A Splendid Way to Display Your Photography Skills or Lack Thereof

Your office desk is probably a place where little to no free space exists. Couple that with the few hundred pictures that need displaying (to remind you of life other than work), and you’ve got a universe crushing paradox of the space-time variety. Luckily, there is a solution to this dilemma. Get a digital photo frame.

We suggest one from the new line of Digital Foci frames, like the Image Moments 6. On the surface, the IM6 is a good looking piece styled in two-tone, mirror-polished chrome that takes up minimal surface space. More importantly though, it boasts some rich display chops for such a small frame. An ample LCD backlight and 140 PPI pixel density work to do your vacation pics proud.

Looking for something bigger? Scope out other larger frames in the lineup such as the Image Moments 8 which adds an interchangeable frame and mat design, and the Image Moment 15 which throws in 16.2 million colors and VESA wall mounting capabilities.

Size aside though, each frame offers a bevy of features such as: 450 MB internal memory, card slots for storage expansion, and the ability to play back a wide variety of multimedia files. For more details though check out the Digital Foci website.

What this means to you: I’m looking at the IM6 on my desk right now. It looks good. My pictures look good. Just don’t load it up and display a slide show with one second intervals. You wont get any real work done that way. Especially if that shot of Louise Glover you threw in keeps popping up. Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with us.

Cost $149 from Digital Foci

Also See: Sony S Frame | Philips Mothers Day Digital Photo Frame

A Man-tastic Resource for the Holidays

Have you ever wanted to be the guy who gives a kick ass toast at a holiday party? Or perhaps you no longer want to be the dude who can only be trusted to bring chips and dip. Either way, the holiday season is chock full of opportunities to either adroitly impress your peers or commit a faux-pas that will leave them gossiping (a la the Bowers reindeer sweeter scandal of ‘07). Fear not, Newcastle Brown Ale is providing a life-line dubbed The Man-ual.

Besides providing lifesaving tips for navigating the entertaining season, the Man-ual also offers delicious, easy-to-make holiday recipes courtesy of cookbook author and TV cooking personality Sam the Cooking Guy. They even come on perforated recipe cards. We particularly liked the Au Revoir Fondue made with Cabot Cheddar Cheese. The GP test kitchen is still recovering.

Go from “that guy” to “go to guy” this holiday season.

Cost: Complimentary | This November In Your Local Supermarket

Also See: Kansas City Strip Steak|Crate & Barrel Bar Tool Set

The Cure for Wrap Rage

Here at Gear Patrol, we have embarked upon an endless mission to scour the Earth for ways that you, Man, may Advance Yourself. Oftentimes, advancement comes through the advent of simple solutions to life’s most insidious frustrations. It is in that spirit that we present the Open It!

If you believe, like I do, that some forms of packaging are so ill-designed as to be mortally dangerous to the average consumer, then the Open It! is the only suitable weapon with which to equip yourself for a post-shopping spree unboxing session. It features angular shears resembling the “Jaws of Life,” designed to tackle the most heinous of packaging materials: the clamshell. Additionally, the Open It! sports a box cutter utility blade and even a mini-screwdriver perfect for opening those completely inane battery compartments. Available in three colors, the Open It! gets the GP Seal of Approval for helping us get our mounds of swag out of the boxes with a high degree of alacrity.

What this means to you: It doesn’t cost much and it just might help you escape the holidays with all of your digits intact. Now that’s value.

Cost: $12.99

Editor’s Note: Interestingly, Jeff Bezos (founder of Amazon) has posted an article on the home page of Amazon.com today with a solution to alleviate “wrap rage” as well. God bless him. We’re not sure how long it will be up so you can read a copy of his article after the jump.
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A Dour Perspective On Your Morning Cup O’ Joe

I’m not a big fan of pessimism. In fact, it’s a characteristic I find loathesome unless it comes served with two heaping scoops of sarcasm.

Appropriate for Monday mornings, the Pessimist’s Mug is a perfect gift for someone you know (or yourself) that looks upon the day with a certain degree of dour. I’m a relatively can-do kind of guy, but when my first cup of coffee finds its way past my mug’s midpoint, I tend to look upon it with scorn more than caffeinated happiness.

Despite any sullen outlooks, the Pessimist’s Mug is made from high-grade materials, but more importantly built for high-grade sarcasm.

Cost: $10

Also See: Nerf Office Elimination Game | Hot Cold Mug

Lock, Stock And One Online Grocery List

For those men that declare themselves as foodies (and those that don’t) the concept of grocery shopping is typically an annoyance. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to automatically jot down a reminder every time you run out of a certain product? Sea salt, import lagers, aged angus beef, free range eggs, 9-grain bread, olive oil, pappardelle, oh and toilet paper.

Enter Ikan. Ikan scans the UPC barcode on any package you’re finished (or not finished) with and automatically adds that product to an online shipping cart. The cart remains stored until you’re ready to make a grocery order thereby eliminating the hassle of going through a mental or physical inventory.

If the barcode isn’t clever enough, you can use the voice recorder to add items (”Q-Tips. Almonds. Beer!”) or the built-in Search & Add feature. Set the Ikan to automatically send email reminders or if you prefer shopping in person, the Ikan can also print out your saved shopping list to take with you.

After all, every man should find himself well-acquainted with the local grocery’s meat aisle and butcher/monger. It’s your god-given right and duty.

Cost: $399 @ Ikan | Check Available Retailers

Also See: 131 Best Grocery Foods For Men @ Men’s Health

Befitting Of Your Holy Books, Penguin Classics and Even Bills

A man needs an appropriate place to work, surf, meditate, contemplate or just read Emerson. It goes right up there with an appropriately manly armchair, coat, car, shaving products and power tools. Amongst others. (See a website called Gear Patrol for further reference).

Reclaimed pine and steel are the materials of upstate New York SMC Furnishing’s SBW Desk. A gorgeous exercise in what one can do without having to use nasty Service Merchandise (remember them?) grade compressed cardboard and laminate. SMC specializies in using natural and recycled materials.

I work off of a Crate & Barrel desk that’s as wide as my New York apartment will allow (not much), but in my former digs I converted an old barnyard pine dining table to use as work table. It was expansive, minimalist and glorious. Looking at the SBW Desk I’m half tempted to tell my oddly attractive neighbor that I’m comandeering her apartment and adjacent walls to accommodate this table. If she disagrees, then I’ll take the moment of confusion to figure out just why she’s so attractive.

Measures 30″x32″x60″ and available with drawers.

Cost: $1400

Also See: Pottery Barn Aviation Desk