TRIPLEPLE4T

Timbuk2 2Way

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:51:00 -0400

The modern man’s pockets are more crowded that an Apple product launch. The Timbuk2 2Way is a great way to free up some real estate in your bulging pant sacks. It attaches via a Velcro band to the strap of your shoulder bag or backpack and can hold most modern smartphones close enough to your chest that you can still feel it vibrate when you have a call. It even has an extra pocket which can hold emergency cash or an ID. The Ballistic fabric construction gives it the look of something that Jack Bauer would use to hold one of his implements of freedom, but in black, it is reasonably understated as well.

Esquire Magazine

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:11:57 -0400

We’ve recently reintroduced Esquire Magazine to a couple of friends who were all pleasantly surprised. Far from being the bourgeois periodical devoted to sartorial elitism, Esquire is now better described as Maxim for adults. The writing is excellent and the content is informative. The What I’ve Learned column has some great tidbits of wisdom from people with lives far more interesting than yours and the 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Women column offers amusing insight into the fairer sex written by comely actresses and comediennes. In celebration of their 75th Anniversary, they have a couple of great articles: 75 Thing Every Man Should Know How to Do and 75 Things Every Man Should Do Before He Dies. A subscription is well worth the $8.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:33:42 -0400

OK, I know what you’re thinking. “Hemingway? That’s a boring oldie-tyme book! Why would I want to read that?” Well I’ll tell you. For Whom the Bell Tolls an kick ass story about an American man on a mission to blow up a bridge during the Spanish Civil War. It is written in Hemingway’s unflinchingly sparse prose and bounds along at an incredible clip to a pulse-pounding crescendo. The story is a heartwrencheng look at the horrors and insanity of war sprinkled with insight into the human condition, machine guns, sex, and bullfighting. In short, read this book. It’ll put hair on yer chest!

The Modern Multipen

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:44:00 -0400

Remember when you were a kid and you used to doodle with one of those 4-color Bic pens. Well modern multi-pens are still extremely popular in Japan and as it turns out they are surprisingly useful in your grown-up day job. They are great for sketching diagrams in multiple colors, marking up documents with vicious redlines, or annotating TPS reports with color-coded passive-aggressive edits. One of our favorites is the Platinum Double 3- Action Multipen which has both red and black balllpoint pens and a .5mm mechanical pencil. It’s gunmetal grey body looks completely at home in the board room and the weight and mechanical action exudes precision. If you want more colors, there is the Zebra Clip-On 1000 4-Color pen which features a hefty metal body, black, red and green ballpoint pens and a .5mm mechanical pencil.

Sigg Water Bottles

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 21:51:30 -0400

Al Gore cries a little every time you throw out a plastic water bottle. Fortunately there is an alternative that looks good and doesn’t kill baby seals. Sigg water bottles will change your life. Everyone we know who has started carrying one wonders how they went without it for so long. Despite Nalgene’s claims to the contrary, plastic bottles eventually do get gross - absorbing flavors, mold and other unpleasentness. Siggs are made from aluminum and are specially coated so they don’t absorb squat. They have a plethora of designs that range from fruity to badass. Our favorites are the simple ones with the Active Touch finish which is a textured matte outer coating that gives the bottle a tacticle grippy feel so you won’t drop it when wet. The best thing about Sigg botttles is that they’re Swiss which means they are great for hiding your Nazi gold!

Oakley Vault

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:58:48 -0400

Expensive sunglasses are great right up until the point you sit on them or they get crushed in your bag after jockeying for position on the subway. If you’re going to shell out undisclosed sums of money of a pair of fancy shades it would be nice if you could put them in something that could survive your irresponsible lifestyle. The Oakley Vault is a felt-lined aluminum sunglasses case that you can throw in a messenger bag with full confidence that your vintage Wayfarers will be safe. If you’re the clumsy-type who often regrets shelling out enough money to inoculate a village in the third world on a pair of sunglasses that you subsequently break, then go donate some money to Doctors Without Borders and get a Vault.

Laphroaig 10-Year Single Malt

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 03:04:20 -0400

We’ll be honest, Laphroaig (pronounced La-froyg) isn’t for everyone. It is one of the peatiest single malts out there as it hails from the northern Isle of Islay. The flavor is best described as standing on the beach on a cold night next to a raging campfire with the briny smell of sea air wafting about. It’s a perfect whiskey to sustain you through a chilly winter (or a foggy summer in San Francisco). At 10 years in the barrel, many malts haven’t mellowed quite enough, but the Laphroig 10 is superb. We can’t wait to taste the 15.

McMafia : A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:35:11 -0400

McMafia is a survey and history of worldwide organized crime - from the to the back alleys of Odessa, to the slums of Mumbai and the streets of Johannasburg, Gleny offers a series of stories that are better than anything found in thrillers on the big screen. The book opens with a story of senseless murder in London and the pace never slows as the books pulls you into the world of organzied crime with stories that are terrifying, facintaing, and quite often funny. The criminals, far from being the sterotypical mustashe-twisting villans are characeters of surprising depth, and complexity and the relationships among the players form intriguing webs of power. Tales of drugs, guns and prostitution are peppered with Gleny’s dry english humor and offer unprecedented insight into the nature of the of criminal enterprise. Misha Gleny gave a brief talk on the book at a lecture at the RSA in London. The lecture is available on a U-Channel Podcast, here.

Kobalt Rapidslide Adjustable Wrench While in the midst of a...

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:54:00 -0400

Kobalt Rapidslide Adjustable Wrench

While in the midst of a complicated repair, one is often too lazy to root through one’s toolbox to find the proper sized box wrench. Thankfully, the trusty refuge of the lazy mechanic is the adjustable wrench. The problem is most adjustable wrenches, is that their thumb-busting knurled worm-screw adjustment mechanisms kind of suck. Enter the Kobalt Rapid-Slide Adjustable Wrench with its velvet-smooth slider which opens and closes the jaws effortlessly with the flick of your thumb. There is a laser-etched graduated scale with metric and english sizes on opposing side of the jaws. There are versions available from Crescent and Cooper, but the Kobalt (pictured) is our preferred incarnation with rubber inset no-slip grips, aggressive styling and thoughtful box wrench in the handle. Unfortunately the Kobalt is not available online, but it can be purchased at your local Lowes for about 15 bucks.

Sony MDREX85LP Studio Quality Earbuds

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:52:00 -0400

I’ve long touted the Sony MDR-EX51LP Headphones as the best 20 bucks you could spend to radically improve your iPod experience. They arguably have 85% of the quality of The premium Shure E2Cs at a third of the price. Sony recently released the Sony MDREX85LP as a mid-tier offering for those of us who can’t justify the price of their high tier MDR-EX90LP model. The 85s are just outstanding! They have all the deep bass one would expect from an in-ear model, but they also bring the crisp highs and a crystal clear midrange that rivals those large studio headphones that make you look like Princess Leia. The design is sort of hit and miss with the peculiar proportion that makes them look like they are somewhat broken, but the detail of the chrome aluminum turned face is quite elegant. Now if only they could come up with a naming system that didn’t make their products sound like evil supercomputers from the land of Zod.

Kyocera Industrial Ceramic Scissors

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:16:00 -0400

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.

The Art of Shaving 4 Elements Shaving Kit

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:56:12 -0400

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.

Abitax 0510 Tag Light

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:17:19 -0400

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.

Lamy Pico Retractable Pen

Fri, 23 May 2008 23:02:00 -0400

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.

Ford Mustang Shelby GT-H Convertible

Tue, 20 May 2008 13:00:00 -0400

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.”

Monocle Porter Bag

Wed, 14 May 2008 15:13:00 -0400

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.

Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Wed, 14 May 2008 15:04:13 -0400

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.

The Mechanical Watch

Tue, 13 May 2008 15:21:00 -0400

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.

Leatherman Skeletool

Tue, 13 May 2008 13:42:00 -0400

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.

Very Short Introductions

Mon, 12 May 2008 19:47:00 -0400

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.