Best Stuff for Men » Movies

Want to Help the Japanese Economy Recover? Shop at Rakuten

ECJ — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 05:22:28 +0000

You may be wondering how to help the people of Japan cope with the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that occurred March 11. You can do it by buying goods from Japanese companies online. This post tells you the best way to shop Japan via the Internet.

One idea for economic recovery that I have not seen mentioned is to shop directly with Japanese businesses online. Americans and others around the world have donated millions of dollars through various relief organizations, such as the Red Cross, and many others have traveled to Japan to volunteer their services. But, while donations of money satisfy the immediate need to get supplies to the people in the towns of the tsunami-ravaged Tohoku region, dollars can be infused into the Japanese economy long-term by shopping via the Internet from anywhere in the world at Rakuten.

Click to explore Rakuten's huge online mall

Many people outside Japan have not heard of Rakuten. It is an online shopping company. It is Japan’s equivalent of Amazon. The Japanese name “Rakuten Ichiba” translates to “Rakuten Shopping Mall,” which is exactly what it is — an aggregation of 33,000 Japanese shops and businesses. This huge online shopping site offers 60 million products. Rakuten is the second most visited site in Japan, with over 50 million registered users. In fact, this Internet shopping giant is the reason Amazon has not been able to make much headway into the Japanese market. It is estimated that one-third of households in Japan shop at Rakuten. And that says something: Japanese consumers, particularly online, are known for being finicky and demanding. Rakuten has met their needs to the point that it is now one of the top ten Internet companies in the world, and has an international presence. In addition to products, it also has its own extensive travel services site, which anyone in the world can use.

Rakuten is now actively expanding its shopping services in other markets throughout the world, including Europe and the United States. Amazon may be the largest online shopping company, but sheer size is no guarantee of quality (Microsoft sells more operating systems than any other company but no one thinks their OS is the best, and General Motors became the largest automaker in the world selling cars inferior to a number of other makes), so I would not be surprised if, in a few years, Rakuten has noticeably eroded Amazon’s market share. You can think of Rakuten as the Honda of online retailing.

What does that mean with respect to helping the Japanese economy weather the aftermath of the earthquake?

We know that the world’s economic fortunes are subject to ripple effects that transcend national boundaries. Mortgage foreclosures in the American mid-west affect the value of the Euro. The price of labor in China impacts how much Walmart pays its US workers. The Russian wheat harvest affects the price of food in Delhi and Des Moines. With respect to the world economy, Japan is a titan, boasting the third largest economy after the US and China. So any financial woes that Japan experiences as a result of the triple whammy of the earthquake, tsunami, and radiation contamination from damaged nuclear power plants will affect not only the Japanese people but people in the United States and around the world. (Already, it is projected that demand for the Prius will not be able to be met, since there are parts suppliers for the car in the affected region. And US beef exports to Japan may be hampered by damaged port facilities.) In other words, the domino effect from an economic slowdown in Japan coupled with the need to re-build infrastructure could affect your personal financial situation. So it behooves you to help your neighbor.

Thus, if you shop for Japanese goods, you can help not only Japanese businesses and consumers as they recover and re-build, but your own economy as well. The easiest (and most enjoyable) way to shop in Japan from outside Japan is Rakuten. Spend a few bucks there, get yourself some interesting, well-made Japanese products, and you’ll be helping float everyone’s boat. After all, just imagine what it would have meant to a local hardware or stationery store in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina if they had had a steady influx of customers… If they had experienced damage or hardship from the hurricane, sure, packets of freeze-dried food and blankets would have met their immediate physical needs, but long-term, it’s customers buying from businesses that sustain an economy, whether in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi or Ofunato, Japan.

You can find just about any kind of product at Rakuten, from books to ice cream to motorcycle parts. But why not get something interesting or unusual? How about:

Sake
Momotaro Jeans (maybe the best jeans in the world)
Japanese Sandals
Tea Sets
Samurai Clothes and Accessories
Edible Seaweed from Ofunato (the northeast region)

You can also try using the search field on the Rakuten homepage to search for city names in the northeast region, such as Sendai, Kamaishi, Miyako, and Kuji, in order to find stores in those cities from which to buy. Keep in mind that operations at those stores might be curtailed or slowed for awhile — but they will still appreciate the business!

Rakuten currently ships to over 50 countries (and the list is expanding) and their site has pages optimized for a number of countries, including the USA, Canada, China, France, and the UK. If you’re outside Japan, when you place an order you’ll usually be put in touch via email with the shop that sells the item to arrange a shipping method and cost. (Note that some shops offer special free international shipping promotions, or $1 international shipping.) There is a weight restriction on items shipped to the US via certain carriers, but many shops can arrange a shipping method to the US that gets around this limit.

When you first explore the site, you may wonder where to go and how to approach it, but anyone familiar with online shopping can quickly figure it out. Explore. In addition, they have a handy instructional page here.

Think of it as an adventure, man. As well as a good deed.

Here’s a testimonial from a customer in the US posted on the Rakuten site:

“I recently found Rakuten via Facebook, and boy I couldn’t be happier. As a person interested in Japanese culture, this website is great. I’ve found many things I had been looking for as well as new items that have caught my eye. The website is well laid out and very intuitive to navigate. And the search feature is one of the better ones I’ve encountered for a merchant website. And this is all from a website that isn’t set up for business in the USA. If the USA website is half as good, then it’ll be better than most merchants that I’ve purchased from. by Nick M – NJ, USA”

Hey, if Nick can do it, you can, too. And remember, you’ll be helping the cause. It all adds up.

If you have found something interesting or useful here on Best Stuff for Men, please consider making a donation, so others can benefit, too. Thanks!

An Unusual Confluence of Manly Movies

ECJ — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 22:59:07 +0000

When it comes to manly movies, something unusual occurred in recent months — several films came out and are now playing (and have been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture) that focus on male characters in mature, thought-provoking, diverse ways. When I say “manly movies,” I don’t mean the usual action-film fare that is considered a staple of primarily male movie-goes — your Transformers and Transporters and so on — but movies that deal seriously with themes that men actually come to grips with in their lives (or, in the case of The King’s Speech, if they’re a king); themes that approach the heart of how and what it means to be a man, and focus on issues that a man will face if he has serious goals and complex relationships (relationships beyond that with his car or his quipping buddy). Matters of strenth and power in conjunction with love.

This does not usually happen. There may be one or two well-made films in a given year that focus primarily on male character(s) in serious-minded ways (last year it was The Hurt Locker and A Serious Man; the year before that it was Frost/Nixon and Milk), but not 5 films. Not of the quality that this year’s crop has. So let’s celebrate it a bit. If you enjoy movies about men doing realistic, manly things, check the following films. They’re mostly still playing (thanks, Oscar prestige) and they’re all worth seeing. (Note: I could have included The Town here but figure it’s on the bubble between realistic-and-serious and action-and-implausibility. Still, an excellent movie that balances testosterone and emotional depth.)

Get the movie poster

True Grit. I could say that this is the “grittiest” of the bunch but, you know, that would be wrong — both because the pun is too obvious and because it’s not accurate (the grittiest is probably 127 Hours). It is, however, the most stark when it comes to portraying masculinity in a way that much of America has come to define it: in terms of cowboys in the wild west. But these are cowboys who don’t know they’re inhabiting a historic milieu that’s destined to become a cultural cliché. Instead, they’re men simply doing what they have chosen to do: be on one side or the other (good or evil) of violent, barely civilized situations. True Grit is just about a perfect film. The acting is superb, the cinematography excellent (all the compositions are interesting and it’s got that sharp, clean, expansive light), the dialogue is adult-worthy, and it’s consistently engrossing. This film dramatizes the quality of determination in a rather pure way — and it doesn’t detract from it that the central character, who is probably the most determined, is a girl. That is the dichotomy that all of the films here have in common: they portray men who are self-reliant and then ask the question, In the service of what is that self-reliance expressed? Through the high-minded yet demanding presence of a plucky girl obsessively bent on justice, the males involved are encouraged to either retain or regain their humanity. Hailee Steinfeld is a revelation as Mattie Ross, the headstrong girl who hires Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to hunt down the man who killed her father. Matt Damon provides effective counterpoint in the quasi-Woody Harrelson role from No Country for Old Men. Both Bridges and Steinfeld were nominated for Oscars for their respective roles and both deserve to win, though neither probably will (as this is written, the Oscars are about 5 hours away).

The Fighter. As each of these films depicts a man pursuing a clear-cut goal, they also depict men who are influenced in their pursuit of those goals by the relationships in which they’re enmeshed. After seeing The Fighter, you begin to wonder if the title refers to Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), a boxer who is pursuing the ultimate comeback, or Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale), the brother of Micky, who seeks simply to come back to life. Some relationships uplift and some corrode. For most people, they can do a bit of both. A man must decide on whose terms he’s going to live — his own, or those of the people he allows to influence him. And if he, like most of us, cannot escape the influence of others, how will it shape him? That is one of the central questions in these films and it is at the heart of The Fighter. Again, this is movie-making at its cinematic best. Everyone does a good job. Christian Bale plays a hyper-active coke addict with manic precision and is nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. So are Melissa Leo and Amy Adams in their respective roles as the mother of the brothers and Micky’s girlfriend.

127 Hours. 127 Hours raises the idea of ”If only…” again and again. Follow that notion back far enough and you might begin wondering what would have happened if only the dinosaurs had developed opposable thumbs. Maybe they would have survived that big meteorite. But Aron Ralston managed to avoid becoming a fossil due primarily not to his thumbs but his brain. (And that’s another thing about the male leads in this collection of films: they’re not only intrepid, they think and plan.) Throughout his ordeal, Ralston recapitulated virtually every major drama of survival that humans have endured. Was it carelessness or bad luck that landed him in his predicament? In the end, does it matter? What certainly matters are the decisions he made leading up to it, as well as after he found himself in trouble. As Dr. Johnson said, “When a man knows he is to be hanged…it concentrates his mind wonderfully.” And so Ralston is forced to concentrate on what truly matters to him. There is a fine line between narcissism and self-pity. The film does a good job of suggesting Ralston’s sense of isolation prior to his mishap — a misadventure that magnified that feeling exponentially. A reprieve from death can dilute narcissism to the point that it becomes…what? What is the opposite of narcissism? Empathy? Or is narcissism just a way of looking at ourselves defensively through the eyes of others? This film is an absorbing, multi-layered collaboration between director Danny Boyle and actor James Franco and, since our eyes are upon Franco for practically every second of it, it’s a good thing he was effective enough to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

The King’s Speech. In The King’s Speech, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) is an inveterate fan of Shakespeare, and in this film he encounters one of those men who, as Shakespeare said, have “greatness thrust upon them” and manages to give the guy a hand. In this postmodern era, one suspects that the path to greatness may not be as straightforward as Shakespeare described, and this film does a good job of suggesting that it can be mustered from unlikely sources. In that respect, everyone by now knows who Colin Firth is, since he’s the odds-on favorite to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his rendition of King George VI’s trials and tribulations in service to his countrymen during World War II. (Firth’s previous claim to fame was being nominated for a Best Actor Oscar in a film ignored by almost every American, A Single Man.) With regard to King George VI, if ever there was a man who could more surely use a hand, he would be hard to find. Thank goodness for Logue and for the Duchess of York, the principals responsible for encouraging George to express whatever greatness he had in him. As another famous cinematic king once said, ”You have to know these things when you’re a king, you know.” Stubbornness, determination, resolve – stereotypical English qualities that have come to be regarded as part and parcel of every great or effective man’s character — are demonstrated here on all sides, but it is simple friendship and love that win out in the end. Ironic? All of these films dance with irony in their own way. Being a man in western culture, particularly American culture (which, at its core, is English culture) involves any number of seemingly contradictory requirements and expectations. This film, nominated for 12 Academy Awards, investigates several of them.

The Social Network. And now for something completely different… Whereas all the films above deal with things that have happened comfortably in the past, The Social Network deals with the future as it is occurring now. It contains a sense of the future shaping itself before our eyes. This sense is enhanced by Aaron Sorkin’s adroit script, wherein people communicate with each other in focused, fast-forward ways that we can never can quite manage in real life.

There is a subliminal and intriguing tension to this film that arises due to its being a story that is simultaneously being played out in the world through our capacity to update our opinion of it on our Facebook page as we watch. It’s as though we so much want to benefit from the promise of the future that we seek to grasp it in the present. How did this state of affairs come about? The intervals of time during which our collective knowledge doubles and technological eras bloom is continually being halved. In the midst of this technolution, we crave an increase in connections and try to condense the time it takes to make them. This isn’t all due to Mark Zuckerberg but he gave the accelerating merry-go-round a big push. ’S what happens when you marry post-adolescent hormones to nerdy insecurity and add superior technical intelligence. If only Zuckerberg’d been popular and able to get chicks, FB would never have happened. Instead, welcome to the world many of us seek to inhabit. You never know for sure how things will turn out. That’s another thing these films tell us. Admittedly, the guys in The Social Network are budding men — but if Hailee Steinfeld can be an integral part of a manly movie, so can Jesse Eisenberg.

As with the characters in all of the films on this list, the young upstarts in The Social Network find the need for connection with others, especially women — while oftentimes evolving through, and getting beyond, seeking the approval of others. While a man must rely on a certain autonomy to realize a worthy (or unworthy) goal, these movies imply that, in the end, it is the connections with others that come to matter most. In other words, when we connect with and prioritize our deepest sense of self, pursue our fondest dreams or purpose, and overcome self-imposed internal obstacles, that is when we are most able to vividly connect with and benefit others. (In that regard, it is interesting that all of these films but one are based on actual events and real people.) That’s not all there is to take away from them. A number of other themes and issues are explored and one good thing about these films is that they reward thought (unlike, say, Gamer). See them and find out the rest. Leave a comment below.

And when you want to see them, you can get tickets from Fandango.

Why go through Fandango? Well, it works best when you want to make sure you get advance tickets for a popular new release. It also enables you to avoid waiting in line at the theater (in most cases you can print out your tickets at home and just go right in when you get there, or you can pick up your ticket at a special kiosk in the lobby that hardly anyone uses; see your options when you purchase). Since the movies here have been out for awhile, you probably won’t encounter lines. But the other thing you can do is purchase gift certificates online (Fandango Bucks) and email them to someone else. Since your parents probably haven’t seen all these films yet, why not send them the gift of a superior movie? Yeah, that’s the kind of culture-hound you are.

Or you could wait for the DVD/Blu-ray. Should take about 3 – 6 months, depending on who wins tonight. (I guarantee you, True Grit is gonna look great on blu-ray when it comes out on June 7, 2011.)

These Are the Best High-Definition Televisions to Get Now — Plus Blu-ray Players

ECJ — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 03:29:17 +0000

Now is a good time to shop for the highest-rated, best-performing HDTVs of 2010; prices are dropping.

We all know that men are visual creatures. After all, it was men who were busy inventing television in the 1920s while women were, well, dressing in flapper outfits (except Amelia Earhart). Today, we are enjoying the evolved fruits of the labor of those pioneering TV engineers — the best contemporary televisions produce picture quality that can inspire near-religious awe (in human males, at least) while at the same time being sold for continually-declining prices. There are not just 5 or 10 but dozens of models of HDTVs that are worth your consideration, depending on your viewing habits, budget, room size, and technical yearning (for example, do you only watch the evening news or are you an omni-viewer that wants to stream video from the Internet and watch in 3D?). There is no doubt that we are in a golden age of television technology — one that shows no signs of abating. The competition is fierce and the engineers are just as clever 80 years later.

As the holiday season — and the year – comes to a close, prices are being reduced on many of the great televisions listed below. So now is a good time to shop. Especially online, retailers are reducing prices and offering perks like free shipping and free recycling of your old TV. Below are 10 superior models (and 3 blu-ray players) that will supply superlative viewing experiences. Heck, your wife or girlfriend might even be impressed as she views the intricate detail of the products on QVC.

But you know what the good prices mean, don’t you? Do Not Wait! When these deals are gone, the next-gen models will be taking their place…

Plasma or LCD?

When I wrote my post on HDTVs last year at about this time, I began with LCD televisions and moved to plasma. This year I’ll begin with plasma, because the best plasma sets still tend to outperform the best LCD sets with respect to picture quality. Not that there’s a huge difference, but still, it’s noticeable. Of course, nowadays whether you prefer plasma or LCD/LED depends largely on your taste. The picture on an LCD HDTV tends to be a bit brighter, a bit more dynamically vivid, color-wise, than the picture on a plasma HDTV, which is more subtly textured, not quite so punchy, but with greater depth. The black levels on the best plasma sets still out-shine (if that’s the right term) those on the highest-quality LCD sets, and plasma sets also have wider viewing angles and generally better gaming performance. On the other hand, LED/LCD sets use less power. Really, when it comes to the most competent models, you can’t go wrong with either plasma or LCD. Both produce stunning results, particularly with blu-ray discs. Streaming Internet video has also come of age. And to add to the mix, 3D capability has been added this year on both high-end plasma and LCD sets.

I’m not going to go into all the technical details that I did in my post last year. The bottom line is that the 10 HDTVs covered below are the best televisions money can buy. If you want more in-depth technical discussion, there are plenty of AV forums to check out. You can also study the detailed spec’s from the retailers to which I’ll be referring. Just begin with this post, order the TV that most appeals to you (or a sibling in the same model designation from that manufacturer), and you’ll find satisfaction. Heck, if it’s been some time since you bought a new TV, you might even be blown away. All of the retailers to which I refer below are reputable, reliable, and have good prices. To find the current best deal, click through the various image or text links.

Plasma HDTV

Panasonic Viera TC-P54VT25

The plasma HDTV model that received the most lavish praise this year is the Panasonic Viera TC-PVT25, a 3D-enabled platform of visual gorgeosity. It is CNET’s Television of the Year for 2010, and the reviewing editor wrote, “It’s the second-best HDTV of any brand or technology I’ve ever reviewed” (behind the legendary 2008 Pioneer Kuro). At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), critics were almost unanimous in selecting the TC-PVT25 as the best 3D TV. Since it is also a superlative performer in 2D, you get the best of both worlds. In September, 2010, Value Electronics, an independent home theater retailer in New York, assembled an audience comprised of executives and engineers from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), National Association of TV Broadcasters, and major TV manufacturers for an “HDTV Shootout.” The distinguished audience unanimously selected the Panasonic TC-PVT25 as the winner, particularly when it came to picture quality. Its image is THX-certified. And, unlike 3D TVs from certain other manufacturers, a set of 3D glasses is included when you purchase this set. Its black levels are incredible, and CNET’s initial concern about black levels fading over time has been addressed and deemed not to be a problem – they would not have named it Television of the Year otherwise. LCDTV Buying Guide selected the Panasonic Viera TC-PVT25 as the best movie-viewing TV, the best sports-viewing TV, and the best gaming TV. It comes in 65-inch (TC-P65VT25), 58-inch (TC-P58VT25), 54-inch (TC-P54VT25), and 50-inch (TC-P50VT25) sizes. See the 65-inch model at BestBuyP.C.S., Butterfly Photo and Best Buy. Get the 58-inch model from J&R Computer/Music World with a special 3D bundle that includes a 3D-ready blu-ray player. You can also find the 58-inch model at BestBuyP.C.S, Butterfly Photo and Buy.com. You can get the 54-inch model from Buy.com, BestBuyP.C.S., Vann’s, and OneCall. You can get the 50-inch with an attractive 3D bundle from J&R Computer/Music World. You can also find the 50-inch, which is a good size for many rooms, at BestBuyP.C.S., Vann’s, Best Buy, Butterfly Photo (for a killer price as this is written), Buy.com, and OneCall.

A bonus with Panasonic 3D HDTVs: you can get the 3D Avatar blu-ray disc with them. Several stores have Panasonic 3D bundle deals, which includes Avatar and two pair of 3D glasses. You can get the bundle at Vann’s, Butterfly Photo, Buy.com (for a discount, as this is written), OneCall, Best Buy, and Sears. (Click the preceding links to see who’s offering the best deals now.) By the way, looks like you won’t be able to get Avatar in 3D blu-ray from anyone but Panasonic until 2012.

So, if you want the best, get the amazing Panasonic Viera TC-PVT25 by clicking here or via the other links above.

Update in summer, 2011: For a limited time (until 8/31/11), get $100 off a Panasonic TC-P50VT25 at BestBuyPCS.com using code “Summer100″ at checkout! Click here or on the banner below. BestBuyPCS is one of the premier online high-end electronic stores, known for excellent customer service and good prices.

Samsung PN50C8000

The next recommended plasma HDTV is Samsung’s flagship model — the Samsung PN50C8000. This is also a 3D-capable set with many sophisticated features. CNET rated it “Excellent,” and said it was one of the best-performing TVs this year, with deep black levels, good viewing performance in brightly-lit rooms, superior color, and excellent video processing. It offers 2D-to-3D image conversion. But, unlike the Panasonic set above, you have to buy the 3D glasses separately. The Samsung also offers more streaming-video options than any other Internet-enabled TV — and all of this at an attractive price. When you consider that CNET rated this television second only to the Panasonic Viera TC-PVT25 above, the price becomes even more of a draw. PCMag tested this set and recommends it as a “luxury tech gift.” But hey, luxury is in the eye of the beholder — you personally might call it a “necessity tech gift” after you see the picture. It comes in 63-inch (PN63C8000), 58-inch (PN58C8000), and 50-inch (PN50C8000) sizes. In addition to Vann’s, you can find the 50-inch Samsung PN50C8000 at BestBuyP.C.S., Butterfly Photo, Buy.com, OneCall, Best Buy, and Newegg (click the links to see the best price now, as all these retailers have good service; some are also offering accessories with a Samsung purchase). You can get the 63-inch at Vann’s, Butterfly Photo, Buy.com, Best Buy, and Newegg. You can get the 58-inch at Vann’s, Butterfly Photo, Buy.com, OneCall, Best Buy, and Newegg (and, as long we’re here, check out the products at Newegg awarded the Customer Choice Award).

A brief digression: 3D-capable Blu-ray Players

Samsung BD-C6900

Of course, if you’re going to get a 3D television, you may as well get a 3D-capable blu-ray player. Here are two of the best. First, the Samsung BD-C6900. CNET chose this 3D-compatible player as the #1 blu-ray player this year. Of course, it handles 2D blu-ray discs just fine, too. And its Internet -streaming capabilities are second to none. Click the following links to see detailed spec’s, customer reviews, and to purchase: BestBuyP.C.S., J&R Computer/Music World, Vann’s, Comp-U-Plus, Circuit City, and Butterfly Photo (for an excellent discount right now). The second recommended player is the Sony BDP-S570 (pictured at right). Actually, various reviewers traded off naming either the Sony BDP-S570 or the Samsung as the best this year. Either should fit the bill. The Sony BDP-S570 is a solid 3D performer with a number of cool additional features, particularly Wi-Fi. You can find it at Vann’s, J&R, OneCall, and Butterfly Photo.

If you want a good blu-ray player that doesn’t need to handle all the latest capabilities of 3D, get the Sony PlayStation 3 160GB Slim. In addition to gaming and Internet connectivity, it is great at playing blu-ray disks. And it will play 3D blu-ray discs in 3D when it has firmware version 3.55 (update released Dec. 7, 2010); it just can’t output high-res audio (e.g. Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master) at present, instead it reverts to regular Dolby Digital or DTS when a 3D blu-ray disc is played. If the audio limitation is not a big deal to you, the PS3 Slim is an excellent multi-purpose, multi-fun solution. In addition to the preceding links, also find it at Butterfly Photo and Newegg.

Back to Plasma TVs…

LG Infinia 50PK750

Another plasma set in the 50-inch class that is highly rated is the LG Infinia 50PK750. Consumer Reports gave this non-3D set its “Recommended Buy” designation and CNET rated it “Good,” citing its combination of style, features, and price as “compelling.” One interesting factor about this set is that customer reviews tend to be very enthusiastic, even more so than the professional reviews — probably in large part due to the performance you get for under $1,000 (when you can find it discounted, as I’ve done here). PCMag reviewed its 60-inch sibling (60PK750) and rated it “Good,” though, like CNET, they noted that the set’s black levels are not as impressive as higher-end plasmas and, in some cases, are not quite as good as top-of-the-line LCD/LED sets. Still, the 50PK750 was praised for its accurate color rendition and wide viewing angle. If you want a good-performing, attractively-priced plasma HDTV, which offers a beautiful design that will look great in whatever room you put it in, consider this model from LG. In addition to Vann’s, you can get it discounted from Butterfly Photo, Buy.com, and Newegg.

Consumer Reports also rated the LG Infinia 60PK950 as a “Recommended Buy.” And CNET suggested that plasma shoppers not overlook this “gem,” which is LG’s best-ever plasma TV. For a few hundred dollars over the 60PK750, the 60PK950 adds a “Magic Wand” remote (that works similar to the Wii remote), a “TruBlack” filter, which helps preserve the screen’s black levels in brightly-lit rooms, and LG’s Wireless Media Box option that allows you to connect HDMI devices and other accessories wirelessly. And its display is THX-certified.

Panasonic Viera TC-P42U2

Finally, for those seeking a slightly smaller plasma HDTV, the 42-inch Panasonic Viera TC-P42U2 is also recommended by Consumer Reports. ZDNet rated it “Very Good,” with a score of 8.8 out of 10. This set has been praised for its superb motion clarity, vivid color, reasonable connectivity, and superb gaming performance. Where it really shines is in customer reviews, which are quite positive, especially in relation to performance versus price (for example, on Best Buy, reviews average 4.8 out of 5, and 95% of buyers would recommend this set to a friend). While not the best performer in the marketplace, it’s a very good “entry-level” plasma. This Energy-Star Qualified set will give higher-priced LCD sets a run for their money, picture-wise. You’ll want to consider an external sound system with it, as the built-in audio is only fair. In addition to Butterfly Photo and Best Buy, Newegg has it in stock, too.

LCD HDTV

Vizio XVT553SV

The Vizio XVT553SV is the LCD HDTV that the television editor of CNET would buy if he were going to buy a TV. It received CNET’s Editor’s Choice Award for 2010 for the best LCD HDTV. PCMag gave it 4 stars and stated: “The Vizio XVT553SV offers top-notch HDTV tech, wireless and wired connectivity, loads of web apps, and very good HD picture quality.” Televisioninfo.com stated that this was the first set from Vizio ever to impress them — they particularly raved about its color performance. Other reviewers have stated that this is probably Vizio’s best set ever, especially when considering value for the money. Using LED technology that incorporates local dimming (to enhance black levels), the 55-inch Vizio XVT553SV has the most extensive non-3D features on the market, and includes a Bluetooth remote with a full QWERTY keyboard, built-in Wi-Fi, and a broad and useful selection of television app’s. CNET’s reviewing editor stated that if he could spend any amount on an LCD television, he would still buy the Vizio XVT553SV. In the XVT3SV model line-up, in addition to the 55-inch, there are also 47-inch (XVT473SV) and 42-inch (XVT423SV) models, all equally good. You can get the 55-inch set for a good price from Buy.com. Along with Buy.com, you can find the 47-inch at Target (online only). The 42-inch set is available from Buy.com. (By the way, if you click the links for one of the XVT3SV models here and find it out of stock, please be aware that holiday sales decimated the inventory of this TV at every reputable retailer. This is one of Vizio’s most popular models ever, so presumably they will be re-stocking it — at least, according to my source at Vizio. Some retailers offer an email notification service for when a product becomes available. Or, if you’re interested in this model, try checking back weekly to see when it’s available again.)

LG Infinia 47LE8500

CNET also gave an “Excellent” rating to the LG Infinia 47LE8500 LCD HDTV, another LED backlit model with local dimming. It has an extensive feature set, including Internet streaming, streaming video and audio over a home network, extensive picture adjustment options (including two THX modes), and excellent energy efficiency, as well as sleek styling and some of the best picture performance ever tested by CNET. About the only thing this set lacks is 3D capability. LCDTV Buying Guide rated this set 91 out of 100, and was pleasantly surprised by its price, especially when compared with the price of competing Samsung models. You can get this all-around performer while supplies last from: J&R Computer/Music World, Vann’s (for a huge discount), Circuit City, Butterfly Photo (for an excellent discount), Buy.com (about $2,000 off right now), Sears, and Newegg. Click the links to see the current best price and/or special offers (such as free shipping).

Samsung LN55C650

One of the latest LCD TVs to receive PCMag’s “Editor’s Choice” award is the Samsung LN55C650 – a 55-inch, CCFL-backlit model that they named one of the 10 best HDTVs of 2010. While not 3D-capable, that didn’t matter to the testers at PCMag; they described its picture quality as “stunning,” with very deep blacks. In addition, its suite of web app’s came in for praise, and its audio performance (which includes SRS TruSurround HD) was rated as solid. All in all, the LN55C650 from Samsung was judged to be an excellent all-around performer for its price, along with its 40-inch (LN40C650 at Vann’s and Butterfly Photo) and 46-inch (LN46C650 at Vann’s and J&R Computer/Music World) siblings. Customer reviews for this set at CNET are all 5-star, and include comments such as “amazing,” “great,” and “one of the best purchases I’ve ever made.” You can get the LN55C650 from BestBuyP.C.S., Vann’s, J&R, Circuit City, Butterfly Photo, Buy.com, and Newegg.

Samsung’s LNC630 series (an LCD cousin of the LNC650) also came in for praise this year. Consumer Reports named the Samsung LN46C630 a “Best Buy,” and CNET stated that the picture performance of these CCFL sets “manages in some ways — chiefly screen uniformity — to produce a better image than the company’s edge-lit LED models.” This performance comes at a price generally lower than that of competing LED models. Check out the discounted LN46C630 at J&R, Vann’s, Butterfly Photo, Circuit City, Best Buy, and Newegg.

Sony Bravia KDL-55HX800

The Sony Bravia KDL-55HX800 is a 55-inch, 3D-ready, backlit LED HDTV that is part of Sony’s least-pricey line of 3D-capable TVs. While PCMag complimented this set for its solid 3D performance, its 2D performance was rated even better. As 3D content is still ramping up in the marketplace, the 2D picture-quality of the KDL-55HX800 is the chief reason to consider this set — that, along with a great suite of web app’s that includes more than 30 interactive channels. Earlier this year it was considered a bit expensive, but online retailers are starting to offer discounts, so now is a good time to consider the Sony Bravia KDL-55HX800. You can find it at Vann’s, J&R, Buy.com, OneCall, Best Buy, Sears, and Newegg.

Sony Bravia KDL-52NX800

As long as we’re considering Sony, you should also take a look at the Sony Bravia KDL-52NX800, an LED edge-lit model that was designated as a ”Recommended Buy” by Consumer Reports. It was rated “Very Good” by CNET and “Good” by PCMag. One of the drawbacks that testers mentioned with this set was that, at $2,800, it was expensive for a non-3D TV – but now, at year’s end, the price has come down substantially, so this set has become a much better deal. Reviewers loved its beautiful, all-glass design, liked its competent HD picture, and appreciated its slew of web app’s. It also has built-in Wi-Fi, a feature that’s missing on many more expensive HDTVs and worth the price of admission to some. Overall, this is a well-executed television that has become attractive now that it’s cheaper. You can find good prices at Vann’s, Sears, Butterfly Photo, and Buy.com.

And that pretty much sums up the current best-rated HDTVs at good prices. Since it’s the end of the year, with product life-cycles being what they are in the electronics industry, your window of opportunity for grabbing one of these superior sets is not particularly wide. In other words, if you want a top-rated television that will give you years of enjoyable viewing for a good price, get one of these now. Take advantage of the good deals and you can be watching the NFL playoffs — or heck, PBS, or Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs in 3D blu-ray — in a few days.

Have Fun with the LEGO Boba Fett Slave I Ship from Star Wars

ECJ — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:35:56 +0000

You know, if the Egyptians had had LEGOs, they probably would have built the pyramids out of them…

Nowadays, you can build almost anything out of LEGOs. This Danish company, which started modestly in 1932, has now grown to be the fifth largest manufacturer of toys in the world. Just goes to show the power of a good idea (in this case, the idea was the LEGO “brick”).

Here’s another good idea: Boba Fett’s Slave I space ship from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, now available as a kit you can build out of LEGOs. This is a cool model, with 573 pieces, rockets that fire, and character figures included. Get it from Entertainment Earth, which is a juggernaut of fun and diverse entertainment in its own right.

By the way, LEGO is an abbreviation of the two Danish words “leg godt,” which means “play well.”

Play well, buckaroo. (Of course, Boba Fett didn’t play well with others, which is why he ended up inside the sarlacc.)

Click the banner below to see all things LEGO at Entertainment Earth (including pyramids):

I Came, I Saw…Billy

ECJ — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 20:15:31 +0000

Click

The “Back to the Future” 25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray and DVD Came Out Today

ECJ — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 20:24:23 +0000

It’s one of those movies that’s on practically everyone’s “Favorites” list. 25 years ago today, Marty McFly met Dr. Emmett Brown in the parking lot of the Twin Pines Mall, was introduced to a modified DeLorean, and the rest, as they say, is, or, uh, was, or rather, um — well, it made history.

It was the most popular movie of 1985 and the inspiration for two sequels. And the film’s fun and quirky vibe has stood the test of time (Michael J. Fox said even people in Bhutan knew about “McFly!”).

Today you can get the Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Edition on DVD and blu-ray. This special edition has many new features, including a documentary on making the film (Robert Zemeckis called it the hardest film he ever made, due to the insane schedule and having to shoot almost the whole thing at night), commentaries, and clips, including Robert Stoltz playing Marty before he was replaced by Michael J. Fox. You get a featurette on the physics of Back to the Future and a music video of Huey Lewis and the News doing The Power of Love. Among a lot of other things. The clip below gives you an idea of the enhanced image quality on the blu-ray edition, which I highly recommend.

Get the Trilogy DVD from CD Universe, Buy.com, or Barnes & Noble (pick your price and delivery options).

Or get the Trilogy blu-ray from CD Universe, Buy.com, or Barnes & Noble.

Of course, the videos are not all I’m going to mention (here at Best Stuff for Men we’re all about adding value). Further enjoy the Back to the Future milieu with the following memorabilia. Great Scott!

Below are:

Marty’s color-changing cap from the future. Features ultra-refractive fabric and velcro closures. One size fits all.
The upgraded DeLorean from Back to the Future III. This replica is brand new out this month and features time-traveling lights and sound.
The coolest item of all: the Flux Capacitor built by Doc Brown that made the whole story possible. No corners have been cut in making this 16 x 11-inch prop replica as accurate as possible. Of course, it lights up. Put one on your wall and be the envy of your movie-savvy friends.

Marty McFly's color-changing hat

Time-traveling DeLorean from Back to the Future III

Flux Capacitor replica

The Coolest Movie and TV Swords and Knives

ECJ — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 04:55:54 +0000

You’ll have a chance to impersonate a character you admire on October 31 without fear of social ostracism and, in support of that, here are a bunch of high-quality replica swords and knives you might want to equip yourself with in order to increase your authenticity.

Plus, you know, giving anyone a katana automatically makes them cool. (Just ask Neal Stephenson.) And by the way, “replica” does not mean “not sharp.”

The sword was the most important weapon in the world for thousands of years. Some people still swear by it (you don’t have to re-load a sword and, if you can master that cutting-a-bullet-in-half trick, you’ve got an edge). I want to highlight two outstanding places to get swords and knives online, both replica and real (by “real” I mean you can use it as a serious tool in battle — should you ever find yourself in a battle). The best with respect to choice, customer service, and price is True Swords. And a close second is Swords.com (their prices are sometimes a little higher but they usually have a particularly good selection of serious Japanese swords). Both sites are enjoyable and informative to read and to shop, and both have top-notch service. (And I should add for overall broad range of merchandise, Budk.)

Following are some swords and knives you might want to consider adding to your collection. And if you don’t have at least one sword, why not? Every guy can use a sword at some point. Even if only on All Hallows’ Eve.

The "Bride" sword

One of the most absorbing, stylish, kinetic, and fun modern martial arts films, Kill Bill is appropriately reverent when it comes to the katana. And exuberant in portraying the mayhem it can cause. Pictured at left is “The Bride’s Sword,” used by Beatrix Kiddo to implement her lethal “To-do” list. This sword is a serious replica of the sword made in the film by Hattori Hanzo (played by Sonny Chiba, at his best), with a tempered high-carbon steel blade, full tang, ray skin and black leather handle, and multiple engravings. Get it from True Swords for under $100.

Bill's "Demon" sword

On the other hand, maybe you liked Bill’s “Demon” sword, also made by Hanzo. You can get that one, too, and for less than $60, which is a great price for this well-constructed replica.

Or you can get the two swords (Bride and Bill) as a set, made of stainless steel, with a wooden stand.

And the stylish O-Ren Ishii sword is also available. And how about the boot-stashed straight razor Beatrix used to cut her bonds in the coffin (might not work that great for shaving, though).

Of course, when it comes to movie swords, we couldn’t leave out a movie with a title like Blade. Here’s the sword of the Daywalker (Wesley Snipes). Yes, it’s got that secret dagger in the handle. Doesn’t come with the wooden stand, though.

Morpheus katana

Another iconic movie franchise that featured cool Japanese and Chinese edged weapons is The Matrix. Here is the katana Morpheus wielded in The Matrix: Reloaded. This is a well-made replica sword.

G.I. Joe "Snake Eyes" katana

A movie that didn’t achieve quite the popularity of those above, but still had some pretty cool swords, was G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Pictured at left is the katana used by “Snake Eyes,” who took a vow of silence when his master was killed by his arch-enemy “Storm Shadow.” This replica is a faithful reproduction of the sword used in the film. It has a high-carbon steel blade, a rayskin and leather grip, a wooden scabbard with full detailing, a display stand, and a certificate of authenticity. Each one is individually numbered, so this is definitely a collectible. And you can also get the Storm Shadow katana, with its distinctive white handle and scabbard (not pictured).

And finally to round out this collection of cinematic katanas, we should include the only notable TV katana of late, and that’s Hiro’s sword from Heroes. The blade is hand-forged carbon steel, the scabbard is hardwood with a glossy piano-paint finish, and it comes with a display stand. Yatta!

For a sword from a little older TV show, well, movie, well, animated series, that’s sort of a Scottish katana, check out the Highlander Sword carried by Connor MacLeod, a beautiful 3rd generation version of the sword from the popular saga (not pictured).

William Wallace sword from Braveheart

Now let’s move in a westerly direction. Thankfully for political freedom everywhere, William Wallace was pretty good at swinging a blade, as well as leading troops. Here is William Wallace’s sword from Braveheart. The sword’s overall length is 53 inches and the blade is stainless steel. It comes with a scabbard.

Entertainment Earth also offers a high-quality reproduction of the William Wallace sword that is quite popular and sells out from time to time, but click here to check it out – this is about as good as movie prop replicas get.

Black Knight's Rapier

A sword that gets heavy use in films is the rapier, a gentleman’s sword that came into wide use in Europe in the 17th century. This is the kind of sword you see in movies such as The Count of Monte Cristo and The Princess Bride (both notable for their excellent dueling choreography). The rapier at left is the Black Knight’s Silver Spiral Rapier. This is a nice replica sword from True Swords that’s only about $60. If you want a much high-quality rapier, try the Solingen Rapier from Swords.com. This is the kind of sword you grab when you want to buckle some swash.

Anduril

Another famous sword with a western heritage — western fantasy, that is — is the sword Anduril from The Lord of the Rings. This is the sword that was re-forged for Aragorn, heir to the throne of Gondor. This is a beautiful replica with 24K gold fittings and it comes with a wall plaque.

And as long as we’re in a Lord of the Rings mode, you may also want to get hold of Gandalf’s sword Glamdring (another very nice reproduction from True Swords) and Sting, the sword carried by Frodo, the elven-forged blade that turned blue when orcs were near.

Of course, one of the more badass characters in Lord of the Rings was Legolas, who didn’t carry a sword. He was pretty handy at puncturing things with arrows, however. And equally as handy with his two knives. So let’s progress to some knife action and offer Legolas’s twin blades for your weaponry consideration. These knives feature full-tang construction and sharpened stainless-steel blades. The handles are oak with elven designs and they’re nicely displayed (when not busy eviscerating orcs) on a handsome wooden plaque.

Rambo First Blood 25th Anniversary Knife

As long as we’re on knives, let’s move on to one of the most famous movie knives in history — the “hunting” knife that Rambo used to take on the town of Hope in Rambo: First Blood. Get the Rambo First Blood 25th Anniversary Edition Knife from Swords.com. The blade is stainless steel and it includes a compass and survival kit. Get this knife and you, too, can take on prejudiced, backwater police.

That's a knife

And now for the knife used to the most humorous effect ever (for a knife) in a movie: the bowie knife (on steroids) carried by Crocodile Dundee (“That’s a knife!”).

Sweeney Todd's razor

We’ll wrap up our tour of cool fictional edged weapons (that have become real), with the instrument used by one notorious fellow: Sweeney Todd’s razor (the movie version with Johnny Depp), with which he dispatched his unsuspecting victims.

The swords and knives reviewed here are some of the best of all movie and TV replicas. But there are many more available from a variety of productions, from The Prince of Persia to Predator to Pirates of the Caribbean. Continue exploring at True Swords, Swords.com, and Budk.

If you have found something interesting or useful here on Best Stuff for Men, please consider making a donation, so others can benefit, too. Thanks!

Tony Curtis Was One of the Most Versatile and Popular Actors of His Generation

ECJ — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 22:08:29 +0000

He died on Wednesday, which provides us the occasion to look back on the notable, unforgettable performances he produced and introduce younger folks who may not be familiar with him to one of the more charismatic stars in the history of Hollywood (stardom is fleeting, eh?).

In a sense, Tony Curtis was the precursor of guys like Johnny Depp or… well, really, there isn’t anyone else of equal style and versatility on the contemporary scene to whom you can compare him. Few actors have more effectively combined matinee-idol looks with acting chops that expanded and became more revelatory as their careers progressed (he received a Best Actor nomination for his kinetic yet vulnerable performance in The Defiant Ones – also nominated that year were Paul Newman, Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier, and David Niven, quite rareified company; Niven won for Separate Tables). Better-looking than Cruise or Pitt, with a more wide-ranging acting palette than Clooney or Harrison Ford or Will Smith. As a kid, I remember watching Tony Curtis in Operation Petticoat and wanting to be like him. When an actor makes you feel that way, he’s a star.

After his worldwide popularity in movies began to wane, he pursued painting, where he achieved some not inconsiderable success — something that meant more to him than acting. He was a guy who was always looking to be creative.

Along the way he fathered Jamie Lee Curtis, so the stardom is perpetuated in that way, too.

Below are links to movies (click the images) that he helped to make classics. If you like films and aren’t familiar with Curtis, you owe it to yourself to check him out. And for those who already know, re-experience the style, the charisma…

One of the all-time manly movies (which, of course, includes Tony Curtis)

What’s Better than a “Reservoir Dogs” Talking Keychain?

ECJ — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:51:24 +0000

…A FREE Reservoir Dogs talking keychain.

Click to see the nitty-gritty details and get the Reservoir Dogs Talking Keychain

For a limited time, Entertainment Earth is offering a choice of four free gifts when you place an order of $40 or more. One of them is a Reservoir Dogs talking keychain with 6 quotes from the film. How boss is that?

You can play it while wearing Ray-Bans and walking slo-o-o-wly. Or use it to start a conversation in a diner.

You can also select from a Doctor Who Cyberman cell phone charm, LEGO Bionicle poster and book, or Nightmare Before Christmas Series 1 Trading Figure. Get yours now.

Father’s Day: Get Something Good for Your Dad (or Yourself)

ECJ — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 05:39:22 +0000

Here’s a wide variety of Father’s Day gift ideas. As you go through them, consider nabbing something for yourself.

Wait a minute… Get a gift for yourself for Father’s Day? Sure. When it comes to Father s Day gifts, if you get something for yourself, you know you’ll get what you want. Besides, why not celebrate your own fatherhood? You can do that even if you don’t have kids. After all, every mature man is a sort of “father”: an originator of ideas, shepherd of projects, creator of art, instigator of adventures. And if you do have kids, if you get a cool gift for yourself, you’ll be able to enjoy it along with your kids’ heartfelt (hopefully), competent (or not) gifts — their attempts to express their appreciation for your love, guidance, and encouragement.

Of course, you want to get a good gift for your own dad for Father’s Day, something that expresses your gratitude for his presence and influence in your life. I say “hopefully,” because Father’s Day can often be kind of an afterthought when it comes to parents’ days. Mother’s Day gets most of the headlines. Father’s Day seems to come in second in the popularity polls. The cliché of dad always getting a necktie for Father’s Day is a cliché because it’s true. But your dad deserves some consideration when it comes to gifts, doesn’t he? To jump-start some ideas, following are suggestions for gifts that don’t suck — things he will actually enjoy and use.

Let’s start with a classic gift idea that can’t miss: a wristwatch, and for a good price (he’ll appreciate your sensibleness). Watches are useful, stylish and, when you think about it, cool pieces of technology. (There’s a reason they’re given on important occasions such as graduation and retirement.) Every day, ChronoShark offers a new watch at the absolutely lowest price anywhere. You only get 24 hours to nab it.

I have a dedicated page to ChronoShark here). And if today’s watch deal doesn’t do it for you, there’s a good chance that tomorrow’s will — they select from the best when it comes to performance versus price. You could also try an excellent online retailer of watches: Discount Watch Store. They have thousands of watches for men, good customer service, guarantee the lowest prices on the Internet, and offer free shipping on all orders.

Polar FT7

Along the same lines as a watch, but a little more specialized and beneficial — how about a heart-rate monitor? Here’s a heart-rate monitor that’s well-reviewed: the Polar FT7. Outside magazine, among others, recommends it (“intuitive and powerful”). It has everything you need and nothing you don’t, and the price is right. Plus it’s cool-looking. Encourage your dad to achieve his fitness goals. Find the Polar FT7 at REI or Moosejaw. And if you want something more top-of-the-line, check out the Garmin Forerunner 110, which adds GPS capability to workout monitoring.

Everybody likes 007. Whether your dad is trying to get fitter or not, guys appreciate action (even if it’s vicarious), and quintessential manly action has always been carried out by James Bond. Get your dad a complete set of James Bond movies. Here’s Volume 1:

You can also find the complete collection of Bond movies on both DVD and Blu-ray at CD Universe, one of the best online sources for music and movies at good prices.

Or would he rather have a TV series? See my post on the best television series for men availale on DVD and blu-ray (for example: The Wire and Fawlty Towers).

With regard to relating to women (your mom or whoever), a good cologne is always appropriate (unless she’s got MCS, in which case there’s a whole ‘nother set of things to worry about besides smelling good). I have found only a few that seem to be universally appreciated by the opposite sex and here’s one of them: Marc Jacobs for Men. In my own informal polling, I’ve always had positive responses (I try it on at the store and ask random women if they like it). It’s also endorsed by the PUA community, and they should know, right? You can get it for an excellent discount from FragranceX.

Every guy should have at least one multitool. They’re handy and confidence-inducing. Here’s one that the editors of Outside endorsed as a practical, everyday choice: the Leatherman Squirt PS4 (can’t go wrong with anything from Leatherman). It’s got 9 tools (including pliers and scissors) in a compact form that isn’t annoying to carry around (just 2¼ inches closed). And it’s only about $40 (or less). Get it from REI. Or from Massey’s Professional Outfitters.

The sword of William Wallace

Here is something that is not a multitool. It’s a single-purpose tool: William Wallace’s sword from the movie Braveheart. Of course, this is not an actual battle sword ( for that you need to go to Swords.com or Budk), but it is an impressive 61-inch replica in high-carbon steel — the most accurate prop replica ever made of this sword. It comes with a display plaque. Inspire your dad with the formidable weapon that helped establish freedom!

Guys need a top-drawer pair of knockaround pair of shoes, whether for late-night ramblings along urban streets or stalking across frosty stubble pursuing a great telephoto shot of a wild turkey. Fortunately, Timberland has a classic pair of chukka boots that fit the bill — the Eastern Standard Chukka (that’s them above) – a vintage style based on shoes that first appeared decades ago, made with premium Horween leather, hand-finished for a rustic look, with coarse waxed cotton laces and a Vibram outsole. Intended to protect a man’s feet during diverse activities, while simultaneously making him look good. Get them from Timberland. Made in the USA.

And if you don’t think these boots are exactly your dad’s cup of tea (or you don’t know his shoe-size), then get him a gift certificate to Zappos and let him choose his preferred footwear. That goes for all the companies linked to on this page – if you’re not sure about a specific item, get a gift certificate: it always fits and is totally in style.

Kansas City Steak Company

You get hungry after a day of stomping around in your boots, swinging your sword, and when a man gets hungry, the food of choice is meat (unless he’s a vegetarian — in which case, well, get him a carrot). Anyway, if you want to treat your dad to a premium steak or other great hunk o’ beef, you can’t go wrong with the Kansas City Steak Company — one of the best online companies for steak and other meats. And of course they’re offering some good deals now — for example, get 8 Classic Steakburgers FREE with a $100 order (use code ABRG84 at checkout). And get $4.95 shipping on all orders. This makes a mouthwatering gift…

Savile Row, London

You want your dad to look good and, believe it or not, he wants to look good, so how about getting him a shirt or two from one of the most renowned shirt makers in the world: Savile Row. They offer exquisite tailoring, use the finest cottons, and carry a variety of styles (all posh). Right now, if you buy 2 shirts you can get a third for half price (through June 21st only). They also carry men’s suits, casual wear, and accessories. Which means you can get him — yes! — a tie. But Savile Row ties are pretty cool. They have a 3-month satisfaction guarantee. Shipping to the US is only $21 and is free on orders over $175. And, for the quality, their prices are quite reasonable. Click the banner below.

A laser-engraved flask makes a personalized gift

We’ve handled your dad’s steak needs but what about when he gets thirsty? I’m not talking about when he needs a bit of agua after running a 10K. No, I’m talking about when he needs a drop of something a little more flavorful. For that, he doesn’t want to carry a Camelbak. He’ll need something a bit more sophisticated: a flask. And why not get him one that’s laser-engraved with art or a message of your choosing? This will be a gift that keeps on giving. See more flasks than you can shake a stick at at the FlaskShop, including photo flasks, stainless steel, novelty flasks, leather designs, monogrammed, and martini shaker sets (which he can use while unwinding with a Bond movie).

TaylorMade R9 Driver at InTheHole Golf

Your father must have a few hobbies. Is one of them golf? If so, my commiseration. No, just kidding… My 81-year-old dad plays golf and loves it. I know he always enjoys upgrading his equipment. So why not get your dad a new club or something else from InTheHole Golf, one of the best online destinations for everything you need to play the Game of Gentlemen. Check out the TaylorMade R9 driver — an advanced, adjustable design that is getting rave reviews. Or maybe he just needs a new golf bag (consider the Ogio Nexos Stand Bag). Or simply get him a gift certificate. You can’t go wrong at InTheHole Golf. Their helpful, informative website will help you choose a great gift.

And, from now until June 20, get 10% off for Father’s Day at IntheHoleGolf — just enter code DAD at checkout.

This is not your dad.

Of course, maybe your dad’s inclination is toward a sport that’s a little more mano-a-mano (as opposed to mano-a-course-o). How about tennis? Does he need a new tennis racket? Then the place to get it for a good price, with a wide selection, is Tennis Boom. Of course, if your budget is limited you could always just go with a can of balls.

The Daiwa Saltiga Surf Spinning Reel is one of the best

Or maybe your dad prefers the contest between man and fish. A new rod or surf reel could be in order. Find a huge selection of fishing equipment, from fly-fishing to deep-sea trolling, at Cabelas, the premier outdoor recreation/adventure outfitter, all offered with excellent customer service.

Utrecht Master's Studio Easel - on sale for over $100 off

Is your dad a visual artist? Remember how I mentioned that a man can be the ”father” of art? Well, if your dad fits that category, you can get art supplies and equipment for him at Utrecht. They’ve been supplying equipment and materials for artists since 1949.

They are currently offering their Master’s Studio Easel for an excellent discount.

Click for exclusive designs at Sunglass Hut

Now that we’re coming into summer, every guy, including your dad, needs some cool shades to wear with shorts and Hawaiian shirts. You can’t get cooler (or higher quality) than Ray-Ban (and Maui Jim). See an excellent selection of Ray-Ban models, including one-of-a-kind designer styles such as those done by graphic designer and muralist Matt Moore above, at Sunglass Hut. A pair of Ray-Bans, whether wayfarers or aviators, is a can’t-miss gift.

Click to see the Droids at Wirefly

A new phone — something he can use to call you or just surf the web. The new iPhone is about to come out and the Google Nexus One is getting rave reviews. Those aren’t the only excellent phones out there — the various Droid phones are also top-of-the-line. Is it about time for your dad to have a cool communication/Web/photo/GPS machine that won’t break the bank? Find many good selections at Wirefly (such as the Droid Incredible pictured at left, or the featured model in the banner below).

Maybe your dad isn’t much of a gamer. But he could be, especially when he finds out about the cool sports games you can play on the Nintendo Wii. Or he is a gamer but he hasn’t gotten around to getting the Wii yet. Or he’s gotten a Wii but he doesn’t have Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 yet. In any event, get him one or all of these things and he’ll have fun. Include Resident Evil 4, too (also find it here). And don’t forget Super Mario Galaxy 2 (about which CNET wrote: “…the new standard against which every 3D platformer must now be judged”). You can also find the Nintendo Wii in black at Buy.com, plus a bunch of accessories.

MEZZI WOODLine Aluminum Briefcase

When you combine style, a cool gadget, and uniqueness, you’ve got an unbeatable combination for a gift. And that’s what you get with the MEZZI WOODLine Aluminum Briefcase — a well-made aluminum briefcase with a wood finish and a chrome handle from Mezzi.com. The WOODLine Aluminum Briefcase was featured on Mission Impossible 3. (Mezzi has supplied cases for a number of TV shows and films, including all those nifty silver cases on Deal or No Deal.) This briefcase is made of high-quality aluminum and has chromed corners. The black interior has 4 compartments, 3 pen/pencil holders, customizable foam, and will securely hold a laptop of up to 17 inches. It’ll keep your dad’s stuff safe with a dual keypad combination lock. And he will own the most distinctive briefcase of anyone he knows. MEZZI makes stylish, durable briefcases at sensible prices. Check the customer reviews for this case on their site. You can also read an independent review of another MEZZI case — the LuxSlim Aluminum Laptop case in black — at Gear Diary, if you want additional input about their products. But really, all you need to know is that, in addition to Mission Impossible 3, the WOODLine Aluminum Briefcase was featured on NBC’s Chuck (one of my favorite shows).

Top 30 Bestselling Signed Books at Abebooks

Does your father like to read? All readers enjoy having a book signed by the author. And you can find a whole bunch of signed editions at Abebooks. Here’s a link to the latest, most popular signed editions at Abebooks. If you don’t see an author that you know your dad likes on that page, use the Abebooks search function here to search for signed editions by authors you know he’s a fan of. It makes for a cool, one-of-a-kind gift. And here’s something especially for Father’s Day: books by father and son writing teams.

Subscribe for under $12 for a year

Then again, maybe your dad is a reader but he doesn’t like books. He likes his reading short, practical, entertaining, and with plenty of pictures. In that case, get him a subscription to a car magazine. Every guy likes car magazines. Me, I like Car & Driver best. But hey, some people swear by Road & Track and AutoWeek. Also check other titles at University Subscription Service, which is one of my favorite online discount magazine subscription services (along with Blue Dolphin). You can’t beat the prices and the service is good. And a magazine subscription is a gift that keeps on giving every month. And don’t you want to let your father how much your care about him every month?

Happy Father’s Day!