Lifestyle
Element Sector 5 iPhone Case Review
What’s up all you MANjr / Mac fanboys out there. You interested in the most badass case for your new iPhone 5? Well, I have it for you…
The guys at Element Case have been making sick cases for iPhones (and other phones too….if you care) for a while now and their case for the new iPhone is the best yet. I personally used their case on my iPhone 4 for two years and my experience with the case is that it’s bulletproof and stylish at the same time. The Sector 5 case for the iPhone 5 is no different.
I installed the case on my new phone and immediately starting getting comments. “What kind of phone is that?” “Do you work for Apple?” “Is that some sort of pre-production Apple phone?” I get at least one comment on this case every 48 hours. It’s that dope. I use it on my personal phone and carry it around every day .and I love it.
A quick review on the company’s website will give you all the details on this kickass case. Yes, its spendy ($139.95), but you’ve already decided to buy one of the most expensive phones on the market. Why not protect it with the best case out there?
Here are the spec / goodies that come with the case:
- Ultra thin “Multi-link” system for fast and easy install
- Modular design for replacement and upgrade parts option
- CNC machined in the US using aerospace grade materials
- Large volume control ports for easy access
- Large peripheral ports, fully compatible with the original Lightning cable
- Protective Zipper case with transit kit (screen protector and speed wrench)
The stickers included with the case to cover the sides of your phone are there so the case doesn’t scratch the edges of your phone (metal to metal is no bueno). It is kinda tedious to install, but a necessary evil unless you don’t mind scratching your phone.
If you want a super bitchin’ case to go with your super cool phone, this is the one. Period. End of story. MANjr approved….no question.
Steven G. Patton
Jetsetter & MANjr Product Tester at Large
Jan 17th
Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co. from Karmaloop
The NFL playoffs are right around the corner, and it’s not too late to show your team spirit with a bit of an old-school flavor. Karmaloop’s Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co. collection offers some pretty sweet throwback gear for teams from the NFL and other major sports.
Sure, Mr. Purist, it would be nice to get your hands on the real, authentic, old-school deal, but you know it’s just way too hard to track down your favorite team’s throwback stuff at a thrift store, flea market or other vintage purchasing spot. Plus, if you do find old-school gear for your team, it may not be in the best shape. And it may not be as comfy as the new-school throwbacks that are currently available from Mitchell and Ness.
We were sent an extra cozy Steelers sweater, and I got to say with LA temperatures hitting an all-time low of 55 to 60 degrees, I’ve been sporting this thing on the regular. It’s super-soft, pretty durable, and it’s something you can wear on the couch, in the bar, out and about, you name it.
So if you want to support your team going into the playoffs (or if you’re a Jets fan and you just want to show your rebellious pride/hope for next season), I suggest checking out the collection of old-school gear (hats, jackets, sweaters, jerseys) available from Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co. Stuff isn’t cheap, but you do get what you pay for: unique, high quality, throwback team support apparel that’s totally worth the price.
Dec 28th
Shock Top End of the World Bunker Party
Zombies, hot pin-up girls, Rev Run, a full military evacuation, off-roading, zip lines and ATVs, spa treatments, freshly fallen snow, southern luxury, a decommissioned government bunker and one really posh hotel built in the mid-nineteenth century. If the world was supposed to end, this is where you’d want to be.
December 21, 2012 came and went, and we’re all still alive. But if for some reason the world had come to a close, the MANjr team and 400 other party goers would have been save and sound. That’s all thanks to Shock Top and the End of the World Bunker Party that the beer brand hosted at The Greenbriar in West Virginia.
The winners came from far and wide. Some people won a trip to the party from Facebook. Others gained entry through giveaways and sweepstakes held at bars, on the web and on the radio. However they got there, the people assembled were ready to party like there was no tomorrow.
The whole event was a study in clever brand marketing, high-level logistics and epic execution. Designated survivors were notified weeks in advance of the party and were sent top secret materials about the weekend’s events and festivities. We were given the option to choose from a variety of “end of the world” training events. This included a 5K Zombie run, off-road driving training, a zip line and ATV adventure, a trip on a biplane (which was cancelled due to the weather conditions), polar plunge, bungee jumping or the chance to do nothing and get pampered at the spa and hit the casino.
Although we didn’t get to participate in these training events, by all accounts each activity option was pretty awesome. With the amount of unfiltered beer I consumed the previous night, I don’t think I would’ve survived the zombie run. But that’s just me.
After the activities were completed, it was time to rest up for the final, epic last meal. This was really a treat. The multi-course meal was set in a large banquet hall.
Here’s the breakdown of the courses:
First Course (Most Important Meal of the Day)
- Sugar Glazed and Fresh Cut Fruit Topped Donut
- Melting Chocolate Chip Made From Scratch Pancakes
- Thick Cut Applewood Smoked Bacon
- Scrambled Farm Fresh Eggs
- Suggested Pairing: Shock Top Raspberry Wheat
Second Course (Living off the Land)
- Deep Fried Seasoned Country Chicken
- Memphis Style Cole Slaw
- Sothern Baked Macaorni and Cheese
- Suggested Pairing: Shock Top Belgian White
Third Course (Break Bread Together)
- USDA Prime Cut Strip Steak
- Hot Fresh Baked Rolls and Light Churned Butter
- Country Mashed Soft Fluffy Potatoes
- Select Mixed Green Salad with a Light Vinaigrette
Fourth Course (End of the World Midnight Snack)
- Double Stuffed Oreos served with ice cold milk
- Chocolate Sundae waffle cups with chopped nuts, whipped cream and cherries
- Orange Sorbet dollop floating on a Shock Top Belgian White
- Plated Snickers bar on Fine China with sterling silver
Epic last meal indeed. All the guests were stuffed by the third course and before the midnight snack desert could be served, the dinner was interrupted by a news broadcast that reported the demise of the globe and the existence of a group of survivors set to post up in a bunker in West Virginia. That was immediately followed by a rush of military personnel calling for an evacuation of the survivors assembled in the banquet hall.
Everyone got up out of their seats and grabbed what beers they could. We were handed these metallic heat jackets and loaded on to buses. A short ride later, we arrived at the main entrance to the bunker, with Humvees and military members standing watch. We entered the bunker (a decommissioned Eisenhower-era top secret U.S. government relocation facility for Congress) ditched the heat jackets, and the party was on.
Gorgeous Shock Top girls littered the crowd and ensured that everyone had a beer in hand and a smile on their face. The setup was pretty elaborate. All the Shock Tops were present: Belgian White, Wheat IPA, Lemon Shandy, Raspberry Wheat, Apple Cider and the specially-brewed End of the World Midnight Wheat.
“We set out to brew an indulgent beer for a once in a lifetime occasion,” said Shock Top’s brand manager Zach Hotz. “We achieved it by combining midnight wheat, chocolate malt and chilies.”
We danced, we drank, we hoped for survival…
At midnight we were treated to a surprise guest – Rev Run from Run DMC. He fired up the crowd and kept the party going. Good times we’re had by all.
“The Shock Top End of the World Bunker Party provided a unique experience for a unique group of beer drinkers,” Hotz said. “A time to have fun, cross items of the bucket list and enjoy good beer with great company.”
The event was success all around. Posh digs, cool activities, an elaborately executed schedule. Some serious planning must have gone in to the whole weekend.
Thanks to Shock Top for sending us out to cover such a fun event. The Shock Top End of the World Bunker Party definitely lived up to the hype. If the world was going to end, there’s no place I would’ve rather been than drinking good beer with good people in a party bunker atmosphere.
Dec 28th
Hines Ward Starts Training for the 2013 IRONMAN World Championship
The New Year is right around the corner. Time to start drafting those resolutions and map out a plan for a healthy and happy 2013. It’s also time to start challenging yourself so that you can push outside your limits in the coming year. Some people are already getting a head start on that.
A few weeks ago, we told you about Hines Ward and his efforts for the upcoming 2013 IRONMAN World Championship. Ward is partnering up with REFUEL | got chocolate milk? to bring in two weekend warriors to compete with him in the 2013 triathlon competition in Hawaii.
For Ward, the training has already begun in Atlanta. To get ready for the 140.6-mile competition, Ward has been swimming, running and cycling pretty hard, and refueling afterwards with lowfat chocolate milk to recover after his workouts.
His journey (along with the two athletes will join him) will be documented via a new web series called BECOME ONE. You can follow all the action at gotchocolatemilk.com.
Dec 26th
Pass the Crown – Final Update
The second annual Pass the Crown program officially ended this week with one final steal. Jersey Girl Sports put out the most number of tweets with the #PassTheCrown hashtag and took the honors of making the final swipe. The iPad Mini’s, which had already changed hands a couple times, was the last item to be stolen.
Because of all the retweets and Twitter mentions, Crown Royal was able to send out 1400 gift bags to our troops as part of the Crown Royal Heroes Project. Among the gift bags that went out, was this one right here which was put together at the Cowboys/Saints game by Playboy playmate Kylie Johnson:
We were able to hang on to the Crown Royal XR Happy Hour that we jacked from The Roosevelts. So stay tuned for details about the next MANjr/Crown Royal event.
Thanks to everyone who got going on the retweets and helped make the second annual Pass the Crown program another fun experience.
Dec 20th
Guinness Is Giving Back This Holiday Season
Guinness is a great holiday beer. There’s just something about a frothy stout pint that fits well with the colder months. I’m a bit partial to Guinness Black Lager myself, but this holiday season, you have options. You can keep it simple with a traditional Draught, get in on some extra stout action, enjoy the light-flavored-darkness of the Black Lager or reach for the new holiday brew, Guinness Generous Ale.
Guinness Generous Ale is the first winter-themed beer from the Irish brewery that’s been putting out great beers since 1759. The new Ale is brewed as a traditional winter ale and features a more medium brown color and a distinct roasty flavor, almost like a nutty coffee with caramel undertones. The hops flavor shines through, and the resulting bitterness isn’t too invasive. It’s good, folks.
In addition to rolling out the Generous Ale, Guinness is also launching a campaign designed to get people to give back this holiday season. The program is called Generous Hour. Basically, Guinness enthusiasts are being encouraged to do something generous with their time during the holidays. To participate, visit GuinnessGivesBack.com and make your pledge known. Here’s mine:
So you see, you don’t have to go out and try and save the world. Just think about being generous in your own way. Go take the pledge and spread the generous cheer this holiday season!
Dec 6th
We’re Up in Pass the Crown 2012
Big day today, MANjr fans. Today is our turn to make a move in the second annual Pass the Crown blogger gift battle! So it’s decision time and we got till 4 PM Eastern to make the call. We swipe another gift from one of the 25 participating bloggers or do we open up our embroidered purple bag to see what’s inside?
The gift that’s on the table comes with a hint:
But what does it all mean? Is it NASCAR-related? We know how much fun it can be posting up at a NASCAR event with the good folks from Crown! Indy was a blast. But we also know how much fun a Crown Royal happy hours can be for everyone in attendance. Tough call!
And then you got stuff like iPad Minis, Kindle Fires, Samsung Digital Cameras, Sonos Play 3, and a bunch of other cool gear that we can pilfer from other people. Help us decide what to do! Drop us an email below with your thoughts or hit us up on Twitter @MANjr. Check #PassTheCrown to follow all the gift war action. And this year, whenever the hashtag #PassTheCrown appears on Twitter, Crwon Royal will send out a gift bag to a soldier. Click retweet and support the troops!
Oh, one last thing. Whatever we end up with, we’ll be giving away the same gift to one lucky reader. So chime in if you want to sway our decision!
Dec 5th
MANjr Crown Royal Happy Hour Recap
We’ve done a lot of cool stuff with Crown Royal in the past, and on Sunday we got to team up with Crown for a sweet happy hour event at Yankee Doodles in Santa Monica. The event was a way to bring folks together to sip some great Crown cocktails, grab some grub and enjoy a great set of afternoon football games.
Crown Royal provided us with a few beverage options for the Happy Hour. We were serving traditional Crown, Crown Royal Black and the newest addition to the Crown whisky line, Crown Royal Maple Finished. The Maple launched last month. It’s finished by running whisky through maple toasted oak, which results in a subtle-sweet maple flavor that’s not too dessert-driven and retains the quality Crown flavor you already know and love. If you want to try this stuff out, look for the copper and auburn label with the maple leaf background. Thanks Canada!
In addition to the Crown options, there was a full menu of signature cocktails available. There was the Crown Royal Press, a brisk mix of Crown Royal Deluxe Blended Whisky with dashes of bitters, squeezed lemon wedges and a splash of lemon-lime soda. The Crown Royal Black and Ginger was a big hit, a simple mix of Black and ginger ale topped with a lime slice. The King George was one of two cocktails that featured the new Maple. It was a combo of Crown Royal Maple Finished, lemon juice, pineapple juice and simple syrup. People seemed to enjoy the Manitoba as well, a combo of Maple with lemon juice, simple syrup and a topper of ginger beer.
So we had great drinking options, good people and great football! The Rams pulled out a surprise victory in overtime. The Colts had an exciting comeback. And, most importantly, the Steelers won. Thirty-seven-year old backup QB Charlie Batch had some awful looking throw early, but he did what he had to do to secure the victory. Good times!
Thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy the great atmosphere and tasty libations! Special thanks to Taylor and super-star weekend visitor Christina Kavanaugh for coordinating such a fun event.
Stay tuned for more Crown Royal updates, as MANjr will be on the clock soon for this year’s Pass the Crown gift exchange game. Follow this cross-blogger gift battle on Twitter with the hashtag #PassTheCrown.
Dec 3rd
Design By Humans – Buy 2 Get 1 Free + Free Shipping
Everyone’s favorite graphic tee site, Design By Humans, is running a buy two, get one sale today that includes free shipping. I recently received a few shirts from these guys, and I’m pretty happy with what I got. The design options for the graphic tees are all over the place. The DBH Collective features styles that’ll fit anyone’s sense of fashion. Humor, artsy, interesting, tacky, bold, subtle, gaudy, trippy – all these flavors can be found on the DBH site. Here are a couple of styles that caught my eye:
The tee shirts themselves are pretty comfy, too. Soft and thin (without being too thin). The graphic tees will last through multiple washes and still keep a good, tight collar going. Legit XXLs are available for big guys like myself, which is always nice.
If you dig hoodies, you can get the same buy-two-get-one action on those today as well (with free shipping). Just use the code SCOREBIG to save money on the entire tee shirt inventory. There’s a bunch of other deals on the site right now too, so check it out!
Nov 26th
Start Your Holiday Travel Planning with Hipmunk
If you’ve got vacation days stored away, we’re about to enter the annual sweet spot for taking time off work. It’s about time you cashed in those vacay days, man. It doesn’t have to be an epic trip that breaks the bank. Just figure out a game plan and move on it. Whether you’re meeting family or friends or just trying to experience something solo, spending on travel is never a bad investment. You deserve the joy that comes with experiencing something new and different.
The new and improved Hipmunk site can help you plan your trip without wasting valuable time and energy. Hipmunk has a simple philosophy and travel planning. Everyone wants to find good value when booking a flight or a hotel, but cost isn’t the only consideration. Is it really worth 150 bucks for you to book a flight with two additional stops and a 10 hour layover? Probably not. You want to save money when you travel, but you have to balance cost with pain, travel convenience and a host of other factors.
This is what makes Hipmunk so cool. The site pitches itself as a better flight search and hotel booking engine, and really, it is. If you visit a big aggregator site like Expedia, Travelocity or even Kayak, you are bombarded with information about every single flight available to you. Sure, you can sort by price, duration of travel, non-stop vs. multi-stops, etc. But more often than not, there’s just way too much information to sift through. Hipmunk has some unique features that help you get past the information overload, so you can find a flight plan sweet spot that’s specific to your needs.
A couple weeks back, I started planning a trip to Barbados using Hipmunk. You begin the process by entering in your destinations and desired days of travel. It’s easy to add a plus or minus range to your dates. Next, you take a look at the results. They’re presented kind of like Gantt chart, with price on the right, duration of flights in the middle and expandable results to the left. Take a look:
So instead of looking flights up by price or duration, you get a quick, highly focused view of your options sorted by overall pain (price/duration). If you want to view more results that are similar to a particular flight, click on the left to reveal more options. You can hover over specific flights to get more details and you can easily select the right combo of price and time costs.
I found a flight from LAX to Barbados via New York that was affordable, included minimal layover time (just over two hours each leg) and featured the all-important flight option: Wi-Fi. I clicked on the link and booked directly through the airline site.
Once you’ve selected a flight, it’s time to start checking out hotels. Hipmunk just revamped their hotel search this week. You can view local hotel options that cater to your specific travel interests. Variables include property type, chains, amenities and neighborhood features like family, LGBT, romance, business and adventure. The results are provided by Trip Advisor, so you can dive into user reviews of each hotel pretty quickly. You can also sort the results by price, reviews or “ecstasy.”
It’s a really efficient way to cut through all the nonsense. You get a sense of a locale before you visit, and you can find accommodations that’ll fit your specific agenda.
So I used Hipmunk to book my Barbados trip, and I even checked with a travel agent buddy to see if he could get a better price. The Himpmunk price turned out to be cheaper. This whole process seriously cut down on the shopping around time, and you can sign up for email alerts that will let you know when any price changes to your flight take effect. If you’re still planning a trip by pouring through endless flight search results or hundreds of hotel reviews, try this site out. It’ll save you some time and money during the coming travel-heavy holiday season.
Nov 13th
