Posts tagged feature
2014 Lexus IS Review
AUSTIN- The symbolism of the setting was not lost on me. In early March, while the youth and energy of South by Southwest swirled all around us, I joined fellow media members at the more traditionally luxurious Barton Creek Resort and Spa. Our welcome assignment was to push and test the 2014 Lexus IS series on roads and the track. While we were given unfettered access to the entire IS line, my focus was primarily on the IS 350 F-Series.
2014 Lexus IS – The Look
Whether you love it or hate it, you can not help but notice the new spindle grill. It’s not only the clear focal point of the car but it represents a design shift throughout the brand favoring a more modern, aggressive look. People saw this car coming, I counted at least four head turns and two double takes during our road test. The roof line, like much of this car, leaves you with the not so accidental impression of the LFA super car. When still, the car takes on a very strong and dignified air. It waits patiently for you, like some massive exotic pet waiting to be led on a stroll around the grounds. The new look translates well in the flesh, the controversial grill is simultaneously the beginning and the end of each line. This continuity gives it a sense of belonging and purpose that doesn’t translate well in photographs.
2014 Lexus IS – The Feel
The tech and amenity packed cabin continues the intuitive and driver centric theme.The bolstered seats in the IS 350 F series hold you securely in place. The driver’s seat quickly gave me the impression of a cockpit as I adjusted the electronic seat and steering column controls to fit my preferences exactly. At 6′ 4” tall I found the leg room to be more than sufficient and perhaps more surprisingly there to be enough head room for me to keep my neck straight up and down without my head touching the ceiling. The remote touch system allows you to interact with the onboard computer system with far less driver distraction than a traditional touch screen. The analog clock sits proudly in the center of the dash, a nod towards traditional standards in the sea of sleek modern elements. The car was designed around the driver and it shows. All of the minor flaws I found were passenger specific. The back seat had enough leg room to fit me comfortably but the head room was decidedly lacking. It was a non issue amongst my smaller counter-parts, they found the back seat to be a comfortable and pleasant ride. The passenger seat mostly succeeded as well. The comfortable bolstered seats held you tightly while both screaming around the track and coasting through a school zone. I found the cup holder’s placement to be a bit awkward for the passenger’s left arm and interacting with the car’s controls from the passenger side was at times less than ideal. A lack of a designated position for the ever present smart phone was a surprising omission in such a modern and well thought out car. Bluetooth does allow for considerable control over your phone through on board buttons and voice activated commands. The car manages to pack in the technology and amenities expected in a luxury sedan without feeling clunky or crowded.
2014 Lexus IS – The Drive
Our driving experience really went up another notch at the Driveway Track on the edges of Austin.
The “sound optimized” exhaust begins to growl at just over 4,000 r.p.m.’s and the S+ driving mode really shone as I came out of my first turn and put the accelerator to the floor. There was little to any body roll and the car shifted seamlessly through it’s 8 speed automatic transmission. It found and passed 60 MPH in about 5 seconds, quickly climbing into the high 80’s before leveling out a little. The car, when pushed on the straightaway, gathered another burst of momentum as it crossed from the mid 90’s to over 100 MPH. The “G Force Artificial Intelligence” feature helped the automatic transmission down shift quickly and smoothly as I approached the linked turn at 106 MPH. The car decelerated to under 60 MPH as I entered the turn and got down to the safer speed of 46 MPH coming out of the apex. From there it was back on the throttle, testing the body roll at over 80 MPH with some well timed tugs on the steering wheel. Overall the car felt stable at high speeds, though it did jump and bump a bit in the various elevation changes despite it’s 3,700 pound heft. It outperformed the competitor cars provided to us easily. It honestly wasn’t a fair comparison, the IS 350 F Series was raised on tracks around the world, the competitor cars, though in the same class in comfort and price were certainly not born, bred and optimized for such aggressive driving and it showed. At all times behind the wheel of the Lexus I felt in complete control. I came out of my track day feeling like I had ridden a roller coaster a dozen times, surely a good sign for a sportster.
2014 Lexus IS – The Bottom Line
The 2014 Lexus IS may stop just short of a full redesign but it does signify a clear adjustment in the aim and scope of the brand. It represents a successful combination of luxury and track inspired engineering to give you a sportster that is truly fun and exciting to drive. Overall, aside from the lack of available manual transmission, the car left me wanting little. The paddle shifters certainly shift quickly and they do allow you to use your RPM’s to harness the power of the engine. I’m just partial to the more traditional clutch and stick shift available on many other sports cars. Though the automatic is dynamic and responsive it does seem a shame to not even offer one the opportunity to drive such an exciting car with a manual. Maybe next year. Europe’s sales numbers await.
2014 Lexus IS
Est MSRP $35k – $61k
Available June, 2013
Mar 25th
250 Hottest Women Athletes at the London Olympics
250. Kate Macgregor – Sailing – Great Britain
249. Mariel Zagunis – Fencing – USA
248. Anastasia Prokopenko – Badminton – Russia
247. Milka Kraljev – Rowing – Argentina
246. Sahana Kumari – High Jump – India
245. Gretta Taslakian – Track & Field – Lebanon
244. Nadiya Dusanova – High Jump – Uzbekistan
243. Maurren Maggi – Long Jump – Brazil
242. Lisa Perterer – Triathlon – Austria
241. Mie Skov – Table Tennis – Denmark
240. Emilia Pikkarainen – Swimming – Finland
239. Pinar Saka – Track & Field – Turkey
238. Jana Teschke – Hockey – Germany
237. Sonata Tamosaityte – Track & Field – Lithuania
236. Irene Vecchi – Fencing – Italy
235. Patricia Mamona – Triple Jump – Portugal
234. Paula Pequeno – Volleyball – Brazil
233. Tatjana Pinto – Track & Field – Germany
232. Charlotte Kerwood – Shooting – Great Britain
231. Niki Panetta – Long Jump – Greece
230. Cleopatre Darleux – Handball – France
229. Marija Vrsaljko – Basketball – Croatia
228. Nevin Yanit – Track & Field – Turkey
227. Mara Navarria – Fencing – Italy
226. Marleen Van Iersel – Beach Volleyball – Netherlands
Aug 13th
10 Best Films of 1998
Things were different in 1998. Back then, no one worried about stuff like subprime mortgages, record unemployment or Facebook status updates. In 1998 we were just wired differently. Boy bands and ska music filled the airwaves. Politicians were worried about blue dresses and naughty White House behavior. Dawson’s Creek was a hit show. People liked saying the word “globalization.” In 1998 it seemed like we were on the brink of some sort of altruistic interconnected global culture. And the US was leading the way. We were kings of the world.
Sure in ’98 the Euros made the Euro, but we blasted a 77-year old man into outer space just to say we could. We were riding high on a dot-com bubble that wouldn’t burst for another couple years. Michael Jordan was still playing basketball. Everything was coming together. We were comfortable.
It was just a different time, man. And there were different movies back then, too. Good ones. Lots of ‘em.
For reasons that aren’t entirely clear to me, 1998 is packed with quality movies. Just an all around good mix of films you can watch over and over. Anyone can pick out a decent list of 10-15 films from just about any year. But there’s just something about these 1998 selections that, as a whole, give this year in film an extra level of distinction.
So here’s the list. It’s totally subjective and by no means comprehensive. It’s just 10 movies from 1998 that deliver nostalgic entertainment value, repeat viewability, quotable quotes and a high level of goodness.
10. Saving Private Ryan
This film has to make the cut. It’s less cerebral than The Thin Red Line and it has just the right amount of schmaltz. If I needed to dial up a gritty, big-budget WWII drama, I’d probably reach for Band of Brothers or even The Pacific, but those projects would’ve never been made without the success of this film. Quality acting and decent directing by Steven Spielberg (back when he still had the touch). Smash at the box office, 11 Academy Award nominations, you get the idea. This isn’t a film you can watch weekly, but if you haven’t seen it in awhile, it’s worth a revisit.
9. There’s Something About Mary
Might not hold up as well anymore, but if you saw this in the theaters you remember what a gut-buster it was. It was just a different type of comedy for the time. In the world of 2012, Ben Stiller’s been relegated to making movies called Heist Tower with Eddie Murphy, but in the world of 1998, Ben Stiller was about to blow up. His performance in There’s Something About Mary was classic. Plus, Cameron Diaz was attractive back then.
8. Can’t Hardly Wait
I know, this one’s all cheese. Trip McNeally. 92% The beer has gone bad. Did anyone order a loveburger? Well done.
7. Rushmore
I used to love anything that Wes Anderson did. I kind of scaled back my Wes Anderson appreciation over the years, but it’s hard not love this movie.
6. Run Lola Run
Don’t worry, it’s okay to scream in the casino.
5. Fear Loathing in Las Vegas
Some movies trip you out for a scene or two, but this entire film is one big head change. I was trippin’ balls after I saw this in theater during my first date with my now-fiancée. It’s the kinda film that makes you want ice water with extra ice.
4. The Big Lebowski
At first I didn’t get what all the fuss was about, but this is definitely a movie that gets better with repeat viewings.
3. Rounders
Pay heem hees money!
2. The Negotiator
This movie made the top three? I wonder why that is. You got two actors in their prime: Kevin Spacey and Samuel L. Jackson. This is Spacey, after The Usual Suspects and before the American Beauty overhype and Sam L, before he became a Jedi. And David Morse, you just know he isn’t a good person any time he walks on screen in any film.
1. The Siege
Pre-9/11 New York is under attack by terrorists. Denzel Washington doesn’t support torture. He’s better than that. He won’t let the fight against terrorism threaten our civil liberties. But Hawkish, internment-lover general Bruce Willis stands in his way. With the help of Annette Benning (a shorthaired spy-floozy) and Tony Shalhoub (an Arab federal agent named “Frank”), Denzel must stand up for Tariq Husseini and find the last cell before the terrorists strike again…
“Samirrrrrr!”
Man, is this movie fantastic.
Honorable Mention
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Wild Things
Ronin
Croupier
Safe Men
Armageddon
A Simple Plan
What’d I miss?
Mar 11th
9 Ways to Make Airplane Travel Suck Less
Nobody likes flying. We all love the excitement of traveling, but most sane people hate the actual flight. And for good reason. The airline industry sucks balls. Most planes are outdated, low-tech germ cans that were built to accommodate people the size of Willow. If you like cleanliness, modern technology, edible food or leg room, flying is a big pain in the ass. But with the right attitude and a few helpful tips, you can make your next plane ride less painful. Here are nine ways to make airplane travel suck less:
Drink Before, During and Potentially After Your Flight
Scotch makes airplanes better. It really does. Beer works for some people, but if you have the bladder of a small child, it’s just not a good idea. Liquor is quicker and it’ll keep you in your seat. Pay the outrageous fee for an in-flight head change.
Buy the WiFi
Why the hell isn’t WiFi free in every airport and airplane in the country? If coffee shops can provide you with free Internet access, shouldn’t the airline industry do the same? Sadly, like everything else these days, airlines charge you extra for web access. Splurge for this expense. It’s totally worth it. Don’t get stuck squinting to see the shitty in-flight movie. Forget about the Skymall mag, too. Pay whatever king’s ransom they’re charging for WiFi and boost your ability to stay sane during a long flight.
Own the Armrest
No matter where you sit on an airplane, stake your claim to the armrest early. Establish your elbow dominance as soon as you take your seat. Get big, box out your neighbor and own it for the whole flight. If you snooze, wait for the right opportunity and pounce that elbow back in there. Never give up. Never surrender. Hold the line like your life depended on it.
Spring for a Bottle of Water at the Gate
Nothing’s worse than having cotton mouth on a plane. Sure, the sky waitress will bring you a beverage when you hit the right altitude. But you need some liquids to get you through that first half hour or so of non-service.
Be Nice to Airline Employees
You think flying is a big inconvenience for you? Imagine if that shit was your job. Folks who work in the airline industry have to deal with stressed, uncomfortable and annoyed people every single day. They see people at their worst, so be nice to them. You’d be surprised how far a couple of extra smiles and thank yous can take you. I once got two free mini bottles of Johnny Walker from a flight attendant just for being the least douchiest person in my row.
Wear Shorts
It’s rare to find yourself on a plane and think, man, it’s freezing in here. It can happen, yea, but the more likely scenario is you sitting in a cramped seat with a bad case of the schweaty balls. Do yourself a favor and wear shorts on your next flight. If it get’s cold, you can always reach for a jacket or blanket. It’s not like you can air out your junk when things get extra toasty. Leave the air on, too. A little air circulation never hurt anybody.
Bring Snacks
Gone are the days of endless peanuts and complimentary in-flight snacks. Airlines make you pay for everything, and nine times out of ten, the soggy sandwich or questionable cheese & cracker combo or whatever overpriced snack option their pushing just isn’t worth it. If your famished, you’ll pay any price for airplane food, but you’re going to feel dirty about it afterward. You’re going to feel used. So stash some granola bars in your bag and schedule some time to snack it up before you board.
Don’t Smell
Sounds simple, right? And yet so many people insist on traveling extra ripe all the time. Don’t be one of those people. If you can’t figure out where the stank is coming from, it’s probably coming from you. Do the whole bathing/deodorizing/clean hair/clean socks thing. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Zen Out
Whatever it is you do to get to your happy place, make sure you can reach that state of mind on a plane. Get into breathing exercises, put some Enya on your iPod, pack a photo of a loved one or a favorite location. However you get there, the ability to zen out hard is a critical carry-on. With the right preparation, you can block out anything – chair kickers, coughers, aggressive screaming babies, loud white girls – you name it. Learn how to transform yourself into a zen master at will and nothing will get under your skin.
Nov 17th
10 Best RnB Summer Jams of the 1990s
The days of June gloom are past us, people. America just had a birthday party this weekend. Barbeques, beach weather and scantily clad babes are now normal parts of your every day routine. Summer 2011 is in full effect. It’s time to start enjoying it.
So how are you going to celebrate this year? There might not be a vacation on the horizon, but you better be planning yourself some good times this summer season. And whatever kind of get-together you conjure up, you’ll need some quality tunes to fire up your party. Especially if there are ladies present. And for reasons that are still unclear to me, nothing gets girls more excited in the summertime than 90s RnB jams.
I don’t know why it’s like that, but it’s true. Girls go wild for 90s RnB tunes. They just do, man. Mark that shit down as fact. If for some reason you don’t believe me, try a little experiment this month. Plan a little party. Encourage beach attire, and invite some girls over. Then bust out 10 solid summery RnB jams from the 90s and see what happens. If you need a starting point, here are the 10 best RnB summer jams from 1990-1999:
On A Sunday Afternoon – Lighter Shade Of Brown (1990)
That’s right, we’re talkin’ plain and simply apple juice, my friends. The pride of Riverside, California, Lighter Shade of Brown sampled “Groovin” by the Young Rascals and “Crystal Blue Persuasion” by Tommy James & the Shondells to achieve the mellow flavor of this classic 90s jam. You don’t need to be a vato in the park to appreciate this song. It reached #39 on the Billboard Hot 100. If you tell me there’s a better background BBQ theme song made in the year 1990, I will not believe you.
Summertime – DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (1991)
Yea, this one seems kinda obvious, but this song still holds up in 2011. It reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince even won a Grammy for the tune in 1991. If you haven’t heard Kool & the Gang’s extra-relaxing Summer Madness tune, the original track that spawned this beat, you should definitely check it out. It’s like a melting marshmellow of funky feel-goodness.
Rump Shaker – Wreckx-n-Effect (1992)
Nothing says summertime like a girl in a bikini playing a saxophone on the beach. Plus, jet skis! Ain’t nothing wrong with that. The sax rip came from Lafayette Afro Rock Band’s “Darkest Light,” and the song also features samples from tracks by The Emotions, Magic Disco Machine and Manzel. Plus, girls seem to know what to do when they hear that sax intro.
Dazzey Duks – Duice (1993)
You can’t have a 90s RnB summer party without a little Miami Bass in the mix. And really, no other season promotes the short-shorts quite like that chunk of fun-times between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Toss in an Afrika Bambaataa sample, and you got something that resonates with everyone.
Fantastic Voyage – Coolio (1994)
I like old school music. I always prefer the original to the remake. That said, Coolio’s take on Lakeside’s “Fantastic Voyage” is a pretty solid homage to the bouncy, synth-funk sound of original. It’s also nice to know that if Coolio took a trip to the beach on a hot summer day, he’d probably let you roll in the trunk of his magic bike-turned-hooptie. Did you sae how many people came out of that thing? I counted 4-5 hot chicks, at least one midget and all Three Amgios.
Fantasy – Mariah Carey (1995)
This song just makes you wanna ride rollercoasters. And maybe the ’95 version of Mariah while you’re at it (yea, I said it). “Fantasy” sampled “Genius of Love” by the Tom Tom Club, which makes it a fun party tune in any season. But the rollerblades just give it that extra-special summer 90s touch. And anything that conjures up visions of ODB in a clown suit has to be good for your summer get down.
California Love – 2Pac Featuring Dr. Dre (1996)
People love this song and I get that, but I’d put on “West Coast Poplock” by Ronnie Hudson & The Street People over “California Love” any day of the week. But if you’re hosting a Thunderdome-themed block party, this track has to be your go-to option. They actually filmed the cameo-packed video in the same Thunderdome set. “California Love” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the most commercially successful record of 2Pac’s career. The piano riff comes from Joe Cocker’s “Woman to Woman,” which was also sampled by the Ultramagnetic MC’s. Plus, it sure beats Katy Perry in the Don’t-Forget-California’s-Awesome genre.
Let me just pause here and say that selecting 90s summertime RnB jams is kinda hard after about 1997. Not impossible, mind you. Just much more difficult. In 1997, “I’ll Be Missing You” and “Candle in the Wind” were big hits in the distinctively non-summer memorial-pop category. Not really good for party tunes. 1997 also saw the rise of bands like Aqua, Hanson, Backstreet Boys and the Spice Girls. Needless to say, summertimey RnB party music took a big hit that year, but that didn’t stop a certain British RnB artist from reaching the Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week in early summer 1997 with, you guessed it…
Return of the Mack – Mark Morrison (1997)
That’s right. Thank God the Brits bailed us out of that soulless summer. Morrison’s comeback song would’ve hit number one if “MMMBop” madness wasn’t sweeping the nation at the time. How embarrassing, America. The song sampled Tom Tom Club’s “Genius of Love,” proving once again that Tom Tom samples are like a one-way ticket to party town.
Too Close – Next (1998)
Step one, get lots of girls in bikinis together in a small space. Step two, “Too Close.” Everything pretty much unfolds the way you’d expect after that. This may not really be a summer-specific song, especially when you consider the original track it sampled (“Christmas Rappin” by Kurtis Blow).” Still, it’s hard to argue with the results. Boner songs are all part of the summertime party program.
Doo Wop (That Thing) – Lauryn Hill (1999)
This Lauryn Hill track came out in 1998, but it really blew up (commercially, critically, music video-ly) in 1999. If you’re hosting a summer pool party because of “that thing,” might as well come out and say it. What the hell else are you going to play that’s 1999 party-time RnB, “Summer Girls” by LFO? Didn’t think so.Pretty sure Lauryn Hill has even made a record since ‘99, but this jam is way more appropriate for your 2011 warm season social gathering. Plus, if you’re inviting chicks that were alive in 1999, there’s a 100 percent chance they love Lauryn Hill. Those are good odds, bro.
So is this the definitive list of summertime 90s RnB jams? Nah, relax man. It’s not even all that comprehensive. You’ll notice that there’s no Biggie, no Snoop, no Pharcyde, no Mary J and no “Regulate” (and girls friggin’ love them some Regulate). Any of those 90s jams will still get your party going. This is just a quick n dirty, West Coast-biased chronological list of 90s RnB hits with a strong summer appeal. We tried to stay with a warm weather party vibe, but if you feel strongly that we missed some fantastic summertime jams, please let us know in the comments below.
Jul 6th
The 33 Hottest Chicks with Three Names
There’s just something about hot chicks with three names. It’s like they know that two names just won’t cut it. They wanna leave that additional, lasting impression by throwing an extra one in there. It makes ‘em more memorable, more distinct. It’s like a badge of honor, and it’s a pretty elite club.
At MANjr, we want to salute those select few beauties who refuse to be held back by the burden of two names. We included some babes who are clearly passed their prime, but these are ladies that still deserve recognition for trailblazing three-name hotness. We threw some divorcees in the mix as well, because some of these hotties still rocked the triple-name status well, even it was temporary. Here’s a look at the 33 hottest chicks with three names.
33. Olivia Newton-John
About three decades and five surgeries ago, Olivia Newton-John was super hot.
32. Jamie Lee Curtis
From Halloween to True Lies, JLC was fine. Now she pushes yogurt and looks like a granny, but she had a solid run there for like 20 years.
31. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
She was hot as hell in Scarface, The Abyss and even Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. By The Perfect Strom, her time had passed.
30. Penelope Ann Miller
She was stunning in Big Top Pee Wee, Kindergarten Cop and Chaplin. And who could forget her head-turning performance in The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag.
29. Kristin Scott Thomas
She’s all old and fuddy duddy now, but she was pretty smokin’ in The English Patient.
28. Carrie-Anne Moss
She looks like she could kick our ass, but we’ll take the beating.
27. Courtney Thorne-Smith
With long runs on Melrose Place and Ally McBeal, Courtney Thorne-Smith was a fixture on Fox in the 90s. Extra bonus points if you loved her in Side Out.
26. Lara Flynn Boyle
Man this chick cut herself up something crazy, but she was quite the looker back in the day. Even before Wayne’s World, she was cute as a button in the 1989 flick How I Got Into College.
25. Joey Lauren Adams
Maybe it was that voice or her goofy smile, but the chick who starred in all those Kevin Smith movies and made Bud Bundy a man was on fire in the 90s.
24. Helena Bonham Carter
She’s got a monopoly on freaky-hot. When Hollywood needs to cast a looker with a screw loose, HBC’s gotta be high on the list.
23. Jada Pinkett Smith
It’s not her fault that she produces kids that can’t act.
22. Holly Marie Combs
She was the least hottest chick on Charmed, but hey, she’s got three names.
21. Bryce Dallas Howard
M. Night Shyamalan’s red-headed muse gets style points for having Fonzie as her Godfather.
Mar 17th
The 10 Worst People in the World
For the most part, I think people are inherently good. That’s just my view. I’ve always been a glass half full kinda guy. That’s not to say that there aren’t plenty of bad people out there. You encounter these people all the time, and they question your faith in humanity. To help you identify these rotten apples, we put together a list of the 10 worst people in the world. We’re not talking murderers and hardcore criminals here. Those people obviously have serious issues. We’re talking more about under-the-radar evil; people who do things that deserve an instant punch in the face (and possibly a future trip to hell). Here’s our list of the 10 worst people in the world:
10. Non-Tipping Check Splitters
You know these people. They always want to split the bill, and they give you just slightly less than the cost of their food/drink selections. No tax. No tip. Those things don’t exist in their mind. Non-tipping check splitters just look at the cost of their entrée and round down. Don’t even think about asking them to cover the cost of the drinks as well.
9. Terrible Parking Job Types
If you didn’t get it right the first time, back it the hell up and try again, fool. Whatever rush you’re in, you can afford to spend 30 more seconds adjusting your diagonal parking disaster. This is especially true in areas where parking is sparse. Don’t be a dick. Contain your car in the white lines provided and the world will be a better place.
8. Destroyers of Bathrooms
If you clog a toilet or bomb the hell out of a lavatory, do something about it. Tell someone. Sure, it’ll be an awkward conversation, but awkward actions call for awkward solutions. Locate the plunger. Find a match. Clean up your yak before you cut out. Don’t just cause massive destruction and walk away. Own up to your restroom recklessness and don’t leave horrifying surprises for the next person who walks in there.
7. Subtle Racists
They’re worse than over-the-top racists. Overt racists are comical. They’re like the crazy old uncle that everyone pities and ignores. Subtle racists are much worse. They let that shit slip out real sneaky like. They’ll toss out a “them” or “those people” once in awhile just to remind you of their contempt for diversity.
6. Aggressive Bus Boys
Look, I know you got a job to do and I know that job sucks balls. I get that and I’m sorry. You wanna move at a fast pace and keep the place looking nice, but I paid $15 for that glass of scotch, and I’m going to finish every friggin’ drop in that glass, even the melty ice section. Don’t be taking my drink when it has at least one more sip in it. Same goes to you peppy server. Wait till the glass is empty, then bus all you want.
5. Overzealous CC’ers
You know these people. Why send out an email to one person when you can loop in 75 more people who have nothing to do with the conversation? These folks don’t limit that CC shit to email either. No, they love sending out group Facebook messages to. And God forbid that someone comments on one of those. You’ll have your inbox stuffed full of useless updates on a useless chain that you should’ve never been a part of to begin with.
4. Extreme Atheists
Organized religion sucks. I get it. You don’t like it. Science is fantastic. There are no mysteries. Nothing’s unexplainable. If those are your beliefs, good for you, but keep in mind that fanatical non-belief is just as narrow-minded as blind, sheep-like faith. There gets to be a point where scientific logic breaks down. Just ask any hardcore physicist. You may not like spiritual types, but don’t take a piss on people who believe in the existence of the unknowable.
3. People Who Won’t Let You Change Lanes
I’ve had my blinker on for three and half minutes, you selfish summabitch. Clearly I need to get over. Why not take your foot off the gas for 2-3 seconds so I can sneak in the lane? Some drivers just don’t pay attention. Asian ladies come to mind. They just have no idea that you’re even there, let alone trying to change into their lane. But then there are those people that know damn well what you’re doing and they decide to push the gas pedal just enough to ef with your approach. Like it’s some sort of badge of honor to keep people from driving in front of you. You people know who you are, and you’re bad people, man.
2. The Anti-Sports Fan Who Attends the Big Sporting Event
You likely encountered this person at the Super Bowl party you attended last month. They can’t hide their contempt for all things sporty, particularly the sport you’re watching intently with a bunch of people who care about what’s going on. There are different degrees to these horrible people. There are those who think all sports are just too bro to show interest in. Then there’s the anti-sports fan that feigns interest in the sport your watching by asking annoying questions like, what’s a quarterback and why do they call it “baseball?” If you don’t like sports, that’s fine. Just don’t ruin it for the people who care.
1. People Who Touch Your Laundry
When you live in an apartment with shared laundry facilities, there are some unwritten laundry laws that you need to follow. You can’t plop a load in the washing machine and then leave for three hours. You can’t leave a thick layer of lint in the dryer filter. Those are just basic courtesies that everyone should follow. But what happens when you’re occupying the dryer and someone tosses out your clean wash and leaves it on the filthy machines. Or those people who give you all of 2 minutes to remove your stuff from the dryer once the cycle is complete. Aggressive laundry grabbers are terrible people. They’ll find any excuse to get all up in your business. If it’s a major etiquette violation, then I get it. Go ahead and move my shit. But if I’m following the basic rules of laundry, keep your hands off my boxers, neighbor.
Feb 22nd
10 Reasons Why Leonard Nimoy Is More Interesting Than You Thought
Leonard Nimoy is an interesting dude. The world knows him as Spock, but the guy’s about so much more than pointy ears, living long and prospering. Over the years, Nimoy has wrestled with his status as a pop culture icon. He wrote an autobiography in 1977 called I Am Not Spock and followed that up with another autobiography in 1995 titled I Am Spock. Whenever you see Nimoy, it’s hard not to associate the man with the character he made famous. That said, there’s a ton of randomly fascinating things about the guy that you probably didn’t know. Here are 10 reasons (in no particular order, except for No.1) why Leonard Nimoy is more interesting than you thought:
10. Pet Shop Boy
In 1970, after Star Trek was cancelled, Nimoy opened up an exotic pet shop. Imagine shopping for some tropical fish and running into Spock behind the counter. You’d probably freak out a lil’ bit.
9. Twilight Zone
Nimoy appeared opposite Dean Stockwell (of future Quantum Leap fame) in “A Quality of Mercy,” the 80th episode of the Twilight Zone. The episode originally aired in 1961 (five years before Star Trek). This episode from the third season of the TV series was later adapted into the first portion of Twilight Zone: The Movie, the feature film that was released in 1983.
8. A Poet and a Scholar
Nimoy speaks fluent Hebrew and Yiddish. He has a Master’s Degree in Education and he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Antioch University for his efforts in Holocaust Remembrance. He published his first book of poetry, “You and I” in the 1977, and has published several more volumes of poetry over the years. He also dabbled in some playwriting and hosted the awesomely educational program In Search Of… from 1976 to 1982. The dude’s smart.
7. Nimoy the Musician
Nimoy knows music too. The guy recorded five albums for Dot Records. Here’s a look at his discography:
- Leonard Nimoy Presents Mr. Spock’s Music From Outer Space
- Two Sides of Leonard Nimoy
- The Way I Feel
- The Touch of Leonard Nimoy
- The New World of Leonard Nimoy
The video up top is for the “Ballad of Bilbo Baggins.” Nimoy also covered “Proud Mary” (seriously), did a super slow-head rendition of Bobby Hebb’s “Sunny,” and put out some seriously spacey-loungey tripout tracks like “Music to Watch Space Girls By.” (Click that link, you won’t be sorry).
6. Music Video Director
I don’t know how this pairing got started, but Nimoy hooked up with The Bangles and directed (and appeared) in the music video for the song “Going Down to Liverpool.” Check it out.
5. Voice of Galvatron in The Transformers: The Movie
The original Transformers movie was the best. Sure, Michael Bay and Megan Fox can put on a good show, but the original cartoon movie had a kickass 1986-flavored soundtrack from Stan Bush. The Touch wasn’t the only highlight though. The film also featured some heavy-hitting voice acting from Robert Stack, Orson Welles and Leonard Nimoy, who put his voice behind Galvatron, leader of the Decepticons.
4. Married to Director Michael Bay’s Cousin
Speaking of Michael Bay, Nimoy’s been married to Bay’s cousin, Susan Bay, since 1988.
3. Accomplished Photographer
Leonard Nimoy studied photography under Robert Heineken at UCLA in the 70s. His work was recently on display at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, and according to R. Michelson Galleries, Nimoy’s work can be seen at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, The Judah L. Magnes Museum, The LA County Museum of Art, the Jewish Museum of NY, The New Orleans Museum of Fine Art and The Hammer Museum. Dude also received an “artist in residence” appointment from the American Academy in Rome. Check out his galleries to see for yourself.
2. Donated $1 Million to Help Renovate the Griffith Park Observatory
Nimoy, along with his wife Susan, donated $1 million dollars to the renovation effort of the Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles. Nimoy now has a theater at the observatory named after him, the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater. He narrates a documentary that can be seen at the theater called The Once and Future Griffith Observatory.
1. Directed the 1987 hit film Three Men and a Baby
Nimoy has directed five feature films including two Star Trek films – Star Trek III: The Search of Spock in 1984 and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home in 1986. He also directed the highest grossing film of 1987, Three Men and a Baby. If you haven’t seen this timeless Selleck-Gutenberg-Danson classic lately, you’re missing out. Back in ’87, it was totally acceptable for a woman to leave her baby on the doorstep of an apartment shared by three straight dudes who love short shorts. Things were different then. You’d have to watch this time capsule buddy flick to really understand the era.
So there you go. Nimoy’s an accomplished actor, scholar, poet, photographer, musician, director and exotic pet shop owner. He’s philanthropic, down with Transformers and he’s responsible for Three Men and a Baby. That’s a pretty sick set of accomplishments. Add on the whole Spock thing, and you got yourself a legend.
Nov 15th
Top 11 NES Games of All Time
The Nintendo Entertainment System first launched in Japan in 1983. By 1985, the NES made its way to North America, Australia and Europe. There were 798 video game titles produced for the greatest selling video game console in history, but only 11 classic NES games could make this all time list.
11. Super Mario Bros
What can you say about the bros that hasn’t already been said? These iconic Italian-Americans introduced an entire generation to a mushroom-filled world of turtle-shelled wonderment. The first Super Mario Bros. game was a revolution in home entertainment. If you ever owned or knew someone who owned an NES, you put some serious hours into that game. The sequel was a bit silly, a little too easy and featured way too many vegetables for my taste. But you still got to love the slot machine extra life action. That was incredible. Super Mario 3 is widely considered one of the top NES games of all time, and with good reason. Flying ships, frog suits, warp whistles and raccoon tails? It doesn’t get much better than that. We lumped all the Mario action into one entry, but each game could hold its own on this list.
10. Ninja Gaiden
What a sick intro this game had. It was challenging as hell too. It’s not easy being Ryu Hayabusa and being tasked with the job of taking the Dragon sword of the Hayabusa family to the American archaeologist Walter Smith. This game had eye-catching cinematic flair and a strong sense for the dramatic. Plus, you got to flip-jump all around town while taking people out with your mad ninja skills. Classic.
9. Blades of Steel
If you’re an American, and you like hockey, chances are Blades of Steel had something to do with it. This game had it all: the shiny metallic intro, the face-offs, the explosive crowd noise and squelching broom sounds of the skates. And who can forget the fights? This game would be nothing without the brawls. You were just one play on the ice away from throwing off your gloves and mixing it up with your brightly colored opponent.
8. NARC
The year was 1989. Drugs were everywhere and kids were being told to Just Say No. Empty slogans could only do so much, though. There had to be a more effective way to hammer the message home. Enter NARC. This ultra-violent video game gave kids the chance to wear motorcycle helmets, ride around in a Porsche and shoot the shit out of homeless people and drugpin-types. Sure, busts and evidence seizures were encouraged, but mowing down junkies with a machine gun worked just as well. When you beat the game, you got paid in gold and received instructions to contact your local DEA recruiter. More importantly, you learned that the best way to solve the nation’s drug problem was to hit the streets and machine gun anything that moved.
7. The Legend of Zelda
Some NES-lovers might think this game should be ranked higher, but it is what it is. Don’t get me wrong, it was cool trying to collect a bunch of random stuff like swords, shields, rubies, candles, keys, rings and whatever the hell the triforce thing was. But I don’t know, it got a little old after awhile. This game just doesn’t have the same staying power as other classics on the list. But if you sound anything like the guy in this video, you probably can’t get enough of those Leevers, Tektikes and Octorocs:
6. Top Gun
Remaking Top Gun the movie is a terrible, terrible idea, but playing Top Gun on NES is always a good call. Sure, you never had enough missiles and landing on the aircraft carrier was never really that fun, but you know what? War’s not supposed to be fun, pilot. Check your altitude and speed when you come at me with that shit. And keep your eye on that radar while you’re at it. Goose is dead and you need to refuel that bird and complete your mission, son. So put on your aviators, grab that Kenny Loggins cassette and go take down some MiGs. Beach volleyball with the boys can wait.
5. Tecmo Bowl
Long before Madden, there was the elegant simplicity of Tecmo Bowl. Two teams, four plays and one sick high-five sequence after you scored a touchdown. The game had Joe Montana, Walter Payton, Bo Jackson, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott and Lawrence Taylor. It had the music, the crowds, all that on-screen flashing and a guy who seemed to say “face down” before every play. Madden’s great and all, but if you haven’t played Tecmo in awhile, you’re missing out on a fun time.
4. Super Dodgeball
Damn right, top 5. This game doesn’t get enough credit for being absolutely awesome. I mean it had all these Cold War undertones, hilarious cultural stereotypes, secret moves and some intense gameplay. You could battle your buddies in head-to-head action, take the US squad through a series of international World Cup matches to get to the evil Soviet team or opt for a simple game of free-for-all bean ball for some good ole fashion ball-to-the-face fun at the park. Quick tip: when you’re setting your lineup, just remember that Randy is one of the more underrated stars of the US team. Roll with Sam, Mike and Randy and you can crush anyone.
3. Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out
This game still holds up today. You got Little Mac taking on a bunch of freaks from around the world leading up to an impossible death match against a 21-year old boxer from Catskill, NY named Mike Tyson. Seriously, that Tyson guy was tough to beat. Glass Joe, Von Kaiser, Piston Honda, Don Flamenco, King Hippo, Great Tiger, Bald Bull, Soda Popinski, Mr. Sandman and Super Macho Man were all chumps compared to the unbeatable Iron Mike. But when you did take Mike down, man did it feel good.
2. Double Dragon
This game taught me that it’s okay to throw barrels at people, provided they disrespect your woman on the streets. Oh, and it’s cool to punch girls as long as they’re packing a whip. It doesn’t matter how old you were in 1988, when you heard that sweet, sweet Double Dragon music, you knew shit was about to go down. That 8-bit “Ba-nana-nana-na, Da nana-nana-na” tune still makes me want to grab a silver bat and beat the snot out of that invisible guy who hangs out by the fence. You know who I’m talking ‘bout.
1. Contra
Contra taught me everything I needed to know about modern warfare. I learned about machine guns, lasers, circular fireball weapons and of course, the spread gun, which is arguably the most sophisticated piece of military technology that came out of the Iran-Contra affair. It really doesn’t matter if you’re wiping out Sandinistas or aliens, though. With up-up, down-down, left-right, left-right, B, A on your side, you always got 30 lives to get the job done, son.
11 Honorable Mentions:
- Teenage Mutant Nina Turtles
- Paperboy
- Excitebike
- Shadowgate
- River City Ransom
- Metal Gear
- Bionic Commando
- Castlevania 2
- Metroid
- Mega Man 2
- Marble Madness
Nov 8th
Top 25 Bikini Babes of All Time
MANjr created this list of the top 25 bikini babes of all time based on a scientific scale that considered the following factors: bangin’ body, bikini skills, cuteness of face and overall hotness. If you disagree with these picks, let us know where our scientific method went wrong. We probably won’t make any adjustments, but we’ll try to recognize any glaring omissions.
25. Jessica Alba
She’s always going to make the list, even if she doesn’t want to be considered sexy anymore. Sorry Jessica, you have no say in this.
24. Stacy Keibler
Stacy’s got the body to pull off any bikini in any situation. Kieblers was a WWE Diva, Baltimore Ravens cheerleader and a serious dancer (she started training when she was three), so she knows how to put those extra-long legs to good use.
23. Kelly Brook
Kelly Brook is no stranger to bikini work. The buxom Brit began modeling at the age of 16, and she’s appeared in TV, films and top sexy lists ever since. Brook, who won a babe of the summer award this year, even has her own line of swimwear and lingerie going, so you know she belongs on this list.
22. Tyra Banks
It’s hard to remember a time when Tyra Banks wasn’t super annoying. But think back, way back. Think back to guest appearances on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air and all those SI Swimsuit shoots. Remember? Yep, Tyra was hot. She wasn’t constantly calling herself fat and she didn’t have her own talk show. I miss that fly 90s chick who knew how to work a bikini and keep her mouth shut.
21. Shakara Ledard
A relative newcomer to the swimsuit scene, Shakara Ledard has made a big enough splash to hang with the all time greats. This beauty from the Bahamas has appeared in multiple films and music videos for usher, Babyface and Justin Timberlake.
20. Niki Taylor
Dude, remember how hot Niki Taylor was? This foxy chick from Florida started modeling when she was 13. She was a cover girl for a solid decade or so during which she married an Arena Football League linebacker and had twins. Taylor’s only 35 years old, and you know this blonde-haired, hazel-eyed head-turner’s still got it.
19. Stephanie Seymour
Stephanie Seymour was on top of her game in the 90s. The San Diego-native appeared in numerous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues. She helped establish Victoria’s Secret mail catalogs as prized postal possessions, and she posed in Playboy in 1991 and 1993. Sadly, this still wasn’t enough to help Seymour survive her wedding to Axel Rose in the November Rain video. Everybody needs somebody, and we all need more Stephanie Seymour.
18. Elle Macpherson
Long legged Aussie beauty Elle MacPherson has been out of the spotlight for awhile, but her gorgeous bikini body still lives on, even at age 47. Total package bikini beauty like that doesn’t fade fast. If you ever find yourself wondering if there’s a Hugh Grant movie out there from the 90s that features a hilarious slow-motion nude running scene with Elle Macpherson, the answer is yes. It’s called Sirens.
17. Selita Ebanks
Cayman Islands native Selita Ebanks was discovered at a Six Flags when she was 17. What kinda crazy job would that be? Hey, before you ride the Ninja, I just wanted to say your gorgeous and I work for a modeling agency. I think I want that job. Ebanks was once engaged to Nick Cannon. As Maria Carey gets more chubby and/or pregnant with each passing day, Cannon can always reminisce about his old Victoria’s Secret fiancé and wonder what might have been.
16. Rachel Hunter
Rachel Hunter had it going on long before Fountains of Wayne reminded the world just how bangin’ she is in that Stacy’s Mom video. And when you look that good for that long, people get over the fact that you married Rod Stewart. I ain’t mad atcha Rachel. Not now and not ever.
15. Jessica Burciaga
SI Swimsuit gal she is not, but that doesn’t mean that Jessica doesn’t belong on this list. Her frequent Twitter profile pic updates and tales of 1000s of bikinis in her closet seal the deal. Miss February 2009 has a unique gorgeousness to her. Jessica’s father is Mexican her mother is French, Irish and German. When you have the chance, please thank Jessica’s parents for creating one amazingly stunning bikini babe.
Oct 22nd
