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	<title>Blog for Men</title>
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		<title>Top 10 &#8220;Man Approved&#8221; Movies of 2012 &#124; Win a Panasonic Blu-ray Player and a Free Movie</title>
		<link>http://blog.manbargains.com/top-10-man-approved-movies-of-2012-win-a-panasonic-blu-ray-player-and-a-free-movie/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.manbargains.com/top-10-man-approved-movies-of-2012-win-a-panasonic-blu-ray-player-and-a-free-movie/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jan 2013 20:48:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Craig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Contests]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[best guy movies]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[top movies of 2012]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.manbargains.com/?p=854</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Now&#8217;s your chance to win a Panasonic Blu-ray Player and your choice of one of the movies below. Enter for a chance to win a FREE Panasonic Wi-Fi 3D Blu-ray DVD Player and your choice of one of the ManBargains Top 10 &#8220;Man Approved&#8221; Movies of 2012*. Use our sweepstakes widget below to enter. You ]]></description>
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<h2 class="A16">Now&#8217;s your chance to win a Panasonic Blu-ray Player and your choice of one of the movies below.</h2>
<p><strong>Enter for a chance to win a FREE Panasonic Wi-Fi 3D Blu-ray DVD Player and your choice of one of the ManBargains Top 10 &#8220;Man Approved&#8221; Movies of 2012*.  Use our sweepstakes widget below to enter. You only have until February 5th so hurry! The more you share this, the better your chances. Good luck.</strong></p>
<p>*If the movie you select isn&#8217;t out yet, we&#8217;ll pre-order it for you!
</p></div>
<p><a id="rc-24c7f12" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/24c7f12/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
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<h2 class="A16">2012 Had Some Good Flicks, These Were Our Favorites</h2>
<p>There&#8217;s a big difference between a really good movie, and a really good <em>guy movie</em>.  Often times a great <em>guy movie</em> is pretty horrible overall once you get past the boobs and explosions. Case in point, every movie Jason Statham has been in that wasn&#8217;t directed by Guy Ritchie.  Don&#8217;t get me wrong, I&#8217;m a big fan of watching a well-dressed wheelman roundhouse kick the population of LA in the throat for 90 minutes, but at the end of the day it&#8217;s still just 90 minutes of throat-kicking&#8230; not exactly cinema gold.  But sometimes there&#8217;s a film that is a great movie in its own right, and <em>also</em> a homerun for us guys.  So we took a look back on 2012 and found our 10 favorite movies that earned the title of &#8220;great guy movie&#8221;.  <em>(List is in no particular order)</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443272/" target="_blank"><br />
<h2 class="A16">Lincoln</h2>
<p></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443272/" target="_blank"><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/lincoln.png" alt="Top Ten Guy Movies of 2012 | Lincoln" width="550" height="350" class="aligncenter size-full" /></a></p>
<p>While it&#8217;s far from the <em>first</em> biopic about our 16th President, Speilberg&#8217;s <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443272/" target="_blank">Lincoln</a> is quite possibly the best produced, and certainly the most powerful.  A stellar cast adds to the experience as we watch the final months of Lincoln&#8217;s life.  Daniel Day-Lewis steals the show with a performance that gives us a look at many different sides to a president that is usually depicted as a one-dimensional saint&#8230; or a vampire hunter.  This is Day-Lewis at his finest.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=dark+knight+rises+blu+ray" target="_blank"><br />
<h2 class="A16">The Dark Knight Rises</h2>
<p></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=dark+knight+rises+blu+ray" target="_blank"><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/dark-knight.png" alt="Top Ten Guy Movies of 2012 | The Dark Knight Rises" width="550" height="350" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-950" /></a></p>
<p>Sure, there were those who were disappointed with <a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=dark+knight+rises+blu+ray" target="_blank">The Dark Knight Rises</a>, but that was only because the bar had been set so high by the previous installment of Nolan&#8217;s trilogy.  It doesn&#8217;t change the fact that it was one of the best movies of the year.  There was also something special about knowing that this was Nolan&#8217;s last Batman film.  Will there be more Batman movies?  Of course, Hollywood is too smart to leave that money on the table.  But they won&#8217;t be the work of Chris Nolan, and they won&#8217;t be as good.  Years from now we&#8217;ll still be talking about &#8220;Nolan&#8217;s Batman Trilogy&#8221;.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1853728/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank"><br />
<h2 class="A16">Django Unchained</h2>
<p></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1853728/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank"><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/django-unchained.png" alt="Top Ten Guy Movies of 2012 | Django Unchained" width="550" height="350" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-951" /></a></p>
<p>No surprise here that Tarantino makes the list.  Tarantino is one of the masters of the &#8220;guy movie&#8221;.  Like any good Tarantino film, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1853728/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Django Unchained</a> is extremely violent and a little bit crazy.  DiCaprio, Foxx, and Sam Jackson among others nail their roles and deliver some top-notch dialogue that is somehow just as enthralling as the gun play in this ode to the spaghetti western.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1790885/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank"><br />
<h2 class="A16">Zero Dark Thirty</h2>
<p></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1790885/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank"><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/zero-dark-thirty.png" alt="Top Ten Guy Movies of 2012 | Zero Dark Thirty" width="550" height="350" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-952" /></a></p>
<p>While its <em>major</em> release wasn&#8217;t until January of this year, technically <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1790885/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Zero Dark Thirty</a> was released in 2012, plus it&#8217;s an amazing film so on the list it goes.  Kathryn Bigelow, creator of The Hurt Locker, delivers another scary-realistic depiction of a nation obsessed with war.  The film gives us one of the most unique protagonists of recent memory with the character of CIA agent Maya, played brilliantly by Jessica Chastain.  Zero Dark Thirty&#8217;s narrative style is unconventional, but works well to encapsulate the fear and anger of a nation of individuals in the years following the 9/11 attacks.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=the+grey+blu+ray+-anatomy" target="_blank"><br />
<h2 class="A16">The Grey</h2>
<p></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=the+grey+blu+ray+-anatomy" target="_blank"><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-grey.png" alt="Top Ten Guy Movies of 2012 | The Grey" width="550" height="350" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-953" /></a></p>
<p>The trailers led us to believe that <a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=the+grey+blu+ray+-anatomy" target="_blank">The Grey</a> was a survival-action movie about a group of guys going up against a pack of hungry wolves, which it was&#8230; kind of.  Those who saw this movie know that for every minute of man vs wolf action, there was ten minutes of man vs himself struggle.  Each character has to dig down deep and find the will to survive, find something to live for.  Some find it more easily than others, and others struggle with their own self-discovery in realizing they&#8217;re weaker than they thought they were.  The Grey is a tale of survival and perseverance and just might have you taking a long look at yourself and what it means to be a man.  <em>Hint: Being Liam Neeson helps.</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=cabin+in+the+woods+blu+ray" target="_blank"><br />
<h2 class="A16">The Cabin in the Woods</h2>
<p></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=cabin+in+the+woods+blu+ray" target="_blank"><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/cabin-in-the-woods.png" alt="Top Ten Guy Movies of 2012 | The Cabin in the Woods" width="550" height="350" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-954" /></a></p>
<p>With nods and winks to countless horror filmmakers, <a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=cabin+in+the+woods+blu+ray" target="_blank">The Cabin in the Woods</a> is a perfect example of what a satire should be.  The film seems to go through as many cliches as it can as quickly as possible, which ends up working perfectly because it&#8217;s obvious from the very beginning that the director-writer combination of Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon know exactly what they&#8217;re doing.  Without giving away any spoilers, the film takes an excellent turn when the self-aware satire becomes a major plot point of the movie itself.  Although The Cabin in the Woods is anything but a classic horror movie, it is a must watch for fans of the genre.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1024648/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank"><br />
<h2 class="A16">Argo</h2>
<p></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1024648/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank"><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/argo.png" alt="Top Ten Guy Movies of 2012 | Argo" width="550" height="350" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-955" /></a></p>
<p>Ben Affleck continues his actor-director hot streak with the film <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1024648/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Argo</a>, based on the declassified true story of the rescue of six Americans hiding in the Canadian embassy in 1979 Iran.  Affleck does just fine in front of the camera, but really excels in his directing work for Argo.  The movie is a perfectly paced thriller, and will literally have you on the edge of your seat throughout.  That, combined with a story so unbelievable that is just <em>has</em> to be true, and you&#8217;ve got yourself a real winner.  Probably my personal favorite movie of the year.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=looper+blu+ray" target="_blank"><br />
<h2 class="A16">Looper</h2>
<p></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=looper+blu+ray" target="_blank"><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/looper.png" alt="Top Ten Guy Movies of 2012 | Looper" width="550" height="350" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-956" /></a></p>
<p>The best part of a good time travel movie for a nerd like me is being able to dissect the movie after the fact with fellow fans, looking for clues, discussing theories, and more often than not, just trying to figure out what the hell happened.  There&#8217;s a sense of reward in that and sometimes, can be more rewarding than the movie itself.  It&#8217;s interesting then, that <a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=looper+blu+ray" target="_blank">Looper</a> makes this list as a time travel movie because that formula doesn&#8217;t work with this movie.  I tried it, and the movie just doesn&#8217;t back itself up in its time travel logic.  Then it hit me.  That&#8217;s what makes this movie work.  In a critical scene where Bruce Willis is talking with his younger self in a diner, Joseph Gordon-Levitt tries asking him how this time travel thing works exactly.  Just when we think that Willis is about to break off into a narrative laying out the rules of the movie along with caveats and loopholes in true sci-fi fashion, he essentially just tells him (paraphrasing) &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it.  Who cares how it works?  It just does, deal with it.&#8221;  I think that message was meant for the audience as well.  Once you get past trying to figure out exactly how the time travel storyline works, Looper is an entertaining ride.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=skyfall+blu+ray" target="_blank"><br />
<h2 class="A16">Skyfall</h2>
<p></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=skyfall+blu+ray" target="_blank"><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/skyfall.png" alt="Top Ten Guy Movies of 2012 | Skyfall" width="550" height="350" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-957" /></a></p>
<p>What guy isn&#8217;t a fan of Bond movies?  For the third time Daniel Craig stars as the iconic character James Bond in <a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=skyfall+blu+ray" target="_blank">Skyfall</a>.  Now it&#8217;s probably pretty obvious why a Bond film would be on a guy&#8217;s list of favorite movies.  It&#8217;s got fast-paced action, beautiful women, hot cars, and awesome gadgets.  In particular though I think Skyfall is worth putting on this list because with a franchise that&#8217;s been around as long as Fleming&#8217;s Bond has, it&#8217;s all about how the series changes over time.  In Skyfall, not only have the cars and gadgets been updated, but Bond himself has been reboot.  These days, Bond has a history and a bit of a dark side.  This would probably be more appropriately credited to Craig&#8217;s Bond in Casino Royale, but nonetheless audiences are becoming smarter and more sophisticated as the years go by, and that couldn&#8217;t be more apparent than it is with the Bond series as a whole, and most recently in Skyfall.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=avengers+blu+ray" target="_blank"><br />
<h2 class="A16">The Avengers</h2>
<p></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=avengers+blu+ray" target="_blank"><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-avengers.png" alt="Top Ten Guy Movies of 2012 | The Avengers" width="550" height="350" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-958" /></a></p>
<p>More than any other movie on this list, Marvel&#8217;s <a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=avengers+blu+ray" target="_blank">The Avengers</a> is the closest to being nothing more than a fun brawler.  That&#8217;s not a bad thing though.  Above all else, The Avengers was wildly entertaining.  Joss Whedon presented a good dynamic between our comic book heroes and brought us some of the most entertaining action sequences I&#8217;ve seen in awhile.  More importantly, it was the culmination of no less than four franchises that led directly to this movie and fanboys everywhere rejoiced.  <a href="http://blog.manbargains.com/the-avengers-review/" target="_blank">More on The Avengers</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>What was your favorite movie of last year?  Don&#8217;t agree with some of our choices?  Let us know what you&#8217;re thinking in the comments below.</p>
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		<title>Jamo S426 HCS3 5 Piece Home Theater System Review</title>
		<link>http://blog.manbargains.com/jamo-5-piece-home-theater-system-review-s426-hcs3/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.manbargains.com/jamo-5-piece-home-theater-system-review-s426-hcs3/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:13:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeremy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home theater system]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home theater system review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jamo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jamo S426 5 Piece Home Theater System Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Man]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[speaker review]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.manbargains.com/?p=899</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Style and Quality Meet for Great Value The Jamo S426 HCS3 came about in late 2011, but it wasn&#8217;t until just recently that I stumbled upon the amazing deal on these on Amazon.com (Jamo Home Theater System). These Jamo&#8217;s feature a 2-Way Bass-Reflex System with 140 watts of power handling. With the stylish, contemporary industrial design, these ]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2 class="A16">Style and Quality Meet for Great Value</h2>
<p>The Jamo S426 HCS3 came about in late 2011, but it wasn&#8217;t until just recently that I stumbled upon the amazing deal on these on Amazon.com (<a title="Jamo Home Theater System" href="http://www.manbargains.com/daily-deals/electronics-appliances/jamo-s426hcs3-wenge-5-piece-home-theater-speaker-system-67-off-now-only-129-99/" target="_blank">Jamo Home Theater System</a>). These Jamo&#8217;s feature a 2-Way Bass-Reflex System with 140 watts of power handling. With the stylish, contemporary industrial design, these speakers are a drop of eye-candy to any home theater.</p>
<p>I purchased the S426 HCS3&#8242;s in the Wenge finish that fit more inline with my fireplace rock and furniture tones. Apart from visual appearance though, these speakers gave my ears a pleasant surprise. Since this specific set does not come with a sub-woofer, I paired the 5 speakers with my 6 yr. old Sony sub-woofer and connected the set up to my <a title="Harman Kardon AVR1600 receiver" href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=Harman+Kardon+AVR1600" target="_blank">Harman Kardon AVR1600 receiver</a>. What followed next simply blew my mind for the value that I got these speakers at. The large speakers provided a wider, more unyielding soundfield than I got with my previous smaller Sony satellite speakers. The speakers themselves are built very well, but are not so heavy that you need multiple people to move them.</p>
<p>I must note that my basement theater setup is in a smaller, tight room. The speakers preformed beyond my expectations, but if you&#8217;re looking for a set of home theater speakers for a room larger than 16&#8242; x 20&#8242;, you might want to look for a more powerful set. All in all, for the money this set is excellent for movie watching and sports watching and also performs pretty well if you&#8217;re just listening to music.</p>
<p><strong>PROS:</strong> Value, construction, sound quality, visual appearance</p>
<p><strong>CONS: </strong>No sub-woofer</p>
<p><strong>OVERALL RATING:</strong> 4.5 Stars</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Top 10 &#8220;Man Approved&#8221; Games of 2012 &#124; Win a Free Game</title>
		<link>http://blog.manbargains.com/the-10-best-video-games-of-2012-win-a-free-game/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.manbargains.com/the-10-best-video-games-of-2012-win-a-free-game/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:30:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Craig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Contests]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.manbargains.com/?p=716</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Want to win your own copy of one of the top games of 2012? Enter for a chance to win a FREE copy of your choice of one of the ManBargains Top 10 &#8220;Man Approved&#8221; Games of 2012. Use our sweepstakes widget below to enter. You only have until January 17th so hurry! The more ]]></description>
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<div class="win-stuff">
<h2 class="A16">Want to win your own copy of one of the top games of 2012? </h2>
<p>Enter for a chance to win a FREE copy of your choice of one of the ManBargains Top 10 &#8220;Man Approved&#8221; Games of 2012.  Use our sweepstakes widget below to enter. You only have until January 17th so hurry! The more you share this, the better your chances. Good luck.
</p></div>
<h2 class="A16">It was a good year for video games. We&#8217;ve laid out the best of the best&#8230; </h2>
<p>From perennial favorites to regular appearances by big name blockbuster hits, 2012 just might be the year of the sequel in the video game world. A good balance was struck though with the emergence of some top of the line performances by indie developers who just might have stolen the show this year. Several titles on this list show promise that the world of indie developers is about to change for the better and proves that when done right, they can play with the big dogs. Let&#8217;s take a look at the winners. <em>(List is in no particular order, these are just the best, okay?)</em></p>
<h2 class="A16"><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=borderlands+2" target="_blank">Borderlands 2</a></h2>
<p><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/borderlands2.png" class="aligncenter" title="Borderlands 2" alt="The 10 Best Video Games of 2012 | Borderlands 2" /></p>
<p>With the original title seemingly coming out of nowhere and becoming an instant hit, it&#8217;s no surprise that a Borderlands sequel was on the way.  <a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=borderlands+2" target="_blank">Borderlands 2</a> makes the list because it effectively picks up where the last title left off and adds a host of tweaks that make the overall experience more enjoyable.  One of the things Borderlands 2 does extremely well is it keeps you playing.  There is always that urge to find the next piece of loot or the next awesome gun.  By providing you with loot rewards it makes each battle seem a little more significant and keeps you coming back.  Any game that can suck up your free time like that deserves a spot on this list.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="A16"><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/daily-deals/music-movies-games/halo-4-xbox-360-save-now-only-54-86/" target="_blank">Halo 4</a></h2>
<p><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/halo4.png" class="aligncenter" title="Halo 4" alt="The 10 Best Video Games of 2012 | Halo 4" /></p>
<p>What do you know?  Another Halo game.  All sarcasm aside, the latest Halo title does bring a whole lot to the table.  The game immediately pulls you in with a visually-stunning campaign that&#8217;s also pretty damn fun.  <a href="http://www.manbargains.com/daily-deals/music-movies-games/halo-4-xbox-360-save-now-only-54-86/" target="_blank">Halo 4</a> makes the list because of all the sequels that came out this year, it does the best job of making a game better, but staying true to itself and keeping fans happy.  The multiplayer feels much the same, but better and with more game modes.  The campaign continues the epic storyline fans remember, but the visual quality has taken three big steps forward.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="A16"><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=mass+effect+3" target="_blank">Mass Effect 3</a></h2>
<p><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/masseffect3.png" class="aligncenter" title="Mass Effect 3" alt="The 10 Best Video Games of 2012 | Mass Effect 3" /></p>
<p><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=mass+effect+3" target="_blank">Mass Effect 3</a> had possibly one of the toughest tasks out of the other titles on this list to live up to the success of its previous installments.  It does the job though, and it does it well.  Especially if you&#8217;ve played through the first two titles, Mass Effect 3 feels like a bigger, more epic game not just in storyline but in mechanics as well.  For example, now instead of doing a single loyalty quest to gain a team member, you&#8217;re completing quests that will win you the favor of whole fleets and entire races of allies.  This combined with a list of improvements to combat mechanics make it what I feel is one of the best executed sequels of 2012.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="A16"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Collectors-Edition-Playstation-3/dp/B008CP6RWU" target="_blank">Journey</a></h2>
<p><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/journey.png" class="aligncenter" title="Journey" alt="The 10 Best Video Games of 2012 | Journey" /></p>
<p>Available as a PS3 downloadable game, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Collectors-Edition-Playstation-3/dp/B008CP6RWU" target="_blank">Journey</a> really turned some heads this year.  At certain points, it doesn&#8217;t feel like a video game at all.  In fact, oftentimes Journey feels more like a piece of art than a game.  There are no scores, no interfaces, and the game benefits greatly from it all.  You become completely immersed in this world, and what a beautiful world it is.  The landscapes and audio make up one of the most visually satisfying games you&#8217;ll ever play.  Journey makes the list because it showed us what a video game can be.  Developer <a href="http://thatgamecompany.com/" target="_blank">thatgamecompany</a> thought outside the box and brought us an unconventional masterpiece.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="A16"><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=diablo+iii" target="_blank">Diablo III</a></h2>
<p><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/diablo3.png" class="aligncenter" title="Diablo III" alt="The 10 Best Video Games of 2012 | Diablo III" /></p>
<p>Oh look.  Another sequel.  <a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=diablo+iii" target="_blank">Diablo III</a> was a unique kind of sequel though, just because of how much time had passed since the release of the last Diablo game.  A twelve year wait resulted in the hype and expectations for Diablo III to reach unbelievable heights.  These high expectations really reared their head when the game suffered some major problems at launch, but really problems are to be expected with a game of this magnitude.  For all intents and purposes, Diablo III feels very much like other Diablo titles.  But games have come a long way since then and the update is going to keep fans happy for a long time.  There&#8217;s definitely plenty there, with plenty of loot and additional difficulty levels to keep players coming back.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="A16"><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/details/?product_id=865297072&#038;product_group_id=" target="_blank">The Unfinished Swan</a></h2>
<p><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/theunfinishedswan.png" class="aligncenter" title="The Unfinished Swan" alt="The 10 Best Video Games of 2012 | The Unfinished Swan" /></p>
<p>Let&#8217;s take a break from the blockbuster sequels and look at another refreshing indie title.  <a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/details/?product_id=865297072&#038;product_group_id=" target="_blank">The Unfinished Swan</a> is another perfect example that a video game doesn&#8217;t have to be a 15 hour per week commitment of grinding and leveling, or fast paced explosions while aiming down the barrel of a gun.  It can be much more than that&#8230; or in the case of The Unfinished Swan, so much less than that.  The game&#8217;s total run time is right around two hours, but it&#8217;s two hours of sublime enjoyment.  Unconventional mechanics and intriguing visuals combine to get you to focus almost entirely on the storyline.  It does it so well that I doubt anyone would actually put this game down midway.  Once you start you&#8217;ll have no problem sticking around for two hours to complete the story.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="A16"><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=dishonored" target="_blank">Dishonored</a></h2>
<p><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dishonored.png" class="aligncenter" title="Dishonored" alt="The 10 Best Video Games of 2012 | Dishonored" /></p>
<p><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=dishonored" target="_blank">Dishonored</a> is a unique game in a lot of ways.  Most notably how it puts power back in the hands of the player.  The detailed, visually stunning open-world allows the player to roam wherever you&#8217;d like, and to explore.  The gameplay provides the player with choices.  There are a whole bunch of perks, powers, and abilities available to you via unlocks throughout the game that can at first be daunting.  But they&#8217;re there so you can define your own style.  Want to rush in with brute force and kill both those guards?  Go for it.  Want to use stealth to sneak by, unnoticed?  You got it.  Or maybe you&#8217;ll take that other character up on the favor he owes you, and he&#8217;ll make sure those guards aren&#8217;t on duty when you need to sneak by?  You sly fox. </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="A16"><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=black+ops+2" target="_blank">Call of Duty: Black Ops II</a></h2>
<p><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/blackops2.png" class="aligncenter" title="Call of Duty: Black Ops II" alt="The 10 Best Video Games of 2012 | Call of Duty: Black Ops II" /></p>
<p>The campaign of <a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=black+ops+2" target="_blank">Black Ops 2</a> has a good storyline.  Not amazing, but good.  After a slow start, about three quarters of the way through I found myself thinking, &#8220;If this were an action-packed war-thriller movie, I&#8217;d watch this, and it would be awesome.&#8221;  That said, it does feel like playing through a movie, and so the campaign does suffer some from the same problem it&#8217;s seen in previous titles, the linear levels.  Treyarch tried to counter this by bringing you in and out of multiple timelines, and allowing you to play as several different characters, in their own storylines which helps in a lot of ways.  This also hurts it in some ways though in that by constantly diving in and out of the story you can become detached from the game.</p>
<p>At a glance, the multiplayer is much of the same, but if you look closer you&#8217;ll see the game has evolved in a lot of ways.  With an improved class system, every piece of equipment and perk must be carefully thought out and will greatly effect your performance in the fast-paced game modes.  You will never find yourself selecting a piece of equipment because it&#8217;s &#8220;kind of neat&#8221;.  Each individual item you select for your loadout will have an effect on how you play the game, allowing players to refine their gameplay to a detailed level never before seen in a Call of Duty multiplayer game.  The zombie mode has also been completely revamped, with actual characters and objectives that really challenges the survivalist part of your brain.  Speaking of zombies&#8230;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="A16"><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=walking+dead+the+game" target="_blank">The Walking Dead: The Game</a></h2>
<p><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/thewalkingdead.png" class="aligncenter" title="The Walking Dead: The Game" alt="The 10 Best Video Games of 2012 | The Walking Dead: The Game" /></p>
<p><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=walking+dead+the+game" target="_blank">The Walking Dead: The Game</a> follows a storyline parallel to the hit TV show, with a new cast of characters.  This is not a shoot-em-up zombie-killer game, this is closer to a choose your own adventure story book with important decisions to make at every turn.  Even during the most intense zombie action sequences, the game plays more like a puzzle game.  Go get the brick from over there, and the crowbar from over there, use the crowbar to break into that car and the brick to hold down the gas pedal to run over the zombies over there.  Nice.  The heart of the game is in the decisions you have to make though.  Every choice you make effects the storyline and how other characters will treat you.  You&#8217;ll learn a lot about yourself when you only have a couple seconds to make a decision between saving a boy you just met or the woman you&#8217;ve been traveling with for a few days.  Take too long to decide, and you won&#8217;t be able to save either.  The Walking Dead: The Game makes the list for being a game that can actually make you <em>feel</em>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="A16"><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=far+cry+3" target="_blank">Far Cry 3</a></h2>
<p><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/farcry3.png" class="aligncenter" title="Far Cry 3" alt="The 10 Best Video Games of 2012 | Far Cry 3" /></p>
<p><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=far+cry+3" target="_blank">Far Cry 3</a> delivers visually perfect tropical scenery, and places you in the middle of a blood-bath in said scenery.  The game is mature and violent but is at the same time so intriguing you can&#8217;t look away.  Aside from the protagonist, the character acting is remarkable, turning what would normally be cliche roles into believable characters.  This combined with the bland personality of the main character allows you to really put yourself into the storyline and become immersed in the world.  And it is a world worth exploring.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="A16">Honorable Mentions</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=max+payne+3" target="_blank">Max Payne 3</a><br />
<a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=ufc+undisputed+3" target="_blank">UFC Undisputed 3</a><br />
<a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=fifa+soccer+13" target="_blank">FIFA Soccer 13</a><br />
<a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=lumines+electronic+symphony" target="_blank">Lumines: Electronic Symphony</a><br />
<a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=guild+wars+2" target="_blank">Guild Wars 2</a><br />
<a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=assassins+creed+3" target="_blank">Assassin&#8217;s Creed III</a><br />
<a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=madden+nfl+13" target="_blank">Madden NFL 13</a><br />
<a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=hitman+absolution" target="_blank">Hitman: Absolution</a><br />
<a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=kingdoms+of+amalur" target="_blank">Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning</a><br />
<a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/?keywords=nba+2k13" target="_blank">NBA 2K13</a></p>
<p>Think there&#8217;s a game that should have made the list?  Disagree with one that did make the list?  Just think I&#8217;m full of BS?  Leave your comments below and let us know what you think the best game of 2012 is.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Best of the Web 5.16.12</title>
		<link>http://blog.manbargains.com/best-of-the-web-5-16-12/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.manbargains.com/best-of-the-web-5-16-12/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 May 2012 01:11:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Craig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips, Tricks & Everything Else]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Audi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coachella]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cool products]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DIY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FAIL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flying Horse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Man]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ping pong]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[table tennis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[workout plan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.manbargains.com/?p=673</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If the Coachella Lineup Posters Told the Truth&#8230; &#160; Some Amazing Scientific Accomplishments Made Possible by Abandoning All Reason &#160; Unlimited Energy Brought to You by Troll Physics (vid) &#160; Wait, This Guy is a College Student? Wheel of Fortune Fail (vid) &#160; Audi&#8217;s Concept E-Bike &#8230;I&#8217;ll Take Two &#160; The Netflix Interface Gets a ]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="heavy" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/heavy.png" alt="Heavy" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://www.heavy.com/music/music-news/2012/05/coachella-2013/" target="_blank">If the Coachella Lineup Posters Told the Truth&#8230;</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="Cracked" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/cracked.png" alt="Cracked" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://www.cracked.com/article_19829_6-scientific-advances-courtesy-reckless-self-endangerment_p2.html" target="_blank">Some Amazing Scientific Accomplishments Made Possible by Abandoning All Reason</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;<br />
<img class="alignleft size-full" title="youtube" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/youtube.png" alt="YouTube" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8yW5cyXXRc" target="_blank">Unlimited Energy Brought to You by Troll Physics (vid)</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;<br />
<img class="alignleft size-full" title="guyism" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/guyism.png" alt="Guyism" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://guyism.com/humor/reed-student-wheel-fortune-fail.html" target="_blank">Wait, This Guy is a College Student?  Wheel of Fortune Fail (vid)</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="awesomer" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/awesomer.png" alt="The Awesomer" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://theawesomer.com/audis-worthersee-e-bike-concept/169622/" target="_blank">Audi&#8217;s Concept E-Bike &#8230;I&#8217;ll Take Two</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="engadget" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/engadget.png" alt="Engadget" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/16/netflix-web-player-updated/" target="_blank">The Netflix Interface Gets a (subtle) Upgrade</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="manliness" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manliness.png" alt="The Art of Manliness" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://artofmanliness.com/2012/05/14/diy-weekend-project-how-to-make-a-slingshot/" target="_blank">How to Make an Old School Slingshot</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="primer" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/primer.png" alt="Primer" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://www.primermagazine.com/2012/train/build-your-very-own-avengers-physique-in-six-weeks" target="_blank">The Three-Phase, Six-Week, Avenger-Inspired Workout Plan</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="primer" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/grantland.png" alt="Primer" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7936293/barney-reed-michael-landers-american-olympic-table-tennis-team" target="_blank">A Glimpse into the World of Olympic Table Tennis Players</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Best of the Web 5.10.12</title>
		<link>http://blog.manbargains.com/best-of-the-web-5-10-12/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.manbargains.com/best-of-the-web-5-10-12/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 01:12:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Craig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips, Tricks & Everything Else]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bachelor pad]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bug out bag]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dreamhome]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[funny videos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[get home bag]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[humor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[inspiration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Man]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Jersey Devils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NHL]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.manbargains.com/?p=645</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Why Replacement Officials Just Might Hurt the NFL &#160; 40 Amazing Photos of Things You Need For Your Dreamhome &#160; Keeping the Phone Boxes in London Relevant With the Power of the Interwebs &#160; Heard of a &#8220;Bug Out Bag&#8221;? Well Learn How to Build a &#8220;Get Home Bag&#8221; &#160; Some Great Tips for Getting ]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="BleacherReport" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/bleacherreport.png" alt="b/r" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1178883-nfl-replacement-officials-why-use-of-scabs-would-take-away-from-quality-of-game" target="_blank">Why Replacement Officials Just Might Hurt the NFL</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="The Chive" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/chive.png" alt="theChive" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://thechive.com/2012/05/10/wipe-your-boots-off-before-entering-my-bachelor-pad-40-photos/" target="_blank">40 Amazing Photos of Things You Need For Your Dreamhome</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="Engadget" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/engadget.png" alt="Engadget" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/10/spectrum-interactive-wifi-hotspots-london-phone-boxe/" target="_blank">Keeping the Phone Boxes in London Relevant With the Power of the Interwebs</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="Art of Manliness" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manliness.png" alt="Art of Manliness" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://artofmanliness.com/2012/05/10/how-to-build-a-get-home-bag-book-giveaway/" target="_blank">Heard of a &#8220;Bug Out Bag&#8221;?  Well Learn How to Build a &#8220;Get Home Bag&#8221;</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="Primer" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/primer.png" alt="Primer" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://www.primermagazine.com/2012/live/break-outside-the-structure-of-your-life-to-accomplish-your-dreams" target="_blank">Some Great Tips for Getting Your Life Together and Your A*# in Gear</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="Grantland" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/grantland.png" alt="Grantland" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7915964/the-new-jersey-devils-new-york-rangers-los-angeles-kings-phoenix-coyotes-rest-week-playoff-hockey" target="_blank">The Devils Just Might Be the Most Exciting Team Left in the Playoffs</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="youtube" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/youtube.png" alt="YouTube" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2TcvKyKzIw&#038;feature=plcp" target="_blank">Boy Narrowly Escapes the Jaws of a Robot Dinosaur (vid)</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>The Avengers Review</title>
		<link>http://blog.manbargains.com/the-avengers-review/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.manbargains.com/the-avengers-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2012 07:08:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Craig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iron man 2]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Man]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[movie review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[the avengers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[the avengers movie review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[the avengers review]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.manbargains.com/?p=620</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The latest in the line of superhero movies hits the mark More Superheroes Equals More Fun It&#8217;s been a long time coming, and we&#8217;ve all been waiting anxiously since the first post-credit teaser, but The Avengers have arrived, and they don&#8217;t disappoint. While I&#8217;m usually pretty skeptical about errant sequels, this film was actually really ]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2 class="A16">The latest in the line of superhero movies hits the mark</h2>
<p><strong>More Superheroes Equals More Fun</strong><br />
It&#8217;s been a long time coming, and we&#8217;ve all been waiting anxiously since the first <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgKVcHdcOGM" target="_blank">post-credit teaser,</a> but The Avengers have arrived, and they don&#8217;t disappoint.  While I&#8217;m usually pretty skeptical about errant sequels, this film was actually really enjoyable.  I&#8217;ve always been a big fan of the Marvel origin stories, and just always feared that beyond that the films would turn to cheap tricks and short-lived action.  <a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/search/?psps_keywords=iron+man+2+blu+ray&#038;x=0&#038;y=0" target="_blank">Iron Man 2</a> didn&#8217;t do much to quell my worries, but was balanced by Downey&#8217;s awesome performance.  Call me cynical, but my expectations for <em>The Avengers</em> were pretty low, but the film exceeded them and delivers a well-rounded overall great flick.</p>
<p><strong>Plenty O&#8217; Action</strong><br />
As a big-time action fan, I walked away from <em>The Avengers</em> truly satisfied.  While the other superhero titles tend to somewhat revolve around one major action scene to allow time to introduce you to the character, this one was packed with a meaty serving of action so you can get your fill.  The 2:20 runtime helps, but the action is of such high-quality that the time flies.</p>
<p><img src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/hulk-00.png" title="The Avengers Review" alt="The Avengers" class="aligncenter" /></p>
<p><strong>Impressive CGI</strong><br />
No stranger to the superhero movies, CGI plays a major role.  Overall the CGI is what we&#8217;ve come to expect, with all the usual oooohs and aaahs.  The one place where I was impressed though, was with Dr. Banner&#8217;s alter-ego.  The Hulk&#8217;s appearance in <em>The Avengers</em> puts <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdTMwDl7Xjc" target="_blank">previous attempts</a> to shame.  The Hulk&#8217;s action scenes ended up being some of my favorite out of the whole movie.</p>
<p><strong>Now That&#8217;s Funny</strong><br />
<em>The Avengers</em> breaks up the awesome action and great character development with a barrage of one-liners, most of them just <em>okay</em>.  The first few were welcome, then after I few more I found myself thinking, &#8220;Wow, they&#8217;re really making a push here to add some comic relief.&#8221;  At a certain point I just felt like Whedon must have a had a quota he had to fill and just inserted the &#8220;knee-slappers&#8221; wherever it was convenient.  Don&#8217;t get me wrong, some of the jokes are great, and will definitely appeal to the fanboys with plenty of cross-genre references that would be a hit at Comic-Con, but at a certain point it just felt forced.</p>
<p><img src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/thor-america-00.png" alt="The Avengers" title="The Avengers Review" class="aligncenter" /></p>
<p><strong>Spreading The Wealth</strong><br />
Far and away the best trait of <em>The Avengers</em> is its ability to tell a multi-sided story.  For the most part, each character gets a fair share of airtime and we see each develop in their own way.  Multiple times the story reached a point where I thought it would start to focus on a specific character, turning the of the crew into a supporting cast but no, the film keeps pace and moves on.</p>
<p><strong>Well Balanced, Perfectly Paced</strong><br />
All in all, <em>The Avengers</em> is a great flick and is for sure worth seeing now in theaters.  Between the fast-paced action and skillful storytelling, the two hours will just fly by and leave you wanting more.</p>
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		<title>Best of the Web 5.7.12</title>
		<link>http://blog.manbargains.com/best-of-the-web-5-7-12/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.manbargains.com/best-of-the-web-5-7-12/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 May 2012 21:30:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Craig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips, Tricks & Everything Else]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[best videos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[canoeing tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[funny videos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[humor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mad men]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Man]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new york rangers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.manbargains.com/?p=563</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The New York Rangers Amazing Come-From-Behind Win &#160; Updated Mad Men Power Rankings &#160; This 9-year-old Girl Will Ruin Your Day (vid) &#160; Another Supercut for Your Viewing Pleasure&#8230; the Three-Point Landing (vid) &#160; Tips to Help Keep You Dry When Canoeing &#160; One Seriously Scary Amusement Park Ride (vid) &#160; The Most Impressive Serial ]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="BroBible" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/brobible.png" alt="BroBible" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://www.brobible.com/videos/watch/brad-richards-marc-staal-rangers-capitals" target="_blank">The New York Rangers Amazing Come-From-Behind Win</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="Grantland" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/grantland.png" alt="Grantland" width="123" height="30"/><a href="http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/49061/mad-men-power-rankings-episode-508-the-lady-lazarus" target="_blank">Updated <em>Mad Men Power</em> Rankings</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="CollegeHumor" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/collegehumor.png" alt="College Humor" width="123" height="30" /><a class="A16r" href="http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6766189/9-year-old-girl-can-kick-box-you-into-a-coma" target="_blank">This 9-year-old Girl Will Ruin Your Day (vid)</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="TheAwesomer" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/awesomer.png" alt="The Awesomer" width="123" height="30"/><a href="http://theawesomer.com/three-point-landing/168018/" target="_blank">Another Supercut for Your Viewing Pleasure&#8230; the Three-Point Landing (vid)</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="The Art of Manliness" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manliness.png" alt="ArtofManliness"width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://artofmanliness.com/2012/05/07/canoeing-keeping-the-inside-dry-and-the-outside-wet/" target="_blank">Tips to Help Keep You Dry When Canoeing</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="YouTube" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/youtube.png" alt="YouTube" width="123" height="30"/><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk_8H-zx-nc" target="_blank">One Seriously Scary Amusement Park Ride (vid)</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full" title="Cracked" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/cracked.png" alt="Cracked" width="123" height="30" /><a href="http://www.cracked.com/article_19787_the-6-most-impressive-serial-criminals-in-animal-kingdom.html" target="_blank">The Most Impressive Serial Criminals of the Animal Kingdom</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Top 3 Road Bikes for 2012 &#124; Getting Started</title>
		<link>http://blog.manbargains.com/the-top-3-road-bikes-of-2012/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.manbargains.com/the-top-3-road-bikes-of-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:56:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Craig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[best bikes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[best road bikes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[best starter bikes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bikes for beginners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[giant tcr review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Man]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scott speedster s20 review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tarmac elite review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[top bikes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[top road bikes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.manbargains.com/?p=524</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hit the pavement with one of the best road bikes of the year So you&#8217;re ready to take that next step and start to get serious about biking? We&#8217;ve searched and narrowed the field to the top three road bikes of the year so far. These bikes are the best in their field for reliability ]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2 class="A16">Hit the pavement with one of the best road bikes of the year</h2>
<p>So you&#8217;re ready to take that next step and start to get serious about biking?  We&#8217;ve searched and narrowed the field to the top three road bikes of the year so far. These bikes are the best in their field for reliability and performance.  Training hard will get you 90% closer to your goals, but the last 10% will take some quality gear too.  Take a look at some of the three best road bikes for 2012 and find the one that&#8217;s right for you.</p>
<h2 class="A16">#3 <a class="A16r" href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/search/?psps_keywords=scott+speedster+s20&#038;x=0&#038;y=0" target="_blank">SCOTT Speedster S20</a></h2>
<p><img src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/scott-speedster-00.png" alt="SCOTT Speedster S20 | Best Road Bikes 2012" title="SCOTT Speedster S20" class="aligncenter size-full" /></p>
<p>Coming in just under $1500 the nearly full Shimano 105 grouped Speedster S20 is an aluminum frame and carbon fork combination that draws on Scott&#8217;s experience at the top end to deliver accessible performance.  Designed to ease ambitious riders into racing, the Speedster introduces you to a go-fast stance but at a lower price that is easy on your wallet.  In comparison to a low end carbon setup this bike is in line as far as weight is concerned.  It comes in at just under 20 lbs, but again that can be lowered by upgrading the components.  With all the hype of carbon frames and the actual benefits of a carbon frame it is more of a decision you’ll have to make.  Yes, this is maybe your first bike as an “adult” but you should think a bit down the road if you will be wanting something that could be used for a group ride that may get a bit competitive. </p>
<p>Buy it if you don’t care about the carbon hype but want a starter bike that will not leave you wanting to buying an “upgraded” bike within the next couple years.</p>
<h2 class="A16">#2 <a class="A16r" href="http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=52903&#038;menuItemId=0" target="_blank">Tarmac Elite Apex</a></h2>
<p><img src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/tarmac-00.png" alt="Tarmac Elite Apex | Best Road Bikes 2012" title="Tarmac Elite Apex" class="aligncenter size-full" /></p>
<p>At $2000 the Tarmac Elite features a new frame that is stiffer and lighter than last year&#8217;s. The geometry is identical to the Tour-winning Tarmac SL-3 just with a lower grade, heavier grade carbon.  It weighs in at about 19.5 lbs but some of that weight can be shed by upgrading the components.  The Elite utilizes SRAM&#8217;s Apex group with an 11-28 cassette and 52/36 chainrings for a gear spread low enough for steep climbs and tall enough for tailwinds. </p>
<p>Buy it if you want a stiff yet comfortable ride that looks good and you can upgrade as you go.</p>
<h2 class="A16">#1 <a class="A16r" href="http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/tcr.composite.1/9007/48839/" target="_blank">Giant TCR Composite</a></h2>
<p><img src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/giant-tcr-00.png" alt="Giant TCR Composite | Best Road Bikes 2012" title="Giant TCR Composite" class="aligncenter size-full" /></p>
<p>At just under $1900 the TCR Composite is a full carbon fiber bike, but just utilizes a lower-grade in the frame&#8217;s construction and replaces the outer cosmetic layer of carbon weave with black paint.  This makes the frame heavier in comparison to higher end carbon frames but it allows Giant to sell it at a lower price point.  If you’re familiar with Giant&#8217;s TCR Advanced SL, the high-end cousin of the Composite, you’ll notice that the geometry on the entire TCR line is identical.  In addition, the Composite is stiff and is clearly intended to perform and stand up to even the strongest cyclists.  The bike features a full Shimano 105 group mixed with some good Tektro stoppers. They use the Fi&#8217;zi:k&#8217;s Aliante saddle&#8211;a favorite among many riders<br />
At a bit over 18 pounds it’s a bit on the “heavy” side for a full carbon frame, but that’s its only weakness.  </p>
<p>Buy it if you want to ride fast and spend less than two grand.  This bike is a great entry level bike that can be upgraded with higher end components as you grow into an enthusiast.</p>
<p>Have some ideas of your own or a favorite bike that you feel should have made the list?  Let us know.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>BETA Shell Cases &#124; Bombproof Your Gear</title>
		<link>http://blog.manbargains.com/beta-shell-cases-bombproof-your-gear/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.manbargains.com/beta-shell-cases-bombproof-your-gear/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:30:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Craig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips, Tricks & Everything Else]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[beta bombproof case]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[beta shell cases]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[beta shell series]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bombproof camera case]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Man]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[photography]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.manbargains.com/?p=508</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Protect your photo and video gear with the ultimate in durable construction Never worry again when traveling or shipping your gear. This is some serious protection. The superior design allows BETA to make claims of these cases protecting your lenses from everything from dust, to moisture, to bombs. Take a hammer to it or run ]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2 class="A16">Protect your photo and video gear with the ultimate in durable construction</h2>
<p>Never worry again when traveling or shipping your gear. This is some serious protection. The superior design allows <a href="http://www.betashell.com/" target="_blank">BETA</a> to make claims of these cases protecting your lenses from everything from dust, to moisture, to <strong>bombs.</strong> Take a hammer to it or run it over with a car and the precious gear inside is still in mint-shape.</p>
<blockquote><p>Rigid, water-proof, and shock resistant &#8211; our patent pending BETA Shell protective cases are constructed unlike any other case.</p></blockquote>
<p>One of the several tricks to this clever design is the custom-sized foam rings that &#8220;suspend&#8221; your lens in the space inside the container, preventing it from making contact with the walls of the case. Also features other cool goodies like carrying straps and a clever little diagram showing you exactly how tight the lid is so you can be sure with just a glance that your valuables are truly waterproof.</p>
<p>The coolest part of all of this is that the cases are shipped as a kit, providing you with the materials to quickly make the custom foam inserts. So while it really lends itself to electronics and gadgets, really these would work for storing literally anything you want to protect, provided you order the correct size.</p>
<h2 class="A16">$45-$88</h2>
<h2 class="A16"><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/search/?psps_keywords=beta+shell+case&amp;x=0&amp;y=0" target="_blank">Compare prices and find the best deal on BETA Shell Series Cases</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/P73QY8mBUdw" frameborder="0" width="560" height="315"></iframe></p>
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		<title>JayBird Freedom Bluetooth Headphones &#124; Review</title>
		<link>http://blog.manbargains.com/jaybird-freedom-bluetooth-headphones-review/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.manbargains.com/jaybird-freedom-bluetooth-headphones-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:18:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Craig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bluetooth headphones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Epic 4G Touch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JayBird Freedom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JayBird Headphones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Man]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wireless headphones]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.manbargains.com/?p=486</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After upgrading my phone, it was time to get my hands on some wireless headphones before hitting the gym. Enter the JayBird Freedom. The Good: Lots of options to find that perfect fit Decent music clarity Good connectivity Long battery life The Bad: Call quality isn&#8217;t the best A bit lacking in bass, depending on ]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2 class="A16">After upgrading my phone, it was time to get my hands on some wireless headphones before hitting the gym.  Enter the JayBird Freedom.</h2>
<p><strong>The Good:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Lots of options to find that perfect fit</li>
<li>Decent music clarity</li>
<li>Good connectivity</li>
<li>Long battery life</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Bad:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Call quality isn&#8217;t the best</li>
<li>A bit lacking in bass, depending on your preferences</li>
<li>Controls are a little clunky
</ul>
<p><strong>The Bottom Line:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Their perfect custom fit and moisture resistance make the <a href="http://www.jaybirdgear.com/jf3/" title="JayBird Freedom Headphones" target="_blank">JayBird Freedom headphones</a> a fantastic solution for listening to music while working out.  If making phone calls with your headset is a priority, your money might be spent better elsewhere.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="A16r"><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/details/?psps_product_id=383250756&#038;psps_product_group_id=58029373" title="Shop JayBird Freedom Bluetooth Headphones" target="_blank">$89-$99</a></h2>
<h2 class="A16">Customized Fit</h2>
<p>Most of the time when I&#8217;m using headphones it&#8217;s for running or working out.  I&#8217;ve tried probably a dozen different styles and designs, and I can safely say that these JayBird Freedom headphones are the most successful attempt at a &#8220;sports-fit&#8221; that I&#8217;ve had the chance of trying.  I had finally found a pair of standard wired headphones that provided the fit I was looking for, but the cord always seemed like it was getting in the way.  It was time to go wireless.</p>
<p><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/jaybird-1.png" alt="JayBird Freedom Secure Fit" title="jaybird-1" width="500" height="301" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-497" /></p>
<p>The Freedom headphones come with 3 different sizes of ear buds, 3 different sizes of silicon ear cushions, and the more traditional over-the-ear hooks that can be added to provide you with <a href="http://www.jaybirdgear.com/jf3/bluetooth-headphones-features.html" title="JayBird Freedom Secure Fit Options" target="_blank">plenty of options</a> to find the perfect fit.  After a little bit of trial and error, and a few quick tests, I quickly found a fit that wasn&#8217;t only comfortable, but the headphones weren&#8217;t going anywhere.  The ear cushions seemed a little awkward at first, but once I got the right size for me, it&#8217;s surprising how well they work.  I haven&#8217;t even been using the over-ear hooks for running&#8230; the proper size tips and cushions alone provide a secure fit.</p>
<h2 class="A16">Connection and Signal Strength</h2>
<p>I tested the Freedom headphones with my <a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/search/?psps_keywords=epic+4g+touch&#038;x=0&#038;y=0" title="Compare Prices | Epic 4G Touch Samsung" target="_blank">Epic 4G Touch</a>, and was able to sync the devices almost instantly.  Once connected, I was able to enjoy crisp sounding music with a solid connection.  The manual contains a warning stating that when used outdoors it is important to have a clear line of sight between the device and the headphone receiver, as the Bluetooth signal will not have any objects to bounce off of as it does indoors, recommending you wear the device in an armband on your right arm.  I have yet to try this, and so far have always put my phone in my front pocket and the signal still comes in clear as day.  I&#8217;ve also tested the limits of the device indoors, and found that when synced with my PC via a <a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/search/?psps_keywords=bluetooth+usb+adapter&#038;x=0&#038;y=0" title="Compare Prices | USB Bluetooth Adapter" target="_blank">USB adapter</a> I&#8217;m able to walk down the hall to our break room, 3 offices away, and in most cases don&#8217;t lose the signal.  When the signal is dropped, it is picked up again quickly when back in range.</p>
<p><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/jaybird-2.png" alt="JayBird Freedom Bluetooth Headphones" title="jaybird-2" width="500" height="333" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-498" /></p>
<h2 class="A16">Sound Quality</h2>
<p>Overall I was impressed with the sound quality when listening to music.  The highs come in clear, and the mids are crisp.  I did find that the bass wasn&#8217;t quite as up front as I like with certain tracks, but you can chalk that up to personal preference.  The music comes across probably closer to &#8220;how it was intended&#8221; but if your looking for thumping bass, you won&#8217;t find it here.</p>
<p>Where I did find the sound quality lacking was during phone calls.  No matter how I fiddled with the volume, I almost always found the caller at the other end to be pretty quiet.  Not to the point that I couldn&#8217;t understand the caller, just quieter than I would&#8217;ve expected.  Callers on the other end said that although they could hear my voice perfectly, loud and clear, that there seemed to be a lot of &#8220;background noise&#8221;.  This ambient sound is probably attributed to the microphone being in the pod on the right ear, and the microphones sensitivity is probably cranked up to account for the distance from the user&#8217;s mouth.</p>
<h2 class="A16">Performance</h2>
<p>I&#8217;ve really enjoyed the Freedom experience so far, and have used it for several 2 hour sessions back-to-back without charging between.  I&#8217;ve been thoroughly impressed by the battery life.  The manual says the battery life comes in at 6 hours of playback time, but I&#8217;ve already stretched it out to over 8 hours on a couple of occasions.  Charging is handled via a micro-USB port on one of the pods.</p>
<p><img src="http://blog.manbargains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/jaybird-3.png" alt="JayBird Freedom Bluetooth Headphones Performance" title="jaybird-3" width="500" height="330" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-499" /></p>
<p>The controls are simple enough, but I found the buttons themselves a little clunky.  The primary start/stop playback and send/receive button is particularly &#8220;rough&#8221; requiring a significant press of the thumb and a loud click to push it.  It&#8217;s not a big deal when powering on and off the device, as you&#8217;re probably not wearing the headphones yet, but when answering a call while wearing the headphones I find myself using two hands to press the receive button, one to hold the headphone pod, and the other to depress the button.  It&#8217;s just awkward.  I also find the length of time you have to hold the button to sync or power on/off the device to be annoyingly long.  It&#8217;s only a few seconds, but when you&#8217;re trying to just quickly throw the headphones in your bag to go hit the showers, it seems like forever.  Alright, now I&#8217;m just being picky.</p>
<h2 class="A16r"><a href="http://www.manbargains.com/compare-prices/details/?psps_product_id=383250756&#038;psps_product_group_id=58029373" title="Compare Prices | JayBird Freedom Bluetooth Headphones" target="_blank">Compare Prices on JayBird Freedom Headphones</a></h2>
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