really, the only issue at this point was that I hadn’t actually met any of my friends yet.

Facebook was perfect for a guy like me because I could meet my new classmates without actually talking to them. I wasn’t shy or anything; I just had tendencies of nervousness and timidity in the company of others. “But that’s the exact definition of 'shy,'" you might argue. To which I say, stop talking like such a nerd. I would also say that I wasn’t being shy. I was being smart. My plan was to wait out the beginning of school and keep my reputation alive while everyone else got slaughtered by their own social awkwardness. It was like social Hunger Games, and I knew that if I were patient, I would eventually climb down from my tree, let out a colossal sigh for the wickedness of humanity and start making out with chicks. Or something like that.

The thing is, that strategy only half worked. There was a lot of sighing and not so much making out, or any social interaction for that matter. While I stood on the sidelines, many of my fellow freshmen began forming meaningful bonds spawned from mutual feelings of “I have no idea what the hell’s going on and neither do you.” They joined clubs and shared interests, career aspirations and beers. They began to really know each other. Because of my exclusive devotion to Facebook, all I really knew about my friends was that Dan Jacobs thought Anchorman was “pretty tight yo” and that Jen Wesker liked dogs, Dave Matthews Band and wearing string bikinis during “SPrinG BReaK 2003.” I also knew that Christina Babson told you to please stop after four pokes.

I further rationalized my muted social efforts by concentrating my stress on my academic performance. This was pretty easy, not because of any personal intellectual vigor but because of an achievement-oriented anxiety that gets firmly implanted in every teenager during the “college process” in high school. I had spent the previous few years being told by frowny adults that, when it comes to getting into college, it would be wise to inflate my GPA and make sweet love to my SAT prep books.

Now that I was in college, the stakes of my classroom performance felt even higher. The carrot at the end of the academic stick was no longer college admissions; it was now a much more vague (and therefore significantly more terrifying) incentive. Looming after college was the infinite void of adulthood, and there was the unnerving sense that my college GPA would dictate my future career, wealth and whether or not I had ugly children. It was like the college process all over again, except this time I was applying for life.

Read more: http://www.askmen.com/entertainment/austin/social-networking-for-college-students.html#ixzz25EEMWH1a

HOW TO AVOID INJURY AT THE GYM

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 14:20:00 +0000

After more than 18 years of being a regular gym-goer, I have some tales of pain and woe. Any men who are reading this may wish to cross their legs at this point.

One of the worst was early in my lifting career when I was doing some lateral raises with 20-pound dumbbells. Unfortunately I wasn’t paying close attention to my technique, and rather than stop the weights at my sides I let them clank together right in front of me. During one repetition they knocked together rather close to my body and severely pinched a highly sensitive part of my male anatomy.

I instantly dropped both dumbbells, one of which landed on my foot. Then I fell to the floor, curled up into a ball, and waited to die.

What followed was a number of embarrassing questions from my fellow gym patrons that I’d rather not get into.

That wasn’t the only significant injury I suffered in the gym. Back when personal music devices were the size of lapdogs I often had a Walkman cassette player in a fanny pack blasting an all-Rush mix tape. This required regular repositioning of the pack from front to back and vice versa depending on the exercise being engaged in. One time I was sitting back into an incline bench press and had neglected to move the pack to the front of my body. I felt the tape player dig into my low back and my automatic response was to lurch forward. Being that I was holding some rather heavy dumbbells at the time lurching forward caused my low back to go out. I was out of action for a few days from that one.

In case you haven’t clued in yet, I’m a pretty clumsy guy.

I’ve had a few other less dramatic injuries, but they all boil down to either not utilizing proper technique or not paying attention to my surroundings. The gym is a place with lots of people, heavy things and moving parts, and I’ve learned the hard way to treat it with respect and be careful.

One of the most common injuries seems to come from treadmills. It’s not from people who are running on treadmills, however; it is people who leave treadmills running. Then some unsuspecting person comes and steps onto said treadmill that is still running, and they go flying. Since you can’t control the behavior of stupid people who leave treadmills running, you simply need to be aware that this can happen and always look before you leap.

Beyond that, there are a number of basic tips you can follow to keep yourself safe from injury at the gym:

Get some instruction, and follow it. Your best choice for a personal trainer is someone who has a kinesiology degree and some high-level certifications. I’d steer clear of the person who has a simple weekend certification and half their job is selling gym memberships.

Watch where you’re going. Remember the image of the lateral raise? Try to not walk too close to someone who is performing this exercise. I would imagine that getting clipped in the temple by a dumbbell is no fun at all. Watch for the pointy ends on moving barbells as well. When you’re the lifter ensure you’ve got a safe zone around you to prevent hurting others.

Beware of moving parts. More than just watching out for rogue treadmills, many weightlifting machines have areas that you need to keep your fingers away from, so be careful while using them.

Don’t overdo it. I don’t want you to “underdo” it, but if you’re new at exercise then I advise a gradual increasing of intensity rather than just pushing yourself to the limit in the first week. You don’t want to be so sore that you can’t even work the TV remote control. This also involves ensuring the inclusion of amplerest time and variety in your routine.
Ensure that machines are properly adjusted for your size. Take a moment and ensure that things like seat height, leg length, grip position etc. on weightlifting machines are in the proper position before using them.

Get a grip. Remember that when you’re using dumbbells or putting plates on a barbell that these things are heavy. Ensure that you’ve got a proper hold so you don’t drop it on someone’s foot, like your own.

Use a spotter. You don’t need this for every exercise, but there are certain types where you wouldn’t want to be in a position of not being able to lift something heavy off your chest. Use your common sense and have a knowledgeable person there to help you if you need it.

Wash your hands. Regular exercise can boost your immune system, but that doesn’t change the fact that gyms are often crawling with bacteria. Don’t touch your face while in the gym, and wash your hands thoroughly as soon as you leave.

Oh, and if you’re curious, everything healed up OK from the lateral raise pinching debacle.

Read more: http://www.askmen.com/sports/bodybuilding_60/71_fitness_tip.html#ixzz25EBhKsiS

Why Your Workout Is More Important Than You Think

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 14:18:00 +0000

Those who were out of shape saw a functional decline by 23%."

Trimming the beer belly to get the beach bod is why most people lose weight, but there’s a lot more to gain than just looks. A new study suggests that shedding excess pounds makes you smarter.

Researchers from the institute INSERM in Paris and the University College London examined 6,000 middle-aged men and women and found that those who were overweight, with high blood pressure and/or dealing with other health conditions, sped up their decline in thinking and memory.

The subjects’ cognitive skills were measured three times over a decade and cross-referenced with their body-mass index over the span. Those who were out of shape saw a functional decline by 23%.

We often assume that our physical fitness affects many of our major organs like muscles, lungs and heart, but we don’t typically include our brain as being one of the major beneficiaries.

Previously, we’ve heard about the brain releasing those feel-good endorphins as a result of exercise, but now we’ve got some hard evidence linking our physical status to our mental health.

While we primarily associate working out as being the key to looking good physically, it’s pretty clear that exercise benefits the mind just as much as body.

Read more: http://www.askmen.com/sports/news/motivation-to-lose-weight.html#ixzz25EAqmNEc

Move Over, Gatorade

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 14:14:00 +0000

While Gatorade has become the standard in sports recovery, it has also come under some scrutiny as athletes become more conscious about sugar intake. "

There’s a new sports drink in town, and it’s pushing Gatorade, protein shakes and chocolate milk out of the market to become the ideal post-workout option: coconut water. U.S. researchers have found that its high levels of electrolytes and antioxidants make it a winner.

A study from Indiana University Southeast examined Gatorade, Powerade and coconut water, and found that the latter has roughly five times the amount of potassium per liter as the former two. Potassium is a key electrolyte necessary to battle muscle cramps.

However, Gatorade and Powerade were found to have slightly more sodium, which is a key electrolyte necessary for those who perform strenuous workouts and sweat hard.

While Gatorade has become the standard in sports recovery, it has also come under some scrutiny as athletes become more conscious about sugar intake. Not only do they fall short in potassium, but Gatorade and Powerade are chock-full of that sweetness that can add unnecessary calories. Then there’s also the fact that coconut water is a natural product drawn from inside green coconuts, while sports drinks tend to be uber-processed concoctions.

The American diet tends to be heavy on sodium and light on potassium, so if you’re looking for balance and a change from sports drinks, coconut water is a natural and recommended option that could be even better for you.

Read more: http://www.askmen.com/sports/news/coconut-water.html#ixzz25EAOXmJm

How One Man Decided To Make Dating Fun Again

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 14:13:00 +0000

"Connecting with women started to require a little more than just being interested and asking."

I'm 37 and single. I'm happy. I really am. OK, maybe I could be happier. As they say, the grass is always greener. That must be why I feel something like envy when I’m surrounded by my “relationship” friends. It doesn't help that more and more activities are starting to be planned as couple-friendly, and that I’m always sharing a room with my best friend when we travel. I love the guy, but waking up to his mug on every vacation is wearing thin. Men in their late 30s should be sharing a bed with their romantic partner, not booking two doubles in a hotel room and arguing over who gets the last clean towel. How did I get here?

I have been in a few relationships, and I think of myself as a pretty good catch. I am ready to give it a real shot. That means one thing for certain. I have to go on dates. And dating sucks. But, the more I think about it, the more I realize that dating hasn’t always sucked. Why is it that lately I’d rather stay home and watch Mad Men than take a girl to dinner? Isn’t this supposed to be fun?

When you're young, going on dates for the first time is pretty awesome. You feel like you’re growing up and starting to understand what being a man means through a woman's eyes -- a woman who isn’t your mother. Whether your parents dropped you off and picked you up, or you took the bus to meet a girl at the movies, those first dates were pretty magical. Not only were you experiencing some firsts in your life, but the mere prospect that someone of the opposite sex wanted to spend time with you was enough to keep you up the night before. It was exhilarating and terrifying, but there was also an indescribable romanticism that we weren’t even aware of at the time. I remember that feeling -- dates without the weight of anything besides a connection at its purest. I still maintain that my best relationships were in my teens. No agendas, just connecting over the mutual discovery. But that doesn't last long.

Heading into my 20s, things began to shift a little. Some of the guys were sticking out relationships through college. While some of us were still trying to figure out who we were or what we wanted to do with our lives, there were a select few already mapping it out. They had the life plan, and they had the woman who was ready to be part of it. Some of us would be lingering at the bar until 3:30 to try to latch onto the nearest target, and these other guys would be heading home early. Their situation looked comfortable, but it wasn’t tempting enough for me to rethink what I had going on.

So I was out there “dating.” Only this was no longer dating as I had come to know it. It was socializing. This type of socializing would lead to sex. If you ended up at the same bars or parties the following weekend, you would probably sleep together again. A few of these weekends in a row, and you would begin to ask yourself if this was someone you wanted to see again.

But real dates were rare. It became more about networking and making sure you were meeting the right people and keeping up with the trends. Don't get me wrong, I had fun. But the shift had begun. Connecting with women started to require a little more than just being interested and asking. You had to have something to say, and if you wanted to find a woman worth her salt, you had to have direction. Suddenly, everybody’s scorecard had new categories.

The new scorecard makes for a whole new game that still carries on into our 30s. But the parties start to slow. In your 30s, your job can become your social life if you haven't built some longstanding friendships. Typically, meeting new people means being fixed up or meeting someone at a function. Regardless, the next step is the official date. But this is not the date we grew so fond of in our younger years. These days, a date means the audition process has begun. Whereas in youth, my address was relevant to a girl because she had to take the bus to meet me there, now my address says a little something about my status, tastes or what my future looks like. In my teens, the location of the date was an excuse to be anywhere but home, and now it may be a deal breaker if I take her somewhere with menus for place mats.

Romance is great, but where is this going? She was cool, the date was fun, but would she like my family? Should I pay or will that be too aggressive? It’s hard not to feel that youthful innocence has faded and given way to a more calculating exercise.

But, lately, I have begun to wonder if it’s time to stop thinking so much. Maybe it’s time just to be happy to be going out, not worrying about what happens next. What if the same things that excited me about dates in my teens can still work now? Sometimes enjoying the discovery of each other without thinking down the line is as simple as deciding that's what you’re going to do. Of course our lives have changed since we were teenagers, but that doesn’t mean we can’t let the 16-year-old in us enjoy the early stages of attraction before the adult in us starts asking too many questions.

I think it’s time we stopped approaching dates like interviews, and walk into them like that earnest teen we used to be. I know I make it sound easy, and it really isn’t, but nobody said this would be easy. But maybe it can still be fun. Like it used to be. Save the questions for later. Though you still may be asking yourself how to undo that bra.

Read more: http://www.askmen.com/dating/dating_advice/the-dating-evolution-2.html#ixzz25EA6lZ7l

Getting Back Into The Dating Game

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 14:11:00 +0000

Reader's question

Hi Doc,

I am going through a nasty divorce, and you wouldn't believe how betrayed and discouraged I've felt for the past six months. But I've started to feel a bit more confident and optimistic lately, and I think I'm about ready to get out there and start dating again. Perhaps it would be good for me at this point. Who knows? I might even meet a real sweetheart.

But since I've been married for 13 years and remained completely faithful the entire time, I have absolutely no clue as to how to date.

My single buddies tell me all kinds of horror stories about the singles scene, which are unbelievably discouraging. Are they exaggerating or is it really a jungle out there?

I am 33 years old and make serious money. Where do I start?

Francesco -- who is out of practice

doc love's answer

Hi Francesco,

Sorry that you've had to go through what you've been going through with your divorce. In the last 30 years, all the psychotherapists and relationship experts haven't been able to make a dent in the divorce statistics. (50% of all marriages end in divorce, and two thirds of the time, it's the woman who files first.)

Regardless of the statistics, keep in mind Francesco, that divorce is hard on the woman too. I think we all need to have compassion for poor Nicole Kidman. Remember, she will miss getting half of Tom Cruise's $250 million. Luckily, he filed 3 days before the 10th year of their marriage (California recognizes 10 years as a long-term marriage -- if each is to get half of the joint property.)

Francesco, the truth is: It is a jungle out there. And that jungle is inhabited by an infinite number of feminine creatures who will think nothing of misleading you, leading you on, stroking you, and using you. Your buddies don't have to exaggerate to frighten you; the truth is disturbing enough. But fear not, Francesco, because The System [a body of principles that guarantee your success with a woman that you love] that I'll use to coach you will be your guiding beacon through the darkness and deception.

exercising the scene

Let's start with the basics. First of all, take the time to get into good physical shape. If you don't belong to a gym, join one; ideally an upscale athletic club that has a high percentage of women in their twenties and thirties as members. Start working out regularly, even if you'd rather not. You'll look more attractive and you'll feel more confident. (When you're radiating vitality and fitness, you'll magnetize more babes.)

Once you're there, pumping up, don't stare at the girls in their tight leotards and don't come onto them with a lot of questions or comments. Just smile and say "hi" to the ones that smile at you, and every so often, casually ask one a question about her workout if it feels easy to do (don't push). If she has any interest, she'll make you feel comfortable and will ask you questions. That way, picking up women at the gym will be sweatless.

Read more: http://www.askmen.com/dating/doclove_60/66_relationship_expert.html#ixzz25E9hempp

Why Dating Is Ultimately Better In Your 30s Read more: http://www.askmen.com/#ixzz25E970ciK

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 14:10:00 +0000

You may find yourself able to stand out in ways that were never an option in your 20s. You simply have more to work with."

The bad news is your 20s are over. The good news is that now you’re in your 30s. When it comes to mingling with members of the opposite sex, these two decades come with competing rulebooks. What worked for you then is probably not working for you now. In fact, what she used to see as your strengths have now become weaknesses. You need to turn your approach inside-out.

The Roaring 20s: Bonding Over Aimlessness

I had a great time in my early 20s. Not only did I somehow manage to date some really beautiful women, but I was blessed with a family that provided me with enough money to do so with a little style. I’m not ashamed to admit that it helped my game since I was still reeling from 10 years in an all-boys school and was trying to navigate my way through college. I wasn’t rocking the name brands just yet, but my jeans fit me well and I had a few shirts that looked good enough for me to walk into the right bars. School was the priority and work was part-time at best. Dating was simpler then, even though at the time I felt like the world was being altered around every decision I made.

Wrestling with limited responsibility while feeling overwhelmed is something that young men and women bond over and even form relationships upon. In my 20s, we sat around and wondered about the future, griped about the present and distracted ourselves along the way.

Twenty-something women had less subtly nuanced expectations for how a guy should present himself, and, as guys, we were free to be easygoing optimists. The emphasis was more on being unphased by the impending pressures and less on looking like you had a perfect road map.

In your 20s, cool could still mean “I don’t know, but I don’t care" -- being untethered was the jackpot. Developing comfortable dialogue with women was all about being in the shared moment. There was something about that sense of discovery in life and mutual fear of the unknown that served as the best way to connect. Being in the moment was the ultimate way to make a girl notice you.

But when you're in your 30s, circumstances drastically change. They're only recognizable in that they’re the complete opposite of what used to work.

The Post-30 Standard: Driven Is The New Sexy

I’ve had two serious girlfriends and many less-serious girlfriends in between. I’m pretty much certain that, looking back, neither of the serious ones would date the guy that I was back then now that they’re in their 30s. In fact, I recall with stark clarity trying to impress an old girlfriend with a patented college move of buying a round of shots, only to be met with a look of slight disappointment that I was still up to my old tricks.

Somewhere after being a student ends and being a man begins, we shift our focus. Suddenly, the guy who is still figuring things out at 30 feels more awkward than sought after in dinner party conversation or casual bar banter.

If I am introduced to a woman at a party or at a bar through common friends, it takes only a couple of questions before we are discussing what we do for a living. Just like that, my long-term prospects are on the table -- and make no mistake, my prospects play into my attractiveness. It’s not that women are looking for money, but at a certain point, security starts to look sexy.

The cards we play have changed, and the strongest hand at the table in this new game has nothing to do with bluffing. You need to have something to show. It’s not about money (although that certainly makes things a little easier), but rather, it’s about conveying you have momentum. You can be the financial hero of the biggest firm or an aspiring actor, but you need to make sure you’re sending out real passion or drive with some direction to boot. While in your 20s, you could sidle up next to a girl with little more than charisma to offer, your 30s require a little more of what was ultimately inconsequential back in the good ol’ days.

There's More To Life Than Acting Nonchalant

I know most of this boils down to confidence, and a lot of people will say, “Just go talk to women.” Ugh. Look. Not everyone is equipped to do that. And those who are already know most of this. The point is that confidence comes from knowing where you are and what you bring to the table, and owning it. In your 30s, you may find yourself able to stand out in ways that were never an option in your 20s. You simply have more to work with. And, if you have a good grasp of what your strengths are when you’re out there, that leads to looking comfortable in your skin. From where I am sitting, that’s just easier in your 30s.

Read more: http://www.askmen.com/dating/curtsmith/dating-in-your-thirties.html#ixzz25E8nqvdz

Camel Coats

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 11:50:00 +0000

Camel Overcoat Lookbook – GQ.com

How To Style

As you can see in the lookbook, the camel overcoat is much more versatile than you initially think. Keeping the fit slim and sharp is imperative, and will allow you to utilise it with more fashion forward items such as slim/skinny jeans and even bold coloured chinos. My favourite look above is the Riveira Chic outfit [top left], which pairs the overcoat with white jeans and a simple t-shirt. Although I would probably be a little more considered with the footwear choice, it goes to show that the look can be adapted to youthful and modern.

Notice how camel seems to make every item you pair with it ‘pop’. Colours seem bolder and richer, whilst monochromes come alive and really play off the neutral tone. This means you can literally pair it with everything in your current wardrobe – even other beige/cream tones if you make sure you alter the hue slightly to provide the contrast.

Of course, the camel overcoat lends itself very well to smart-casual looks. It is naturally a refined piece, so smart-casual footwear such as brogues, suede shoes and relaxed loafers will all look superb and help compliment the slightly more refined undertones. For those looking to inject some life into the look, bold coloured socks, patterned tops and your trademark accessories will all help casual down the look slightly and give you that personality and individuality you desire.

J.crew Mayfair Wool-blend Coat
Br Monogram Camel Double-breasted Jacket
Etro Wool-blend Coat
Acne Winston Wool-blend Coat
Paul Smith Double-breasted Camel Coat
Jil Sander Camel Coat

The Camel Jacket

For those of you that cannot shake off the formal connotations associated with the camel overcoat, there are still options for you. A wide range of camel jackets are now available from a multitude of brands and designers – from premium fashion houses to the high street. Everything from duffle coats and blazers to dyed denim jackets and trench coats are available, so you are sure to find one that suits your personal style and current wardrobe.

Of course, the camel colour will still integrate seamlessly within your existing wardrobe, whilst offering the same benefits that the overcoat provides – namely versatility and the ability to bring your other items to life.

Camel Jacket Lookbook

Asos Coloured Denim Jacket
French Connection Kicksies Canvas Jacket
Carhartt Squire Coat
Diesel Jiccon Trench Coat
J.crew Holborn Trench Coat
Br Monogram Camel Blazer
E Tautz Tweed Blazer
Ralph Lauren Black Label Anthony Wool Sport Coat
Folk Waterproof Raincoat
French Connection Kicksies Canvas Coat
Peter Werth 4 Pocket Military Jacket
Fred Perry Camel Duffle Coat
Gloverall Made In England Melton Wool Rope Toggle Duffle Coat
Burton Camel Hooded Toggle Duffle Coat
Marni Classic Wool-blend Peacoat

Conclusion

The camel overcoat is an iconic piece of menswear that is now more wearable than ever. It will take both formal and casual looks to the next level, whilst providing that key individuality and separation from the crowd that most men desire. In a day and age when everybody is looking for an edge, the camel overcoat may just provide that for all the professionals out there. Easy to integrate within your current wardrobe, it makes other colours and neutrals come alive and provides the perfect backdrop for all your existing outfit combinations.

There are also plenty of alternatives out there for the younger or edgy types who love the camel colour but want something a bit more contemporary or modern. Whether you are looking for a new trench coat, quilted jacket or blazer to upgrade your smart-casual looks, they are all available today and provide much of the same versatility that the overcoat does.

Chuck Bass: Style Breakdown

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 11:45:00 +0000

Chuck Bass Lookbook

Key Component #1: Print

In earlier seasons, Chuck’s style came with a slight preppy edge; he had a penchant for knits, cravats and argyle print in particular. Reflective of his character, he has never been one to shy away from a statement piece. Bold prints and colours have held a special place in Mr Bass’ wardrobe – the shark sweater and iconic J Press scarf were especially notable.

As the character has matured, his style has taken a similar turn. Print and colour still play a part, but gone are the days of tipped trenches and provocative shades. Mr Bass’ style is much more refined, reflecting the change in his character from a boy billionaire to a man with a shrewd sense of business and style (the penchant for womanising is still all too familiar though). This change in character hasn’t, thankfully, changed the core of Chuck’s style.

Key Component #2: Tailoring

Tailoring has forever ruled supreme in the world of Bass. His style is the embodiment of sartorial excellence; from detail to fit, nothing ever goes unconsidered. knots have always been perfectly dimpled and pockets appropriately full – usually with a favoured paisley print (or something purple).

The current (fifth) season of Gossip Girl is a reiteration of this mantra, as it has seen Bass adopt the knit lapel pin as an everyday part of his style. While most men skip over lapels when putting together an outfit, a pin or boutonniereadds that little bit extra in the way of individuality.

Ultimately, Chuck takes the stiffness out of tailoring; he makes it appear dangerous through the use of carefully selected accessories and a carefree, effortless attitude.

Chuck Bass Inspired Clothing

Austin Reed 110th Anniversary Blue Textured Jacket

Reiss Weatherby Db Classic Double Breasted Suit Navy

Asos Skinny Fit Grey Check Suit

Turnbull & Asser Contrast-collar Striped Cotton Shirt

Jaeger Blue With Red Stripe Shirt

Topman Blue Double Cuff Best Shirt

Ben Sherman Camden Pin Dot Sheen Trousers

Reiss Fenchurch Slim Fit Tailored Trousers Light Grey

Topman Peoples Market Blazer

Collezione Pure Cashmere Single Breasted 3 Button Coat

Turnbull & Asser Classic Paisley Woven-silk Tie

Reiss Flounder Paisley Print Cotton Airforce Blue

Lanvin Buttonhole Flower Pin

Austin Reed Red Leather Clip Braces

Turnbull & Asser Paisley-print Silk Pocket Square

Topman Burgundy Geo Pocket Square

Churchs Suede Bampton Monk-strap Shoes

Reiss Whiterock Seam Detail Oxford Shoes Tan

The Bass Look on a Budget

At this point, I usually put together a series of example outfits. However, the lack of diversity in Chuck Bass’ look would make it somewhat limited. The style breakdown and lookbook above should give you the kind of detail needed to take inspiration from.

As an alternative, I’m going to put together a Chuck Bass look on a limited budget. As his style is very expensive (the man is, after all, a billionaire) and his wardrobe is sourced from the likes of Brooks Brothers and Turnbull & Asser, which fall out of the regular price range for many.

To start, you want a good suit with a slim fit and modern cut. By modern cut I mean the jacket shouldn’t go to far past your backside – a bum freezer if you will – and the waist should be tapered to some degree.

At a lower price range, the materials used aren’t going to be premium, but aim for something with a good proportion of natural fibres. This Marks and Spencer suit is 50% wool but at £149 it’s relatively well-priced considering the rates you can find yourself paying for 80%+ polyester equivalents.

If you’re working with a budget, pick a neutral colour for additional versatility. This indigo/navy is perfect and works great if your going to apply the Chuck Bass ethos of print, pattern and colour for the peripherals.

Moving on to the shirt. In my opinion, a stiff collar looks far better with a silk tie than a soft collar. For a good stiff collar, traditional shirt makers are often the best, such as Hawes & Curtis, Charles Tyrwhitt etc. Shopping the sales and flash promotions are a great way to find excellent examples at better prices. This stripe shirt from Charles Tyrwhitt is currently just under &20.

A navy silk spotted tie works great with the pink in the shirt. If you’re not sure on spots, paisley is also a fantastic choice with stripes. Don’t forget to pop in a pocket square in a Bass favoured puff fold.

Finally, brown shoes are a given when working with a navy suit. These 100% leather Derbies are a solid choice. Sock-wise, look to compliment your trousers and have the colour work with the rest of the palette of your wardrobe; these pink-ish socks do just that and are great for this look.

Read more : http://www.fashionbeans.com/2012/mens-tv-style-chuck-bass/

Autograph 2 Button Slim Fit Suit With Wool

Austin Reed Non Iron Pink Dobby Stripe Shirt

Navy Paisley Pocket Square

Reiss Morton Oxford Dot Tie Blue

Topman Pink Neppy Socks

Asos Lace Up Derby Shoes

Trench Coat Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 11:19:00 +0000

Cut & Style

Ok, so the double-breasted trench coat. Great for adding a more classic feel to your outfits, they look extremely smart and can also be a great tool to use for those who wish to add a bit of extra bulk to their upper torso. But of course, that also then means that they aren’t always quite as well suited to the slightly fuller man. A single-breasted style – which probably comes more under the title of Macintosh – will be a much greater aid in lengthening the torso, drawing the eye downwards as opposed to across. Wear the coat unbuttoned from the sternum area and fold the collar down and out to create a V-shaped neckline that will lengthen your neck and add width across your shoulders. A single-breasted style will also fall a lot cleaner if you choose to wear the trench open.

The waist belt on a trench is an absolute godsend. When worn tied into a effortlessly home-made knot, not only will it help to break up the torso it will also nip in that waist, therefore accentuating the shoulders and giving the impression of that perfect triangular shape we are all told to strive for. Epaulettes on the shoulders are great for giving a more structured, stronger shoulder and of course, portraying that military trend that is looking to stay with us until the end of time.

As for the length of the coat, I personally wouldn’t advise any man under the 6ft mark to wear a trench that finished far below their knees, and although a trench coat can be just as easily worked into both smart and casual outfits, baggy trousers/jeans just don’t quite fit that slim-line, sharp look that we have just created. Sleeve length is somewhat down to personal preference but I favour them sitting as the sleeve of my blazer would, just above the wrist bone. If people can see your under-layers poking out through your sleeves or maybe even a cheeky glimpse of watch, well, that’s just perfect!

Colour

For a staple trench coat that will work with both a smart/smart casual/casual looks, my number one choice in terms of colour would be a navy blue every time. It doesn’t look quite as formal as a black trench does and isn’t half as contrasting against other colour. Brown shoes, black shoes, jeans, chinos, trousers, city shorts… they all work perfectly.

My second choice would be a neutral tone such as a stone, camel, khaki or a light brown. If wearing louder colours/prints as a base layer, a trench of any of the above tones will help to re-neutralise the outfit. The only thing to be slightly weary of when choosing lighter tones is to avoid washing yourself out (much like grey does) – oh, avoid grey at the moment by the way. If of a lighter skin tone, opt for a slighter stronger, deeper stone or camel colour in order to add a bit of contrast against your skin tone.

Bold colours such as electric blues, burgundy reds and forest greens will add a much-needed burst of colourful energy into yours outfits during these final winter months. This possibly isn’t the route to go down however if you are looking for a staple trench, but if you are in fact looking to add to an already established collection, now is the time to take the leap my friend.

Modifications

With a garment such as a trench coat, I believe it is worth spending just that little bit extra – or in some cases a lot extra – for quality. However, realistically not all of us are in a financial position to be splashing out on Paul Smith trench coats and Aquascutum macs as we please, and so turn to our local high street retailers for guidance.

For those of you like myself, who watch the Burberry shows every season sighing in bitter jealousy at a collection of trench coats that I will possibly never be able to afford, don’t give up all hope just yet, as there are a few little tricks we can pull to turn that high street trench into your very own high fashion creation.

Trick 1: Change your buttons. A massive give away that most high street pieces are in fact high street, are those poor quality, plastered on every garment, plastic buttons. Replace them with a whole new set of vintage wooden buttons and your final garment will be almost unrecognisable from that basic Zara trench it once was.

Oh, that reminds me actually. Trick 1 Part b: Learn to sew on a button. It’s really rather easy once you’ve attempted it a couple of times and will save you a fortune in tailoring expenses.ished article than one that is unlined. Firstly make sure you know of a good tailor that is capable of re-lining coats, next take a trip to any good quality fabric shop and simply choose the cloth that you can not live without. Also, if you often tend to wear the collar of your trench stood up then you might even want to consider buying a bit of extra material to add a strip to the back of the collar? Just a thought.

Trick 3: Vary your belt. Instead of sticking to that matching material belt that comes along with your coat, try adding a thick leather jeans belt instead. I have even seen men rocking – and successfully pulling off – patterned scarves and even pieces of rope hooked through those belt loops. I am fully aware that this one won’t be a tip suited to all as it is sometimes deemed to be too ‘girly’, however, it really can look great.

Of course there are a number of other ways to personalise your outerwear, adding brooches/badges, customising the epaulettes etc. But by simply changing your buttons and adding a completely different lining to your £70 Topman trench coat, the chances of someone else having that exact trench, with that exact lining, with those exact buttons drastically reduce to near impossible – you now own a one-off piece.

Read more : http://www.fashionbeans.com/

New Season Styles

NEW YORK FASHON WEEK FAVORITES

noreply@blogger.com (Dumitru Darius) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 16:18:00 +0000

DKNY

DKNY took over Times Square on Wednesday evening, jumbotrons included. A row of dapper gentlemen in sleek grey suits lined the windows of the NASDAQ Marketsite, looking relaxed compared to the bustle two floors below. To complete the Times Square takeover, the brand’s ad campaign ran on several video screens outside, broadcasting the modern classics for everyone passing by. The slim silhouettes echo the return of Mad Men era style. The tailored pieces boasted a simple grey palette, but took on a whole different feel when paired with statement making shoes. Other key pieces from the collection include ombre knits from pureDKNY, the weekend wear label, and a three-button blazer. We passed a faux boardroom filled with models on the way out—bringing the collection’s office chic vibe full circle.

STANDOUT: The tailored grey suit is easy to dress up (as shown) or down with a henley and chukkas.

Lacoste

Felipe Oliveira Baptista’s first full collection for Lacoste incorporated luxe elements while staying true to the sportswear soul of the iconic French brand. The co-ed show focused mostly on women’s, but we got a glimpse of his new direction, which mixed sportswear and tailored pieces and featured cool cotton blazers and hooded anoraks. The palette consisted of crisp white, navy and royal blues, and military green with some subtle color blocking. Structured blazers were paired with shorts to showcase the elements of fine tailoring.

STANDOUT: This olive jacket that hits right at the waist, mixed with the navy and olive combination, creates an eye-catching—but practical—look. The oversized pocket flaps add an architectural element for a modern feel.

Photo: Courtesy of the designer

Richard Chai

Downtown designer Richard Chai took a break from his typically somber New York palette this season and let his man bask in eye-catching, island-acid colors (tangerine with pop of bright and a hard-edged turquoise anyone?). His signature slouchy silhouettes and doses of playful patterns remained true to his DNA, though the tropical prints were a welcome breezy departure. If guys aren't up for the bold statement of a striped double-breasted jacket, they could keep their flair grounded with slick neon-soled brogues.

Standout: Those neon-soled shoes. Wear them with a suit and you can keep it all business up top, party on the bottom.

Photo: Courtesy of the designer

Michael Bastian

There was a spark of excitement in the air at New York designer Michael Bastian’s show this week. After taking a season off from his eponymous collection, editors, stylists and fashion types were eager to see what the master of All-American style would come up with for spring – and they weren’t disappointed. The designer’s well-developed collection was an homage to James Dean that played out in references from a classic red windbreaker to cuffed jeans to the chunky 50’s eyewear. But Bastian’s rebels did have a cause: looking devil-may-care handsome in unlikely mixes of tailored clothing and sportswear. Each outfit showcased Bastian’s skill of mastering the details but also combining them in unexpected ways. A slim-cut cargo with a pinstriped blazer? Rugby shirts under tailored clothing? Absolutely. His man looked daring, but never reckless.

STANDOUT: If you take away one thing from this collection, it should be lessons on fearless layering and combinations. As long as the fit is right and the pieces are well made, feel confident in mixing your weekend and work wear.

Photo: Courtesy of the designer

Fratelli Rossetti

This iconic family-run footwear brand has carefully reinvented itself since LA-based shoe designer George Esquivel began collaborating with them 2 years ago. Combining Fratelli Rossetti’s old world Italian craftsmanship with Esquivel’s downtown esthetic—which means washed leather and funky colors—the result is shoe nirvana. The idea here is pairing unusual colors with an otherwise classic shoe. Think slate blue, hunter green, eggplant and carmel in suede lace ups, woven leather loafers and elegant dress shoes. If color’s not your thing, fear not. The collection also includes more traditional black, brown and tan options.

STANDOUT: White leather and tan suede thick-soled wingtips worn with a suit, jeans or shorts.