Just A Guy Thing » Fine Living

Million Dollar Bugatti Veyron Ends Up in Lake

James — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:49:35 +0000

If you love expensive exotic sportscars, this next video will make you weep. Two days ago some genius down in Texas drove his $1.6 million Bugatti Veyron right into a lake near Galveston.

Here’s a bit of the report from the Galveston Daily News:

The man, who refused to give his name, was looking at real estate in Galveston.

About 3 p.m. a low-flying pelican distracted him as he traveled north on Interstate 45 just south of the hurricane levee near Omega Bay.

The man jerked the wheel, dropped his cell phone, and the car’s front tire left the frontage road and entered a muddy patch, which foiled his attempt to maneuver away from the lagoon.

The Veyron’s powerful engine gurgled like an outboard motor for about 15 minutes before it died.

So, so sad.

[via Jalopnik]

The Pangolin Bag: One Badass Backpack

James — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:48:04 +0000

If you are tired of sissy-boy messenger bags but still need something to haul your stuff around, check out the badass Pangolin Bag. This thing looks like it stepped out of a Mad Max movie.

The Pangolin Bag uses recycled inner tubes from trucks. They are attached to each other with a striking wing nut. The parts of the bag slide together to create a retractable shell.

The Pangolin doesn’t just look cool – it’s functional too. The bag has roomy pockets for notebooks, pens, MP3 players and cell phones with double adjustable back straps and handle. The interior has canvas storage pockets in different sizes and some close with Velcro.

The back of the bag is anatomically shaped so that the back pack fits comfortably on your back.

The Pangolin is made with fair trade standards by single mothers, refugees and Indians of the Camentsa tribe in Columbia.

You can buy the Pangolin bag at Wannekes.

The Sub Zero Pop-Up Bar: For When You Want Your Beer Ice Cold

James — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:30:02 +0000

While the northern hemisphere is getting ready to freeze its ass off over a long, cold winter, the folks down in Brazil are gearing up for a hot, humid summer. Just in time to cool things down is the Estação Antarctica Sub Zero which just opened this last weekend in Sao Paulo’s bar-heavy Vila Madalena neighborhood.

The bar is made from a huge inflatable igloo. On one side there’s an area for food and live bands. On the other side, there’s a bar made totally of ice. The cups, walls, and even the sofa are all frozen water. To go into the frozen area you will need to don specially provided clothes and can only stay there 20 minutes, as the temperature inside is an icy 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

The bar was put together to promote the Brazilian beer company Antarctica’s new beer.

[via Cool Hunting]

The Top Ten Gas Guzzlers of 2010

James — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:00:19 +0000

Yesterday we brought you the ten most fuel efficient cars of 2010. Today we bring you the gas hogs. These bad boys don’t give a damn how much gas costs or how hot the planet may be getting from their exhaust.

The gas guzzler list is dominated by exotic high-end sportscars from Italy, the U.K., and Germany. Familiar names like Lamborghini, Bugatti, Bentley, Ferrari, and Mercedes all make the list.

Topping the list is the Lamborghini Murcielago with manual transmission which gets a mind-bogglingly puny 8 mpg in city driving. The Murcielago boasts a 631-horsepower V12 engine and zooms from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Yipes! Oh, and the Murcielago will set you back a cool $400,000. I guess you’re not too worried about gas mileage at that price.

Here’s the top 10 list of shame straight from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:

Lamborghini Murcielago (manual) 8/13
Bugatti Veyron 8/14
Lamborghini Murcielago (automatic) 9/14
Bentley Azure Bentley Brooklands 9/15
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (automatic) 10/17
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (manual) 10/16
Maybach 57 10/15
Bentley Continental Flying Spur Bentley Continental GTC 10/17
Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano 11/15
(tie) Aston Martin DB9 (manual) 11/17
Aston Martin DBS (manual)
BMW M5
BMW M6
BMW M6 Convertible
Maserati Quattroporte (4.2 L)
Mercedes-Benz CL 65 AMG
Mercedes-Benz CL600
Mercedes-Benz S600
Mercedes-Benz S 65 AMG
Porsche Cayenne GTS (manual)
Porsche Cayenne TransSiberia

While the cars at the top of the list are hard to come by, many of the cars in the number 10 spot are familiar models you’re likely to see at your local country club.

Next time you see a Lamborghini or Ferrari cruise by, just keep this in mind. These sports cars burn an average of 34.3 barrels of oil a year. The fuel-efficient Prius burns just 6.9 barrels. Doesn’t that make you feel better?

The Most Efficient Cars on the Road Today

James — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:20:36 +0000

With gas prices still burning a hole in your pocket every time you fill up your tank, it’s more important than ever to think about gas mileage when you’re out there shopping for a new car. Thankfully, there are more fuel efficient autos on the roads than ever before.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently released its top 10 most efficient car models for 2010. While most are hybrids, not all of them are manufactured by Japanese carmakers:

Toyota Prius (hybrid) 51/48
Ford Fusion Hybrid FWD, Mercury Milan Hybrid FWD 41/36
Honda Civic Hybrid 40/45
Honda Insight (hybrid) 40/43
Lexus HS250h (hybrid) 35/34
Nissan Altima Hybrid 35/33
Ford Escape Hybrid FWD
Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD
Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD 34/31
Smart fortwo Cabriolet (automatic), Smart fortwo Coupe (automatic) 33/41
Toyota Camry Hybrid 33/34
Lexus RX450h (hybrid, 2WD) 32/28

The only non-hybrid on the list is the tiny Smart car made by Daimler. These are showing up on more and more city streets not only because of the great gas mileage, but for the ease of parking in even tiny spots.

Tomorrow we’ll reveal the 10 biggest gas guzzlers on the road.

photo credit: hellochris

iREV is the Ultimate Party Barge

James — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:05:15 +0000

Talk about a floating bar! The new iREV (which stands for Interactive Recreational Entertainment Vessel) seats up to 10 partiers inside its circular body and features a charcoal grill right in the center.

The iREV comes with an outboard electric 2-5 hp motor (you’re not going to win any speed races in this thing), an integrated umbrella, and an optional package that comes with waterproof 500 watt speakers, amplifier, satellite radio, and MP3 connection.

Unfortunately, all this fun does not come cheap. The iREV will set you back $24,000. If that doesn’t phase you, then head on over to Motothority and pick one up. Save a seat for us!

[via Uncrate]

Here Comes the Blackberry Smartwatch

James — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:00:27 +0000

In case you don’t already feel connected enough to your BlackBerry, a new smartwatch that incorporates the device will be available soon. Yes, now you can have your crackberry physically connected to your body at all times. Imagine that.

The Blackberry watch – code name “in pulse” – is still in concept mode, but it’s expected to have a large OLED screen to clearly display text. It’s designed to display messages from a paired BlackBerry device.

No word yet on how much the BlackBerry watch will cost or when it will be available, but an announcement is expected soon.

[via Gizmodo]

20 Minute Meals on the iPhone

James — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:00:02 +0000

If you’re like most guys, you get home from work or school and wonder what the heck to have for dinner. It better be easy and and it better be fast. Tasty would be nice too.

Now celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has a new iPhone application that provides images, instructions and videos to help you prepare yummy meals in under 20 minutes. Recipes like Mediterranean salad with avocado, cauliflower cheese, and chili risotto are all laid out in easy to follow steps.

To make things easier in the grocery store, each recipe comes with a list of ingredients that links to an interactive, sharable shopping list. You can even sort the list by aisle and easily cross of items as you put them in your cart.

The app comes in at a large 400MB, so you’ll need to make sure you’ve got plenty of room left on your iPhone. It costs $8 from iTunes, but this seems like a pretty good deal for a top-notch cooking application.

[via Cool Hunting]

Swatch’s Chrono Automatic Has Rugged Good Looks

James — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:05:56 +0000

You might associate watchmaker Swatch with bright colors and crazy designs, but the Swiss firm’s new Chrono Automatic Collection tones down the flash with a rugged design. The debut collection launches next week with five models.

In a market dominated by upscale brands and traditional, more conservative designs, Swatch’s designers have kept what we love about chrono watches, but made them more stylish and sporty. The new collection has a self-winding movement, so performance is combined with style. Overall Swatch has done a really nice job with this new line – these watches look way more expensive than they are.

The Tiny Car that Thinks It’s a Ferrari

James — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:04:50 +0000

In Europe, Fiat is synonymous with cute small cars. And we mean very small. But Fiat’s new Abarth 695 Tribute Ferrari is a tiny car with an identity crisis.

As you can see, the Abarth 695 is indeed small, but under the hood it packs 180 horsepower. While that might not sound like a lot, consider how tiny this car is. The car also comes with the latest racing technology and, of course, the requisite racing stripes.

No word yet on when the Ferrari Tribute car will be available. Don’t hold your breath for it to come to the U.S.

[via Highsnobiety]

How to Order Wine on a Date

James — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:45:55 +0000

We’ve all been there: you’re on a hot date and the waiter or sommelier comes around to take your wine order. What do you you? Here’s a quick tip from Wine Library TV host Gary Vaynerchuk on how to impress a dinner date when you are ordering wine:

[via BigThink.com]

The Boob Ice Luge Will Spice Up Any Party

James — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:16:16 +0000

Now why didn’t someone think of this before? The Boob Luge is an ice mold in the shape of, well, two very large boobs. If this doesn’t spice up your next party, nothing will.

The makers of the Boob Luge describe it this way: “Just fill the breast mold with water, and in two days, you will have two rock hard boobs waiting to be filled with an alcoholic beverage of your choice!” Rock hard boobs spewing booze – what could be better?

The Boob Luge is prefect for your next fraternity gathering, bachelor party or get together with the grandparents.

You can get the Boob Luge for $25 – just $12.50 a boob! – at DrinkingStuff.com.

[via Gizmodo]

ToDryFor Has Some Funky Dish Towels

James — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:06:46 +0000

Dish towels are not something you usually think about. They just hang there in your kitchen ready to wipe off your hands or dry your dishes. But the folks at ToDryFor want to funkify your staid kitchen with some badass dish towels.

The Mr. Tea Towel above says to the world “I ain’t doin no dishes, fool!” Or how about this cheeky number?

There are also some design-inspired towels like this one:

Check out all the funky dish towels at ToDryFor.

Custom Wraps Make Mini Coopers Even Cooler

James — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:06:21 +0000

I’ve always loved Mini Coopers. For a small car they have a lot of attitude and just look like they would be fun to drive. Now there’s a company that makes custom wraps for your Mini to make it even cooler.

Mini Motoring Graphics, which is a partnership between MINI and Colorado-based Original Wraps, creates durable vinyl wraps for all models of Mini Cooper. They have badges, side panel wraps, roof graphics, and stripes. In fact, Mini Motoring Graphics has so many options they claim there are 5 million possible combinations of art.

You can even create your own one-of-a-kind wrap to promote a brand or just for your own self-expression. The possibilities are endless. The wraps are removable, photo-quality, and protect the vehicle from nicks and scratches.

Best of all, most of the wraps are actually affordable, ranging in price from $9.99 to $349, although a custom design will set you back more. You can check out the full line of wraps at Mini Motoring Graphics.

[via Trendhunter]

Amazing Magic Wand Controls Your TV

James — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:15:50 +0000

If you have seen all the Harry Potter movies and want to get in on some wizard action, we have the remote control for you. The Kymera Magic Wand channels your inner Gandalf to control your TV.

The Wand has a built-in accelerometer (like the iPhone), so it can detect and interpret hand gestures. Want to change the channel? Just flick the wand up or down. To increase or decrease the volume, move the wand clockwise or counter-clockwise.

The Wand recognizes 13 different movements that you can custom program including multi-taps, swishing, and pulling back and forth. Doesn’t that sound a lot more fun than pushing buttons?

The Kymera Magic Wand goes on sale October 1. If you need to have one as soon as possible, you can visit The Wand Company website to place a pre-order.

[via OhGizmo]

Sleek, Sexy Leather Bed

James — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:30:12 +0000

The folks at The House of De Sede Switzerland have designed a super sleek, sexy bed that goes by the very un-sexy name of DS-1165. Leave it to the Swiss to design something beautiful and then take the zing out of it. But regardless of the name, this is one bed that would look great in any bachelor pad.

The DS-1164 combines daring design with sensuality. I especially like how the headboards can be moved around easily to create different environments. If you like lounging in bed you’re going to love the DS-1164:

You can check out the collection and find a local dealer at the de Sede website.

[via Trendir]

Ponzi Scheme Money Buys Some Damn Nice Stuff

James — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:39:06 +0000

Say what you will about Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff, the man knew how to spend other people’s money. Thanks to Madoff being forced to sell off all his real estate, we get to peek inside his Manhattan penthouse, his Long Island beachside escape, and his Florida mansion.

Here’s a few highlights of Bernie Madoff’s luxury lodgings:

Check out more photos at NBC New York.

Lego Decor for Adults

James — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:20:10 +0000

Who didn’t love playing with Legos when they were a kid? Now you can experience a second childhood with new home decor items made by Lego.

The salt and pepper shakers in the form of Lego blocks shown above are pretty neat. I could see these on my dining table.

The cutlery set made with Lego handles is a tad bulky, but still lots of fun:

And if you’re into the Lego logo, you can get these bookends:

You can get all these and more including cookie cutters, toolboxes, cake molds, and ice trays, from the Lego Store.

Starbucks Adds Booze to Menu

This is One Seriously Badass BMW

James — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:00:22 +0000

If you’ve been wondering when BMW will come out with a hybrid, the new BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics Concept car might give you a clue as to where the carmaker is headed. One look at this thing and you know you’re dealing with one badass hybrid. Toyota Prius this ain’t.

This full hybrid is powered by a three-cylinder turbodiesel that is connected to twin electric motors. This robot-looking car churns out 265 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of toque (I have no idea what 590 lb-ft of torque feels like, but I’m guessing it’s a lot).

Acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h (about 62 mph) is 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). This is one hybrid that drives as good as it looks. No word yet on whether this will be available on the market.

[via Jalopnik]

Very Manly Barneby Gates Wallpaper

James — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:40:51 +0000

I’m not a huge wallpaper fan – painted walls are just fine by me. But after seeing the new Barneby Gates wallpaper I might be changing my mind. If you’re outfitting your bachelor pad, check out these manly designs.

The Deer Damask design shown up top features an iconic stag’s head trophy that you might see on the wall of a hunting lodge. Closer inspection, however, reveals a repeating pattern of stag skulls. Very cool!

If you want something racier, check out the Carpe Noctem design which features women in various states of undress:

The latin inscription for the bare-chested woman above reads “Bovina Sancta” (Holy Cow!). Heh.

Behind these manly designs are a couple of women. Barneby Gates, based in London, is comprised of artist and illustrator Alice Gates and British Vogue’s Living Editor Vanessa Barneby, an interior stylist. You can buy their wallpaper online at Barneby Gates.