CarbonStated

How legit are our music collections nowadays (yeah, I said nowadays - like a boss) when we literally have weeks and weeks worth of digitally-purchased, or even "pirated" music sitting on our hard drives? It used to be that people scoured record stores, garage sales, and swap meets to find rare and out-of-print albums to bolster their collections. Now they can sit on their ass-hugging la-z-boys and click through iTunes and Pirate Bay, instead of developing blisters by flipping through dusty record (CD?) bins. What's more, is that we have the music; just not the sources. There's nothing tangible - no physical disc, album art, or liner notes. It feels slightly cheapened.

In the age of bit torrents and music blogs it's easy to forget that nostalgic feeling of tearing through the annoying shrink wrap and clever sticky security device along the top of a brand new compact disc. I, for one, miss that feeling. I miss the album art and liner notes, part of the art that goes into making a record. In some cases, it's every bit as important and attractive as the music itself. I still try to buy physical CDs as much as I can, but I'm as "guilty" as anyone for downloading - even legally. But one thing's for sure: if this was even five years ago, my iTunes stats would definitely not read "6951 items, 53.4 days, 39.49 GB." I guess my real question is... Is it worth sacrificing tangibility to have access to so much more music, so much more easily? Thoughts or additions to the comments, please.

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http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/iha-carlos-hanson-schlesinger-form-band-1003942166.story

If you’ve ever poured your own beer, chances are you’ve also cleaned your own counter top shortly after. It’s okay. I’ve been over-zealous with my pour more times than I’d care to admit, inevitably resulting in a mess of carbonated goodness that I have to soak up with a towel and ring into my mouth (not really). But the secret to great head is easier to tap than you might think.

There are only a few basic rules to follow when you’re about to down some suds:
1) Start off with a clean, chilled glass (make sure there isn’t any detergent residue, lipstick, etc.).
2) Pop the cap off your favorite brew, also chilled.
3) Begin by holding the glass at a 45° angle and slowly pouring the beer so that it hits the side of the glass about an inch from the lip.
4) When it’s about 2/3 full, straighten out the glass and continue pouring the beer directly in the middle.
5) Enjoy your head-stache.

Your approach will vary with different beer types. A pilsner, for instance, will produce a lot of head with little effort while a stout will need a little more coaxing with a more aggressive pour. Adjust accordingly – you’re looking for a ½” to 1” head.

Here’s a little video for reference (sorry -- I cut it short before we got a good look at the head):

I think it’s safe to say that most of us now have a touch of metrosexuality in our veins.  Whether you wear lip balm, get “pedis,” or watch Sex and the City by yourself, there’s practically nothing you can do to avoid this stigma anymore.  So why not embrace it by introducing a skincare regimen into your routine?  It’s easy, and the ladies will love you.  Think Axe Body Spray commercial without the lethal fumes and crippling hangover after application.

*Now, this is a very basic rundown, as there is a myriad of products out there for your ugly mug. But for our purposes, basic = good. If you're serious about it, though, you should research a little on your own. Primarily, find out what skin type you were blessed (cursed?) with, so that you can get products that are more suited to your needs.  Everything you need can be found on MenEssentials (products, guides, etc.).

In the world of facial health, there is a holy trinity: cleanse, tone, moisturize. Add these three simple steps to your morning routine and you'll be set.

1) Cleanse

Duh. This is the simplest of all the steps, and you probably already do it anyway. The key here is choosing the right soap for your face. You don't want something that's too drying and strips away essential oils, but you also don't want your face glistening like a tub of baby oil at Covergirls on fight night. Balance is key. The Glycerin Cleansing Bar from Anthony Logistics is a good place to start.

2) Tone

Few guys are familiar with this one.  Toning takes cleansing one step further by removing the dirt and build-up that mere soap can’t tackle while evening out the complexion.  Apply toner after shaving to get rid of that excess goo your shaving cream and razor leave behind.  It’s also important to strike the proper balance here.  Look for something that suits your skin type (i.e. for sensitive skin, oily skin, dry skin, etc.). Try Sharps’ Daily Prep Skin Tuner.

3) Moisturize

This one’s the kicker.  It’s the one that scared me the most, since I have relatively oily skin, but turns out it’s the most important.  A proper moisturizer will keep your face looking youthful by attacking wrinkles and protecting it from other harmful crap.  The Oil Free Moisterizer from Baxter of California is just what the doctor ordered.

From here you can add other products and steps at your discretion.  Throw in a good face scrub twice a week (a personal favorite is the Face Buff Energizing Scrub by Jack Black), or use a clear shaving gel that won’t clog your pores and allows you to actually see the hair you’re shaving.  The possibilities really are endless.

So you’re looking for some audiophile headphones, but you’re all out of plasma to sell.  I’ve been there.  I get it.  The good news is that premium sound doesn’t have to come with a premium price tag, and the fine people at Grado can prove it.  At less than $70, these retro beauties are certified badass and have been laden with awards for years, achieving an almost legendary status.  Nothing has ever sounded so crisp, full, and rich.  The SR60s will breathe life into Hendrix like you’ve never experienced.  Plug ‘em in and listen to Red House – you’ll see what I mean.

Over the years I've come to form a love/hate relationship with that all-powerful, all-knowing "social networking" web-demon that is the Facebook. I love to hate it. What's not to hate? 98% of the people I'm linked to aren't even my friends. Yet whenever I log on I find myself strangely engrossed in their lives, clicking around like a blood-starved zombie for hours on end. Of course, this is news to no one. And, as with all things in life, there comes a point when it's time to trim the fat (I’m not talking about that New Year’s resolution you’ve already given up). No, this is much more effective. Much more entertaining. Much more… necessary. Meat Whopper Sacrifice (pun intended).

Whopper Sacrifice is an application that allows you to effectively extinguish those people you’re connected to on Facebook that you no longer find friend-worthy. As an added bonus, Burger King will pay you to sacrifice said “friends” with a free Whopper. All it takes is an online connection, ten expendable friends, and balls of steel. Because when you’re staring at the profile pic of the guy-you-met-at-your-roommate’s-cousin’s-girlfriend’s-labpartner’s-house-party-two-years-ago-and-haven’t-spoken-to-since and it’s about to go up in flames, you’d better be ready.