Let’s talk about authority.  Every man wants it.  It comes in handy.  But few have as much as they’d prefer.  Chuck Norris has it.  You can start acquiring more by wearing this T-shirt from the folks at ThinkGeek:  the Chuck Norris Destroyed the Periodic Table T-shirt.

Let’s face it:  few situations could not be improved by having more authority.  Everything from ordering room service to a job interview is enhanced when you are authoritative.  But few men possess that quality to their satisfaction.  Except Chuck Norris.  Chuck Norris CAN get some satisfaction.  And you can get some yourself when you don this T-shirt. (Or, at any rate, a good laugh).  It’s white, 100% cotton, with black artwork.  It states:  “Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table because he only recognizes the element of surprise.”

Consider Chuck Norris.  When he started out as a martial artist, he could kick your ass.  Then he became a successful actor.  Now he is a successful actor who could kick your ass.  That is true authority.  And being an actor with authority is about as good as it gets.  So he authorized ThinkGeek to create this T-shirt.

Consider another guy, Sean Clements.  He can’t kick your ass.  But he does want to be an actor.  He’s working at it, but I think he needs more authority.  For example, in the “Sean Clements Acting Reel” video below, which he uses to promote his work, consider how in the opening scene the authority of the two guys would be enhanced if they were wearing shirts.  Even just T-shirts.  When it’s time to pitch your movie, it’s helpful to wear a shirt.

That’s where this Chuck Norris shirt comes in.  It will provide you the opportunity to wear a shirt when you need one.  And it will vicariously enhance your standing.  Always wear a Chuck Norris T-shirt when in doubt.  Or when not in doubt.  Clothes make the man, you know.  Especially T-shirts that you get for reasonable prices.

Voltron Giant Robot T-shirt

Of course, if Chuck Norris is a personal friend of yours, or if you are Chuck Norris, then you will probably not need this shirt.  In that case, the huge selection of other humorous and/or entertaining T-shirts from ThinkGeek will come in handy.  Yes, most are funny, but some are even cool, despite the fact that the company has “Geek” in the title.  Check out, for example, the Voltron T-shirt (at right), which is both bright and Japanese.

You're confident

And the FTW! T-shirt. (FTW = For the Win.  Which is what you want to do.)

Actually, getting back to Sean Clements, he’s got potential, he’s developing some funniness.  Case in point, a few of his recent tweets:

• “To Frat Dudes:  Being loud and being funny are the same thing.  Go tell the others.”
• “If someone brings up a movie I haven’t seen, I make sure to talk about one they haven’t seen right after.  I’m nobody’s fucking bitch.”
• “It’s Nationel Typo Day!”
• “One cool thing I do for my friends is I tell them when I think their life is boring.”

Dude, don’t be boring.  Or non-authoritative.  If you can laugh, you’ll be neither.  To be sure, cover your bases by trying the Chuck Norris Periodic Table T-shirt.  You have nothing to lose.  Except the general disrespect in which most people hold you.  (No, just kidding.  That’s what is known as “marketing.”)

Really, get the shirt, before the price goes up.  Shirts always come in handy.  ThinkGeek does not charge a lot, but when they catch on, they will.

Sean Clements Acting Reel from Sean Clements on Vimeo.

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2. 10 Days of T-Shirts: Day 7 – The Most Inexpensive T-Shirts You Can Get Online

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!

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Now that you’ve taken care of your party-ware, decorations, and equipment for your Super Bowl party (and if you haven’t, see my previous post on Super Bowl party supplies), it’s time to put the crowning touch on it:  food. 

The heart of any well-executed, successful gathering is the food.  And though this is a party focused on a football game, the food you serve will be at least as memorable (if you do it right) as the big plays and the commercials.

Of course, this being a Super Bowl party and all, your main dish will probably be meat.  What kind of meat is up to you, but you can’t go wrong by offering several options.  The question then is:  where to get it? 

Now, it may seem a little odd that I’m recommending getting your Super Bowl party food online (after all, can’t you just go to the supermarket and pick up some ground beef?), especially if you’ve never ordered food online before, but it’s a sure path to scrumptiousness and the appreciation of your guests.  Think about it.  Most people are still not terribly accustomed to ordering food online.  Therefore, the companies that have been successfully selling food online for awhile must be doing something very right.  In other words, they have a superior product.  That being the case, you can’t go wrong by patronizing the following online merchants.

Classic Steakburger from Kansas City Steak Company

First, the meat.  Here your go-to source is Kansas City Steak Company.  Since 1932, they’ve been supplying top-quality meat, raised in the mid-west (as you’d expect from a company established in Kansas), to discerning carnivores throughout the nation.  They’ve embraced the most modern distribution channels over the decades, so it’s only fitting that they’ve established a successful presence on the Internet.  Their steaks are second to none (for example, their Wagyu Kobe Filet Mignon), but since this is a Super Bowl party and not the celebration of your company being bought by Google, you’ll probably want to go with their specialty steakburgers and hot dogs.  You don’t have to be completely traditional, though.  Kansas City Steak Company also offers chicken and turkey, ribs, and seafood.  And when you’re done eating all that, they even provide gourmet desserts.  (See compliments for Kansas City Steak Company from the knowledgeable guys at Chowhound.)

A side of smoked salmon from Mackenzie Limited

But as I said, you will score even more points with your guests by going with several meat options.  And to expand your fare, rely on Mackenzie Limited.  Their claim to fame is smoked salmon.  I mean, really good smoked salmon, including smoked salmon from Scotland.  In business since 1984, Mackenzie Limited has expanded its catalog over the years to include 350 of the best gourmet products available online.  (In fact, you might want to add to your bucket list:  “Eat every kind of food that Mackenzie Limited sells at least once.”)  They offer lamb, beef, pork, caviar, duck, turkey, and chicken — even vegetarian entrées (should for some reason you wish to go in that direction for a party celebrating football’s most intensive gladitorial mayhem).  They even have hors d’oeuvres — and for starters, you should definitely consider offering your guests some warm lobster spread and artichoke gruyere dip.  They have desserts, too.  For example, their Whoopie Pies – shaped like X’s and O’s – are perfect for a gridiron get-together.

If you’re a particular fan of hot dogs, you also might want to expand your links options with sausages, frankfurters, and knockwurst from Gourmet Food Store, such as the duck and pork sausage with figs (pictured at left).  They have a variety of sausages made in the old-world European style, including kielbasa and Spanish chorizo.  Get some good hot dog buns, a few condiments (from Gourmet Food Store — or see below for further condiment sources) and you’ll be set.  To purchase hot dog buns in quantity and save, you can go to Food Service Direct.  They have, for example, Mountain Farm whole grain hot dog buns.  And if you need additional kitchen implements or hard-to-find food items, Food Service Direct has about 50,000 high-quality products from which to choose.  Or try the gluten-free tapioca hot dog buns from ENER-G (from Buy.com in bulk).

If you want to go in a more premium direction — think surf-and-turf — you can add lobster to your steakburgers (or steak) by going to Lobsters-Online, a company located on Cape Cod that for over 35 years has been shipping lobsters and other seafood throughout the USA.  They have expanded their offerings to include free-range, grass-fed beef from Montana, so you can take advantage of their lobster-tail-and-meat combos or their surf-and-turf feasts.  Click here to see all their delicious offerings and to order (and to find out how to handle your live lobsters after they’re delivered).

Pommery Meaux Grain Mustard from Fairway Marketplace

Getting back to hors d’oeuvres and other things to complement your meal, I wanted to mention that Sur La Table, well-known by cooking aficionados for their extensive inventory of high-quality kitchen tools and equipment, also has food — quite a large selection of good things to eat. 

And in that regard, if you’re in any way a cheese lover — and, when you have some crackers around, who isn’t? — you should check out their collection.  They particularly feature cheeses from the Di Bruno Brothers company of  Philadelphia and Academia Barilla in Italy.  If you want some unusual, excellent cheese for your party, try the Di Bruno American Cheese Sampler.  And for sandwich condiments and meat marinades, check out Sur La Table’s condiments section —  blue cheese dijon mustard, cranberry horseradish sauce, and smoky apple barbecue sauce,  among others. 

Plus, if you need a charcoal starter, an indoor grill (could be raining or snowing that day, you know), a meat thermometer, or a grill pan, they’ve got that covered, as well.

A second excellent place to get all sorts of unusual appetizers and exotic foods online is Fairway Marketplace, New York City’s legendary market, whose slogan is “Like No Other Market.”  Foodies in New York are devoted to Fairway Market, so you know they must have something on the ball.  Click the previous text link to check their selection of food, coffee, condiments, sauces, and more.  Or just click on the picture of the Pommery Meaux Grain Mustard above to get some for your burgers and brats (trust me, this is great mustard).

Another online store known for their comprehensive supply of cooking equipment is Cooking.com but again, you might not be aware that they carry a lot of tasty food items, too, such as: a 2-pound sampler of favorite igourmet cheeses, Australian Watercrackers, Paula Deen Hot Sauce and Marsh Mud Cookies, etc.  And if you’re looking for some appetizing recipes, they have over 8,000 to browse, including football party appetizers.

Carnitas from MexGrocer

Click for a serving basket from Mex Grocer

Nowadays it’s hard to find a party anywhere in America that doesn’t include at least a bit of Mexican fare.  I mean, how did we get along, appetizer-wise, before tortilla chips and guacamole?  Tacos and burritos have become almost as popular as hamburgers.  Salsa can be found on top of almost anything, and then there are refried beans and carnitas…  If you want interesting Mexican food to spice up your Super Bowl shindig, check out MexGrocer, the popular and highly-rated site for anything and everything having to do with Mexican cuisine.  They offer, for example, complete kits for preparing your own tamales.  They have more brands of salsa than you can shake a piñata at (I like Herdez myself), as well as habanero sauces, many kinds of dried and canned peppers, and chorizo.  They have sections devoted to gourmet foods and Mexican recipes.   And, of course, all the hardware you need to cook the stuff.  Oh, and dozens of types of tortilla (and other) chips.  The site is easily navigated and the prices and customer service are good.

And if you want to get even more exotic in the food department with your appetizers and main dishes, go to La Tienda – authentic food and kitchen items from Spain:  paella, serrano ham, bread, wine, cheese, olives, and more.  Their site repays repeated exploration — you can feel yourself absorbing more worldliness as you wander through it (not to mention getting hungry).  Even if you choose another direction than Spanish food for your Super Bowl bash, you’ll want to come back to La Tienda for a future event or just to try something for yourself.  Once you do, you’ll likely be a customer for life.

Now for a bit different kind of service:  if you’re in Green Bay Packers land (i.e., most of Wisconsin), and environs, you can order groceries from Peapod – everything from brats to pizza to pickles to beer to soda.  They deliver within certain areas on the east coast, too.  Click here to take advantage of food and related items delivered to your door, including fully cooked meals.  Why go out and shop at various stores when you can order everything you want online – from meat to fresh vegetables — and have it brought over for a nominal fee?  You can use the time you save to make final adjustments to your fantasy football team.  Or to get creative in the kitchen.  Or for sleeping.  Once you experience the convenience of Peapod’s service, it becomes habit-forming.  You’ll wonder why you ever wasted all that time driving and shopping.  Go to their site now to see if they’re available in your area (and, for a limited time, get $10 off your first order using code PPAFF10).  If you’re in Manhattan, you can get $15 off your first order using code NYCJ15.  If you’re in the Philadelphia area, you can save $20 off your first order at Peapod.com using code AFFL20.

Another extensive online shopping service is offered by Ozbo.  And not only do they have hundreds of thousands of products, including popular brands of prepared foods and other groceries, they discount everything, sometimes quite impressively.  People are finding they can use Ozbo to get many of their most useful and perishable household items (such as diapers, pet supplies, batteries, and paper towels), save money, and have everything delivered right to their door.  Party-wise, they have popular brands of chips, condiments, snacks, olives, pickles, etc., not to mention balloons and decorative napkins.  Additionally, customers tend to rave about Ozbo’s customer service (they’re a Shopwiki approved store, for one thing).  There’s a reason Ozbo has experienced explosive growth since its founding over 30 years ago — they do things right, now offering over 1,000,000 products on the Web, and prompt shipping.  Use the search box below to find what you want at Ozbo.

Search over 100,000 products in All Products Automotive Baby Products Equine & Livestock Groceries Health & Beauty Home & Garden Pets Sporting Goods Tools & Hardware Toys & Hobbies

Chocolate-covered mini-pretzels from Chocolate.com

You know, thinking about snacks and appetizers, I want to make a suggestion here for something that would most likely be a hit at your party:  chocolate-covered pretzels.  What could be better than a combination of two of the most popular snack foods ever?  If you go with them, your party will become legendary.  You can serve them before kickoff, during halftime, and for dessert.  Some of your guests will gorge themselves and beg for more.  They will be grateful.  You will be known as a party-hosting god.  Find over 150 types of chocolate-covered pretzels at Chocolate.com.  Offer different versions, and you will become a legend among your friends.

Cookies from Dancing Deer Baking Co.

Speaking of dessert, have you thought about that?  You can’t have an outstanding feast without including something sweet at the end.  There are impressive dessert options available at the companies listed above.  However, I want to mention two more…  First:  Dancing Deer Baking Co..  In particular, their cookies are excellent, though they also carry brownies and cakes, too.  Cookies are easy to serve and everybody likes them (particularly from Dancing Deer). 

And second, if you want to go all out in a decadent direction, Savorique will supply the pièce de résistance your party deserves.  They have just about any sweet thing you can imagine, but their cheesecakes are a special, gourmet dessert treat.  (And this treat will help soothe the feelings of football fans if their team loses.  Though it might require more than one piece.)

I know I haven’t mentioned much about beverages until now.  Obviously, you’re gonna want something to drink.  You’ll probably have some ideas about that (and maybe have your guests simply BYOB) and you don’t necessarily need to find your soda, beer, and whatnot online, but there is one thing that you can get online that might be better than what you’ll find at your local supermarket:  wine. 

If you’re doing a more elegant and sophisticated Super Bowl party, then you’ll probably want to offer some wine (for example, to go with your Ribeye Steaks or Spanish ham).  And the place to go for wine recommendations and good prices on top-flight vintages is Personal Wine.  They have high-quality wine for as little as $15 a bottle (and you can add a personalized label, which might be fun for the party) and, if you’re not sure what to try, browse the recommendations and reviews by their expert staff.  For example, to go with steak:  ’04 Wings Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.

After so much good food, some people will want coffee (particularly if it’s a cold day).  The best choice here is Marley Coffee, a company run by Bob Marley’s son Rohan.  

Though some might prefer tea.  After all, it’s getting more popular and the health benefits are pretty significant.  Who says a nice cup of green tea won’t complement the 12 ounces of beef you just consumed?  It might add the crowning touch to your satiation.  One of the best places to get tea, from Earl Gray to Rainforest Mate, is Mighty Leaf Tea.

On the other hand, maybe you just want to have a party focused almost exclusively on viewing the game — after all, that’s what everybody’s there for, right?  Football.  Some Super Bowl.  You want to concentrate on watching two of the most successful NFL franchises in history knock each other’s heads off.  Who has the bandwidth to eat much?  But you’ll still want some nosh, if only to have something to do with your hands when you’re not throwing them up in the air at the bad calls.  So:  popcorn.  That’s right, the snack that accompanies every quintessential American pastime.  But not just any popcorn…  you want popcorn made on your own popcorn machine from Stargate Cinema.  Delicious and plentiful.  Plus you can watch it pop.  Your buddies will be impressed.  Then, they’ll be even more impressed when it’s time to watch the game and you sit down on your Fortress Theater Seating chairs.

Popcorn, big overstuffed individual recliners, high-def TV, and the Super Bowl.  What could possibly be better?

Now you’re ready for some football.

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!

Related posts:

1. Get Ready for Your Super Bowl Party, Part 1: Party Supplies and Accessories
2. Hey Now! New Orleans Saints Win Super Bowl 44

Click here to get a Super Bowl XLVI pennant

The biggest football day of the year is coming up and you’re planning on having a Super Bowl party, aren’t you?  You know — whether it’s just a couple of your buds, a bag of chips and some brews, or you invite a crowd that fills every room of your house  — football goes better with a bunch of friends.  Following are ideas and resources for football-themed party supplies, decorations, and other stuff to help you host a Super Bowl party that you and your guests will enjoy.  (Even if the game itself doesn’t live up to the hype.)

There are some good places online to get supplies for football game parties or a Super Bowl party specifically.  I’ve combed the Internet to find the best deals and prices, plus suggestions for fun items you might want to include, from football-shaped serving trays to NFL Team gear to the right TV on which to watch the game…

First, you need some basic football party supplies — cups for beverages, plates for brats, pretzels, and burgers, bowls for chili, utensils to spear and scoop things, and napkins to save your couch from greasy fingerprints.  How elaborate you get after those basics (table cloth, balloons, inflatable cooler?) is up to you (and is probably somewhat determined by whether you share your abode with a female).  Where can you get Super-Bowl-themed eating equipment like that?  Why, from BuyCostumes, of course.

For example, Super Bowl XLV plastic cups: 

And a football-shaped serving tray:

Football-shaped serving tray

BuyCostumes is a lot more than just a costume store.  Think of them as your one-stop event shop.  They have everything you need to focus your Super Bowl party, to give it fun authenticity.  Plus make it convenient:  plastic silverware, paper plates — everything that can be thrown away (or recycled) afterwards, which is the American way.  Or simply order a football party kit that’s pre-made.  This year, you especially might want kits for the Green Bay Packers or the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On the other hand, if you take environmental considerations into account, you can get biodegradable plates, utensils, and other stuff at BuyGreen (which is also the American way).

Galvanized Tub for drinks

Want another good place to shop for sports-themed and football-themed decorations and gear?  Try Wayfair.

For example, get a Galvanized Drink Tub to fill up with ice and cold beverages:

And a personalized football bar sign with your name:

You can use Kaskey Kids football guys to decorate a cake...or whatever.

Another decoration option that you might not think of is to use the football guys action figures from Kaskey Kids to decorate a cake, or cupcakes, or just set them up for the kids to play with during the party, or put them out on your serving table.  They’ll lend a fun, almost “throwback” atmosphere, however you use them — the nostalgia for when you were first learning about the game as a kid.  And Kaskey Kids sports action figures are fun to play with the rest of the year, too.  See my in-depth post on all the fun things you can do with Kaskey Kids sports action figures.

A place that has more party supplies than Charlie Sheen is Target.  Go to their homepage, and search on “Super Bowl Party.”  You’ll find a lot of essential stuff at good prices and often with free shipping.

And another cost-effective place to get your Super Bowl accouterments is Buy.com.  For example, check their Super Bowl Tailgate Party Gift Basket and Green Bay Packers 60-oz. pitcher, among other things.

As you’re taking in the game, rooting for your favorite team, getting het up, fan gear helps.  For example, wouldn’t it be supportive to have an Aaron Rodgers jersey?

Or a Pittsburgh Steelers hoodie?

Or any of a number of other pieces of gear?  The place to get all this is FansEdge.com, the one-stop shop to get everything related to fandom.

Along, that is, with Fathead.  How would you like to decorate you wall with a life-size graphic of Troy Polamalu?  Yeah, that’s what I thought.  Get that and many other exceptionally noticeable life-size sports guy emblems at Fathead.

The Right TV for Watching the Game

Of course, all the party supplies, delicious food, and fan gear will ultimately mean little if you don’t have a TV that lives up to the significance of the game.  You can’t watch the game on a 19-inch cathode ray tube television.  No, man, you need a good HDTV.  And if you’re going to get one, you may as well get the best:  the 54-inch Panasonic Viera TC-P54VT25 Plasma HDTV.   On this, the Super Bowl will become a religious experience:  Religious.  Experience.

And here’s a heads-up: Only until February 5, 2011, Sears has all Samsung and Panasonic TVs on sale for up to $1,000 off, plus free shipping on TVs $749 and up.

Not this.

This

Play Football at Your Party with an Official NFL Game Ball

Official NFL Game Football -- what the pros use

And, too, before the party you’ll want to work up a bit of an appetite so, after you become terminally bored with the 7-hour pre-game show, you’ll feel like going out and throwing the ol’ pigskin around with the boys (or girls).  For that, you’ll need a pigskin.  Don’t skimp on this.  Inspiration is not a factor to be trifled with.  Get the official Wilson F1100 Leather NFL Game Football from Online Sports — the place to fulfill virtually any sports-related need you have.

NFL Tickets

When it comes to not skimping on things, you might be one of those guys who wants to skip the home Super Bowl party entirely.  Instead, you’re the kind of guy who needs to be in the thick of things.  You want to be there, at the venue, live.  (Or even better, you want to throw your party in a luxury box at the stadium.)  If that’s the kind of guy you are, you’ll need tickets.  They’re still available.  Get them from TicketNetwork, one of the premier places online to acquire great tickets to the best sports events, including Super Bowl XLV packages.  If that’s the way you roll, check their website now.

And plan and book your trip to Dallas using Trip Advisor, probably the most trusted travel review and information site in the world.  For good deals on flights and lodging, you can also check Easy Click Travel.

Are you ready for some football?

Not quite — you still have to get the food for your party.

Related posts:

1. Get Ready for Your Super Bowl Party, Part 2: Food
2. Hey Now! New Orleans Saints Win Super Bowl 44

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, you can find it discounted at Circuit City.  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.

Related posts:

1. Now’s the Time to Get a New HDTV: Here Are the Best Televisions for Good Prices
2. Well-reviewed Panasonic 46-inch Plasma HDTV on Sale for Over 40% Off

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!

Related posts:

1. Father’s Day: Get Something Good for Your Dad (or Yourself)
2. Kitchen Knives for a Lifetime of Cooking Adventures

…A FREE 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.

Related posts:

1. Father’s Day: Get Something Good for Your Dad (or Yourself)
2. “Kick-Ass” Entertainingly Kicks A Few Superhero Ideas Around

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!

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Who would have thought that a show about a nebbish becoming a drug dealer would last for 3 seasons?  AMC, that’s who.

 If you haven’t seen Breaking Bad — the edgiest, grittiest, most blackly humorous televsion series over the last couple of years — you have the chance to begin tonight, as season 3 caroms onto the screen in all its meth-cooking glory. 

Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who maybe had the talent to win a Nobel Prize, didn’t.  Instead, he turned out to be a sad-sack, hen-pecked, self-doubting milquetoast teaching at an obscure school in Albuquerque.  That is, until a diagnosis of terminal cancer turns everything inside out.  Turning inside out is exactly what happens on Breaking Bad, as we see White’s inner drug dealer gradually emerge in a bid for some kind of survival — if not now, then at least to secure the posterity of his family.  Played with nuanced resoluteness by Bryan Cranston and penned by Vince Gilligan, former executive producer of The X-Files, Breaking Bad is one of those television series that is so good you can’t believe it made it to the small screen.  One of those series that provides any number of moments that stick with you — scenes where you simultaneously cringe and grin while thinking, “I can’t believe they did that.”

Thank goodness for independent cable, where some of the best new shows are seeing the light of, well, TV (including Justified, which premiered this last week FX). 

Cranston has won two Emmy Awards for Best Actor for his portrayal of White, but the entire cast does a sterling job.  White has transformed physically, mentally, emotionally,  and attitudinally before our eyes as the series has progressed.  Cranston says, “We’re attempting to do something that has never been done before on TV, and that is to completely change a person — physically, morally, everything — over the course of the story.”  I don’t know if he’s entirely right about that (see, for example, Chuck), but it’s certainly never been done to this extent, or this way, before — with poignance, violence, surrealism, and some of the blackest comedy this side of Beckett.  Don’t get scared off, though — it’s not too artistic and there’s plenty of action to liven things up.  (Dissolving rival drug kingpins in acid, anyone?)

You can get Breaking Bad’s first two seasons on DVD and blu-ray, which I mentioned in my previous post on the Best Television Shows for Men.  Check the show out tonight.  Give it some time.  Wait for your jaw to drop.  You’ll be hooked.

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!

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If you’ve been wanting a decently-rated plasma HDTV at a great price, look no further.  The Panasonic Viera TC-P46S1 46-inch class 1080p HDTV is on sale now at J&R Computer/Music World for only $749, a savings of $550 (42%) off the retail price.  That’s like getting it at cost.

 The Panasonic Viera TC-P46S1, while not uniformly rated in the stellar range, has still garnered only positive and, at times, excellent reviews for its combination of performance, price, and features.  Consumer Reports rated its TC-P42S1 42-inch sibling at the top of its class in this size range for plasma TVs (which I reported on in my post on best-buy HDTVs).  CNET rated it “good,” expressing some concerns about a diminution in black-level performance during the life of the set, and summarized their report by saying:  ”With deep black levels and generally excellent picture quality, the more eco-friendly Panasonic TC-PS1 series of plasma TVs strikes an appealing price/performance balance.”  (The ”eco-friendly” part refers to Panasonic’s new Neo PDP plasma display panel, which uses less energy than many other plasma models.  The TC-PS1 series is the least expensive series that Panasonic offers that includes the new panel.)

If you go to ZDNET, you’ll see a summary of a number of reviews rating this model anywhere from 6+ out of 10 to 10 out of 10 (you’ll also note that the price I’m linking to here at J&R is well below what you can find at any other reputable dealer).  One review even noted that the black levels of Panasonic’s TC-PS1 series were probably the best after Pioneer’s Kuro models, which is saying something.  And customer reviews across a number of retailers have been generally favorable.  So, this set at this price is an excellent deal, and it’s a size that will fit many people’s room requirements. 

J&R Computer/Music World has become legendary in New York City as a destination for shoppers searching for all things electronic and musical.  As with all the vendors mentioned here at Best Stuff for Men, I have vetted them as a high-quality retailer.  The price they’re offering this TV for is an example of the power of online selling.  And by the way, if you’re in the New York area, this HDTV is eligible for in-store pickup.

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