Tulips are the new roses, you guys. Yeah, we said it: Roses are bunk. (Well, now we said it.)

Why are we saying this? Well, mainly because roses have become a staple for the American male consumer on Valentine’s Day, and as a result, the cartel that is flower stores have cranked up the price of roses.

Yet the beautiful, bulbed tulips remain at a reasonable price and with the added benefit of not being a worn out cliche.

Actually, let us take that back: if you’re going to the prom, there’s nothing cliched about roses. You high schooler.

So join us in the revolution and make tulips — the just-as-beautiful, yet substantially-better-priced Valentine’s option — the new roses.

Hello Brahnation, just wanted to share my latest venture, Home & Office Maintenance Enterprises, Inc. or “HOME Inc.” HOME Inc. is a company my father started over twenty years ago and my sister and I took over last year. Our company offers cleaning, janitorial, handyman and remodeling services in the Raleigh and Wilmington areas. Our cleaning services include carpet cleaning, floor buffing and waxing, and pressure washing. Our handyman and remodeling servinces include painting, drywall repair, cabinet installation, bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, crown molding, and replacing doors and windows. We offers services in Raleigh and Wilmington, North Carolina. Give us a call at (919) 833-2221. One call cleans it all.

We didn’t win the 2011 Captain Morgan BracketMaster Challenge over at Spike.com. You probably realize this because there would have been much more gloating going on thus far, and chatter about Las Vegas and stuff.

But, still, we feel compelled to congratulate the champion of the Bracketmaster Challenge, Kelly, featured right. A hearty congratulations also goes out to Joshua Estrin of Examiner and Celeb Buzzz, who coached Kelly all the way to the championship.

It was a hard-fought battle, but Joshua now retains some sort of gigantic trophy and a pile of prizes as well. Witness the final Bracket:

We’d be remiss if we didn’t think the awesome Captain for the experience of competing in this challenge, as well as the folks over at Spike for putting it on.

We’ve covered in some detail our involvement with Captain Morgan’s Bracketmaster contest, and we’re pleased to inform you that we — us, our girl Monica and you, dear reader — are all winners. But we need to KEEP winning, so we’re going to ask you to vote.

Again.

The good news is it’s really easy to do so — just cruise on over to Bracketmaster.Spike.com and/or text MONICA to 44686 to give her a vote and try to get us into the Elite 8. The further we go, the more money we make for your/our favorite charity. (No, seriously.)

Anyway, if you need more proof that you should vote for Monica, we did a little Q & A with her following our victory in the first round.

Enjoy:

Brahsome: You’re from New York, so you could be biased for the Johnnies, but do you think St. John’s stands a chance of making a deep run in the tournament?

Monica: St. John’s has earned a spot in the NCAA tournament by defeating Seton Hall’s Pirates. This was a thrilling game. The metropolitan-area rivalry. This is the Johnnie’s spirit, bringing the Red Storm all the way!!

B: Obviously you like brackets, I would think, but do you prefer the college football postseason or the college basketball posteason? And why?

M: Both! Although, Football rules are too complicated to understand I enjoy the excitement of the playoffs. Getting together with friends for a tailgate food party and Captain Morgan is the best way to celebrate!

B: If you had to pick one super power to have — outside of whatever Captain Morgan’s got, which is apparently awesomeness — what would you choose?

M: I’d like to FREEZE TIME so that I can enjoy with Captain Morgan permanently.

B: What’s your favorite thing Charlie Sheen’s said over the past month?

M: Hahahahaha!! “Winning! I win over here. I win over there!!” Can we blend a Captain Morgan/Charlie Sheen Tiger Blood Cocktail???

B: Speaking of really datable guys, what are the three most important things you look for in a man?

M: He must unleash his inner Captain Morgan: 1) CONFIDENCE: Women don’t like wimps. Confidence is cool and cool is HOT!! 2) SENSE OF HUMOR: Life is hard and dating is harder. So make me laugh! 3) FUN: Party like a Legend!!!

B: One of the things I require in a woman is a love of food, particularly sandwiches. What’s your favorite sandwich of all-time?

M: Let’s keep it healthy with a Turkey Sandwich and Spicy Avocado Spread.

B: While we’re on sandwiches, do you think it’s acceptable to qualify a “wrap” as a “sandwich”? (I’m dead serious here — this is a pretty important fundamental debate.)

M: Absolutely NOT! A “wrap” is the English word for a Mexican tortilla! And that’s definitely not a sandwich! I’m just as dead serious as you J

B: Sticking with food/beverage, what’s your favorite thing in the whole wide world to drink?

M: Original Captain Morgan & Cola

B: That makes sense — what’s your gameplan for the Thursday/Friday start of the tournament? And what I’m really asking here is, how early can I start drinking Captain Morgan on the day of the tournament?

M: Use your better judgement. I always say “drink to enjoy NOT to destroy”. So keep it cool and sexy like Captain Morgan and DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

B: Having asked that, got any tips on being responsible (outside of my favorite which is: falling asleep) if one does decide to imbibe in the Captain’s a touch early in the day?

M: 1) Stay hydrated. Have a glass of water before, during, and after consuming Captain Morgan. 2) And leave your keys at the door. Take a cab. Don’t drink and drive