25,000!

Wow, I can't beleive it has been a month since I last posted anything. Thats pretty crazy how fast life (like school, the National Guard, work, and spring break) can get in the way. Anyway, sometime in between then and now, I hit more than 25,000 views. This is pretty big for me. I know some writers get that every couple hours, but I'm pretty psyched that I'm averaging more than 100 hits a day. Thats pretty cool in my mind. Some folks actually care about what I have to say, and that is a good feeling.

Look for more stuff coming in from my facebook and twitter accounts, as well as some more reviews of cigars, drinks, and culture. Now I've just got to find a way to monitize this piece (and no, Google Adsense doesn't wanna play ball) anyone want to buy an ad?

Gored Bullfighter returns to the ring

Just read this story from yahoo news. Stepping into the ring in the first place requires petty big brass ones, but doing so with one eye, after already being nearly gored to death? That takes some courage. I know there are a lot of mixed feelings out there about bullfighting, but no matter how you feel, you've got to admire this guy's guts. I still say running with the bulls in Pamplona is on my list of stuff I've just got to do. Enjoy.

http://news.yahoo.com/gored-spanish-bullfighter-makes-comeback-192521099.html

OLIVENZA, Spain (AP) — A Spanish bullfighter who lost sight in one eye and has partial facial paralysis after a terrifying goring returned to the bullring Sunday, five months after his injury.

On Oct. 8, a bull's horn ripped into Juan Jose Padilla's lower jaw and caused his left eyeball to protrude as spectators screamed in horror. Padilla was seen getting up shouting, "I can't see, I can't see anything," his face gushing blood as assistants distracted the bull.

Now, wearing an eye patch and speaking with a lisp, Padilla fulfilled what he describes as an unquenchable desire to once again face massive 1,100-pound (500-kilogram) fighting bulls with the aid of only a cape and sword.

The 38-year-old Padilla, the star attraction at the southwestern town of Olivenza's annual taurine festival, said he was returning to the ring because of a need "to win, to triumph, to be a better man."

A capacity crowd of about 5,400 people, including die-hard connoisseurs, fashion models and well-known personalities, had packed into this town's historic bullring, which was built in 1854.

The matador, who is also known by his professional name of "the Cyclone of Jerez," wore a glittering matador's "suit of lights" outfit that had been made for the occasion in gold braid and olive green, "for hope," according to his tailor, Justo Algaba. Stitching on the suit traced the shape of laurel leaves because "they were used to crown the brows of audacious combatants and great heroes," Algaba said.

Padilla was greeted with loud cheers and enthusiastic hand-clapping as he walked into the ring to the traditional "pasodoble" brass band music, before having two unaccompanied flamenco style "saeta" songs dedicated to him, an honor rarely accorded to bullfighters.

Despite lacking the two-eyed stereoscopic vision that allows people to judge distances and the speed of approaching objects accurately, Padilla had little trouble killing his first bull before dedicating the second beast to his tearful father, who embraced his son after the kill. Padilla was awarded one ear for each of his two kills. The maximum accolade a matador can achieve is two ears and a tail for each bull slain.

"He's been looking forward so much to starting this new phase in his life," his manager, Diego Robles, said.

After slaying his final bull, Padilla was carried out of the ring among jubilant crowd scenes on the shoulders of fellow bullfighters who had shared the billing with him, a very rare salute.

Celebrations commemorating Padilla's successful return were expected to last well into the night in the rural town.

Eating Bear for the first time

Eating Bear for the First Time:

Like many hunters (The term applies to me in the loosest possible since. More often than not I am simply an armed hiker) I have something of an affinity for game meat. Some don't like it's toughness, or the savory flavor that comes from an animal reared in the wild. I love it. I am partial to duck as far as fowl goes, and it is hard to beat a good venison back strap, but some of the more obscure game has eluded me (see what I did there?) It is not every day that a man gets to try bear meat – California black bear in this case, so when the duties of my position as Managing Editor at Cigar & Spirits Magazine brought me this opportunity, I jumped on it.

Filipe, the owner of El Duende Tequila, was hosting a tasting, pairing his line of tequilas with various game meats, all prepared at his restaurant, Artichoke's Heart, in Hollywood, California. There was a duck sausage, antelope from India, Northern California venison, and octopus, along with some excellent, but less exotic beef. The star of the occasion, at least to my mind, was the bear. It was killed on a hunting trip in Northern California - the chef was not specific as to the location, and I am likely the only member of the group who would have any desire to take a similar meal on my own. The hunter, Filipe's brother, had a bear tag, as well as deer, which he was hunting that day. After tracking a deer he had shot to where it had died, he found that a California black bear had been following him, and the same blood trail. The resulting encounter apparently went far better for Filipe's brother than for the bear.

The meat was cut into strips and pan seared in their very own tequila reposado. Bear is tough, but flavorful. Not as stringy as I had anticipated, with a peppery spice accompanying the gamey taste. This blended well with the tequila. The roughness of the well cooked meat was a stark contrast to the smooth tequila. It did not quench your thirst, cool you down, or cleanse your palette. Instead, the sweet, buttery spice of the reposado danced with the rich flavor of the meat. The bear's chewiness only adding to the lingering taste.

All due credit goes to Hector, the chef at Artichoke's Heart, who's considerable skills behind a skillet really ensured an outstanding experience for all. The tequilas from El Duende were smooth, sweet, and peppery, without the bite. In shorty, they were excellent, and worthy of any who fancy themselves a connoisseur of such spirits.

Check out the next issue of Cigar & Spirits Magazine to find a full write up on the tasting, with each of the tequilas paired with a different part of the exquisite wild game menu.

Can boredom make you successful?

Yesterday I read This Charles Scott Article from CNBC. The synopsis of it states that while boredom is an incredibly annoying feeling on a daily basis, it can, in fact be very useful. Our society is used to instant gratification, instant access to information, and immediate responses. I myself am guilty of using my cell phone to check emails, facebook, stock reports, and yes, even twitter, when I have down time - anything to fill the few minutes here and there of empty space.

Scott's article, however, derides this common activity as more counter productive than anything else. Being bored lets your mind wander. It lets it work. It helps you be creative, innovative. You think about things that you normally wouldn't have. You go off on tangents, you daydream, you have ideas. All of this in today's society is becoming more and more what would set someone apart. These days a bachelor's degree is what a High School diploma was a generation ago. You can't go anywhere without one. It is expected, and to do anything more worthwhile, a graduate degree is almost required. Creativity and innovation may not get you in the door, but it will get you noticed, and get you advanced.

I am on an incredibly busy schedule - I go from work, to graduate school, to the gym, and then to sleep, only to start it all over again. My weekends are usually tied up in events, or I am drilling with the California National Guard. Almost every hour is taken up by obligations to either others, or myself. I would enjoy a little boredom from time to time, and considering the creative nature of both my job, and my educational pursuits, it seems like I might need it.

What I am trying out is nothing new, or revolutionary, as many people try to be productive on their daily commutes, but what I am attempting is to simply be bored. I have turned off my car radio. The hum of the engine, and the feel of the road is all that distracts me during the 2+ hours I spend driving on days that I have class. I am not claiming any dramatic breakthroughs, and it is a far cry from studying or working while on a train or a bus, but it can be quite calming. I get lost in my thoughts. I consider what I am doing that day, and why. My mind wanders. I come up with new ways to do things, and new concepts. This is only my second day of driving with no distractions, but it has already pushed me to write this blog, and given me ideas for several others - not to mention the half finished, viscereal concepts and ideas that are still floating around up there waiting to be fleshed out.

Go out there and make yourself bored. Meditate. Go for a walk. Stare out the window. Enjoy it. Revel in it. You might be surprised just how productive you can be when you do absolutely nothing.

Ranger Up's Veteran Employment

In reply to one of my posts a while back about the veteran unemployment rate, and what soldiers and vets can do to help them get jobs, I was guided to this video from Ranger Up - a company that I have supported in the past, and one that is really one I can get behind. I like this video, and it echos many of the sentiments and strategies that I have already discussed. Hope you enjoy it, and find it helpful

Pretty cool story I got from PSFK - a tech inovation and inspiration site that I follow. Neat idea, kinda a spy thing going for it - especially with the Wi-Fi hot spot, but the price tag seems a bit high for my tastes. They've got to look at their target market in this situation. The cuff links are great, but anyone who will pay $250 for a pair of links is probably going to already have a Wi-Fi hotspot when they travel for business, and 2 gigs of storage is just something that these days is becoming more and more unnesecary, with such a focus and expansion on cloud storage. From a concept perspective, I love it, but it is almost a novelty rather than a business tool. Do I want a pair? Of course I do! Am I going to drop that much to buy them? Highly doubtful. Way to think outside the box though.

Cufflinks Offer USB Storage & A Wi-Fi Hotspot

By Emma Hutchings on January 23, 2012

This cool new use of a fashion accessory from Brookstone aims to improve the lives of those in the business community by offering them the convenience of a Wi-Fi hotspot and 2GB of USB storage housed in a pair of cufflinks.
The polished silver oval cufflinks can be used to share data and internet access between multiple wireless devices. After downloading the accompanying software, the cufflinks can be used as a high-speed Wi-Fi hotspot by nearby smartphones, tablets, laptops and computers. They can also hold up to 2GB for files and pictures.
This luxury item is described as “perfect for business meetings, travel and techies everywhere.” One pair will set you back $249.99.


via PSFK: http://www.psfk.com/2012/01/wi-fi-cufflinks.html#ixzz1kJUgK1Vx

Sport Coats - a brief introduction:

After my post a few weeks ago on 3 button suits, and how they are dated, but can still be worn if you know how (to recap: make sure it fits you, and NEVER button the bottom button) a friend of mine asked me to enlighten him on the subject of Sport Coats.

Sport coats are the essential transitional garment in any man's wardrobe. Someone who thinks they may never have need of a traditional suit can quite often find themselves in want of a decent sport coat. A sport coat is probably the most versatile piece in one's closet. It can dress up jeans and sneakers, or dress down slacks and a tie. It can take it's wearer from a business meeting, to a bar, to a casual event, and back again, with nothing more than a slight adjustment to the undershirt.

Sport coats traditionally have a few qualities that set them apart from a suit jacket – most noticeably, they typically do not come with a set of matching slacks. Sport coats are not just the traditional blue blazer that has been a mainstay of yacht clubs and alumni events for generations. They have evolved into a sleeker, transitional design that can bring together an outfit. Typically they have “shank” buttons – buttons that attach to the coat through a loop on their back rather than being sewn on through holes in the button, like on suit coats. Sometimes these can have crests or logos on them (for more personalization) and while traditionally done in bronze or gold colors, they are available in more subdued designs for the less garish among us. Another characteristic of a sport coat is a “Patch” pocket – or a pocket that is sewn onto the coat, rather than cut into it like found on suits. These can also be slanted to the outside, something the British call a “Hacking” pocket that is not typically found on a suit jacket. Another quintessential British characteristic to the coat would be leather reinforced elbows. These are less common these days, and I think lean far more to the casual side – really putting the “sport” into a sport coat. These are all just examples, and while any of these would immediately identify a jacket as a sport coat, none are required for it to be classified as such.



The ubiquitous Navy Blazer and a plaid sportcoat best worn with khakis or dark slacks



As far as how to wear a sport coat, that is entirely dependent upon both the wearer, and the occasion. Like a suit jacket, the bottom button, whether with a two or three button jacket, should always be opened, and while I very rarely open all the buttons on my suit, this is far more appropriate while wearing the more casual sport coat.

I personally think that sport coats are best when paired with slacks or khakis and decent shoes. Blue is a good go-to color, but there are many options to go through – just remember to keep your basic style rules in place. No mixing browns and blacks, shoes must match with belt and socks (you'd be surprised how often this is overlooked) etc. Depending on the weather, they can be worn with a vest or a sweater underneath, and typically a dress shirt. A tie is purely dependent on personal preference and the formality of the occasion.



An example of how a sport coat can be a very elegant business look. Take away the tie, add jeans and boat shoes, and you have a classy but still casual feel.



A sport coat with jeans can be great for casual Fridays, or any casual occasion where one just cannot bring themselves to wear a t-shirt or a hoodie – and again, these are more common than one might initially think. Street shoes or deck / boat shoes are an excellent choice with this look – especially if matched with the coat. If worn with a t-shirt of sweatshirt, make sure it is a solid color, or something unobtrusive. Your swagger should make the statement, not the logo.

On more formal occasions, even those without a tie, a pocket square can be an interesting addition. While in a suit I typically like clean, smooth lines, and keep mine squared off over the pocket, but in a sport coat, you can get away with far more interesting colors and styles. Try a peaked fold, or have the edges splayed out of the pocket. This works especially well with a bordered pocket square.

If you are still building your wardrobe, start off with something blue – it can go with everything, and can easily be built upon, but don't shirk the idea of a gray or tan coat. The more you use them the more you will find ways they are useful. Don't get caught up with one look or style. Experiment and play around with it, and it helps to keep your options open. Like I have always been told, “if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” This old adage can be applied to everything from tools to tactics to fashion. Use what you have, but don't become too attached to your methods.



Sportcoat and hoodie? Don't be that guy. Seriously, you're better than that.