Amazing Log Cabins
For some men, the solitude found in their personal man-cave or under the hood of their car is enough to allow them to cope with the madness of the rest of the world. But, not every man can get by on so little. Some men need their entire home to be a harmonic balance of comfort and nature; a rugged retreat from society. ‘Log cabin’ hardly encapsulates the grandeur or manliness of the following houses, but it’s the closest name for them. If a single room can be called a man-cave, these houses should be considered man-mountains.
Don’t forget to download DragNSync today.
How much would it cost to be Batman? This website says $682,450,750. Luckily, he can protect his secret identity for only $2.99!
Equipping the Man Cave: 9 Epic Card Tables
Having the guys over for poker night? You might want to upgrade your card table. Here are some ideas:
Ok, guys, seriously this time: no splashing.
Here’s an opportunity to show off your chainsaw carving skills.
Any ACC fans?
Great use of iPads.
As always, know when you’ve been beat.
6 No-No’s for a suited man (PrimerMagazine.com)
You’re finally at a place in life where you need to wear a suit somewhere other than a relative’s wedding, so wear it right and avoid these six fashion faux pas that turn you from stylish to childish.
Okay, gents, I’ll make this quick. Here are six things that men should not be doing while wearing a suit. I see these violations WAY too often as I walk the streets of this city. I’m going to identify these things, as well as some alternatives in an attempt to save these men from themselves.
1. White athletic socks with dress shoes
This is a no-brainer. It may have been acceptable when you were five years old going to a Sunday morning church service, but even that was pushing it. Figure out if you’re a solid or a stripe/pattern type guy, buy a couple decent pairs of dress socks, and call it a day.
2. White T-shirts or A-shirts (“wife beaters”) under light-colored dress shirts
Let’s assume you’re a sweaty dude who wears undershirts because you worry about sweating through your button-up. Your best bet is a heather gray v-neck shirt. A close runner-up would be a heather gray a-shirt. Why? Both options are closer to your natural skin tone, and won’t show as clearly through a white or light-colored dress shirt… Basically, gray blends better with your skin, whereas white stands out, even underneath.
V-necks are better than the standard crewneck in case you plan on loosening your tie and unbuttoning that top button. You don’t want the ribbed collar of your crewneck poking through; that just screams “sloppy”.
Make sure to buy undershirts that are fitted and form to your body so you don’t have excess fabric bunching and billowing when you tuck in your dress shirt.
3. Silver-tipped, western-themed belts
Do I even have to explain why this is a no no? Unless you’re in a rodeo runway show on a cattle ranch in Montana (…what?), stick with a simple,unadorned belt with a basic buckle for suiting and trousers. Keep it classic and you won’t run the risk of looking hokey, costumey, or dated.
4. Sporty sunglasses
Stop it! Oakley and Arnette sunglasses are designed for participation in an active sport, not for going to work. Sticking with aviators or a pair of Wayfarers are your best choices. You may have to try on a couple pairs to find the best fit for your face, and if you’re absolutely lost, ask for assistance from a (knowledgeable) salesperson to find out which frame fits your face.
Alternatively, read up and figure it out yourself.
5. Backpacks
Gents, I understand you have things to carry during your daily commute. Do yourself a favor and rethink what you use to tote your stuff. Nothing looks sillier than a man in a suit schlepping around a Jansport with 12 pockets. You’re not a schoolboy, nor are you on a weekend hike.
If you must sling something over your shoulders, at least get a decent messenger bag. It’s more professional, with the same amount of functionality as your old backpack. Many models have multiple compartments to store your laptop, notebooks, pens, and everything else you’ll need… but unlike a backpack, a leather messenger does so in a grown-up way.
6. Riding a Razor
It is NOT okay to be “commuting” on your Razor scooters. I don’t care if the bus stop is twelve blocks away from your office. You are an adult, and you look like you just conned a 5-year-old at the local playground. WALK.
Gents, please do everything you can to avoid the aforementioned violations, and instead, explore the more adult alternatives I’ve suggested. Attention to detail matters, and staying away from these no-no’s is a step in the right direction.
20 Random Man Tips
Somewhere in the unwritten, unspoken but universally known guide to being a man is the axiom that a man is nothing if he’s not able. Man’s reluctance to ask for help has contributed to the discovery of an array of ingenious solutions to everyday problems. When rubbing some dirt on it, walking it off, and cursing loudly fail to fix it, try some of these tips before admitting defeat.
1. Whiskey for a sore throat
Why is it that we don’t realize our house is void of all medical supplies until we’re in need of some? If you’re suffering from a sore throat a good home remedy is mixing warm water (to clean and open pores), whiskey (to sterilize), and honey (to coat and soothe). Gargle, sip, do whatever you find the most relieving. Chug it if you think drunk, hydrated, and full of honey sounds like fun.
2. Ran into poison ivy? Make a drink.
Chances are you’ve got some alcohol around the house, which can come in handy when dealing with poison ivy. It is important to stop the oils from poison ivy from penetrating the skin and then spreading. Strong alcohol is effective at both washing away the oils and keeping the pores closed, preventing absorption. Warm water can open pores and soap can spread the oils around, so rinse it with vodka and then make yourself a martini to help take your mind off of the overwhelming urge to itch.
3. Sunburn solution
You may have thought you looked manly by opting out of suntan lotion at the beach, but now you look less manly and more like Clifford the big red idiot. Aloe vera is helpful to an extent but try using black tea leaves instead. Soak tea bags in water, and when they are entirely saturated, lightly press the bags against your skin. You should be back outside chasing the pool honnies in no time.
4. Use gasoline instead of soap
Whenever domestic chores require messy materials the worst part is the cleanup, especially cleaning your own hands. Grab some gasoline from the garage, which acts as a thinning agent, and a Brillo pad to scrub away paint, tar, oil, and other hard to remove substances.
5. Fix squeaky floors with talcum powder
If you’ve got wood floors that constantly squeak, spread talcum powder in the cracks then sweep away the excess. Your floors will stop squeaking and you can start sneaking.
6. Safely remove a light bulb
This one is actually two tips in one. If you’ve got a lightbulb that just refuses to twist out, wrap it in duct tape on both sides so that you have handles with the excess tape that hangs off. Not only does this give you added leverage, but it puts less pressure on the bulb. If the bulb is already broken with sharp glass sticking out of it, use a potato to get it out. Seriously! cut a potato in half and then shove the flat half over the glass, but make sure to unplug the lamp as potatoes are able to conduct electricity.
7. Use rice as a sponge
If not properly sealed, containers holding powdery or grainy substances can let in moisture that causes the substance to clump and harden. Mix plain white rice into salt, brown sugar, etc. to prevent this with no effect on the taste.
8. Soap your screws
If you’re having a hard time driving screws into wood, try rubbing the screws on a bar of soap first. The soap acts as a lubricant and lets the screws pass through the hardest of wood with ease.
9. Submerge an inner tube to find the hole
When a deflated bike tube is not as obvious as a big nail sticking out of your tire, it can be tricky to find a small puncture. Mark a spot on the tire and the tube so that you can match them up again later. Remove the tube and pump it up again, then immediately submerge it in water. If you can’t see air bubbles yet, try systematically working your way around the tube stretching the rubber as you go. Once you’ve found the hole in the tube, match that spot up with where it was in the tire and you should be able to find the little bugger that got you - most likely it’ll be a piece of glass or thorn.
10. Never buy a phone charger again
With the amount most of us rely on our phones nowadays it’s almost as if a piece of you dies when your phone does. So, when you lose your charger and feel like a man on death row, it’s important that you find a replacement power source soon. Instead of heading to the store and forking over another fifteen bucks, just go to a hotel. With the amount of people that cycle through, hotels are bound to have tons of forgotten chargers. It’s up to you whether you ask politely for a lost one or pretend it was yours all along.
11. Fix a screw hole with a golf tee
A screw can sometimes cause a big unsightly hole to be left in wood furniture when it is removed. To fix it, push a golf tee with a little bit of wood glue on it into the hole then cut the tee where it meets the wood. Sand it until the surfaces are flush, and then stain it to match. The fix will be nearly unnoticeable.
12. Reducing acne is as easy as a clean towel
People who deal with acne are constantly trying new things to help subdue it. One thing they rarely realize is a problem is their pillow. Even at night we sweat and our skin secretes oils. Think about how infrequently you change your pillowcase compared to other material that touches your skin. Try wrapping your pillowcase with a clean towel that you plan on using the next day and you should see positive results within days.
13. Remove a splinter with glue
Splinters are the worst. Sometimes you’re able to pull it out with tweezers or grit your teeth and carve it out with a knife, but not always. When it’s rooted in there deep, put a generous dab of superglue over it then cover it with a band-aid. Once it’s totally dry, peel off the band-aid and glue and the splinter should come with it. If that doesn’t work you might just have to submit to losing the finger all together.
14. Your own saliva can remove your own blood
This is true in small amounts. For instance, a few drops of blood on your shirt from a split lip can come out by using saliva and a rag. If, on the other hand, you’re standing in a pool of blood that may or may not be all yours, spitting on it is only gonna add more DNA for forensics to find. In that case, you better hope you’ve got the Wolf’s phone number on speed dial.
15. Warm beer woes?
You’re having a cookout and didn’t remember to put the beer in the cooler until the first guest shows up and asks for a cold one? No worries. Cover the beers in the cooler completely in ice, and then add salt to the ice. The reaction of the mixture can chill a beer in 3-5 minutes
16. Keep warm at night with clean clothes
Whether you’re camping under the stars in autumn or your house is drafty in the winter, there’s one trick guaranteed to help keep you warmer while you sleep. Clean clothes. Your clothes soak up sweat and other oily skin secretions when you wear them and by the end of the day they are slightly moist and no longer able to whisk away sweat. So, don’t wear the undershirt you wore all day to bed and wash those pajamas that haven’t seen the laundry room in a fortnight and you should stay snug and warm.
17. Keep your tools rust free with chalk
A simple way to keep rust of your tools is by keeping blackboard chalk in your toolbox. It will help the same way rice helps in salt. The dust absorbs any moisture that gets in and causes rust on metal tools. Plus, you’ll always have it in case someone challenges you to an impromptu game of hopscotch.
18. Bananas are the cure to hangovers
It’s not called alcoholism until after college, right? This flawed reasoning is why most college students are in the constant search for the best hangover cure. It’s fairly common knowledge that your hangover is caused by dehydration. While chugging water the morning after will help you regain some of what you lost, it’s not going to replace everything. Dehydration also causes a potassium deficiency, and the best way in nature to replace potassium is to eat bananas. So grab a bundle while you trudge to Starbucks for your caffeine fix, and besides looking like Donkey Kong after a bender, you’ll be alright.
19. Cure Dandruff with Vinegar and Apple Juice
An equal parts concoction of vinegar and apple juice can cure dandruff better than many expensive dandruff shampoos. The vinegar does most of the work by cleaning and making the skin healthy again. The apple juice offers some vitamins but mostly works to cut the potency of the pure vinegar. Leave the mixture in your hair and when it dries the vinegar smell will dissipate and you will be left with a healthy flake-free scalp.
20. Saline to the nose to subdue allergies
Saline, used as artificial tears for contact wearers, can help relieve swelling in the nasal cavity caused by allergies. The salt mixture washes away allergens and cleans the inside of your sinuses. Try doing this in the privacy of a bathroom or people will think you’re slightly insane, especially if you look as happy about it as the lady in the above picture.
