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Breitling Emergency II The built-in personal locator beacon in the Emergency II uses a dual frequency transmitter to communicate with satellites, making your watch (and everything attached to it) easy to track down in case of an emergency. A rechargeable battery means you can explore corners of the Earth unfettered by Radio Shacks and without worries of being lost for good. breitling.com |
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HP Prime Used to be kids lugged chunky calculators with LCD screens to Geometry class and were forced to play Centipede in pixelated black and white. HP is changing the game with its full-color multitouch display Prime graphing calculator. Sure, it’s just a calculator (no email capability or phone functionality), but if your class (or syllabus) requires this kind of hardware, might as well get the best to impress the rest. youtube.com (★) |
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Audi TT Ultra Quattro Concept At Wörthersee 2013 Audi will unveil the spectacular TT Ultra Quattro Concept, a mini-beast with sporting intentions. Weighing in at a mere 2,449 pounds and housing a 310 hp engine, the Ultra should get to 60 in 4.2 seconds. Plus, the extensive use of carbon fiber reinforced polymer and a very serious spoiler make the Ultra one mean machine. audi-mediaservices.com |
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TI-Click Titanium Pen x Stylus These retractable titanium pens have silicone stylus tips on their clicker ends and feature integrated internals that won’t fall out when you insert ink refills (they take more than 45 different types, by the way). Until you can afford that Mont Blanc, they’re the perfect serious utensil. $69+ |
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RoboReel Water The RoboReel Water is eager to wind your hose. If you know what we mean. An included 100- or 150-foot never-kink hose fits in this handy globe, and the rechargeable battery system powers the whole shebang. There’s an automatic timer for watering the lawn on a predetermined schedule, so set it and forget it. No more brown spots on the lawn, and you can tell your neighbors’ kids your new green orb is a baby Sputnik. $649 |
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Philips x Jamie Oliver HomeCooker The automated kitchen of the future is here. The HomeCooker will stir, chop and cook your food for you, and it’s all managed by a clever timer system. There’s almost no need at all to lift a finger — set it and forget it, indeed. Ray Bradbury’s rolling in his grave. $430 (★) |
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Sony DEV-50V Digital Recording Binoculars Sci-Fi fans pining for the future and its absurd enhancements, your gizmo has come. These rainproof binoculars offer 25x magnification, image stabilization, autofocus and they’ll record everything you see. In HD or 3D, no less. (In case you’re curious, no X-Ray capability is available. Yet.) $2,000 |
Tuesday, April 30th
TIG
Today in Gear: April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29th
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The good kind of shady
Clear for Takeoff: 5 Aviators for the Summer
Finally the brightness of summer is on its way. Now, for the harsh reality: you’ve had plenty of time during the last five months of gray to forget where you left your last set of sunglasses. If you’re in need of a new pair, the beloved aviator never goes out of style, pairs well with everything from a suit to board shorts, and just looks damn good. Read on for the five best aviators for summer 2013.
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Itchy trigger fingers, apply here
Time On Our Hands: Graham Chronofighter Oversize
The Graham Chronofighter Oversize ($6,900) is the latest offering from a brand that has long caught our eye. It’s a watch decked out with unique dial layouts, applied sub-dial magnifier portals that look like they’re straight out of a Jules Verne novel, an imposing size… and then there’s the trigger.
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Viewfinder: The Bay Area in 4K
There is so much epic mega-ness in Teton Gravity Research’s aerial reel that it’s difficult to contain our bladders (too much information? Too much information): cornea-melting 4K ultra-HD footage, shot using a RED Epic-equipped gyro-stabilized camera platform mounted on a helicopter that is most surely badass; a grandiose soundtrack that seems right out of the latest action-thriller; oh, and then there’s the Bay Area.
TIG
Today in Gear: April 29, 2013
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The Woodlands Wool Varsity Jacket So you’ve been dating her for a while now and you want to take it to the next level. Take yourself off the market in style: let her wear your modern varsity jacket as a sign of your undying retro romance. Or just wear it yourself because it’s a damn cool look. $350 |
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Den Studio Blackout Candle The Blackout candle will ensure you’re ready for the chicest of apocalypses. Glow in the dark wax keeps you from stumbling aimlessly when the power goes out, and the integrated matchbox lends a little utility to the whole wouldn’t-be-out-of-place-in-MoMA look. $25 |
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Bandit9 Limited Edition Nero II Updating the sold-out Bandit #3 Nero, Bandit9 ups the stealth ante with the Nero II. More streamlined and just as dark, the Nero II is limited to a mere 9 bikes. Better not high side. banditnine.com |
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The Mantry Past Boxes Archives We can’t all frequent artisan markets, but with Mantry, the finest of foodstuffs is still a reality. Each month (on what we’ll call “stomach Christmas”) a new crate of curated foods and beverages is delivered to your door. These “past boxes” take surprise out of the equation but allow you to select items that suit your taste. $75 |
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Mercedes-Benz Unimog The legendary beast of burden gets a thorough upgrade. Tasty bits like LED headlights, a three-mode central tire inflation system and upwards of 354 horsepower make the Unimog 21st century but still Mad Maxian in the rough and tumble department. See all ten new models and put some serious thought into getting ready for the apocalypse. daimler.com |
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Netflix Family Plan Multi-device Streaming Possibly as a precursor to cracking down on users sharing individual plans, over the next few months Netflix will be rolling out a family plan that allows simultaneous streaming on up to four devices. No more arguing over what to watch on family movie night — now everyone can go separate corners and do their own thing. $12 (★) |
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The Elite Card for Entrepreneurs and Innovators
FoundersCard
Starting and running your own business isn’t exactly easy. FoundersCard is an elite service designed specifically to reward hard-working entrepreneurs with exclusive benefits like low fares and status upgrades on airlines, hotels, lifestyle brands and business services — saving you time, stress and money. With over 10,000 members worldwide, FoundersCard monthly members-only events also represent an incredible networking hotbed you won’t find anywhere else. Meet future partners, strike deals, schmooze with investors. The opportunities are yours to take. Best of all, for a limited time, GP readers can join for only $395. That’s 30% less than the typical annual rate of $595. This deal won’t last long, so act while you can via the link below.
Friday, April 26th
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As American as the Mayflower, and twice as fun
Rum: Your Official Summer Drink
Most honest Americans of drinking age know bourbon as the national spirit. But there’s another drink for us to enjoy in the warm weather that, like bourbon, has a uniquely American story: rum. We’ve overlooked it for some time; meanwhile, there’s plenty of new, excellent, American and Caribbean rum coming to market, and rum-specific bars are opening in cities across the country. Rum, for now, is a little less serious than Scotch or bourbon, but what it brings to the table is no laughing matter — unless you’ve got your pinky dangling.
TIG
Today in Gear: April 26, 2013
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Doppelganger Turn Signal Gloves Two things tempt cyclists the world over: (1) back-handing car drivers and (2) flashing car drivers. With the click of a button, the flashers on the back of these cycling gloves blink to indicate a turn or can flash continuously to simply alert other road-goers to the presence of a bike. Smart? Smart. $42 (★) |
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Herman Miller Wireframe Couch by Industrial City Moving is a b$@%#. Every time. Especially when a couch is involved. The folks at Industrial City know this, so their collaboration with Herman Miller produced furniture that’ll move with ease. Cushions remove from the basket frame for easy moving through doorways. industrialfacility.co.uk (★) |
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Jack Spade Summit Leather Collection Waterproof waxed leather ready to boast a worn-in patina: who could ask for more? Jack Spade’s new Summit Series bags deliver just what we want with supply brief, document brief, Eaton duffel and envelope portfolio, each lined in natty, blue-and-white-striped cloth. jackspade.com |
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Everly Drink Mixes Drink mix packets from Everly contain all natural, zero-calorie ingredients for tasty hydration on the go. Each packet is hole-punched for creative carrying, and the Kickstarter campaign has already raised twice as much as it asked with weeks left until the deadline. Claim yours now, because they’re on the way. $18+ |
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Shipley & Halmos Artist’s Dealer’s Tie Straightforward and skinny (at 2.5 inches), this neckwear is for a man who isn’t afraid to add a little preppy levity to his wardrobe. $98 (★) |
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David Yurman Timepiece: Classic Black Johnny Cash, eat your heart out (too soon?) — black on black is the new black, as far as wristwear is concerned. Sure, this new series of watches from David Yurman is monochromatic and stealthy, but you’ll be sure to stand out should you sport one. Is the phrase “time of night” coined yet? davidyurman.com |
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Base Camp X The Furies Throwing Knives Talk about dangerous toys. Nonetheless, we recommend this set of three hand-forged throwers along with its heavy canvas and oiled leather wrap, especially for you Jeremiah Johnson types. Throw safely, y’all. $415 |
A GP Report
Online Mating: Entering the Pay-to-Play World of Digital Get-Downs
Photo by ALEKSEY POPRUGIN
More and more, men and women are looking online — not just for books and flat-screen TVs — for companionship. Much like they’re shopping online, these guys and gals scroll through page after page of potential partners. But we’re not talking about straightforward online dating here. On the sites we’re talking about, users are looking specifically for who’s rich, who’s hot and who’s able to keep a secret. In this special report, we decrypt the pay-to-play world of digital get-downs.
Summer Preview
Tops be droppin'
Topless Summer: Ten Must-Drive Convertibles
Summer isn’t nearly as enjoyable without top-down driving. As much as we’re fans of hardtop automotive design and the way a sweeping roofline catches the eye, we have to admit that the clear growl of an engine and the wind in your hair makes the warmer months that much better. Even a drive up Pacific Coast Highway in a cream-hued 1995 Chrysler Sebring Convertible can be a pleasure (as long as no one actually sees you). Bully for you, convertibles are better than ever — gone are the fussy tops, the anemic engines, and silhouettes that would make Quasimodo cringe. The crop of current convertibles range from modern nostalgia to supercar power players, but one thing they all do is make your motoring pleasure good for all the world to see.
Thursday, April 25th
Staff Favorites
Bowers' Essentials
Staff Favorites: Ben Bowers
Our third installment of Staff Favorites turns to Mr. Ben Bowers. Second aboard the GP express and the reticent co-founder of Gear Patrol, Mr. Bowers is first and foremost an inquirer — using his battle-hardened eye of skepticism while monitoring the pulse of the internet, et al.; typically, he does so while reading a pantheon of feeds and bookmarks on his mobile device du jour.
At GP HQ, Ben is also the catalyst, and prizewinner, of often heated culture debates, where his insatiable appetite for music, movies and other media provides him with a panoply of pop-culture knowledge, particularly in early hip-hop and independent films. Beyond the walls of media and analytic thinking though, Ben’s interests are far less studious. A fair-weather sailor, patron of cocktail mixing and a die-hard Nets fan, Ben is also a proud Baton Rouge native — undoubtedly the reason behind his occasional son-of-Creole outbursts in an otherwise self-composed nature.
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Don't call it a video game
iRacing: the Best Racing Simulator Out There
You’re sitting on the grid at Road America in a classic Lotus 79. The red turns green and you light ‘em up. Accelerating hard down the front straight, you dice for racing room with two or three dozen other drivers around the world before pouring into turn one. Yep, you read that right. Those other drivers aren’t FROM around the world, they ARE around the world. This is internet racing on iRacing.com
TIG
Today in Gear: April 25, 2013
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Adidas Clima Revent Shoes When your feet overheat it’s tough to keep truckin’. Adidas seeks to combat that exact problem with these Climacool technology-laden kicks. If you’re running hot, the perforated uppers and ventilated soles moderate temperature while the sockliner wicks away funky foot-sweat. $100 |
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Seiki 50-inch 4K TV Most of us yearn to have our eyeballs melted by visuals but can’t afford sultan-level displays. Most of us should thank lesser-known tech company Seiki. Their 50-inch 4K resolution television comes at a [relatively] low price, attainable even by those who can’t commission gold sculptures of themselves or use toilets that ask how your day is going. The absurd amount of pixels on this thing you may feel like diving headfirst into them, à la Scrooge McDuck and his multitudes of coin, but we wouldn’t recommend it. $1,500 |
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HG one grinder We consider ourselves hip to the cutting edge of coffee-making, but the HG one grinder has even us a bit agog. For the ultimate experience in hands-on control, there probably isn’t a better bean-grinding option. It’s a beautiful piece of countertop engineering, so be sure your espresso maker’s polished up or it’ll be put to shame. $895 |
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Omega Speedmaster “Dark Side of the Moon” Co-Axial Chronograph Ceramic This all-black ceramic 44.25mm fox with all the trappings has been haunting us since we first laid eyes on it. On its black Cordura strap, this is easily the Speedmaster that Bruce Wayne would wear both as Batman and his rich-boy self. We’re now officially angry we’re not at BASELWORLD 2013 to see it in person. omegawatches.com |
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Lexdray Ibiza DJ Pack The Ibiza was designed specifically with DJs in mind: pockets aplenty are made to measure for the equipment that spin doctors normally haul to gigs, and everything is lined with fly camo material. Drop the bass, pick up an Ibiza. $405 |
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Foodie Garden Kit Small time DIY chefs of the world, rejoice. There are three varieties of the Foodie garden available — peppers, basil and tomatoes — and each includes everything you need to start growing your own mini garden at home (you provide water, the sun provides photons). Use your green thumbs and fingers to move everything to a larger, more permanent home to finish maturing, then enjoy fresh, self-produced produce. notedco.com |
Wednesday, April 24th
Summer Preview
Defend Your Dermis
Sunscreen 101: Everything You Need to Know
After months of Vitamin D deprivation, our seasonally affected psyches aren’t the only thing longing for a little summer loving. But before you shed the layers and start basking in the glow, we want to make sure you’re covered (literally). To keep you from flash frying to a shade between John Boehner and Gene Hackman’s nose on a whiskey weekend, we’ve put together this comprehensive collection of knowledge to keep you safe in the sun and prevent your future-face from looking like a catcher’s mitt.
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Prepare for a Watch Nerd Overload
Primer: Baselworld 2013
If you like your watches and pay any attention at all to the watch industry, then you know about BASELWORLD, the annual industry show in Basel, Switzerland. Otherwise, you may never have heard about the exhibition, which is the wristwatch equivalent of the Detroit Auto Show and takes place April 25th to May 2nd. There’s plenty of fine jewelry too, for those who like sparkly things — but we’re here to talk watches. We’ll round up our favorite new timepieces after the dust settles, but until then, here’s a bit of a primer on one of our favorite events of the year.
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Woodford Reserve's Master Distiller
30 Minutes With: Chris Morris
Talk about working your way up from the bottom. Chris Morris came to Woodford Reserve’s parent company, Brown-Foreman Corporation, in 1976 as an intern. The native Kentuckian stuck it out, rising to the position of Master Distiller as American bourbon rose, too, from a soda additive to a super-premium product on the same level as its haughtier cousins. We caught up with him as part of our summer preview to hear some drinking stories, find out what’s next and hear about his love of the Kentucky Derby.
TIG
Today in Gear: April 24, 2013
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Uniqlo x Michael Bastian Polo Shirts Designer Michael Bastian was granted free reign over a run of 16 polo shirts for Uniqlo’s summer line. Our homies at Selectism have all the deets, but other than “each designer shirt will sell for 20 bucks”, what else do you need to know? uniqlo.com (★) |
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DIY Print Shop Kit Back in the old days, to build a fashion business you’d have to rent or buy a building, purchase huge machinery and printers and whatever else all separately — and at a major cost. DIY Print Shop shrinks the screen printing operation into a small, affordable kit and delivers it to your door. Included: every piece and part you’ll need to get to printing t-shrits and posters galore. $250+ |
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Classic Accessories Colorado Boat You never know when the next adventure will unfold before your very eyes. Always be prepared for fishing and exploring the wet with this foldable, inflatable series of pontoon boats. Seats, insulated drink compartments, motor mounts and more are all easily slung over your shoulder when not in use. $410 (★) |
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Toshiba Kirabook It doesn’t just have an impressive touchscreen nearly on par visually with Apple’s Retina Display: the Kirabook features an Intel i5 or i7 processor, huge RAM and a magnesium-alloy body that is 0.7 inches slim. Available for pre-order May 3. $1,600-$2,000 |
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Castle Brook Boot Laces Offering hand-made laces spun from ultra-high-strength nylon, Castle Brook guarantees their product will last a lifetime (and offers a warranty to back up that claim). They’re available in a range of bright colors, and the simple sizing system ensures yours will fit. Plus the high-tech, super-durable aglets… oh man, don’t get us started on the high-tech super-durable aglets. $6 (★) |
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Beefeater Burrough’s Reserve Oak Rested Gin Good news: this new gin is based on the original Beefeater, rested in barrels that once contained scrumptious Lillet apertif wine. Bad news: It’s not available in the U.S. until October of this year. Good news: it’s meant to be sipped neat. More bad news? Nope. beefeatergin.com |
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Groom like a big boy
Birchbox Man
When’s the last time you tried out a new grooming product you didn’t swipe from a hotel? Now eliminate the items your better half brought home. That’s what we thought. Just because it’s what your dad or your roommate in college used, doesn’t mean it’s the right thing for you. Luckily for your too-busy-to-possibly-stumble-into-a-drug-store self, Birchbox Man is a service that’s designed to take the hassle out of finding your next go-to grooming supplies and tools. Learn more by clicking into the post, or join now below.
Tuesday, April 23rd
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Viewfinder: The Last of the Breed
Only 59 more E-Types were made after Dave Paddison’s V12 Series 3 convertible rolled off the Coventry assembly line in 1974. “Last of the Breed”, indeed — nearly the last entirely. And what a specimen for a guy like Dave to own.
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Your Official Summer Reading List
10 Great Summer Reads
Imagine with us: You’ve just left work on a sultry Friday, and damn do you feel good. Why? Because it’s summer, for one, and you’re off for a weekend, or a long weekend, or a week even, if your boss isn’t a Nazi and your job still includes that sweet rarity, “vacation time”. But no one’s around to hang, which is fine — it’s relaxation time, baby. What better way to enjoy the weather (without sweating) than a summer read? We’ve got 10 great picks for every type of reader, right here.
Summer Preview
Confirm your searing desires
The Heat is On: 10 Best Grills
Summer is bearing down fast, and no man passes up the opportunity to get outside and burn some meat (ok, and perhaps a vegetable or two). It is, simply, an integral summer experience, whether enjoyed in the backyard, at a tailgate, in the campsite or on your tiny urban front step.
My dad had a saying: “When it’s burning, it’s cooking. When it’s black it’s done.” This might explain the lack of repeat visitors, but maybe it was the limited tools he had to work with that contributed to his cynical approach to backyard grilling. With any of the 10 excellent grills here, you’ll not only find the right one to suit your particular needs — everything from searing steaks, to cooking a pair of burgers, to smoking an entire pig — you’ll guarantee a line around the block for your ‘cue, and a long list of friends who won’t stop asking when you’re having them over again.
TIG
Today in Gear: April 23, 2013
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Foldable Japanese Rubber Boots These Japanese-made wellies are at home in rice fields and on puddled city streets alike. They fold up and buckle into a neat package — thanks to ultra-flexible rubber construction — for stowage in the most boot-austere locations. $129 (★) |
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Icona Vulcano Supercar The mysterious Icona Vulcano supercar just debuted in Shanghai, and despite borrowing Lexus LFA and Ferrari F70 styling, it’s a unique looker. Not many specs are out on this beauty, but it should get close to 220 mph and 0-60 in 3 seconds from its near-900-hp engine. We’ll see if it ever makes production. iconavulcano.com |
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KOKO Charcoal Made from 100% coconut fiber, these all natural briquettes are 50% more efficient than standard charcoal, burning hotter, longer and cleaner. $60 |
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GolfSense Self-analyze your swing like a pro using your bluetooth-enabled smartphone. iOS and Android users can download the free app, clip GolfSense to their golf glove and hit the links — and watch 3D analyses of each swing on their phone after the fact. Depending on how your day went, that could be fun or depression-inducing. $130 |
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Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation In his new book, author Michael Pollan provides “an investigation of how cooking involves us in a web of social and ecological relationships” and uncovers the direct influence each of the four natural elements has on the process of cooking. It turns out the act of cooking is about far more than just producing food. Except for hot pockets. Those are just about producing food. $17 |
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GE Café Series French Door Refrigerator with Hot Water Filtered water dispensers in refrigerators are nothing new. We’ve been enjoying refreshments from the fridge without opening doors for years now. Hot water — now that’s a development. Using the Ge Café Series refrigerator’s temperature-programmable water dispenser you can whip up soup, hot chocolate and more without ever setting a pot on the stove. geappliances.com |
Monday, April 22nd
Summer Preview
Diver down
Go Deep: 7 Best Dive Watches
Even if your aquatic adventures never go beyond a beach snorkel, summer is still a great excuse to strap on a dive watch. Timepieces designed for wet work also happen to be perfect companions for backyard barbecues, weekend cabin trips and afternoon doubleheaders. It’s no wonder the dive watch remains one of the most popular timepiece categories, thanks to a decidedly sporty and casual vibe that wears well with board shorts and t-shirts, and an overbuilt ruggedness that can stand up to the inevitable scrapes of summer shenanigans and those impromptu night swims. But while there are a fleet of watches that try to capture the adventurous spirit of the diver, a select few go a little deeper. We round up seven of the best new ones for you here.
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Putting your semester abroad to shame
30 Minutes With: Lee Abbamonte
There are globe trotters, and then there’s Lee Abbamonte. Though he doesn’t consider himself a “competitive traveler” per se, he is the youngest American to visit every country (196) in the world. He is 34. We got to chat with him about his life in and outside of the suitcase.
Summer Preview
You've got twelve weeks. Get busy!
Five All-American Summer Adventures
We love winter and all it brings: fires, warm sweaters, skiing and flasks of Scotch. But come June, we’re ready to bust out and undertake some adventures that can only be done in the warmer months. Memorial Day is traditionally when bikes and boats and boots get dusted off and you hit the ground running until the Labor Day slow down. This summer, why not go a little further and tackle something truly epic? We’re here to help with five great summer-only adventures. There are only twelve weeks of summer, so get planning.
