I recently handled a pair of these Kyocera 3in Industrial Ceramic Scissors that a colleague brought into work and simply had to own a pair. They are made from Zirconium which is a type of ceramic developed by the eggheads at Kyocera’s materials division so they will never rust and probably never dull. The feel and sound of the scissors as the blades sweep past each other exemplifies precision. There is a depth of luster to the white blades that which creates a look that is both hand-crafted and faultlessly precise. The styling is somewhat dated, but with the 80’s retro back in vogue, they almost look new again. Yes they are expensive, but they are probably the last pair of scissors you’ll ever have to buy and a little hunting on E-Bay they can be had for about half the retail price.
I recently got the Art of Shaving 4 Elements Kit on account of its promises to revolutionize the shaving experience and though it reeks of unabashed metrosexuality, I have to say it works. It has four parts, pre-shave oil, shaving cream with a genuine badger shave brush and aftershave lotion. The pre-shave oil helps the razor glide over your face like a White House press secretary over facts. Lathering with the badger brush lifts the hairs for a closer shave while simultaneously transporting you back to a simpler time when men were men and women were dames. The after shave is alcohol free and scentless so you won’t smell like an Iroc-driving guido. For the razor itself, it’s tough to beat the Gillette multi-blade feat of technological superiority you are probably already using. The MSRP for the kit is $100 which is a lot, but they can be had on E-Bay for about half that.
LED keychain flashlights are a dime a dozen, but the Abitax 0510 Tag Light is a noteworthy example for a couple of reasons. First, it’s confoundingly small and light so you’ll hardly notice it on your keychain. Second, it’s brighter than MIT post-doc on fire. The beam shines through the front and the sides of the housing so it provides a wide cone of light. It was designed by Kazuma Yamaguchi so the look is functionally minimalist. They are a bit hard to find in stores, but they can be purchased direct or through select online retailers.
The Pico is my latest can’t-leave-home-without-it gadget. It’s a retractable pen from Lamy, those Teutonic mavens of mechanical writing precision. When pressed, the pen extends out one end and the writing point pops out the other end. It’s one of those things you’ll find yourself fiddling with in meetings as you pretend to be interested in the lack of TPS report compliance. The red, blue and black models have a smoth soft touch finish that feels great and the polished chrome model coordinates wonderfully with your 20in spinnin’ rims.
I just got back from a trip down the Florida Keys in a Mustang Shelby GT-H Convertible and was all but moved to tears for the experience. The GT-H is a limited edition heavily modified Mustang GT made especially for the good people at Hertz. It’s a throwback to the 1960s GT350H Rent a Racer.
The mill is a modified version of the Cobra which features go fast bits including an intake large enough to swallow a Doberman. The resulting sound of the 325 HP V8 at wide open throttle is sheer sonorous ecstasy and the acceleration is nothing short of epic. The handling actually is quite respectable for a car of its heft thanks to some clever suspension upgrades like an Ford Racing sway bar and sportier Eibach springs .
The only downsides are that it guzzles gas like an F-16 and the rental rates are quite a bit higher than the Corolla that I usually rent. With some searching online, and some haggling/flirting with the lady at the Hertz counter you should be able to get a day in one for a day for less than the price of a track day. The saddest part of my trip was returning this car.
To quote the great philosopher, Dr. Bueller: “This car is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”
When my 3rd roll-aboard broke, I started looking for a bag with a little more style than a generic black cordura rollerboard. I found the Monocle Porter overnight bag in someone’s flickr stream. Porter bags are known for being sturdy, and this version, made exclusively for Monocle, is really good looking.
This bag feels like it will last 20 years and get better looking as it ages - the aesthetic is both simple and sophisticated. Monocle claims the bag was designed to fit underseat in an A320. I’ve never had any trouble carrying it on or fitting in a weeks worth of jeans, hoodies and t-shirts.
With the US Dollar tanking, finding a decent single malt whiskey from across the pond for less than $50 is getting harder by the day. What a great time to rediscover America’s national spirit: Bourbon. While $30 won’t buy you a Scottish Single Malt worth cleaning your paint brushes with, it can actually get you quite a nice bottle of golden Kentucky deliciousness. Elmer T Lee Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon for example, is a big-bodied rye recipe bourbon with hints of butterscotch and vanilla. At 90 proof, it is best enjoyed with a liberal splash of water unless your name begins with “Colonel” in which case you should take it neat with a side of gunpowder.
Every modern man should own at least one mechanical watch (either handwind or automatic). Sure quartz watches are more accurate and less expensive, but a mechanical watch has a soul. The second hand sweeps which reminds us that time is a continuum and not a series of discrete ‘ticks’ marching us inexorably to our death. All respectable watches from Rolex, Omega, and other high end brands are automatic , but if you don’t feel like selling a kidney to own a timepiece there are some less expensive options. Seiko makes some excellent watches with the 7S26 movement. The Seiko “Black Monster” Diver is considered by frugal watch enthusiasts to be one of the best watches for the money and can be had for under $200. If you aren’t into the Jacques Cousteau diver aesthetic, other styles with the same movement are available. The Military Style watches are elegantly simple pieces that go with just about anything.
Though the page layout is abhorrent, the Poor Man’s Watch Forum has an excellent list of inexpensive mechanical watches for under $500.
I recently picked up the much anticipated Leatherman Skeletool CX . Leatherman has been making multi-tools since the Carter Administration, but I got one since they finally came out with a tool that has a few features that have been heretofore lacking in Leatherman products. First, it has a one-hand opening knife that can be opened when the tool is closed. Secondly, the blade is made from a respectable grade steel that can actually hold an edge (154CM) . Lastly, it has a pocket clip so you can keep it in your back pocket as opposed to carrying those sheaths that make you look like a douchebag. It has all the critical tools you want like pliers, wire cutter, flat and Phillips head screwdrivers and none of the ones you don’t (Sorry Frenchies, there’s no wine opener) so it’s lightweight and compact. The Skeletool CX is the oh-so slightly lighter weight version as it has one panel that is laminated carbon fiber and has a black oxide finish, but unless you’re planning to freeclimb at night with a Seal team, you’re probably better off getting the regular Skeletool which is all shiny steel and is a bit cheaper.
Those Limey Redcoats from Oxford recently released a new series called Very Short Introductions. They are pocket sized tomes on a wide ranging array of subjects from Architecture to Vikings. I just finished the one on Law which is a superb survey of international Law with an emphasis on Common Law (That’s the legal foundation behind the systems in the UK and the US among other nations).
The books are small enough to fit in your jacket pocket so you can keep it on you when you have a spare moment, like when you’re awaiting indictment and at under $10 they are cheaper than a DVD. Next I think I’ll take on Game Theory.
