How to Start a Fire
October 20, 2006 by Glenn · 4 Comments
Cash’s post on basic survival skills was a good introduction. Then I read, “Always have two ways of starting a fire with you.” Huh?
If some calamity happens (or in Cash’s words, if China’s invading mainland USA), I doubt I’ll have two ways of starting a fire readily available.
Top Sex Music
October 20, 2006 by Greg · 4 Comments
Yesterday I talked about creating a sex playlist. We got a few comments about favorite tracks to include. I’ve put them in a list and now I want to know we missed. Read more
open forum fridays : casino craziness
October 20, 2006 by Cash · 4 Comments
I am a huge fan of gambling in general and Blackjack in particular. The siren’s call of Las Vegas’ neon song is one I heed at least twice a year.
Spending as much time as I do in a casino, I’ve seen some wild things in my day.
Something tells me I’m not the only gambler amongst our Urban Monarch ranks, so I’m opening the forum to this topic; what’s the craziest / sexiest/ wildest/ strangest etc thing you’ve ever seen in a casino?
My own tale goes something like this.
How to Beat a Speeding Ticket
October 19, 2006 by Glenn · 2 Comments
Since my car is on the verge of exploding into a firey ball of death, I usually drive like my dearly departed 94-year-old grandfather. However, this post may still be of use to the speeders out there (sisters and girlfriends included ;)).
Sex Music and The Art of the Sex Playlist
October 19, 2006 by Greg · 15 Comments
I have thousands of mp3s spread across multiple genres lying dormant on my computers hard drive. Given my musical tastes, a lot of my music is highly sexual, however, ask me in the heat of the moment to put on a selection of seductive music, and the best I could come up with would be a massive attack album played all the way through. Read more
halloween goodies
Following in the tradition of Glenn’s excellent Halloween related posts I thought I’d add my own trio of terror to the proceedings.
First up, the always diabolical Krispy Kreme.
Zirh Rejuvenate Product Review
Today I’m reviewing Zirh’s Rejuvenate anti-aging moisturizer. The product claims to
reduce the apprearance of fine lines, even and brighten skin tone, restore skin’s lipid balance and elasticity with repeated use.
Application is easy — apply to face and neck twice daily (ideally after using Clean). My skin is very strange in that sometimes it’s dry and sometimes it’s oily. So I restrict use to once a day and don’t put it on acne-prone “problem” areas. And you don’t need much — a little goes a long way.
Sex Tricks
Tony has compiled 101 sex tricks. He provides a comprehensive list for anyone who may need inspiration. Here are a few that inspire me.
26. There’s this yoga pose my girl does when we’re having woman-on-top sex: She sits on her folded legs and leans over so her breasts rest on her knees, her arms stretched out in front of her. Her grip is so tight, I see stars.
49. I’m all about the urgency of sex. So instead of telling me how you like to be touched, say “This is how I need to be touched.” Then treat me to a demonstration.
94. Ask your man to sit on his hands, then treat him to a slo-mo, sensual lap dance. Don’t allow him to touch you, but touch him everywhere with your nipples, hair, fingers, and toes.
Discussion: Additional Tips, Favorites, and Must Tries…
cocktail recipe : the shaved slit
October 18, 2006 by Cash · 3 Comments
Of all my accomplishments this year, perhaps the one that makes me proudest is the invention of my first cocktail; The Shaved Slit.
I’ve yet to find anyone able to resist its silky, coffee-licious goodness.
At the end of the day, is there anything more smooth and creamy than a shaved slit?
I think not.
Preventing Identity Theft
October 17, 2006 by Glenn · 2 Comments
You hear a lot about identify theft these days, and the horror stories of people who fall victim to it.
If you’re looking for some basic guidelines on preventing identity theft, check out Your Credit Advisor’s ultimate guide to identify theft. One of the problems is how often our social security number is used by companies, yet so much damage can be done when it falls into the wrong hands. How do you deal with that? Read more
Gift Giving on the Cheap
October 17, 2006 by Greg · 6 Comments
Two years ago around holiday season I found myself with little money. I had recently left my job and work was just getting started on my own business. I was happy with my lifestyle, but I wanted to get gifts for my girlfriend. I joined Columbia House DVD club and One Spirit book club. Joining these clubs entitled me to 5 DVDs and 5 books for almost nothing. Grouping a DVD, a book, and an inexpensive trinket or two (eg stuffed animal, candy, candle), made some great presents.
Discussion: What are your tips for gift giving when the funds are low?
basic survival skills
October 17, 2006 by Cash · 4 Comments
I’ve always been somewhat paranoid. By ’somewhat’ I mean ‘completely’.
This facet of my personality has served me well over the years. It’s actually helped protect me from a wide range of things, from broken hearts to getting mugged (seriously).
More importantly though, it’s made me think about the worst case scenarios that could play out in society (both natural disaster wise, and mankind gone martial law wise).
For this reason, I thought it would be good to share some basic survival skills that could prove helpful if the proverbial shit hits the proverbial fan.
Soulful Relationships
October 16, 2006 by Glenn · 3 Comments
Most of us believe relationships work a certain way: approaching a stranger takes courage, you risk being rejected, trust and bonding take time, and you have fear of loss once you’re invested in a relationship. This is one view of relationships, but there are others to consider as well.
Steve Pavlina has an article on soulful relationships, where you assume a connection with everyone around you. I’m sure it sounds a bit “new-agey,” but don’t be too quick to judge before you’ve tested the model yourself. Steve was resistant to it at first, but the results from the new mindset blew away what he was getting from the old one.
One quote of his stuck out to me:
Usually the best way to break the ice with someone is to assume there never was any ice to begin with.
Have you ever noticed someone like this in your life? They easily express themselves and their personality to complete strangers (the sub-communication is that they’re not afraid of rejection). It’s as if they assume you’ve always been friends — why wouldn’t you like them?
And most of us are drawn and attracted to these people. This exactly parallels the example of closed-off IT workers in the post on becoming more likeable.
If you’re wondering how some people seem so secure in displaying their personality to others, perhaps they’ve adopted the mindset that Steve Pavlina describes.
Marriage is Out
I’ve noticed that very few of my friends are married. I attributed this to the social circles I hang out in, the metropolitan area I live in, and the events I attend. However, according to new census data reviewed by the New York Times, married couples are on the decline. In fact today there are slightly more unmarried households in the United States than married.
The numbers by no means suggests marriage is dead or necessarily that a tipping point has been reached. The total number of married couples is higher than ever, and most Americans eventually marry. But marriage has been facing more competition. A growing number of adults are spending more of their lives single or living unmarried with partners, and the potential social and economic implications are profound.
The article continues exploring current lifestyles, highlighting benefits of unwed cohabitation, and hypothesizing potential causes. The report concludes with an interesting sociological cause from one of the analysts.
“It’s partially fueled by women in the work force; they don’t necessarily have to marry to be economically secure,” said Andrew A. Beveridge, a demographer at Queens College of the City University of New York, who conducted the census analysis for The New York Times. “You used to get married to have sex. Now one of the major reasons to get married is to have children, and the attractiveness of having children has declined for many people because of the cost.”
Well put Andrew.
find a good restaurant in a strange city
October 16, 2006 by Cash · 2 Comments
I used to eat fast food when I travelled for work.
It’s embarrassing to say the least, but it’s true. I had no concept of how to find a decent restaurant, and therefore settled for whatever happened to be close to the hotel.
Two things got me motivated to find a way of discovering better food in a new city; travelling to New York City for the first time, and getting into a long distance relationship with a delightful girl in Atlanta.
Avoid Cell Phone Overage Charges
October 13, 2006 by Glenn · 2 Comments
Those pesky cell phone companies — it seems like they’re always trying to screw you one way or another. The latest one I came across was from an article about avoiding cell phone overage charges. After reading that many companies use a backwards way of tracking the minutes you use (that doesn’t work in your favor), I could only think to myself, “Typical.”
Basically, any minutes you use are always deducted from your “anytime” minutes, even if you’re calling during the unlimited night and weekend times. Only once you’ve exhausted the anytime minutes do the unlimited minutes take effect.
Looking over my latest Sprint bill, I was pleasantly surprised to find out they don’t use this non-intuitive accounting scheme. My night and weekend minutes are tallied together, and all other minutes are tallied under the anytime minutes. The total minutes used were over my anytime minutes quota, and there was no overage charge. Sweet.
Does anyone out there with a different provider know which method they use?
Getting Laid on Craigslist
October 13, 2006 by Greg · 2 Comments
Every so often I’ve wandered into the casual encounters section on craigslist. It’s an entertaining section filled with proposed free sex of all varieties. By all varieties I mean, wtf you can’t be serious types of sex. You really have to see it to understand.
Simen Owens found himself browsing one day and decided to test the odds. He placed four ads of varying sex and orientation in New York, Chicago, and Houston and measured the response rate. The results, not surprisingly, were really bad odds for heterosexual males. Check out the full study.
open forum fridays : girls gone wild
October 13, 2006 by Cash · 5 Comments
I’ve had my share of..ahem.. ‘unique’ ex-girlfriends.
After breaking up I’ve dealt with crazy behavior that should be relegated to b-movies and court room documents.
Just one example?
How about a high speed chase down the highway, with me in the role of ‘chase-ee’. Oh yes.
Now it’s up to you faithful readers. What’s the stangest / craziest thing a girl in your life has ever done?
Get yo’ comments started and have a great weekend everyone.
What Happens When You Stop Smoking Now
I gave smoking the old college try, but it didn’t catch (fortunately). Some of my friends were or still are smokers — I know it can be really hard to quit.
Part of what makes quitting hard is that the dangers and benefits are far off in the future. You think to yourself, “Lung cancer is 30 years away, so why stop today,” or “It will take forever for my lungs to heal anyway, one more day won’t matter.”
To help turn this mindset around, Healthbolt has an article on the immediate short-term benefits of quitting.
- In 20 minutes your blood pressure will drop back down to normal.
- In 8 hours the carbon monoxide (a toxic gas) levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal.
- In 48 hours your chance of having a heart attack will have decreased. All nicotine will have left your body. Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level.
Read the article for the all benefits you gain over the months and years — including your risk of lung cancer dropping to that of a non-smoker in 10 years (not forever).
Making Girls Laugh
October 12, 2006 by Greg · 4 Comments
Psychology Today analyzes the role of humor in the sexes. It states typically women seek out men who make them laugh, where as men seek out women to laugh at their jokes. It continues emphasizing humor as an indication of sexual interest.
The allure of male humor is so strong that female laughter may have evolved as a signal of sexual interest - picture a woman’s girlish giggles as she flirts with a man at a bar. Indeed, a German study found that when male and female strangers engaged in natural conversation, the degree to which a woman laughed while talking to a man was indicative of her interest in dating him. How much the woman laughed also predicted the man’s desire to date her. On the flip side, how often a man laughed was unrelated to his interest in a woman.
Discussion: Your experiences with humor and the opposite sex
you are what you drink
October 12, 2006 by Cash · 14 Comments
The always sassy Raquel Rodriguez, (Urban Monarch talent coordinator to the stars), recently commented on open forum Fridays about an article she’d read on what your drink of choice says about your personality.
I did some searching, and there are plenty of articles in this vein.
I decided to use one of these articles to analyze the Urban Monarch staff.
Delve into the murky world of our cocktail consciousness.. IF YOU DARE
